"You guys enjoy it here. I will be leaving now."
Asuma smiled as he bid farewell before leaving.
…
'I should have stayed!!'
While on his way back home, Asuma was deep in thought.
'But I need to train my students too. The shinobi world has never been safe. And this time, it's getting even more difficult to survive.'
At the same time, he also had enough reasons to suppress his personal feelings to work on his students.
The shinobi world has never been safe and probably never will be. But it was his responsibility to look after his students and guide them into a strong shinobi.
After the attack by Orochimaru, Asuma himself began to train like crazy. He knew that he was in way at the same level as Orochimaru, but he wanted stre.
'I cannot be helpless like my old man. I need to guide them to be strong enough.'
He was very much aware that his potential was exhausted. The rest of his time was better used on training the young ones as he was already quite past the peak.
This thought alone made him suppress his personal feelings. Since he had promised, he needed to train them.
…
At the same time at Reko's house.
'Hmm? Someone stepped into the Genjutsu trap.'
After successfully acquiring the Genjutsu technique from Kurenai, Reko was very excited to use the skills on someone. Because the technique was capable of tampering with terrain, he decided that his house was the best suited practice site for this.
He was aware that subordinates of Danzo were frequent visitors to his place. So, he decided to skillfully add a few unnoticeable changes in the surroundings using Demonic illusion: Double false.
And he sensed an intruder timely.
'I guessed as much. He didn't even sense the leaves.'
The shinobi had avoided stepping on the leaf that Reko had placed but the former did not know that avoiding stepping on the leaf had caused him to step into the Genjutsu.
The Genjutsu was capable of changing the surroundings. Though it required massive chakra, once created, it became very easy to maintain. Not that he lacked chakra with his massive reserves.
'Now that I am capable of influencing him, What should I make him do?'
To Reko, it felt very exciting. The ability to control and manipulate a human to such extent. Since the intruder had got caught in the technique, Reko was showing him the illusion where Reko was practicing near the window and the intruder spied.
However, Reko was actually standing beside the intruder, thinking of his next step. He had suddenly gotten the Genjutsu technique at such a high level that he could not decide on one answer.
'Pranking him would have been fun but that would allow him to realise that I am skilled in illusion.'
The first thought on his mind was to prank the intruder. But then again, it was a shinobi from root, meaning that the reaction from the emotionless intruder would not be worth watching. Also, the shinobi will report it to Danzo, exposing Reko's expertise in illusion.
'Let it be. They would get the news, once I show my skills to Kurenai. So, I might as well play right now.'
Just as he was very close to making a decision against pranking the intruder, he realised that he was going to expose his skill level to Kurenai. So, it did not make sense for him to hide his expertise for a day longer.
'Level 41. He is not bad for a spying mission on a newly promoted Jonin or someone with no sensory skills.'
The intruder was fully covered, hiding his identity. Reko did not bother touching him as that would alert the shinobi.
The shinobi was level 41. Though not very strong, Reko believed that the shinobi had expertise in stealth techniques. If not for the large scale Genjutsu, Reko would not have noticed that guy.
'And with this, you're done.'
Carefully following the spy's movements, Reko stuck a note on his back. A note for Danzo.
With that, he walked back to his house and stayed near the window, releasing the spy from the Genjutsu.
"Hmm, I need to plant some flowers and decorate my garden. It is very empty at the moment."
Reko looked around, realising that his house looked very empty and did not have much to place traps on. But it would change for better once he plants a lot of flowers and trees, increasing the number of leaves.
…
Sitting on his usual throne, Danzo stared at a piece of paper, a handwritten note.
"I THOUGHT WE WERE PARTNERS? WHY ARE YOU SPYING ON ME??
NEXT TIME SEND BEAUTIFUL WOMAN IF YOU GOT, NOT MEN. OKAY?"
He crumbled the piece of paper into ball before throwing it into a fire nearby, his eyes staring daggers at the individual responsible for the spy mission.
…
The next morning.
"How are you doing Sakura?"
As Shizune entered the cabin where Sakura was practicing. Sakura sighed and explained with disappointment how she was looking forward to Reko's visit.
She had the desire to compete and compare again Reko but that guy had not visited at all, failing his promise to keep visiting.
"Reko did not visit? Oh, okay."
Shizune was also kind of disappointed. This behaviour not only showed that Reko was hellbent on improving his strength but it also signified that his priorities were truly different.
She recalled how Lady Tsunade had speculated that Reko was one of those guys who could go past the limits to increase his strength, such as joining hands with Danzo.
Shizune did not want to believe that speculation but Reko's meeting with Danzo and then this disconnect kind of made it suspicious.
'It appears that there is some truth to Lady Tsunade's words.'
'But it could be that he is just training. Why would he play around and waste time when he can get results with his training?'
She believed that Reko was training like usual. Unlike others, he kept getting high results with his training. This reasoning kind of justified Reko's behaviour to her.
'Should I go and check on him?'
Shizune thought to herself, wanting to go and visit his house.
"It's alright. I will give him a surprise once he visits."
Sakura did not seem to be particularly bothered by this. Instead, she was even more motivated to train hard in hopes that she would beat Reko.
…
As Kurenai sparred with Hinata and Shino, Kiba lay near Reko, lying on his back as he watched the spar.
He was already exhausted and the sparring partner he chose was Reko instead of Kurenai. He was aware that sparring against Reko was more beneficial to him than sparring against his own Sensei.
Especially his human and beast combination jutsu. Reko was a close and mid range fighter with strong taijutsu unlike Kurenai. This suited Kiba's taste.
"Are you hitting on Kurenai Sensei??"
Suddenly, out of nowhere, Kiba whispered into Reko's ears. Kurenai flinched as she heard the whisper, her eyes flickered but she continued with the sparring.
"Hmm?"
Reko was watching the spar, understanding how the Aburame and Hyuga clans techniques worked. But all of a sudden, he heard that cheeky voice again.
'What a cheeky bastard. He is at it again.'
Because of some reason, Kiba had become aware of Reko's intentions with Kurenai. Reko did not accept or deny it but then, Kiba's questioning became frequent.
'He is still young, otherwise, I would have told him how I am with Tsume.'
In the mood to tease, Reko had an urge to disclose his relationship with Tsume to Kiba. And explain to the boy how he was his new Father, but Reko resisted.
Instead, Reko tapped Kiba's head lightly, putting him under a Genjutsu where he kept being beaten in Taijutsu. Though the pain felt real, it was not Reko's problem.
After a few minutes, Kurenai was done sparring and rested together with Reko while Hinata and Shino sat together, discussing their spar.
Who knows when, but suddenly he heard Kiba's voice from the side of Hinata and Shino.
"Don't you think Kurenai Sensei and Reko are a little suspicious??"
That guy had gotten a really serious look on his face as he whispered to his teammates.
"Suspicious? You're just overthinking it. Focus on training."
Shino tried to shut him up as sensed both Reko and Kurenai staring at them.
"What do you mean focus on training? I am better than you."
Saying so, Kiba continued to put forth his assumptions and theories as to how there is something going on between the two while Hinata sheepishly nodded and listened.
"Sure, whatever you say."
Shino did not seem to fully agree, but only nodded as if to show Kiba that he was listening.
"Ahem! How's your Genjutsu progress coming along?"
Coughing loudly, Kurenai focused Reko's attention on her. She was curious to know how far Reko had come with his techniques.
He had already shown her his talent and these last few days she came to realise that there were always some prodigies like him.
She was curious about the Genjutsu reversal training he had been doing.
"Why don't you try it out?"
Reko smirked as he requested Kurenai to try putting him in a Genjutsu.
...
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