The distance created between us became too big,
because we were always together
Your honest reply, "See you..."
coming from that brash mouth makes it sadder.
If you are in an unfamiliar town, crying
Then I want to deliver you a smile, even if I'm not by your side
Fly into the wavy and twisted sky, into your hands
I can feel it so close,
Our two hearts
Sure enough, I just can't get into training by myself.
As for the Pervy Sage...
I wonder what he's doing and where?
And what happened to him watching my training?! Damn it!
What's she doing?
Wow, are you painting a picture?
Huh?!
There's nothing like rain clouds in the sky.
Wha?
The Hokage's house!
Hurry! Get a move on.
Water, water, water!
Right away!
- Water Style! - Water Style!
- Marine Battle Formation Jutsu! - Marine Battle Formation Jutsu!
Whoa! You idiots. Not me, up on the roof!
We're very sorry!
Right, keep it up.
Yes, ma'am!
As I thought, the thing I had feared has happened...
Kurenai's Decision. Squad 8 Left Behind
There she is.
Hey! Wait up!
Giving us trouble.
Let's hurry up and take her back.
Right.
Hey, wait!
What're you guys doing?!
Anbu Black Ops?!
Naruto Uzumaki, leave this place immediately.
Huh?!
As for her, what'd she do?
It doesn't concern you.
Listen up. Don't breathe a word of what you saw here.
Knock it off! Just a minute!
Don't get in our way!
Oh! They vanished...
Damn it! What's going on?!
Oh, important documents are soaked.
This will have to be dried in the sun.
I'll take them outside.
Thanks.
'Morning.
Oh, Kurenai Sensei.
Is the Fifth Hokage in?
Yes.
So? Is there no change to your sentiment about pulling out of Squad 8?
No.
Think about it carefully.
Kiba, Shino, Hinata...
You're the one who recommended those guys lacking in experience
for the Chunin Exam.
You don't care about them?
But I must not leave that problem unresolved.
It's my responsibility, so...
That incident was no fault of yours.
If the Anbu Black Ops are involved, then is she a considerably bad person?
Or was she involved in some kind of significant incident?
What did you say?!
Calm down, Kiba.
Kiba, Hinata?
Hey, Shino. Say that again!
Very well. I said it'd be futile.
How dare you say something like that...!
Cut it out!
Naruto.
Calm down. What the hell's wrong?
We in Squad 8 were left high and dry by Kurenai Sensei.
Huh? What do you mean?
You see, Sensei spoke to us directly about it.
My duty is completed.
You will probably be provided with another Jonin in charge eventually.
Just a minute, Kurenai Sensei.
Sensei...
It's written in stone.
Our relationship is just that of commander and subordinate.
It's just the team formation changing as circumstances demand.
And that was that. She didn't even give us a reason.
That was that? Are you guys going to accept that?
Hell no! That's why I'm saying we should march into the Hokage's office and
protest why she is removin Kurenai Sensei from our Squad 8!
Then this Shino says...
I'm saying it's futile.
It's because this might be something she herself decided on.
Pig-headed jerk!
Hinata, what do you think?
I also want Kurenai Sensei to stay as our Jonin in charge...
But...
But what?!
Kurenai Sensei might have some kind of reason of her own...
Umm...
So you're the same as Shino, huh?
No... Kiba!
Just stop fighting already. I'll do something about this.
Naruto, you're not even on this team.
What're you going to do?
Leave it to me.
I won't let Kurenai Sensei quit, no matter what.
I blurted out that they can leave it to me, but I don't know.
Hm?
Kurenai Sensei.
What's she doing?
All right, I should ask her directly.
Umm, Sensei.
Naruto.
I heard from Kiba and the others.
What?
Don't give up being in charge of Squad 8.
They're really depressed.
That's why you went to the trouble of coming?
Yeah. It seems they really revere you.
I don't know what you heard from those kids,
but I can't do that.
I don't deserve to.
Deserve?
Please tell them all for me. Tell them I'm never coming back.
Sensei.
Damn it. She hardly listened to me at all.
Since it's come to this, I guess I'll try Grandma Tsunade directly.
Naruto.
Sakura!
What is it?
Kurenai Sensei says she's going to quit Squad 8,
so I'm going to try asking Grandma Tsunade directly.
I think that'd be useless... Probably.
It'll be okay.
As for me, I know the place where she keeps her alcohol hidden,
so if I threaten to reveal it to Shizune...
What I meant was that she must have some good reason for quitting.
What? What? By any chance, do you know something, Sakura?
Huh?
You know something, right? Tell me.
No, don't know anything.
Come on, tell me!
You're a pest.
Would I ever do something like eavesdrop on someone's important talk?
What? You eavesdropped?
Yikes!
You idiot. Don't talk so loud!
