"Are you really extracting chakra for the first time?"
As soon as Hanekawa Satoru finished his training, Yuuhi Kurenai couldn't help but crowd in close.
"It's my first time."
Satoru blinked and answered honestly.
"Ugh! Damn it!"
Kurenai clenched her tiny fists, her face scrunching up in frustration. "But don't think you'll surpass me that easily!"
"I'll do my best."
Satoru smiled.
"Y-You... don't have to take it so seriously."
Kurenai faltered slightly under his bright, handsome smile.
It was a proven fact—appearance influenced perception.
And for a boy like Satoru, his charm worked on everyone, from older women to adorable little girls like Kurenai.
"Satoru."
Yuuhi Shinku stepped out of the house and handed him an enrollment letter.
Satoru skimmed through it.
The contents were simple—he had passed the entrance exam and was officially admitted to the Ninja Academy as a first-year student in Class A.
But he didn't remember taking any exam.
This was clearly Sarutobi Hiruzen pulling strings.
"Kurenai, take him to meet your homeroom teacher tomorrow."
Shinku instructed.
"Got it!"
Kurenai perked up immediately, puffing out her chest. "Mission accepted!"
"I'll go buy some daily necessities for Satoru."
Shinku paused, then asked, "Is there anything you two want me to bring back?"
"I want dango!"
Kurenai demanded without hesitation.
"And you?"
Shinku turned to Satoru. "From now on, we're family. No need to be reserved."
"Same for me."
Satoru didn't have anything specific in mind, so he just went along with it.
Dango was a famous Konoha snack, beloved by ninja like Uchiha Itachi and Mitarashi Anko. Now that he had the chance, he wanted to try it.
"If you have any questions about training, ask Kurenai."
Shinku waved and left.
"Hmph!"
Kurenai crossed her arms, tilting her chin up with a smug expression, as if daring him to ask her something.
Seeing her like this, Satoru couldn't help but laugh.
"What are you laughing at?"
Kurenai pouted.
"I just thought of something funny."
Satoru coughed lightly.
"What funny thing?"
Kurenai felt vaguely insulted and immediately put on a stern face.
"When's your birthday?"
Satoru suddenly changed the subject.
"June 11th."
Kurenai blinked. "Why?"
"Then I'm older."
A faint smile played on Satoru's lips. "You should call me big brother."
"Wait—no way!"
Kurenai snapped out of her daze and immediately refused. "I'm the big sister here!"
"But I'm older."
Satoru lied shamelessly.
He actually had no idea how old he was or when his birthday was—being a war orphan meant those details were lost.
"No means no!"
Kurenai's eyes lit up as she came up with an excuse. "Age doesn't matter! Strength does!"
"So if I beat you, you'll call me big brother?"
Satoru raised an eyebrow.
Kurenai was about to agree immediately, but then she remembered how quickly he had extracted chakra. Hesitating, she bit her lip.
"...We'll see when you actually beat me."
Satoru's smile widened.
Teasing a cute little girl like this was surprisingly fun.
Just to be clear, he wasn't a lolicon—he preferred older women.
Just then, footsteps approached.
"Back already?"
Satoru turned—then froze.
It wasn't Shinku.
Instead, a familiar yet unfamiliar woman stood there: Yakushi Nono.
But unlike her usual gentle demeanor, her expression was grim.
Satoru didn't need to think hard to guess why.
This was undoubtedly Shimura Danzo's doing—the old man still hadn't given up on him.
"Director."
Satoru excused himself from Kurenai and walked over.
In the original story, Yakushi Nono was a tragic side character.
Her kindness had led her to leave Root, but Danzo had used the orphanage to blackmail her into continuing to work for him.
In the end, she had died knowing too much—manipulated by Danzo into killing her own adopted son, Yakushi Kabuto.
"Satoru, I'm glad you're okay."
Nono reached out and patted his head gently.
"Thank you for your concern."
Satoru noticed the hesitation in her eyes. "Is something wrong?"
"..."
Nono fell silent.
Not long ago, Danzo had visited the orphanage and explained Satoru's situation.
He wanted Satoru to join Root—if it was Satoru's own choice, even Hiruzen couldn't stop it.
"What are the Hokage's plans for you?"
Nono finally asked.
"He enrolled me in the Ninja Academy."
Satoru replied.
Nono's eyes brightened slightly.
Danzo had recruited her because of her exceptional skills—she was known as the "Wandering Priestess."
Hearing that Satoru was going to the academy, she immediately thought of a way to buy time.
"Satoru, no matter what happens, you must graduate properly."
Nono said seriously.
"Understood."
Satoru caught the hidden meaning.
As long as he was in the academy, Danzo wouldn't be able to touch him—for now.
But the old schemer was still a problem.
Should he join Root if he couldn't beat them?
No, that wouldn't work.
Danzo didn't just want loyalty—he wanted to brainwash you.
Besides, joining Root would make him a traitor twice over.
He wanted a rich, 36D, black-stockinged older woman to spoil him—not some old man's dirty work.
If Danzo were replaced by Tsunade, maybe he'd consider it.
Even if she was drowning in debt, her... assets were worth it.
Thinking back, Kabuto wasn't at the orphanage yet.
That meant he had at least ten years.
Time to launch the Wicked—no, the Righteous Gardenia Plan!
Three years on this side, three years on that—saving Nono in ten years should be doable.
Even if his joining the orphanage had been part of Kumo's plan, Nono had genuinely treated him well.
"Come visit the orphanage when you have time."
Nono smiled gently.
"I will."
Satoru nodded firmly.
Nono patted his head again before leaving.
Watching her go, Satoru couldn't help but twitch his lips.
Seriously, getting head-patted twice in one day?
"Kurenai."
Satoru turned back to her. "Can you teach me shurikenjutsu?"
Danzo's threat had lit a fire under him—he needed to get stronger fast.
"Shurikenjutsu" was a required trait for synthesizing "Genius Genin."
The system hadn't explained how to unlock it, but based on past experience, he just needed to perform the corresponding action.
"Of course!"
Kurenai puffed out her chest proudly. "I'm pretty confident in shurikenjutsu!"