Shizune had prepared breakfast early, but she waited a long time for Tsunade to come out of the bedroom.
She couldn't help but shake her head helplessly.
"e=(′o｀*))) Alas~"
"Lady Tsunade, why are you still staying in bed? The Chunin Exams are about to begin."
"Why does every day lately feel like déjà vu?"
As usual, she walked straight to Tsunade's bedroom and knocked three times on the door.
Knock knock knock…
"Lady Tsunade, it's time to wake up."
Just as she finished speaking, the door suddenly opened. Shizune blinked, surprised Tsunade responded so quickly—only to see Uchiha Hikaru standing there in black pajamas.
Behind him, Tsunade lay in bed, and beside her was another figure with long black hair.
Huh? What… happened last night?
The scene before her made Shizune's mind spiral. Her gaze wandered, especially to the skin and outline peeking through Hikaru's half-open pajamas.
Her nose twitched—then a warm sensation.
Two thin streams of blood trickled slowly from her nostrils.
Before Uchiha Hikaru could say anything, Shizune slammed the door shut with a bang, turned on her heel, and trotted off in a panic, hands cupped over her nose.
"Lord Hikaru, p-please wait a moment! I'll go prepare two more breakfasts!"
Hikaru reopened the door, watching Shizune's flustered retreat. Then he looked back at the two women still lying comfortably on the bed.
Hmmm… maybe next time I should let Shizune join in too…
Shizune, having calmed herself, quickly prepared the extra breakfasts.
At the table, Tsunade asked Shizune to take Saya around the village today to help her get familiar with Konoha.
But Uchiha Hikaru had a better idea—he suggested Saya register for a Genin forehead protector and participate in the upcoming Chunin Exams alongside Naruto, Sasuke, and the rest of Konoha's "Rookie Twelve."
After all, Konoha's Genin were all monsters in disguise—sending Saya in didn't just make sense, it might even be overkill.
And this Chunin Exam… it wouldn't be short of "hidden sharks" posing as Genin.
They pretend to be fish, I pretend to be fish… then suddenly it's a super-shadow battle royale. Totally reasonable~ (｡•̀ᴗ-)✧
Later that day…
After breakfast, Hikaru asked Tsunade for updates on Naruto and Sasuke.
As expected, being the last Uchiha heir and the Fourth Hokage's son respectively, the two boys had drawn considerable attention. Coincidentally, when they graduated, Kakashi had voluntarily stepped down from the ANBU to become their Jonin instructor.
With that, Hikaru made his way to Konoha's Training Ground #14, where the trio was sparring under Kakashi's supervision.
He observed silently from a nearby tree as the three Genin were soundly defeated, slumping under the shade, panting and complaining.
"Ahhh! Kakashi-sensei! I wanna learn cool moves like Chidori too!"
"Hmph~ No way. A half-baked idiot like you can't handle a technique like that."
"Naruto… you don't even have Lightning Release chakra. Even if Kakashi wanted to teach you, he couldn't…" Sasuke added bluntly.
Kakashi, leaning casually against a tree, had his usual orange book—Make-Out Paradise—open, reading with clear amusement.
"There are many paths to strength. You and Sakura have different styles from Sasuke. I can only teach you the foundations."
"As for advanced ninjutsu, you'll probably have to wait for Lord Jiraiya to return."
Suddenly, Kakashi's expression shifted. He sensed a chakra signature—familiar, but… off. He looked up into the tree canopy.
"Who's there?"
Uchiha Hikaru leapt down and landed in front of them.
"Kakashi, it hasn't been that long. You really couldn't recognize my chakra?"
He waved casually to Naruto and Sasuke, and even gave Sakura a polite nod.
"Yo~ Hey, Sasuke. Long time no see."
Sakura stared, momentarily dumbstruck. She didn't recognize this man at all, but…
Is this the most handsome ninja in all of Konoha…?
Her heart skipped. She tried to fight it, mentally screaming:
[Sakura! No! Your heart belongs to Sasuke! Stay strong!]
While she battled her conscience, Naruto jumped to his feet with a loud shout, and Sasuke stood quickly behind him.
"Brother Hikaru!"
"Sensei Hikaru!"
Hikaru smiled and walked up to them, ruffling their hair with both hands—spinning their heads until their eyes nearly crossed.
"Not bad. It's been three years… show me how strong you've gotten."
The boys grinned.
Naruto and Sasuke quickly jumped back to put distance between them and Hikaru.
"Shadow Clone Jutsu!"
"Uchiha Style—Shuriken Barrage!"
A dozen Naruto clones charged straight at Hikaru. Simultaneously, shuriken whizzed from all sides, pinning down every route of escape.
Both boys smirked confidently and shouted in unison:
"Three years in the east, three years in the west—get ready to be surprised by our new power!"
Kakashi shook his head, raising Make-Out Paradise high to hide the secondhand embarrassment on his face.
So young… if their target was an average Chunin, they might've had a shot. But their opponent is none other than Konoha's strongest ninja—Uchiha Hikaru.
Sakura's eyes sparkled as she admired Sasuke's precision and flair in combat.
But in the next moment—before anyone could process it—both Naruto and Sasuke went flying skyward, clutching their backsides and screaming.
"AAAAH!!!"
Kakashi glanced up calmly. Hikaru stood with his hands still in the Tiger Seal, a serene expression on his face.
He even figured out the secret behind the Hatake clan's legendary taijutsu techniques…
Sasuke winced, rubbing his bruised rear as he stomped over, glaring.
"Sensei Hikaru! I'm not a little kid anymore! You can't spank me like that!"
Naruto, meanwhile, was caught at arm's length by Hikaru—held at the forehead as he flailed uselessly.
"Ahhh! Brother Hikaru, that's a dirty move! You're just like Kakashi-sensei!"
"Shameless!"
Seeing them both complain while nursing their bruises made Hikaru laugh out loud.
Naruto was still the same at heart, though clearly much improved—his chakra control and taijutsu were significantly better than in the original timeline.
As for Sasuke, without the Uchiha massacre haunting him, he hadn't turned cold and distant. Sure, he still had a bit of an ego, but his personality was far more balanced—and far more alive.
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