He seeks out Kurenai

Naruto awakened to the familiar and still pleasant feeling of two arms being draped around his chest. Ino and Sakura had not left their position from tonight whatsoever and their heads rested on Narutos chest. Naruto could hear their soft breathing as they slep peacefully. And, although he would have gladly liked to just watch them sleep on a lot longer than he did, he knew he had to wake them up. After all, he had some important things to take care of today.

As they rose from their slumber, both Sakura and Ino had pleasant smiles on their faces Although both would have been more than willing to go for a morning round, they admitted that they felt a little sore after yesterday. Naruto, although a little disappointed, understood that they too want to be in their best shape tomorrow for the final exam.

After having a delightful breakfast with his two girlfriends, Naruto bid his farewell to them. With all the things he had scheduled for today, it seemed rather unlikely that he would meet them again before tomorrow. Although it wasn't noon yet, Naruto figured he better get going and not delay important stuff.

Naruto soon arrived at the apartment of their sensei. Kurenai was in there. She had told the girls to rest up on the day before the final round and as such, wasn't training them. While she was surprised to see Naruto, she made a serious face as he explained that he wanted to know about Kin and what had happened to her after she had taken her with her.

"Do you want to see her?", his sensei merely asked and Naruto simply nodded.

"I do, Kurenai-sensei. I want to know if she's doing alright.", he answered sincerely. After all, the last thing he did before seeing her off with Kurenai was take her virginity, what kind of a guy would he be if he didn't care?

Kurenai nodded, her face lighting up somewhat. "I see. I'll take you to her, Naruto.", she promised and told Naruto to follow her.

A few minutes later, they arrived at a building that was built into the foot of the Hokage-mountain. With the heads of the four Hokage looming over them, Naruto gulped once as he was told that this was the headquarter of ANBU.

Upon stating their desire to speak with a prisoner, Kurenai and Naruto were let in without trouble. Kurenai led Naruto to a cell in which a pale and dark-haired female was biding her time. But as soon as the orange jumpsuit of Naruto appeared, life returned to her as she hopped back on her feet and ran towards the bars. "Naruto! You're here, you're finally here.", she cried out, tears forming in her eyes.

Naruto looked at Kin. Although her hair was unkempt and a bit longer even than before, she seemed to be doing okay. She was not thinner than last time he saw nor did she seem to have suffered any **** during her stay here. As Kurenai opened the cell and Naruto entered, Kin launched herself at Naruto and hugged him like he would disappear if she didn't do so.

Naruto, grateful to Kurenai that she had held her word and Kin was okay, hugged her back, breathing a sigh of relief. "You're okay, Kin-chan... I'm so glad. What did they do with you here?", he asked the girl.

However, Kin was too busy hugging Naruto and burying her face in his chest. She was bawling her eyes out and it seemed as though she had dearly missed him. "We have interrogated her a bit, but as it turned out, someone has put seals inside her mind.", Kurenai informed him in her stead.

That made Naruto turn his head towards his sensei. "Seals inside her mind?", he asked incredelously. He never heard of such a thing, then again, he wasn't what you would call an expert on those things.

Kurenai nodded. "Yes. It seems to be a very advanced jutsu as even our experts are stumped when they discovered it. Well, as of now, we can't find a way to remove them from there without risking some permanent damage to her psyche.", Kurenai explained. "And since Kin has been very compliant with us so far, we think it is only fair to give her a chance."

Narutos face lit up in joy. Not only had they spared Kin from a possibly damaging interrogation sequence, but they were willing to let her go? "So you mean she...", Naruto asked, not even daring to finish that sentence.

But to his and Kins infinite glee, Kurenai nodded yet again. "Yes, we will release her.", she said with a smile.

Naruto laughed out once. His face lit up and he had the biggest smile ever on his face. "Yes! Did you hear that, Kin-chan?", Naruto asked the girl as he stroked her long hair. Slowly seperating herself from him, the girl sniffled a bit. She looked happy despite the tears now running even more plentiful down her face.

"However, we will put a simple seal on her for a while that will prevent her from distancing herself more than 100 yards from whatever that seal is placed on.", Kurenai said, putting a bit of a damper on the mood, before she continued. "This will be only temporary. On top of that, since she is so well-behaved, Kin may chose herself on what or who the seal is placed on.", she assured them.

Kin seemed to consider her options for a moment before she spoke. "If it's not too much of a bother for you... I would like to remain by your side, Naruto.", Kin asked as she looked up at Naruto with hope.

The blonde wannabe-Hokage smiled in response. "I wouldn't mind it at all, Kin-chan.", Naruto responded, already thinking about how it would change his life to have a girl around him constantly.

However, Kurenai seemed to be content with the agreement. "Good, that settles it then. I will let the Hokage know of your decision. Right now, he is too occupied with the preparation of the final round of the exam, but once that is over, we will certainly see to it that Kin can leave this place as soon as possible.", she told them.

Naruto nodded. Then, he turned to Kin. "Just a little bit more patience Kin-chan and you'll be out of here. Then I'll take you to Ichiraku Ramen and show you around Konoha, I promise you that.", he told the girl in his arms.

"Okay, Naruto. I'm looking forward to it.", the girl answered with a smile and wiped her tears away. Although she looked somewhat anxious as the cell closed again and Naruto left, she now had hope for the future... something she had not known before.

As they were let out of the headquarters, Kurenai excused herself. She had to get back to her home and take care of Hinata, who was still needing some rudimentary medic attention she could provide. Naruto meanwhile had only finished one thing he had on his agenda for today. Now, he needed to locate Tayuya and tell her of the happy news... else the future might include lots of punches.