I stood opposite my trainer, who was helping me develop new genjutsu techniques. For the past few days, Yūhi Kurenai had been teaching me this art as we returned to the village. Even though we hadn't spent much time training together, she was doing her best to help me grasp the basics of genjutsu.
Captain Kiochi, understanding how important this was to me, had deliberately slowed down our return journey. The other captains, Sarutobi and Guy, also didn't mind spending more time training their students in these almost greenhouse-like conditions. I can't say the students were thrilled about it... Well, most of them were, especially the entirety of Team 11. Rock Lee was always eager for extra training. Neji mentioned something about his destiny to continue training. It seems that cultists' scroll affected him so much that he now believes in the omnipotence of fate. Tenten was happy to train with company. Team 12... well, that was a different story.
"Suzuki, are you ready to try a genjutsu?" the young jōnin asked with an encouraging smile. "Don't worry, you can test it on me."
"Thank you, Kurenai-san," I replied respectfully.
Yūhi Kurenai is truly a master of genjutsu, even among those who don't possess the Sharingan or any genetic talent for the art. Her mastery is well-earned. No one has been able to explain this subject as clearly and effectively as she has. I think even the least skilled genin could understand her teaching.
I formed five hand seals, slowly and carefully, then directed my chakra to her mind. This technique is probably the strongest in my arsenal for now, as it's classified as a B-rank technique. I was surprised when Kurenai wanted to teach me this right after a crash course on genjutsu basics.
"Demonic Illusion: Tree Binding Death!"
At that moment, I noticed Kurenai freeze. When I experienced this technique from her, the user dissolved into a strange mist, and at the same time, the opponent was bound by solid tree branches, unable to move. I had experienced it myself, and I'll say right away—it wasn't a pleasant feeling. My body didn't obey me. My mind knew something was wrong, but the genjutsu's restraints held it in place. To escape, I had to stop the chakra flow, which took a moment, as did recovery. In those "two moments," the shinobi using this technique can easily attack.
Since I wanted to experiment a little, I slightly modified the technique. Nothing serious, just a small joke with a playful undertone. The tree branches from the genjutsu I was creating were meant to wrap around... more interesting areas.
One branch passed between her legs, then split into two shoots that circled her chest and connected with other branches, preventing Kurenai from moving. Of course, she could easily escape without much effort, but this seemed like an opportunity for a harmless joke during training.
The branch between her legs vibrated sharply, sending signals throughout her body. Kurenai looked surprised. By then, I was already beside her. The jōnin had nearly broken free from my technique, but I managed to catch her hand, intertwine it with mine, twist her arm slightly, and press a kunai against the back of her head.
A second later, a powerful kick landed square in my chest. The force knocked the air out of me, and I flew several meters before rolling to a stop on the ground.
"Suzuki-kun!" Kurenai called out, rushing toward me. "Are you okay?"
"Almost," I answered, giving her a thumbs-up. "I didn't expect such a strong kick."
"Sorry," she replied, looking slightly embarrassed. "I didn't expect things to turn out like that."
"It happens," I said, brushing it off. "Oh—ugh, yeah."
Groaning, I stood up and started dusting off my clothes. Based on the impact, she's not on Might Guy's level in taijutsu, but if he had hit me like that, I wouldn't have walked away with just discomfort. At the very least, I would've had a few fractures. Overall, though, the technique worked well. I'm pleased with it.
"Not a bad genjutsu modification," Kurenai said, after making sure I was fine. "But I wouldn't use it if I were you. It might raise some questions—or maybe you just like me that much?"
Her attempt to fluster me didn't work at all, as I smiled as charmingly as I could.
"Kurenai-san, what if I told you that I do like you?" I asked her.
"Hah, cheeky," she replied with a calm smile, not taking my words seriously. "But still, better not use it."
"I understand, Kurenai-san," I replied, taking her words to heart. There's no point in antagonizing her.
"Once more."
I used the genjutsu on her a few more times, but without any unexpected or playful modifications. I had to focus on observing all the processes to make the technique faster and stronger. After using it ten times, I began to feel a little tired, having expended a lot of chakra.
After resting for half an hour, we resumed practicing the technique, but this time we varied our approach. Kurenai used the genjutsu on me, and then I used it in response, trying to improve its execution, making it more refined and quicker. I couldn't afford for the technique to falter or become a liability in battle due to lack of practice.
