The World of Kunoichi Chapter 7 (Patreon)

The road through the Land of Fire stretched on, quiet and deceptively peaceful. Birds chirped overhead. Leaves rustled in the breeze. Sunlight filtered through the canopy in soft, golden streaks.

Leo walked with his shoulders hunched, his eyes darting toward the swaying tall grass every time the wind picked up. The phantom sensation of the bandit leader’s rough grip still lingered on his skin, a cold reminder of how easily he could be snatched away.

Without even realizing it, he drifted closer to Anko, his arm brushing against hers until he finally just reached out, his fingers finding hers and lacing them together in a silent plea for stability.

Anko didn’t say a word. She simply adjusted her grip, her thumb tracing slow, soothing circles over his knuckles. Internally, she was beaming. ‘That’s right, Leo… stay right here. Safest place in the world,’ she thought, her protective instincts humming with a dark, satisfied purr. She was still vibrating from the adrenaline of the massacre, but the warmth of his hand was a steadying anchor. She glanced back at the forest they had left behind, thankful that Kurenai’s genjutsu had hidden the gruesome end of the kidnapper. Leo didn’t need to see any more blood today.

Kurenai, meanwhile, was walking on the other side of Leo, struggling to maintain her legendary composure. To the outside world, she looked like the picture of professional grace, back straight, red eyes scanning the horizon. But inside, her mind was a whirlwind of frantic, uncharacteristic insecurity.

‘He’s right there,’ She thought, her pulse thrumming in her ears. ‘A real, living man.’ She stole a glance at him, noting the way his hair fell over his brow and the soft line of his jaw. Every time she looked, she felt a dizzying rush of wonder, followed immediately by a sharp jolt of panic. She quickly snapped her head back forward, her cheeks burning.

‘Stop it, Kurenai! You’re staring like a common bandit, you’ll make him uncomfortable.’ She scolded herself but then her thoughts spiraled. ‘But if I don’t speak… is that worse? What if he thinks I’m ignoring him? What do men even talk about? What if I say the wrong thing? If I mention the weather, is that too boring? If I ask more about him, will I sound like an interrogator? Oh, heavens, what if I look terrible? I’ll scare him off.’

But as she continued to spiral, her gaze drifted down to their interlaced hands. Her eyes widened, her analytical mind struggling to reconcile what she was seeing with every social etiquette lesson about men she had ever learned.

‘I thought men disliked being touched by strangers,’ She mused, her brow furrowing. ‘But he’s leaning into her. He isn’t pulling away. In fact, he looks… calmer.’ That shouldn’t be possible. Everything she had been taught, everything she knew, told her otherwise as men were easily overwhelmed.

She then looked at Anko, who was practically radiating a smug, triumphant aura. Kurenai felt a strange, unfamiliar prickle of envy tighten in her chest.

‘A week ago, Anko was as much a virgin as I am,’ Kurenai thought, her eyes narrowing slightly. ‘How did she do it? How did she get him to trust her this much? Did she use a genjutsu? No… his expression is too genuine. He actually feels safe with her.’

She bit her lip, her purple-shadowed eyes flickering back to Leo’s face. ‘If Anko can do it… if that loud, impulsive girl can make a man feel that secure… then what am I doing wrong?’

Leo looked up then, catching Kurenai’s gaze before she could look away. He offered her a small, shy smile. “Thanks again, Kurenai. For, you know… saving me back there.”

Kurenai’s heart did a violent somersault. Her face flushed a deep, vivid crimson that matched her eyes. “I—it was merely my duty as a kunoichi of the Leaf,” She managed to stammer, her voice an octave higher than usual. ‘Too formal! You sounded like a textbook! Say something else!’ “I am… simply glad you are unharmed, Leo.”

Anko’s smirk widened, her grip on Leo’s hand becoming a fraction more possessive as she pulled him just an inch closer to her side. “Don’t worry, Kurenai. I’ve got everything under  control. Right, Leo?”

Leo nodded, leaning his head briefly against Anko’s shoulder as they walked. “Right.”

—-----------------------------------------------

Evening

The amber glow of the evening sun filtered through the towering trees, casting long, skeletal shadows across the road. They had walked for hours. Far enough that even the tension from earlier had dulled though not disappeared.

The group finally drifted to a halt as Leo’s stomach let out a protest that echoed in the quiet forest.

“Sorry,” Leo muttered, rubbing the back of his neck. “Uh… I think I’m getting kinda hungry.”

