Start From Naruto: Shino the Dominator

With her steps measured and her posture rigid, Kurenai entered Tsunade's office, ready to make her report on her team's test.

Facing the hard-working Hokage, she couldn't help but feel disheartened because she knew she couldn't even report the truth. Nonetheless, she pressed on without leaking any cues of her troubled heart, determined to fulfill her duty… this time, no longer for the village.

Thus, the script played out...

"Yare, yare. Failed?" Tsunade glanced up from her paperwork at Kurenai who had just reported the details of the mission, "And it's so bad you are requesting for an extended supervision?"

"Yes, Tsunade-sama. Though the members of Team 8 does show some exemplary qualities, after this test, I noticed some small problems in their teamwork. This is my responsibility for not guiding them well, and I believe it will take some time to fix this."

Seeing the adamant look on Kurenai's face, the experienced Tsunade nodded, "So, it seems. Very well. I suppose an extension in supervision is necessary. When you think they are ready, feel free to apply to me once again to upgrade their status. Don't take too long though. The village is really short on hands recently."

"Yes, Tsunade-sama."

Getting Kurenai's affirmation, Tsunade bowed her head, focusing back on her paperwork.

However, Kurenai didn't leave. After scribbling a couple of times, Tsunade looked up again.

"What's wrong? You seem troubled."

Kurenai hesitated for a moment, collecting her thoughts before finally revealing her true intention. "Tsunade-sama, I would like to apply for a technique from the Scroll of Seals."

"The Scroll of Seals?" Tsunade furrowed her brow. "I don't recall it containing any suitable genjutsu techniques. What technique are you interested in?"

Kurenai met Tsunade's gaze, her eyes filled with conviction. "I wish to apply for the Flying Thunder God technique."

Tsunade's surprise jumped right onto her face, "The Yondaime's technique? Why?"

This legendary technique, passed down by the Second Hokage and perfected by the Fourth Hokage to become his signature technique, was an S-rank jutsu with immense power.

It wasn't truly a forbidden jutsu, nor was it possible for the average joe to learn it, but it was nevertheless a strictly-protected one.

Regardless, it wasn't something a genjutsu master should be interested in.

Already prepared for Tsunade's reaction, Kurenai took a deep breath before explaining earnestly,  "I seek to use the technique as leverage to negotiate a suitable genjutsu technique from the Aburame clan."

Tsunade's expression turned stern, and she reprimanded Kurenai. "S-rank techniques are not meant to be used as bargaining tools, Kurenai."

Kurenai lowered her gaze, understanding Tsunade's admonishment. However, she refused to back down.

"Hokage-sama, my student Shino is a member of the Aburame clan. He desires the Flying Thunder God technique, and his clan has already applied for it. But their request was blocked by... an unknown party. I wish to see if this blockage still holds for jonins like us."

In light of Kurenai's revelation, Tsunade's countenance grew solemn, throwing a glance at Shizune, who quickly sifted through her notepad. "That... Shibi Aburame did send an application in, but it seems someone on the council rejected the request. Reason was insufficient merit..."

Insufficient mission points? When did the prominent Konoha clans start lacking merit and mission points?

It didn't take long for the puzzle pieces to click in Tsunade's brain.

She was well aware that Kurenai's desire to exchange techniques was merely a pretext. This was a test, one coming from the clans or maybe from the jonins themselves.

Alas... if she wants to sit comfortably in her position, she couldn't chill their hearts. So, Tsunade decided to take matters into her own hands.

"Yare, yare... Treat it is my personal bet on that young man." (Shizune in background: Bet?!)

Tsunade ignored her jumpy assistant's attitude, believing full well she will win this time, "Shizune, bring her to get a copy of the Flying Thunder God technique."

Tsunade threw a glance at Kurenai, "Kurenai, I understand you know what to do with the copy after memorizing it."

Kurenai nodded and bowed respectfully, "Thank you for your care and consideration, Tsunade-sama. Then..."

Kurenai looked towards Shizune, "I'll trouble you Shizune-san."

Shizune nodded in understanding and motioned for Kurenai to follow her. "Let's go and make it quick. It's getting late and I still need to supervise Tsunade-sa..."

Thud. The door of the office closed behind the two women, leaving Tsunade alone amidst her stacks of paperwork.

Tsunade rubbed her temples, weariness etched upon her face as she muttered to herself. "Damn politics. Damn those old fogeys. Why must these troubles always find their way to me?"

The bureaucracy and the never-ending stream of problems seemed to always plagued her desk. Yare, yare, why did she fall to that brat's words?

"At least I'm almost done for the night…" Tsunade's words trailed off when her eyes fell upon a new stack of documents, her eyes widening with a mix of shock and discontent, "When did Shizune sneak that in?!"

...

Under the cloak of night, Kurenai bid Shizune farewell and departed from the Hokage building, walking away silently with the forbidden secrets of the Flying Thunder God technique already safely transferred into the depths of the system's database.

Despite the mission's completion, an unsettling shadow danced upon Kurenai's countenance, and her face, normally wearing a calm facade, was now a canvas of conflicting emotions.

Imperceptibly, her hands clenched the bandages that wrapped her body. The inner turmoil lingered within her eyes, a silent whisper of concern for what lay ahead.

"What's wrong, Kurenai?"

The familiar voice drew Kurenai's eyes over to a figure leaning against the nearby building, shrouded in a cloud of smoke.

It was none other than Asuma, who had been patiently waiting for Kurenai. He took one look at her and immediately sensed that something was amiss.

Kurenai met his gaze, a hint of sadness flickering in her eyes. She averted her gaze, her hand crossing over to hold the other, as if seeking comfort within herself. "Oh, it's nothing, Asuma."

Snuffing out his cigarette, Asuma tossed it aside and stepped closer, his piercing eyes fixed on her, a silent insistence for the truth. "Doesn't look like 'nothing' to me."

Taking a deep breath, Kurenai closed her eyes briefly, gathering her composure. She then summoned her best "professional" smile, the one she always wore to mask her inner turmoil while on duty as a ninja.

Meeting Asuma's gaze with her striking red eyes, she calmly dropped an excuse. "I'm just exhausted from the mission, that's all. There was... an accident, and now I might have to focus solely on teaching my three students. It's going to be quite demanding, and I won't have time for other things..."

Understanding her implications, Asuma's features softened. He chuckled softly, his reassuring voice reverberating in the stillness of the night. "Well, then I can afford to wait.... No matter how long it takes, I'll wait for you, Kurenai."

After giving her that bad boy look that made her heart skip a beat, Asuma turned to depart, his casual demeanor masking the depth of his affection.

Kurenai stood there, watching his receding figure. Her eyes held a mixture of longing and sorrow, reflecting the unspoken desires within her heart.

She yearned for the comfort and love that only Asuma could provide, but circumstances seemed to conspire against their union.

Perhaps... this was their fate. They were destined to walk separate paths, forever tethered by their obligations.

And with her new obligations, their time together would be even more limited...

Lost in her thoughts, Kurenai's hand slowly reached out as if to grasp the fading image of Asuma, longing to hold onto what seemed increasingly elusive.

But she knew she had responsibilities to fulfill, sacrifices to make for the sake of the hive, and his survival.

With a bittersweet smile etched upon her lips, she whispered to the darkness, "I'm sorry, Asuma. Perhaps in another life when our paths cross once more, and the burden of your fate no longer separates us…"

And so, Kurenai turned around, a lone figure amidst the shadows, yet her heart burned bright with a firm will.

Her destiny was now bound to her new master, but for him, she would carry on till the very end.