Kurenai also shared a rough strategy and tactic for its use, explaining that it's most effective when the opponent doesn't expect it. And if they do, you need to time it perfectly so they can't react. That's the tricky part of any genjutsu, which is why this art isn't particularly popular among shinobi, regardless of the village.
After that, we spent the night resting. In the morning, we set off again. No more breaks were planned, as there was no need. Our village was close now, evidenced by the increasing number of shinobi teams passing by, and the well-trodden road.
We were stopped at the entrance. A few chunin guards checked our documents, a Hyūga scanned us with his Byakugan, and then we were allowed inside. The village hadn't changed at all since the day we left. Even the new buildings didn't seem to have made much progress in their construction.
"To the Residence," said Kiochi-sensei.
We arrived at the mission submission window and headed straight there. There was a small queue, so we had to line up. Kurenai was first, as she also needed to submit her mission. She handed in her form and received her envelope, then turned to us.
"Thank you for the pleasant company," she said with a smile. "I hope we meet again."
"Thank you for the lessons, Kurenai-san," I said. "You can be sure I'll definitely use them in a tough situation."
"I'm glad you've mastered the genjutsu," she said with a warm smile. "I'll watch your development with great interest. And maybe…"
She didn't finish her sentence, but the hint was clear to me—and that was good. I don't think other shinobi need to be particularly curious about what's going on with me. If I reach jōnin rank quickly, the chances of having a "match" will be pretty good. Winning, though, is another matter.
Kurenai left, waving goodbye. We all approached the window and waited for our mission to be fully processed and for us to receive our monetary reward. We didn't have to wait long and quickly got our envelopes before heading outside.
"Well then, Team 12, Team 13," Maito Guy addressed us. "It was a pleasure working with you. I'm sure we'll meet again, as we still need to file a report on this mission. But overall, I thoroughly enjoyed our cooperation."
"I can't say it was bad either," Captain Sarutobi added. "I think we did an excellent job on this mission, and I congratulate you all on that. Not only did we do well, but you also completed it successfully without any combat losses."
Satisfied smiles spread across our faces. Praise is always nice.
"Dismissed," said Guy.
We bid farewell to the other teams and went our separate ways. Captain Kiochi led us to a familiar gazebo where we often had small discussions. It was empty, making it the perfect spot for a meeting.
"So, Team 13," the captain began, "we've completed the mission. What can I say? There's plenty to praise you for, but also plenty to criticize. And there's a lot of the latter. All the issues I noticed, we'll address. For now, I'm thinking of giving you a few days off so you can recover and take a break from this mission."
He paused for a few moments, studying our faces carefully.
"So, head home now to get cleaned up," the captain continued. "I expect you back here in two hours. We'll be working on the report. Teams 11 and 12 might join us. Understood?"
"Hai, Kiochi-sensei," we responded almost in unison.
"Dismissed."
We stood up simultaneously, nodded to each other, and quickly went our separate ways. The girls lived in a different part of the village, so it wasn't on my way at all. The walk home was simple but a bit long. This time, I didn't take the rooftops or rush. I just walked, taking in my surroundings.
People and shinobi were busy with their activities. Some were relaxing in small restaurants, while others were trading or selling goods. Life moved on peacefully.
As I reached my house, I waved to my neighbor, who was sitting in a chair, smoking a thick, brown cigarette. He nodded back and returned to watching the clouds and the blue sky.
I knocked on the door and waited. When it opened, my mother stood there.
"Son?" she asked before rushing to hug me. "Suzuki! You're finally back!"
"Hah," I exhaled, feeling her squeeze me as if she didn't want to let go. Honestly, I could understand her. I hadn't been home for quite a while, and there hadn't been any opportunity to send letters or communicate. "Yeah, I'm back."
"Come in, come in," she said. "Omeda! Suzuki is back from his mission."
"Great," he nodded. There was a tapping sound, and then my father came out, walking with crutches. His right leg was in a cast. "Hey, Suzuki."
We shook hands.
"Dad, what happened?" I asked.
"Ah, I fell and broke my leg when we were returning," he replied. "Nothing serious."
"Maybe you should ask the Iryō-nin to help?" I suggested. "I can pay for the procedure."