Yakumo?
Yeah. If I remember correctly, that's what she said.
I am at fault for letting Yakumo become like that.
No, I'd say instead that she was fine up until now
because I put her in your custody...
Shizune, how're the nursing arrangements?
A three man team consisting of
two Medical Ninja and one Anbu Black Ops member
are keeping a 24 hour watch over her in a mountain cottage near Satomi Hill.
Even so, you can't rest easy?
No.
I want to take responsibility in my own way.
Speaking of Satomi Hill, this morning...
The conditions are spot on.
What was the girl's name again?
Yakumo.
Yakumo. Thanks, Sakura.
Hey, Naruto. Don't tell anyone I said anything!
Yeah, I know.
If that girl is Yakumo,
then she might know something about Kurenai Sensei.
Lee, you are not stepping in deep enough.
Right.
Kurenai Yuhi.
I make this request with full confidence
that you are the best practitioner of Genjutsu in this village.
Could you take charge of that girl?
Who's this girl?
Yakumo Kurama.
You know about the Kurama Clan, don't you?
Yes.
At one time, they were a clan excelling in Genjutsu
and were a power in the Village Hidden in the Leaves
in the same way as the Uchiha Clan.
But they haven't been blessed in recent years with talent,
their force has weakened and
they have not been able to turn out Jonin -class Shinobi.
Yakumo Kurama is the Kurama...
Yes... She's the only daughter of the Murakumo of the head family.
She has health issues and is not enrolled in the Academy.
Then you want me to take charge of her
and train her to be a practitioner of Genjutsu?
No.
There's no doubt Yakumo's latent Genjutsu powers are excellent.
So much so that those in the clan
put their dreams of rebuilding the family on her.
Was there some kind of problem?
This is just between us.
Yes.
Yakumo's parents, Murakumo Kurama and his wife died, but...
You okay? Don't push yourself too hard.
I'm okay. I'm fine.
I'm just a bit out of breath.
Listen to me, Yakumo.
A Shinobi is not your only path.
Huh?
You're a girl and you should have many other ways to live.
I want to become a Ninja!
I heard there's a student named Rock Lee who can't use Ninjutsu and Genjutsu
striving to be a Ninja just with Taijutsu.
I may not have much physical strength,
but I could become a Ninja if I were to use that power, right?
A Ninja like you, Kurenai Sensei.
I'm not a teacher like Guy.
Unfortunately, I cannot train you.
All right, that's all for today.
Thank you very much.
Take a bath and get a good rest.
Right. Good-bye.
Lee has improved again, huh?
I heard. It seems you're quitting Squad 8.
I have no choice.
Those who develop under me end up not developing.
It's not like that.
Although they're no match for my team,
the growth of the Genin in your team is striking.
If that's the case, it's not because of my help.
It's the results of their own efforts.
Hey, Kurenai.
What do you think it is that we can do?
As you say, Lee growing to that extent is due to his own efforts.
All I did for him was to believe in him.
We believe in our pupils even at the cost of our lives.
We just need to believe in them with all our power,
and embrace them with all our power.
It's not a difficult thing in the least.
Guy, I envy you...
I couldn't even do something that simple.
Hey, Kurenai.
Believe in yourself!
From where and how are Kurenai Sensei
and that girl from this morning connected?
It would seem to be worth looking into.
That must be the Satomi Hill mountain cottage.
Satomi Hill Cottage
The east trap?
So it seems.
An intruder?
Yes.
Kurenai.
Good work on your 24 hour guard. I came to visit Yakumo.
This late at night?
Yakumo is resting inside.
Could you guys step away for a bit? I want to talk to her alone.
Yes, ma'am.
Don't be long.
I'll be done in ten minutes.
Fine.
Nothing but creepy paintings.
Please, Sensei!
- What?! - What?!
Whoa, my heart, my heart!
Huh? There's nothing wrong.
Hey, it's you again?!
To think you'd transform into Kurenai with a Transformation Jutsu.
Hey, what the heck was that earlier?
Shut up! For your sake, don't be nosing around needlessly.
Hey.
You're Yakumo. Right?
I want to ask you something about Kurenai Sensei!
Damn it.
The Key to the rusted heart's door
Will always be smiling right near by
Even if rains of spears were to fall, I will run through it
Because I want to find the joy without a shape
This big dream of mine that cannot be translated to words,
I will make it come true, even if it were to deepen my wounds
We stand here today because of what we believed through,
That is why I will continue running forward, never looking away
Even if I'm told that there is no bright future
I'll change it right away, lighting it with all my feeling
The wind is probably testing our hearts
In my heart, I gently grasped my hands
You are probably searching for the answer to your tears
Your dream is always waiting near by, with the answers in its hands
The Key to the rusted heart's door
Will always be smiling right near by