"Hey, Kurenai, I'll handle dinner tonight. Just wait and be amazed."
"No, thanks. I'd rather not endure another one of your food experiments."
"Hey, come on. We're best friends for life. Don't you trust me even a little?"
"This is different."
"Fine, you asked for it. Watch out for my Shadow Snake Hands."
"Anko, cut it out."
Evening.
With Kurenai's gentle persuasion, Anko finally gave up her mischievous plan of sneaking into Kakashi's house and hiding venomous snakes in his bed as payback for an unsatisfying spar earlier that day.
After a lively trip to the market, the two friends returned to Kurenai's house, chatting and laughing all the way.
Kurenai had grown used to her best friend, Anko, persistently freeloading at her place.
And besides, without him around, Kurenai enjoyed the liveliness of having Anko's company.
What's more, they weren't just friends anymore.
Now, they were "allies" in the same cause.
"Eh?"
"Kiyoshi?"
As soon as they opened the door, they saw Kiyoshi sitting on the couch, smiling at them warmly.
Their surprise quickly turned into delight.
"Kurenai-nee… Anko-nee..."
Kiyoshi stood up, looking at their joy-filled faces, and asked with a grin, "It's been over half a month. Did you miss me?"
"Is it really you? This is wonderful, Kiyoshi."
Overcome with excitement, Anko threw herself at Kiyoshi, hugging him tightly and planting several playful kisses on his face.
However, she didn't cling to him for long and soon let go to give her best friend Kurenai her turn.
"Kurenai-nee." Kiyoshi opened his arms for the now even more stunningly beautiful Kurenai.
"Kiyoshi."
After confirming it was indeed Kiyoshi, Kurenai, though not as bold as Anko, hugged him gently like a swallow returning to its nest. Her heart was brimming with joy.
"How come you're back?"
"Lady Tsunade didn't really have much more to teach me." Kiyoshi answered softly, holding Kurenai close and inhaling her sweet, familiar fragrance.
He placed a gentle kiss on her lips, smiling as he added, "So I could come back anytime."
"Is that so?"
Kurenai and Anko nestled on either side of him, not seeming too surprised.
Given how close they'd been to Kiyoshi before he left, they knew full well that even the Sannin were no longer a match for him.
"I watched your spar with Kakashi, Anko-nee."
Kiyoshi turned to Anko, his admiration evident. "I was impressed to see you wielding thunder swords, Kiba, one of the Seven Swords of the Mist. It suits you perfectly."
"Eh?"
"You saw that, Kiyoshi?"
Both women looked at him in astonishment, surprised he'd been watching their fight all along.
"Hehe, those thunder swords are pretty cool, aren't they?"
Receiving Kiyoshi's praise, Anko clung happily to his arm, squinting with joy.
"I really went all out to ask the Third Hokage for those."
"Hmph, cheeky girl. Do you really think the Third would've agreed if it wasn't for Kiyoshi?" Kurenai rolled her eyes.
"Who cares? I've got someone to back me up now."
Anko didn't mind one bit. After all, her man could easily put the Hokage in his place, so why shouldn't she throw her weight around a little?
Kurenai rolled her eyes again and briefly told Kiyoshi about their recent mission involving Raiga.
"Not only Raiga, but you also encountered Zabuza?" Kiyoshi raised an eyebrow, somewhat taken aback.
He hadn't expected the Third Hokage to assign such a mission and was surprised that Kurenai and Anko had run into Zabuza, another rogue ninja from Kirigakure.
But he didn't worry.
With Kurenai and Anko's current abilities, dealing with the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist wasn't a problem.
If they went all out and worked together, their combined strength would be more than enough to make even Kisame, the notoriously powerful wielder of Samehada, think twice before challenging them.
Especially Anko, now.
Not only did she possess the Dark Release Kekkei Genkai, which he had personally enhanced and refined using sealing and space-time techniques, but she had also gained the powers of the Jugo clan, mastering a perfect Sage Transformation.
Under his guidance, she could now efficiently utilize the Sage Chakra generated by her Sage Transformation, which, while a little different from the standard Sage Mode, was equally potent.
With another two or three years of training, she'd likely be able to pound the "Strongest Hokage," Hiruzen, into the ground.
And Kurenai?
Kiyoshi, who cherished her deeply, hadn't neglected her either, having taught her the Dust Release Kekkei Tota and other Earth-style secrets from Iwagakure.
Now, chakra wasn't the limiting factor in her growth anymore. She had also mastered the elemental transformations of wind, earth, and fire chakra.
Once she grasped the Dust Release that Kiyoshi had personally taught her, Kurenai's strength would skyrocket.
Her Red Eye, with insight beyond even the Byakugan, would make defeating the so-called "Strongest Hokage" almost effortless.
Kiyoshi had personally provided each one of them with power of Dust Release and Jugo clan recently with the help of his fruit abilities and Root, this had hugely boosted their overall strength.
"The thunder swords are just a pair of blades, no big deal."
Kiyoshi chuckled as he patted Anko's head. "But the Third does know how to handle things well. He's not as rigid as he seems."
"Oh, by the way, Kiyoshi, have you eaten yet?"
Noticing Kiyoshi's strikingly face, Kurenai held up the bags of groceries she'd bought and smiled.
"You and Anko can relax here. I'll make us dinner."
Though she hadn't bought much, there were still ingredients in the fridge. She could whip up a hearty dinner without a problem.
Even though she knew that the moment she stepped into the kitchen, a certain mischievous friend might take advantage of the situation, she no longer minded.
She'd reached a point where she could simply turn a blind eye and pretend not to notice.
Thinking of the promise she'd made to Kiyoshi before he left, Kurenai's cheeks flushed a delicate pink, her heart racing uncontrollably.
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