"No need, no need," he waved it off immediately. "It was my own foolishness, so… I must bear the consequences myself."
"Well, if you insist," I said, feeling a mix of respect and concern. "So, Mom, Dad, I'll be home for about two hours to clean up, then I have to head out to meet the team and work on the report."
"Alright," Mom nodded, giving me a warm smile. "Go ahead and wash up. I'll cook something tasty. You can have a bite before heading out."
"Thanks," I replied, returning the smile, feeling the warmth of home.
I dashed off to my room and tossed my dirty clothes into a special bin. The few things I had in my bag joined them. Then came half an hour of soaking in the bath, with a few yellow rubber ducks floating on the surface of the pleasantly scented, foamy water. It was nice, but… hot springs are still better. There, you can chat with someone, have a snack, and enjoy a drink.
After the relaxing bath, I changed into fresh clothes, strapped on my pouch, and headed to the table. Dad was already sitting there, his crutches neatly propped against the wall within easy reach. Mom was just finishing up her cooking. The house smelled incredible, filled with the aromas of home-cooked food. One thing's for sure—she always excelled at cooking.
"Enjoy your meal!" she said cheerfully, placing a plate in front of me, then one in front of Dad. Finally, she sat down herself.
"Thank you!" I said and dug into the food.
As expected, everything was delicious and comforting. The food practically melted in my mouth.
"Mmm-mm," I hummed, savoring every bite. "So good! During the mission, we never had food this tasty."
"Oh? What did you eat there?" Mom asked curiously, watching my reaction.
"Dry rations, sandwiches, noodles, and other camp food," I replied, taking another enthusiastic bite. "Hardly any spices or flavor. I'd even say the food was very bland."
"Hmm," Mom mused, scooping more food onto our plates. "Next time, you should take some extra spices with you."
"Thanks," I nodded, smiling at the thought of her care.
"So, where was your mission?" Dad asked, curious. "I didn't quite catch it from your note."
"In the Land of Frost," I replied. "We passed through the Land of Hot Springs."
"Ohh," Dad said, raising his eyebrows in surprise. "Did you get a chance to visit the famous hot springs?"
"No," I shook my head, recalling the journey. "Our caravan didn't stop anywhere… We didn't even take significant breaks while on the road."
"That's a shame," Dad said, sounding a bit disappointed for me. "I've heard the hot springs there are truly amazing. No other place can compare."
"Well, I heard the Land of Waterfalls has excellent springs too," Mom said, placing her spoon in her soup.
"You've never been there," Dad smirked, a light smile on his face.
"Neither have you," Mom shot back quickly, smiling slyly. "Just like you've never been to the Land of Hot Springs."
"Tch," Dad rolled his eyes, pretending to be offended. "Well, Hotaru, I did promise that we'd go there someday."
"You've been promising me that for ten years," Mom said with a slight reproach, pointing her finger at him. "Suzuki, remember this: When you find your love, always keep your promises. Even if you don't find someone, still keep them."
"Says the one to talk," Dad muttered, raising an eyebrow with mild discontent.
"I've explained it to you," Mom said with slight frustration, crossing her arms. "I just can't."
"What are you talking about?" I asked, feeling like I'd stepped into the middle of an old conversation.
"Your father wanted a third child. A daughter," Mom sighed. "But my health won't allow it."
"I could've had a sister?" I asked, surprised, my eyes wide. "Huh."
"Don't ask," Mom said, waving her hand to dismiss the topic.
The conversation then shifted to family acquaintances—people my parents kept in touch with. I only knew them superficially since I never had much time to get to know them better. There were always other things demanding my attention.
"Thanks for the meal," I said, glancing at the clock. "But I need to get going. The team meeting and reports won't write themselves."
"Mhm," Mom nodded. "When do you think you'll be back?"
"Not sure yet," I shrugged. "Depends on how tough the report is."
"Okay."
With a nod to my parents, I quickly set off for the meeting with my team. I didn't feel like working on the report at all. I wanted to collapse into my bed and drift off to sleep. But there was no choice—reports are an important part of every shinobi's job, especially if that shinobi is a team captain.
I arrived first, as usual. Then came Kiochi-sensei, followed by Shiko and Ayamane.
"Good," the captain said. "Let's go. I know a great place where we can work on the report."