“Food break!” Anko declared, though her eyes were still scanning the treeline with a twitchy, protective intensity. She reached into her gear pouch and pulled out a small sealing scroll, unfurling it on a flat patch of grass. With a small puff of smoke, a thick, comfortable travel blanket appeared.

“Thanks…” He said, dropping down onto the blanket with a quiet exhale as his legs felt like lead. 

“I’ll go hunt for us, something to eat.” Anko said as she was about to walk into the forest. 

“I actually have some food for us to eat.” But before Anko could leave, Kurenai stops her.

Almost instantly with news that she didn’t have to hunt, Anko was quickly next to Leo with a smile, dropping down so close to him that their shoulders were locked, her presence a warm, solid barrier between him and the rest of the world.

“…I prepared this earlier,” Kurenai said as she took her place across from them, her hands trembling slightly as she reached into her own storage scroll. She then produced a lacquered bento box, opening it to reveal neatly stacked sandwiches with their crusts trimmed. “They’re a bit simple but I hope you like them.” Kurenai said, her voice soft as she offered the first sandwich to Leo. Her red eyes were fixed on his hands as he took it. She then handed another portion to Anko, who didn’t waste a second to eat. 

“Finally,” Anko muttered, already biting into it.

“Thanks, Kurenai. I’m starving,” Leo said with an easy smile, taking a bite.

Kurenai’s attention stayed on Leo as she held her breath. ‘Is the bread too dry? Is there enough filling? Oh, why didn't I pack the smoked salmon?’ She agonized internally. 

“…This is really good,” Leo said as his eyes lit up and he gave an appreciative hum, causing Kurenai to feel a rush of relief so potent it made her lightheaded.

“…I’m glad.” Kurenai said, though internally cheered. ‘He likes it. He actually likes it,’ She thought, a small, secret victory dancing in her chest. ‘Next time, I’ll prepare a five-course meal. I’ll show him that a Yuhi’s hospitality is unmatched.’

A brief silence settled between them as they enjoyed the picnic-like atmosphere.

Kurenai's fingers then shifted slightly. ‘Say something.’ Her eyes flicked toward Leo, then she cleared her throat, trying to find a way to bridge the silence that would help her get closer to the male here. “Leo… are you… feeling better?” She asked. The question felt clunky in her mouth, her social grace failing her in the presence of a man. ‘That sounded so awkward!’

“Oh—yeah. I feel way better,” Leo replied with a genuine smile. “Honestly, thanks for the save back there. I don’t know what would have happened to me if the bandit kept me.”

Kurenai’s face flooded with color, the red spreading to the tips of her ears. “I-I was merely performing my duty,” She stammered, adjusting her bandages to hide her nervousness. “As a kunoichi of the Leaf, the safety of the Land of Fire’s citizens is paramount.”

Leo watched her, finding her reaction fascinating. In the anime, Kurenai was the pinnacle of the "mature, composed woman." But here, she was a stuttering mess of blushes and overthinking. ‘It’s actually… really cute,’ He thought, a bit of his old otaku confidence resurfacing.

“So, Kurenai,” Leo said, leaning forward a bit, “what’s your specialty? Anko told me she’s the snake expert, but what about you?”

Kurenai’s heart leaped. ‘He’s asking about me? He wants to know me?’ “I… I specialize in Genjutsu,” she began, her voice still shaky. “The art of… of illusions. I manipulate the senses to—to create—well, I can show you sometime! If you’d like!” She clamped her mouth shut, her mind screaming: ‘Don’t offer to trap him in a dream on the first date, Kurenai! You’re being weird!’

Anko’s eyes narrowed. She didn't like the way Leo was looking at Kurenai, with that curious, appreciative glint. She felt a sharp prickle of jealousy. 

Without a word, Anko shifted, sliding her arm behind Leo’s back and pulling him firmly against her side. “Yeah, Kurenai is great at making people see things that aren’t there,” Anko interrupted, her voice dripping with mock-casualness. “But I’m the one who handles the real threats. Right, Leo?”

Kurenai’s eyes snapped to Anko’s possessive arm. A cold, competitive fire ignited in her crimson gaze. “Anko, don't be so impulsive,” Kurenai said, her voice getting a bit of an edge. “Leo was speaking to me. It’s rude to interrupt a man.”

“He’s not just a man, he's also my partner!” Anko shot back, her teeth bared in a grin that was half-playful and half-ferocious.

“He is a male under official escort,” Kurenai countered, leaning over the bento box toward them. “And as the senior Jonin present, I should be the one ensuring his comfort and mental state.”

