Worries

The morning sun cast a warm glow over the village of Konoha, its golden rays filtering through the leaves of the surrounding trees.

At the gates, a familiar figure emerged, clad in his signature attire. Shino had finally arrived, right on time. Waiting for him were his teammates, Hinata and Kiba.

"Shino-kun," Hinata greeted, her head bowed as she peeked towards Shino, her face blushing as she recalled their intimate training recently.

Kiba was dissatisfied, wondering what he had missed, but still greeted Shino, "Yo."

He greeted them with a nod, a silent acknowledgment of their shared purpose.

As they stood there, a rustle in the nearby foliage signaled the arrival of their sensei, Kurenai. Her graceful form emerged from the shadows, her eyes scanning her team with a mix of concern and anticipation. Her gaze lingered on Shino for a moment longer than the others, a flicker of something akin to melancoly passing through her eyes.

"Good morning, everyone," Kurenai greeted, her voice calm as usual. "I'm sure you three read the briefing. Like the previous one, this mission will test your independence and decision-making skills, as you three will complete the mission without my assistance. I will be supervising you from the shadows, and I won't intervene, until I deem your mission a failure or… "

Kurenai paused, her voice tinged with a hint of melancholy, "If there are unfortunate circumstances."

Hinata shifted uneasily, her eyes darting between her teammates.

Kurenai continued, her voice steady but tinged with a sense of disappointment. "I trust that you will rise to the occasion, unlike the previous mission. Each task, no matter how simple it may seem, carries its own dangers."

"Treat this mission as a valuable learning experience, and don't forget what I have taught you. Never underestimate the unforeseen because danger can lurk in the most unsuspecting places…" Kurenai's eyes flickered over to Shino, who betrayed no emotion in his stoic facade.

"After considering the results of the previous mission, this time, I will be assigning Shino as the captain." Kurenai's degree suddenly rung out.

"You're making Shino the captain?" Kiba protested, his voice laced with annoyance. "We all know I'm the better choice!"

Kurenai's gaze hardened, her voice firm yet tinged with a touch of sadness. "Kiba, leadership isn't just about skill. It's about trust, composure, and the ability to make difficult decisions. Shino has proven himself in these areas, and I believe in his capabilities, just like I believed in yours. It's time to give others a chance, Kiba."

Shino remained silent, his expression unreadable behind his high-collared jacket. Although Kiba was the nominal leader, deep down, he had always carried the burden of leadership, even if silently. Now, he finally had a chance to come forth in the light.

"Alright, alright, I get it." Kiba, ever brash and impulsive, wore a scowl on his face, clearly displeased with the news. Kurenai's words had struck a chord within him, igniting his competitive spirit.

After a brief pause, Kurenai's gaze softened, her voice filled with a mix of nostalgia and hope. "Do not be disappointed. All of you will eventually become leaders someday. But for now, I want you all to grow from this experience. Reflect on your actions and consider the consequences before you act. And..."

Kurenai's gaze shifted between Hinata and Kiba, a mixture of affection and expectation evident in her eyes.

She reached out and affectionately ruffled Hinata's hair, a gentle smile gracing her lips. "Hinata, you are strong, believe in yourself. You've already proven this to me, and many others will realize your efforts in time to come. Your kindness is never a demerit, your kindness is your strength. It will be your fuel for growth, allowing you to protect those you recognize."

Hinata's face flushed with a mixture of gratitude and determination. "Yes, Kurenai sensei. I will do my best to prove myself and protect…" Hinata cutely bowed her head, her words trailing off as a red hue arose on her face.

Kurenai's gaze flickered to Kiba, a mix of fond exasperation and concern. "Kiba, remember to temper your eagerness with caution. I appreciate your confidence. Just don't underestimate the dangers that may lie ahead. There won't always be someone to carry the burden for your recklessness."

Kiba couldn't resist interjecting, his impulsive nature surfacing once again. "Man, Kurenai sensei, you're awfully long-winded today. Don't worry, I've learned from my mistakes last time, and I'll make sure nothing goes wrong this time."

Kurenai's gaze finally landed on Shino, "I hope you three will support each other and grow into capable ninjas, even when... I am no longer here to lead you."

Her voice carried a hint of regret, as if speaking from a place of personal experience. Her past failures, the scars she bore, were etched into her words. She was not only cautioning them about the mission at hand but imparting a lesson born from her own mistakes.

Hinata stepped forward, her voice filled with a newfound resolve. "Kurenai sensei, we will do our best. We won't disappoint you. And sensei will always be our sensei no matter what."

A soft smile graced Kurenai's lips as she looked at her students. "Remember, no matter where you go, I will always be watching over you. Team 8, set off."

"Yes, Kurenai sensei!" (x3)

With a shared determination, the trio responded to her command and dashed off into the forest, their footsteps fading into the distance as they embarked on their journey to Kurosawa village.

Behind them, Kurenai watched their fading silhouettes, before turning her gaze towards Konoha, her eyes lingering on her prosperous village. A sense of longing and sadness washed over her, particularly as her gaze turned towards the direction of the hospital. She sighed, her heart heavy with unspoken worries.

