"Are you really refining chakra for the first time?"
As soon as Hanekawa finished meditating, Kurenai rushed over to him.
"This is my first time," Hanekawa said, blinking.
"Ah, you jerk!" Kurenai clenched her fists, defiant. "But it won't be easy to surpass me!"
"I'll try my best," Hanekawa said with a smile.
"You don't... have to be so serious." Kurenai was a little flustered by his handsome smile.
Looks, it turns out, can influence how people see you. Especially a boy as good-looking as Hanekawa; he appealed to everyone, from older single women to cute little girls.
"Hanekawa." Shinku walked out of the house and handed him an acceptance letter for the academy.
Hanekawa opened it. The letter was simple, stating that he had passed the exam and was officially a student in Year 1, Class A. He didn't remember any exam, so Hiruzen must have used his authority to get him in.
"Kurenai, you'll take him to meet your homeroom teacher tomorrow," Shinku instructed.
"No problem!" Kurenai said, her spirits lifted. "Mission accomplished!"
"I'm going out to buy some daily necessities for Hanekawa," Shinku said. "Is there anything you want me to bring back?"
"I want dango!" Kurenai said without hesitation.
"What about you?" Shinku asked Hanekawa. "We're family now, so don't be shy."
"The same for me," Hanekawa replied casually, not knowing what to ask for.
Dango was a popular local snack in Konoha, beloved by ninjas like Itachi Uchiha and Anko Mitarashi. He wanted to try it now that he had the chance.
"If you have any questions about training, just ask Kurenai," Shinku said, waving a hand and leaving.
"Hmph!" Kurenai folded her arms and raised her chin, looking at him with a proud expression that practically screamed, "Ask me something!"
Hanekawa laughed at her expression.
"What are you laughing at?" Kurenai pouted.
"I just thought of something happy," Hanekawa said with a small cough.
"What?" Kurenai felt a little offended and immediately straightened her face.
"When's your birthday?" Hanekawa asked, changing the subject.
"June 11th," Kurenai replied, confused. "Why do you ask?"
"Then I'm older," Hanekawa said, a smile on his face. "You should call me 'big brother.'"
"Wait!" Kurenai quickly refused. "No way! I'm the older sister!"
"But you're younger than me," Hanekawa said, lying with a straight face. He didn't know his actual age or birthday, being a war orphan.
"No means no!" Kurenai quickly said. "Being older doesn't matter; having a stronger fist does!"
"Are you saying you'll be my little sister after I beat you?" Hanekawa asked with a raised eyebrow and a grin.
Kurenai was about to agree but hesitated after remembering how fast he had refined his chakra. She bit her lip. "Come back to me after you beat me."
Hanekawa's smile widened. Teasing a cute little girl was fun. To be clear, he wasn't into lolis; he liked older women.
Just then, footsteps approached.
"You're back already?" Hanekawa subconsciously turned and his expression froze.
It wasn't Shinku, but a woman who was both familiar and a stranger: Nonō Yakushi. He remembered her as a gentle figure, but her face was grim. Hanekawa knew what this was about without even thinking. Danzo was still after him.
"Headmistress." Hanekawa told Kurenai he'd be right back and walked toward Nonō. In the original series, she was a tragic character. She left the Foundation because of her kind heart but was threatened by Danzo, who used the orphanage against her. Her eventual death was a result of knowing too much. Danzo set her up to fight her adopted son, Kabuto Yakushi, to the death.
"Hanekawa, I'm glad you're alright," Nonō said, gently stroking his head.
"Thank you for your concern, Headmistress." Hanekawa noticed her hesitation. "Is there something wrong?"
"..." Nonō fell silent.
Just a moment ago, Danzo had found her at the orphanage and explained Hanekawa's situation. He wanted Hanekawa to join the Foundation, and if it was Hanekawa's own decision, Hiruzen would have no reason to stop it.
"What did the Hokage decide for you?" she asked.
"He told me to go to the ninja academy," Hanekawa replied.
Nonō's eyes lit up. Danzo valued her because she was a powerful ninja, known as the "Walking Miko." As soon as she heard "ninja academy," she immediately thought of a way to buy time.
"Hanekawa, no matter what happens, you must graduate," Nonō said seriously.
"Okay." Hanekawa understood her hidden meaning. As long as he was at the academy, Danzo wouldn't be able to touch him.
But Danzo would always be a problem. Should he join him if he couldn't beat him? No. Danzo didn't just want your heart; he wanted to brainwash you. Plus, if he joined the Foundation, he would be betraying his new family, like Lu Bu from the Three Kingdoms. He wanted to be spoiled by a rich, beautiful woman, not an old man. If the "old man" was Tsunade, he'd consider it. Even if she was in debt, a large chest was a sign of justice.
Hanekawa recalled that Kabuto wasn't at the orphanage yet. He had at least ten years. The "Gardening Project," no, the "Justice Gardenia Project" could begin! In ten years, saving Nonō should be no problem. Even though his original purpose was to be a spy, she had been truly kind to him.
"You can always come back to the orphanage when you have time," Nonō said with a gentle smile.
"I will." Hanekawa nodded firmly.
She gave him one last pat on the head before leaving. Hanekawa watched her go, a slight twitch on his lips. Why was he getting patted on the head so much on his first day?
"Kurenai," Hanekawa said, turning to her. "Can you teach me ninja tool throwing?"
Danzo's threat had motivated him greatly; he had to work harder. "Ninja Tool Throwing" was a necessary title for synthesizing "Genius Genin." The system didn't specify how to trigger it, but based on his previous experience, he needed to perform the action.
"Of course!" Kurenai said with a proud hum. "I'm pretty confident in my ninja tool throwing skills."