“Comfort? I’ll show you comfort!” Anko pulled Leo even closer, her head resting on his shoulder.

Leo sat between them, caught in a crossfire. He looked from Anko’s fierce, smirking face to Kurenai’s elegant, blushing determination. ‘I should probably tell them to stop fighting,’ he thought, but as he felt the warmth of both women pressing into his space, his inner monologue took a different turn. ‘...But then again, having two of the most beautiful women in the world fighting over me is literally the dream. Maybe I’ll just let them argue for another five minutes.’

“Guys, please,” Leo said aloud, his voice sounding much more concerned than he actually was. “There’s plenty of me to go around.”

Both women froze, their faces turning bright red at his choice of words, before they both turned their glares back to each other, the competition only intensifying.

—----------------------------------------------

The sun had long since surrendered to the horizon, leaving the environment draped in a heavy, velvet cloak of indigo. The sounds shifted too as daytime birds were replaced by the distant chirping of insects and the occasional rustle of something unseen moving through the undergrowth. Above, the moon hung like a silver curved blade, casting pale, spectral light over the clearing where the trio had finally created a camp.

The trio moved efficiently as a small clearing was chosen, open enough to see approaching threats, but covered enough to remain hidden.

Anko moved with restless energy, gathering dry wood with a speed that bordered on aggressive. With a quick spark of chakra, she birthed a small campfire. The orange flames licked at the dark, dancing in her eyes. 

Meanwhile, Kurenai worked with silent precision, unfurling a compact travel tent. Within minutes, the structure was taut and secure, cushioned by a summoned layer of soft bedding.

“It is finished,” Kurenai said, her voice smooth but carrying a hint of that breathless shimmer whenever she looked at Leo. She gestured toward the flap. “You should rest, Leo. Your body isn't accustomed to this kind of travel, and after the... incident, your mind needs to relax.”

Leo looked at the solitary tent, then at the two women standing in the flickering firelight. A flush of nervous heat climbed his neck. “Wait, there’s only one? Where are you guys going to sleep?” A bit of excitement coursed through him. ‘Will I get to sleep with both of them at the same time.’

“With you, obviously—” Anko’s head snapped up, a hungry, possessive light igniting in her gaze. Her mind was already racing through the tactical advantages of using him as a living pillow again.

“Leo, you don’t need to worry about that,” Kurenai interrupted smoothly, her red eyes flickering toward Anko with a sharp, warning glint. “As trained kunoichi, our stamina is vastly superior. Your comfort is our top priority, and I’m sure after being poked and prodded all day, you would appreciate some privacy. Alone.”

Leo scratched his cheek. “Alone…?”

Kurenai then turned her gaze back to Anko, her voice dropping into a professional, icy register. “We will take guard and be doing night rotations. His safety is the top priority tonight, wouldn’t you agree, Special Jonin Mitarashi?”

Anko’s jaw tightened so hard it let out an audible creak. She wanted to scream. She wanted to argue that nothing would happen, that her "protection" was best delivered via skin-to-skin contact, next to him. 

But Kurenai was annoyingly right. They weren't in a tavern or a hidden hut anymore; they were in the deep woods. 

“Yeah,” Anko grumbled, her shoulders slumping with the weight of a profound, soul-crushing depression. “She’s right. Just... get in the tent, Leo. We’ll be right here. Nothing gets past us.”

Leo looked at Anko, sensing the sudden drop in her mood, then at Kurenai’s calm, resolute face. He felt a pang of guilt. ‘They’re staying up all night in the dirt while I get a bed. I wish I could help, but I’d probably just trip over a root and make things worse.’ He thought, his chest tightening with a mix of gratitude and frustration. “Okay,” Leo said softly. “But please... try to get some sleep if you can. And thanks. For everything.”

He ducked into the tent, the fabric zipping shut behind him.

Outside, the silence of the forest rushed back in, broken only by the crackle of the wood. Anko sat heavily on a log, staring into the embers with a look of pure misery. ‘First the bandits, now the ‘official’ rules,’ she thought, her fingers digging into the bark of the log. ‘Now I’m back to sitting in the dirt while the best thing that ever happened to me is six feet away behind a layer of nylon.’

She glanced at Kurenai, who had settled across the fire. Kurenai looked peaceful, but Anko could see the slight tension in the other woman’s jaw, the silent, simmering curiosity Kurenai was trying so hard to suppress.

“You’re enjoying this, aren't you?” Anko hissed, her voice low so as not to wake Leo. “Playing the ‘professional’ just to keep me away from him.”

