Kurenai Yuhi Overview

Background Information

Kurenai Yuhi is the Jonin in charge of Team 8, which consists of Kiba Inuzuka, Shino Aburame and Hinata Hyuga. Her team specializes in tracking. Relatively little is known about her, other than the fact that she graduated from the Academy at the age of 9, took the Chunin Exam and became a Chunin at the age of 13, and that she only became a Jonin recently. The anime expands on her background slightly, explaining that she had come to the village at a young age with a natural talent for genjutsu.

While she has a close bond with all of her students, she seems to especially favor Hinata. Kurenai knows how Hinata is viewed by her father, even though she is technically the heiress of the clan since she is the oldest child. When Kurenai went to inform Hinata's father, Hiashi Hyuga, that Hinata might end up being killed during a mission, he told her that he didn't care since she was even weaker than her sister, who is five years younger. Hinata overheard the conversation. She is also somewhat aware of her student's tremendous infatuation with Naruto Uzumaki. When Hinata tries to offer Naruto some medicine after his fight with Kiba, it is Kurenai that convinces him to take it.

Hints throughout the series also suggest that she has a romantic relationship with fellow Jonin Asuma Sarutobi, though neither will admit to anything. The two tend to be seen together often, so they clearly enjoy each other's company, and Kurenai blushed on one occasion when Kakashi Hatake more directly suggested a connection between the two. Late in the manga there is a flashback of Asuma buying her flowers and lying to Ino about it while blushing. When Shikamaru informs her about Asuma's death, Kurenai falls to her knees and starts crying.

Kurenai likes shochu, vodka, salted octopus, and taking a glass of wine at night or dinner. She dislikes cake. Her personality is unyielding, honest, and simple. She also says she is a "sexy big sister type."