Short version
Naruto begins intensive taijutsu training with Gai and Lee, as well as regular training with Hinata; she helps him to gain more awareness and control over the Kyuubi's chakra, although she doesn't know what it is, while he introduces her to the training weights used by himself and Lee. Kurenai teaches them about genjutsu, finding that Naruto is unable to still his chakra coils to end one, but can pulse his chakra to shatter all genjutsu in a very large radius. The team then intercepts and brings down a spy who crossed their path while fleeing the ANBU; Kurenai is displeased that they leapt to the assault without her order, but impressed by their performance, and the Hokage authorises them for a C-rank mission.
Longer version
Having slept uneasy after the conflict with Team 7, Naruto wakes up unreadily despite an electrocuting alarm clock. He hastens for early morning training with Guy and Lee, and is taken aback by their demeanor. For almost two hours, Naruto and Lee spar continuously. Naruto is left battered, but Lee is worn out. Although Naruto is discouraged, Guy praises Naruto's endurance and lectures on the value of being a "genius of hard work." While Lee runs laps, Guy teaches Naruto better taijutsu form. When Lee returns, winded, Naruto spars him again, doing slightly better. After the session, Naruto goes to eat at Ichiraku. Teuchi tells him of how his teammates stood up for him to Team 7 the night before. Naruto is baffled.
Hinata meets Kurenai at the training ground. The genin asks about Naruto's training with Guy, thinking that Kurenai deprecated Naruto. Kurenai clarifies that she did not mean to belittle him, but praises Hinata's honesty. Hinata also details the incident with Team 7. Kurenai commends Hinata's appreciation for Naruto, and determines that she has a crush on him. When Shino arrives, Kurenai compliments their conduct during the incident. Suddenly, Naruto makes an entry with the trademark appearance of Guy and Lee, with a green leotard and a black-dyed bowl cut. Apoplectic, Kurenai furiously rails against Guy, but Naruto reveals this to be a prank with the transformation technique. Amused, Kurenai turns the prank into a lesson, highlighting how, since Kurenai partly feared such an event, and was so upset that she was stupefied, she did not stop to check for a transformation technique. These principles are applied to the context of mission work. The students solve several mission scenarios presented by their teacher.
Team 8 continues completing D-rank missions, and Naruto continues taijutsu training. Team 7 is assigned their C-rank mission to the Land of Waves. One day, Kurenai takes her team to Moritake's. To avoid any feelings of favoritism, Kurenai explains the reasoning for and nature of Naruto's extra training. While Shino spends mornings and evenings working with his insect colonies, Hinata requests additional training as well. Kurenai arranges for her to practice with Naruto after team meetings, for sparring and chakra control.
The next day, Rock Lee and Tenten join Team 8 for a genjutsu lesson. Kurenai realizes that Tenten idolizes her for being a female jonin, a relative minority. Kurenai teaches the genin that a genjutsu is a chakra construct that can trick the senses, but it is limited by the amount of chakra used and the imagination of the genjutsu user. Thus, if one can recognize any discrepancies that a genjutsu has, the victim can break out of it. Kurenai also explains that since a genjutsu anchors to a person's chakra, it will fall away if that person's chakra momentarily stops circulating. She teaches the students this technique. All the students are able to learn it except Naruto, due to the Nine-Tails being sealed in him. Kurenai then teaches a technique to gather one's chakra to a single point and release it, creating a chakra pulse that can shatter a genjutsu attached to either the user or another person. All the students but Lee are able to do it. When Naruto tries it, his massive chakra stores create a pulse that covers a quarter of Konoha. The event is publicly explained as an experimental jutsu.
The Hokage and Kurenai meet to discuss Naruto's abilities and growth. Kurenai brings up Naruto's insecurity over his isolation. To fix this, she suggests that he needs someone of his own generation to learn the truth and accept him for who he is. She believes Hinata can do this. Hiruzen feels guilty for how things turned out, but trusts Kurenai to help Naruto.
Hinata, who is astonished at Naruto's chakra pulse, trains with him after the lesson. The two first spar, and Hinata notes Naruto's improvements with Guy and Lee. Naruto suggests her getting weights like him for similar training. Hinata then assists Naruto with the water-walking exercise. Using her Byakugan, she realizes that Naruto possesses two chakra natures: blue and red (though she does not determine the cause). The interaction of the two natures interferes with Naruto's chakra control. With her help, Naruto learns to keep the red chakra from affecting his water-walking. Hinata reveals she made him a dinner, which they share together.
Hinata asks Kurenai about getting training weights. The jonin recognizes the improvements and coordination of her team. A few days later, the team discover a rooftop chase between an ANBU squad and an infiltrator from Kumogakure who stole sensitive documents. Before Kurenai can stop them, the genin quickly execute a plan: Naruto dazes him with a shadow clone assault, Shino snares him with an insect clone, and Hinata finishes him off with the Sixty-Four Palms technique.
Kurenai is quite agitated by her students' risky actions, although the ANBU praise the genin. Shino points out that Kurenai didn't order them to stand down. Kurenai admits this, but notes they should be careful, as they had no way of knowing how powerful the foe was. The Hokage praises their performance, and assigns them a C-rank border patrol for the next day.
Tropes:
- Aura Vision: Hinata is able to see Naruto's own blue chakra and that of the Nine-Tail's red chakra within him, although she does not realize the origin of the latter.
- Batman Gambit: Naruto uses quite an impressive one to prank Kurenai. The jonin had feared that Might Guy would have Naruto adopt his appearance, so when Naruto arrives transformed with a green leotard and a black-dyed bowl cut, Kurenai instinctively thinks her fear has come true. Additionally, she is so upset that she doesn't think to check for a disguise jutsu before reacting. After her initial fury, Kurenai uses this to teach the team about the value of similar gambits on missions.
- Berserk Button: Hoo boy. When Naruto pretends to have adopted the appearance of Might Guy and Lee, Kurenai goes ballistic. As Naruto knew she would.
- Dispel Magic: The chakra pulse works like this against genjutsus. Naruto creates one massive enough to cover a quarter of Konoha.
- EMP: Of a sort. Naruto creates a chakra pulse so massive that it shuts down all genjutsu in a quarter of Konoha.
- Training from Hell: Might Guy's routines are this as usual; he has Naruto and Lee spar for almost two hours straight.