Kurenai opened one red eye, the firelight reflecting in its rings. “I am ensuring the asset remains secure, Anko. And perhaps... I am ensuring you don't exhaust the poor man before we even reach the gates. He looked overwhelmed.”

Anko let out a sharp, bitter huff, crossing her arms over her chest. “He wasn't overwhelmed last night.”

Kurenai’s eye widened, a flash of deep crimson staining her cheeks, but she didn't break her composure. She simply closed her eye again. “Rest, Anko. I’ll take the first watch.”

Anko slumped back, looking at the silhouette of the tent. It was going to be a very long, lonely night.

—---------------------------------------------------------------

The next day, Morning 

Anko and Kurenai were already active, moving with the efficient silence. Anko was aggressively rolling up her sleeping bag, her movements jerky from a night of restless, solitary sleep. Kurenai, meanwhile, was meticulously sealing her gear, her red eyes occasionally flicking toward the tent with a mixture of professional vigilance and private anticipation.

The sound of a zipper breaking the silence made both women freeze as the tent flap pulled back, and Leo stepped out into the crisp morning air, squinting against the light. 

“M-morning.” He said with a yawn, revealing the mess that was his hair as it was wildly tousled, his eyes were half-lidded with drowsiness, and most significantly, his oversized robe had slipped down one shoulder. The fabric hung loosely, exposing a broad expanse of his chest and the line of his collarbone.

Kurenai’s reaction was instantaneous. Her face went from porcelain pale to a deep, bruised crimson in less than a second. 

“O-Oh! My heavens!” She gasped, her voice cracking as she whipped her hands up to cover her eyes. ‘He’s... he’s practically naked! Why is he so... uncovered?’ Through the small gaps in her fingers, which she had "accidentally" left open, she couldn't help but steal a peak at the smooth skin and the lean muscle she hadn't expected. Her heart hammered a frantic rhythm against her ribs. ‘Is this how men always look in the morning? It’s... it’s dangerously distracting.’

Anko, however, didn't bother with the modesty act. She stood up slowly, her gaze raking over Leo with a hunger that was entirely undisguised. She let out a low, appreciative whistle, her tongue darting out to lick her lips. ‘Damn, I forgot how good he looks without that bulky robe in the way,’ she thought, her thirst returning with a vengeance. She felt a sudden, sharp pang of regret for having spent the night alone instead of against that warm skin.

“Morning, sunshine,” Anko purred, her eyes locked on his chest. “If you wanted to give us a show, you could’ve just asked.”

Leo blinked, rubbing his eyes and yawning. “What? Oh... sorry.” He looked down at his exposed shoulder, still in his "modern world" mindset where a guy without a shirt was just a Tuesday morning. “It’s just a little skin. No big deal.”

“It is a very big deal!” Kurenai sputtered, finally finding enough voice to scold him, even if she refused to move her hands. “Leo, please! Dress yourself properly at once! It is... it is highly unbecoming of a man to be so... so revealing!”

Leo sighed, remembering the new bizarre rules of this world. He pulled the robe back up, tightening the sash around his waist until he was fully covered. “Better?”

Kurenai slowly lowered her hands, though the blush remained firmly etched on her cheeks. She stepped toward him, her expression a mix of embarrassment and stern concern. “Leo, you must understand. Modesty isn't just about tradition; it’s about safety. If any other woman, like that bandit, or a rogue, or even an overeager villager, saw you like that, they wouldn't just stare. They would take it as an invitation. They would... they would snatch you up before I could even draw a kunai.”

‘I’d snatch him up right now if she wasn't looking,’ Anko thought bitterly, crossing her arms.

Leo looked at Kurenai’s intense red eyes and the way she was genuinely trembling with worry for him. He offered a small, sheepish grin. “I’ll keep the robes on, I promise. I don’t want to cause a riot.” He paused, his gaze flickering between Kurenai’s elegant beauty and Anko’s rugged charm. “Though, honestly... if the women trying to 'take' me were as beautiful as the two of you, I might not fight back that hard.”

The silence that followed was absolute.

Anko’s jaw dropped, a triumphant, wild grin spreading across her face. Kurenai, on the other hand, looked like she was about to short-circuit. Her mouth opened and closed like a fish out of water, her mind reeling from the casual, effortless compliment. ‘He... he thinks I’m... beautiful?’

“See?” Anko laughed, slapping Leo on the back and pulling him into a one-armed hug. “The kid’s got a silver tongue. Now, let’s get moving before Kurenai turns into a puddle of red paint.”

