Chapter 105

"How did that even happen," Kurenai can't help but ask him, even though she's worried about falling into easy conversation with him. Her heart both hums and aches at the idea of talking to him again. Fortunately, her recuperating body's too exhausted to do more than buzz in the glow of some great fucking.

"Can't really say," Asuma states with a casual shrug.

Instantly recalling what Kakashi told her, she grows annoyed enough to sharply ask, "can't or won't?"

His shoulders tense a moment and Kurenai knows he wants to smoke, but he won't. He knows she's never liked it and he wants to be on her good side. With half a smile, the gruff man admits, "I should've been the one to tell you."

'When?' is right on the tip of her tongue, but with a great effort, she holds from continuing this argument. It's pointless and changes nothing. "What's it matter," she tells him, beginning to walk around him.

"Kurenai," he speaks, taking her hand as she passes. "Genma was supposed to… It all sounds like excuses now, but please give me one chance. Just one. Nothing will get in the way again."

Kurenai takes her hand away. "I already am, Asuma. I'm sorting myself out. Have a good night," she bids before returning to her home.

NARUTO

'That doesn't sound too bad,' Naru-nii answers his younger-self.

After informing Naru-nii about everything that's happened today, including a single, short sentence in reference to getting some alone time with Kurenai-chan—Naru-nii couldn't hear more than that—Naruto finishes his sixth bowl of Miso Chashu Pork Ramen with less enthusiasm than he tends to have. The reason for his melancholy is simply put, Ino.

'I betrayed her,' Naruto thinks. 'I promised her I wouldn't tell anyone and I totally broke my word.' Naruto doesn't usually come by Ichiraku's Saturday nights. It's their busiest night and he feels bad when he drives away business just by sitting there. Though Teuchi-jiji and Ayame-nee are always happy when he visits. While six bowls is moderate for him, he decides to help them and himself by leaving.

He had a lot on his mind and like Kurenai-chan likes to say, 'sort it out by thinking it through.' Luckily, Naru-nii will always listen to him when he has enough energy to use the prayer beads. Though Naruto was with Kurenai-chan when Naru-nii had prayed earlier, he said he'd try again when he wasn't so busy.

'That's always a possibility,' Naru-nii slowly explains. 'I've messed up loads of times. I made a promise to someone we both really care about, a promise I still haven't been able to keep,' he says with heavy sadness and a sigh. 'But you know, I won't give up. I can't.'

'So what should I do?' Naruto glumly wonders.

'Take it head on!' Naru-nii champions, and Naruto can just imagine the fist pump, which brings a little smile on his face. 'We may not be super smart but even when we mess up, we can still be damn good friends.'

'Yeah,' Naruto thinks. 'Yeah, I think so too.'

'Of course we do,' Naru-nii chuckles. 'I'm almost out but remember-'

'Keep practicing on the leaf,' Naruto recalls. 'I know. This thing's been kicking my ass for so long, I got nearly a hundred clones with Kurama's chakra on it most of the day now. You know how long it takes to dispel that many?'

'I'm telling you, once you get halfway, the rest is easier- well, smoother,' Naru-nii reminds him. 'Also, if Kurenai brings up Fūinjutsu, run with it, or better yet, try to trade all the reading you'll have to do for sparing with Hinata-chan.'

'How come,' Naruto wonders, thinking about the kind, quiet and nice girl.

'Dude, I told you she's badass,' Naru-nii happily promotes. 'I know she seems quiet and stuff in the beginning but that's mostly because her family treats her like crap. It's basically like how the villagers treat us, only she's getting it from her family.'

"Really!" Naruto actually calls aloud, drawing in a few glares from passing villagers. 'How could her own family be so mean to her? She's like super nice and sweet!'

'I know,' Naru-nii calls from his future. 'Wait till you meet Neji. It's crazy, but it's exactly why Kurenai-sensei wanted to help her so much. Trust me, try to get some sparring sessions if you can.'

'Ossu!' Naruto thinks before his future-self falls silent.

INO

As Ino walks back to her home, she's making mental plans on how to best help Asuma-sensei reach Kurenai-sensei's heart. Ino knows it won't be easy. Having spent time with the beautiful kunoichi before learning of her connection to Asuma-sensei, Ino would've never guessed the woman is either broken-hearted due to princess Tomoko interference, or in love with her Jōnin-sensei. After a few inquiries with her father, Ino learned how smart and driven the raven-haired woman is, so it's likely her mask is just that strong.

Still, Ino is adamant. She wants Asuma-sensei to regain his love. Maybe if she can get them together, she might feel a little better about the state of her own love life with Sasuke-kun.

Near her home, she's intercepted by the most irritating boy of late. Holding Cow Parsley flowers, Inuzuka Kiba has been pestering her ever since her mother discovered the second orchid. Her mother's logic led her to believe Kurenai-sensei was helping one of her students and since the Aburame clan flat out told her parents it wasn't them, that only left the Inuzuka. In Ino's eyes, the canine clan must've jumped at the opportunity because Kiba has been hounding her non-stop since, and the worst part about it is how primitive his attention to her is.

In front of Ino, Kiba is even more boastful than she remembers him being as he calls, "hey Ino-chan. You're looking extra sexy today." He extends the whitish parsley with his K-9 partner adding a bark from within his jacket. "You smell super good too."

With an especially long sigh, Ino states, "for the last time, I don't want to go out with you."

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