Kurenai Yuhi-sensei was normal most of the time, but the observant Hinata Hyuga noticed that Kurenai Yuhi occasionally and unconsciously gently stroked her lower abdomen, and her eyes would reveal a touch of softness and worry different from usual.
Her complexion seemed ruddier and healthier than when she was in the village. Against the slightly desolate, earthy-yellow background, the charm of a mature woman was even more prominent. Her smooth black hair, delicate facial features, and the temperament mixed with gentleness and determination between her brows made her look exceptionally attractive.
"Hey, Shino Aburame, don't you think Kurenai Yuhi-sensei seems a bit different lately?"
During a break, Inuzuka Kiba secretly sidled up to Shino Aburame and muttered.
"Different?" Shino Aburame pushed up his sunglasses and looked at Kurenai Yuhi, who was checking the supplies not far away.
"She looks very healthy."
Inuzuka Kiba rolled his eyes. "Who asked you about that! I'm talking about a feeling! A feeling, you know? It's, tsk... ah, forget it." He scratched his head, unable to think of a more suitable word.
Hinata Hyuga was drinking water quietly on the side, listening to their conversation.
On the afternoon of the third day, when the team reached a narrow valley flanked by two mountains, the accident finally happened.
"Ambush!" Inuzuka Kiba's sharp warning came from the front!
Almost simultaneously, more than twenty enemies dressed as Ninja sprang out from the mountain walls on both sides and from behind the rocks in front. Their attire was messy; they were clearly a group of roaming Rogue Ninja and wandering Ninja! Without a word, various ninja tools and low-level Ninjutsu poured down on the merchant caravan like raindrops!
"Enemy attack! Protect the caravan!" Kurenai Yuhi-sensei's voice was clear and calm. She immediately formed hand seals. "Genjutsu: Tree Binding Death!" Although the terrain limited the effectiveness of large-scale Genjutsu, she precisely targeted several enemies charging in the front, temporarily delaying their offensive.
"Fang Passing Fang!" Inuzuka Kiba and Akamaru turned into two violent whirlwinds, charging directly into the enemy formation and disrupting their ranks.
Shino Aburame controlled a dark swarm of bugs, heading toward the enemies on the other side to conduct area-of-effect interference and attacks.
Hinata Hyuga stood still, taking in the entire battlefield.
She assessed the enemies' strength; most were at the Chunin level and posed no fatal threat to Team 8. Her attention was focused more on Kurenai Yuhi-sensei.
She moved nimbly between the carriages, using Kunai and shuriken to precisely repel approaching enemies, her Taijutsu clean and efficient.
But Hinata Hyuga noticed that when Kurenai Yuhi needed to twist her body significantly or jump with force, there was an extremely subtle hesitation in her movements, and she would subconsciously use one hand to protect her waist and abdomen.
Hinata Hyuga knew she was pregnant.
Hinata Hyuga stopped watching and appeared in front of Kurenai Yuhi-sensei, blocking an enemy attempting a sneak attack from the side.
The enemy only felt a blur before his eyes; a girl in white had silently blocked his path. Those pure Byakugan gazed at him indifferently, causing an inexplicable chill in his heart.
"Scram." Hinata Hyuga spat out one word and delivered a side kick.
Bang!
The Rogue Ninja was hit as if by a giant boulder; he flew backward like a cannonball, slammed hard against the mountain wall, and passed out instantly. The poisoned Kunai in his hand clattered to the ground.
Kurenai Yuhi-sensei was stunned for a moment and looked at Hinata Hyuga. "Hinata Hyuga, you..."
"Kurenai Yuhi-sensei, leave these small fries to us." Hinata Hyuga turned her head and gave Kurenai Yuhi a shallow, reassuring smile.
"You just need to oversee and command." Her tone was calm but carried a sense of reliability.
Kurenai Yuhi watched Hinata Hyuga cleanly and efficiently take down enemy after enemy. She also looked at the enemies in the field, who, despite having a numerical advantage, were being suppressed by Inuzuka Kiba, Shino Aburame, and Hinata Hyuga. She instantly understood Hinata Hyuga's intention.
Her heart warmed, mixed with a hint of complexity. She nodded, stepped back a few paces, returned to a safer command position, and vigilantly observed the entire field.
With Hinata Hyuga's addition, the battle situation tilted rapidly. Hinata Hyuga was only using Taijutsu to fight.
In less than a minute, the twenty-plus attacking Rogue Ninja had all fallen to the ground, losing their ability to resist and leaving only groans.
Hinata Hyuga was almost one-shotting them; no one could withstand Hinata Hyuga's attacks.
Inuzuka Kiba and Akamaru panted, looking at the "results" all over the ground, then looked at Hinata Hyuga, who was calm and composed, not even a corner of her clothes disheveled, and couldn't help but mutter.
"Hinata Hyuga is getting more and more monstrous."
Kurenai Yuhi-sensei walked forward and carefully checked the caravan personnel, confirming that only a few people had minor injuries and the supplies were intact. Only then did she breathe a sigh of relief.
She looked at Hinata Hyuga, who was helping to tie up the captives, her eyes full of gratitude and gratification.
"Everyone did a great job!" Kurenai Yuhi-sensei clapped her hands to boost morale. "Clean up, and let's leave this place of trouble as soon as possible."
The rest of the mission went smoothly. There were no more twists and turns for the remainder of the journey. Team 8 successfully escorted the caravan to the designated location and obtained the proof of mission completion.
Kurenai Yuhi-sensei walked at the front of the team. She tilted her head slightly, seemingly looking at the setting sun in the distance, one hand resting gently on her lower abdomen, a hint of a gentle and serene smile on her lips.
That scene was full of serene beauty and a unique charm of someone who was about to become a mother.
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