As they began to finish packing, Leo noticed that Kurenai was suddenly very focused on a nearby tree, her hands shaking as she tied her scrolls. He couldn't help but feel a little boost of confidence. ‘This world was dangerous, sure, but it certainly had its perks.’

—-----------------------------------------------------

The morning sun climbed higher, baking the dust of the road as the trio pressed onward. Kurenai walked on Leo’s left, her movements regaining some of their fluid grace. Now that the initial shock of witnessing a man for the first time had passed, she found herself constantly adjusting her pace just to remain within arm’s reach of him.

‘I am a Jonin,’ She reminded herself, her fingers twitching near her side. ‘I should be able to walk beside him without feeling like an Academy student on her first crush.’ She watched out of the corner of her eye as Anko’s fingers remained firmly laced with Leo’s. The sight sent a sharp, unfamiliar pang through Kurenai’s chest. She wanted to reach out, to feel the warmth of his hand for herself, but her deeply ingrained sense of decorum and at the fact that maybe Leo wouldn’t appreciate her forwardness, acted like an invisible wall.

Anko, completely oblivious to Kurenai’s internal struggle or perhaps enjoying it, leaned into Leo’s space as they walked.

“So, Leo,” Anko said, her voice dropping into a playful, suggestive lilt. “Since we’ve got a long walk ahead, let’s get into the important stuff. What’s your type? You like them wild and dangerous, or do you prefer the quiet, ‘by-the-book’ types who overthink everything?” She shot a pointed, smirking glance at Kurenai.

Kurenai’s eyes widened, her face heating up instantly. ‘Has she no shame?!’ She screamed internally. “Anko! That is an incredibly private and inappropriate question to ask a man in public!”

“What? I’m just curious,” Anko laughed, bumping her hip against Leo’s. “The village is going to throw every kind of woman at him. I’m just doing him a favor by helping him narrow it down.”

Leo chuckled nervously, feeling the sudden, intense weight of both women’s attention. “Uh, honestly? I haven’t really thought about it. I guess I don’t really have a preferred type? I just hope she’s nice but beautiful like both of you.”

Kurenai felt her heart swell at his words. ‘Someone beautiful like me.’ She surreptitiously straightened her posture, her red eyes softening as she looked at him.

The conversation was cut short as the trees began to thin, revealing the thatched roofs and bustling streets of a small trading town. Leo’s eyes lit up. This would become his second time in a place full of civilization. 

“A town!” Leo exclaimed, his pace quickening. “Can we go in? I’d love to see something other than trees and dirt.”

Immediately, two hands clamped onto his shoulders, bringing him to a dead stop.

“Absolutely not,” Kurenai said, her voice dropping into a serious, protective tone. She stepped in front of him, her gaze scanning the town’s entrance like she was looking at an invading army. “Leo, look at the streets. There are hundreds of women in there. If you walk in wearing those oversized rags and that defenseless expression, you’ll cause a stampede.”

Anko nodded, her usual humor replaced by a sharp, predatory alertness. “She’s right, Leo. You’re basically walking bait. One look at you and every woman in that town will forget they were supposed to buy groceries and start wondering how much they can get for you on the black market or worse, how to keep you for themselves.”

Leo slumped, looking at his tattered, ill-fitting robes. “I get it, but I really want to explore. Plus I need ‘proper’ clothes, right? I can’t exactly show up to see the Hokage looking like a hobo.”

Kurenai looked at Leo, then at the bustling market, and sighed. The thought of him appearing before Tsunade in anything less than perfect attire was unacceptable to her sense of order.

“Fine,” Kurenai whispered, her fingers reaching out to adjust the collar of his robe, lingering just a second too long on the fabric near his neck. “But we are not 'exploring.' We go in, we find a high-end store, we get you covered, and we leave. And Leo?”

She looked him directly in the eyes, her red gaze burning with an intensity that made his breath hitch.

“You stay between us. At all times. If I say move, you move. If Anko tells you to get down, you drop. Do not make eye contact with anyone, and do not, under any circumstances, smile at anyone but us. Understood?”

Leo swallowed hard, nodding quickly. “Got it. Stealth mode.”

Anko grinned, her hand moving from his shoulder to the small of his back, guiding him forward. “Don’t worry, Leo. If any of these townies try to get a hand on you, they’ll find out why I’m called the Kunoichi. Let’s go shopping.”

Done. Tell me what you think and what should happen next. Give various opinions and suggestions, I may use them for this story.