In the end, she resolutely turned around, chasing after her students, the weight of her foreboding future etched in every step.

Meanwhile, in the Hokage office, the brewing light of the rising sun filtered through the windows, casting a golden glow along the walls.

The room was filled with an air of tension as Tsunade, the Fifth Hokage, sat behind her desk, her hands clasped tightly together. Her eyes were fixed upon the document in front of her, a report summarizing the results of the recent council meeting. The lines on her forehead deepened as she absorbed the troubling contents.

Standing nearby, Shizune held TonTon, their small pig companion, and watched Tsunade with concern etched across her face. Unable to bear the silence any longer, she finally spoke up. "Tsunade-sama, is something troubling you? You seem quite worried."

Tsunade let out a frustrated tsk, her gaze still locked onto the report. "It's hard not to be worried, Shizune. The advisors and some members of the council clearly targeted Shibi from the Aburame clan in the meeting this time. It speaks of the troublesome internal troubles we face here in Konoha. Even in times like these, they can't stop their petty fighting."

Shizune's brow furrowed as she recalled that Tsunade had already resolved the Aburame clan's complaint. Confusion etched across her face, she asked, "But didn't you already take care of the Aburame clan's issue? Why are there still problems?"

Tsunade's sigh was heavy with weariness as she rubbed her temples, trying to ease the throbbing headache that had formed. "Yes, I did resolve the diplomatic issue against external complaints. However, these old farts are not content with just that. They want to continue playing their political games, seeking personal gain whenever they can. And I have a hunch that this event must have that man's secret push behind it. Trouble is brewing, Shizune. Clearly, the dirty old man wants to spite the Aburame clan after failing to get what he wanted."

Shizune fell silent, her mind spinning with the implications of Tsunade's words.

After a brief pause, she finally mustered the courage to ask the question that had been lingering in her mind. "Tsunade-sama, what about Team 8's mission? Will there be any problems with their departure?"

Tsunade's weary gaze met Shizune's concerned eyes. She let out another heavy sigh, her voice filled with a mix of worry and frustration. "That, Shizune, is what truly worries me. Lately, I've had this nagging feeling that I've missed a crucial link, and I believe it has something to do with Team 8's movements. And now, I can't help but suspect that man's secret interference behind it all."

Shizune's brows knitted together, her voice laced with concern. "Why did you let Kurenai jonin take on a mission if you suspected something was amiss, Tsunade-sama?"

The atmosphere in the Hokage's office grew even more tense, the shadows deepening around Tsunade as she continued to grapple with her worries.

She cast a weary gaze at Shizune, her face etched with a mix of determination and fear. "I wanted Team 8 to lay low within the village," Tsunade began, her voice tinged with frustration, "But we both know that option is never truly available to ninjas, especially not with that man lurking in the shadows. He always finds a way to forcefully assign missions."

Tsunade leaned back in her chair, exhaustion evident in her every movement. She took a moment to gather her thoughts before responding. "I thought about it carefully, Shizune. Kurenai is a capable and experienced ninja. I believed that if there truly was trouble, she would be able to handle it. Besides, we cannot let fear paralyze us, and they can't guard against that man's schemes forever. It's best to lead the snake out from the dark, and perhaps the hunter may become the prey. So, allowing Kurenai to take on a mission was the choice I made."

As Tsunade sat up once more, her eyes flickering with a mixture of apprehension and determination. "This time, Team 8 ventured far from the village. It's a prime opportunity for that man to make a move. But his methods are dubious, and I can never guess what is truly on his twisted mind. After his repeated setbacks, I fear that this time he might cross a line we can't ignore. It's best if nothing happens, but we can't afford to gamble on this-"

"Eh?! Tsunade-sama actually said she couldn't afford to gamble?!" Shizune's shocked voice echoed in room, accompanied by TonTon's surprise, "Buhi?!"

"Be serious, Shizune!" Tsunade reprimanded, her hand patting the report on her desk, drawing Shizune's attention back to the topic at hand.

"Ahem." Realizing the weight of their predicament, Shizune's mind calmed down and raced for a solution. "Tsunade-sama, perhaps we should consider sending some Anbu to watch over Team 8. They can provide support if needed, and we can trust their loyalty to the village."

Tsunade shook her head, a deep furrow forming on her forehead. "I wish it were that simple, Shizune. The clean ones in Anbu are all dispatched with their respective tasks, and we can never be certain if that man has subordinates among the rest of the Anbu ranks. Their support could become meaningless, or even worse, be used against us."

A heavy silence descended upon the room, broken only by the peculiar 'buhi' and 'oink' sounds of TonTon, the small piglet, as it looked back and forth between Tsunade and Shizune, seemingly trying to contribute to the discussion in its own unique way.

Both their eyes darted to TonTon for a moment, their head nodding, as if understanding the mystical pig language.

"Tsunade-sama!" Shizune began tentatively, "Perhaps we can listen to TonTon and explore another option. We can send a separate group to support Team 8, one that we can trust implicitly and who would never compromise the safety of Team 8. I believe I have the perfect team in mind!"

Tsunade's interest was piqued, her gaze locked onto Shizune. "Oh? Is it the same one I'm thinking of, Shizune?"