Chapter 51: Yūhi Kurenai Wants to Resign
"Kurenai-sensei is acting strange?"
Byakuya looked at Hinata with some confusion.
Although he frequently used the Telescope Technique to observe others,
he only paid attention to people who had some connection to him or were tied to the main plot.
Someone like Yūhi Kurenai — a non-core character — wasn't really on his radar.
So he had no idea what might have happened to her.
Could it be some unexpected side effect caused by Uchiha Izumi's appearance?
A trace of doubt flickered in his heart.
Byakuya slowly asked,
"What exactly feels off about her?"
"I… I can't really explain it."
Hinata thought for a moment, then shook her head.
"I've been locked away doing special family training this whole time,
so I haven't been in contact with Kurenai-sensei.
It was Kiba who noticed something was wrong with her and came to the compound to talk to me about it.
That's when the clan elders finally let me out.
After I got out…
I… I came straight to… the bookstore…
I haven't gone to see Kurenai-sensei yet.
I haven't even seen what she looks like right now…"
"I see~"
Byakuya nodded.
He understood now that everything Hinata knew had come second-hand from Kiba.
"Then let's go take a look tomorrow morning."
"Mm!"
"Why are you eating so slowly…?"
"I… I'm already full…"
Hinata's face flushed red as she quietly spoke, delicately chewing on a single strand of noodle.
If Byakuya didn't already know she was the legendary big-eater who once out-ate Chōji…
he might have thought she was just one of those girls who ate tiny portions to stay slim.
Seeing that Hinata really had no intention of eating more,
Byakuya also set down his chopsticks.
Then he took her for a walk around the village.
…
Early the next morning,
Byakuya first assigned Sasuke his training tasks for the day.
Only then did he head toward the meeting spot he had arranged with Hinata.
"Byakuya-kun~"
The moment he appeared at the corner of the street, Hinata's face turned red as she waved enthusiastically to greet him.
Beside her, Inuzuka Kiba also raised a hand in greeting.
Aburame Shino, on the other hand, was as quiet as ever.
He simply stood there in silence.
"You guys got here pretty early~"
Byakuya smiled and nodded to the group.
Then he looked at Kiba.
"Kiba~
So what exactly is going on?"
"Kurenai-sensei… for some reason, she suddenly wants to resign."
Kiba gave Byakuya a complicated glance.
He honestly couldn't wrap his head around it.
The guy in front of him was a notorious class-skipper just like him.
Yet somehow his grades were in a completely different league…
Kiba had originally thought that once they graduated and Byakuya stopped being a shinobi, he could finally catch up.
But then Byakuya casually gave Hinata a few pointers,
and suddenly Hinata became someone who surpassed even jōnin.
As for Byakuya's own strength…
Although they hadn't fought since graduation,
Akamaru would tremble in fear the moment he sensed Byakuya nearby.
From that alone, it was clear that Byakuya's true power was probably terrifying.
So this is what they call a genius, huh…
Kiba sighed silently in his heart.
Then he finally got to the point.
"A couple of days ago, we gathered as usual to prepare for a mission with Kurenai-sensei.
But right away we could tell something was off with her.
She seemed really distracted, like her mind was somewhere else.
At first we didn't think much of it — figured maybe she was just feeling under the weather.
But then yesterday… she straight-up said she wanted to resign.
I got so shocked I immediately asked why.
But she wouldn't tell me anything.
I had no choice but to go find Hinata and ask if she knew what was going on.
I never expected… she'd bring you along."
"Maybe she's got something weighing on her mind?"
Byakuya frowned slightly.
"Either way, let's go see her first."
"Alright~"
The four of them set off together toward Yūhi Kurenai's home.
Since they arrived quite early,
Kurenai had only just gotten out of bed.
"Kurenai-sensei, good morning~"
After exchanging greetings, everyone stepped inside her house.
Byakuya gave Kurenai a brief once-over.
She looked exhausted, her face pale and worn — clearly someone who hadn't slept well at all.
"Kurenai-sensei… I heard you want to resign…
May I ask why?"
Hinata went straight to the point.
"Please… don't abandon Team 8…"
Kiba nodded vigorously from the side.
"Yeah!
Kurenai-sensei!
You can't just give up on Team 8 like that!"
Shino and Byakuya stayed quiet, simply sitting off to the side and watching.
"This…"
Kurenai faltered, unsure how to respond at first.
After a slight hesitation, she gave a bitter smile.
"My health hasn't been good lately.
I probably can't continue taking on missions.
The Chūnin Exams are over now,
and Hinata has become a chūnin.
Moreover… her strength has already surpassed mine.
So the three of you are fully capable of handling missions on your own.
That's why I've decided to resign."
"I… I…"
Hinata immediately started stammering.
"I still lack experience…"
"Hinata."
Kurenai smiled gently.
"You're underestimating yourself too much.
All three of you have very strong sensory abilities.
With that, you'll rarely fall into enemy traps.
And with your strength on top of that…
you can absolutely handle missions independently.
Parting ways with you all was always going to happen eventually.
It's just a matter of sooner or later.
So there's no need to feel too sad about it.
You can still come visit me to talk anytime~
Besides… I'll continue leading you for a little while longer.
I'll only submit my resignation once the Fifth Hokage takes office."
"Is… is that how it is?"
The three of them — Hinata, Kiba, and Shino — all fell into a gloomy silence.
But right at that moment,
Byakuya suddenly spoke up.
"Sensei… you're lying, aren't you~?"
He smiled softly as he looked at Yūhi Kurenai.
"Truth is… you don't want to let them go either, do you?"
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