Hanekawa watched Kurenai bounce excitedly around the training ground, and couldn't help but smile. "How come you're happier than me?"

  "Because you beat Asuma with a genjutsu!" Kurenai tilted her head, searching for an excuse. "Maybe I can do it someday too."

  "Then you'll need to work harder," Hanekawa said, recalling the original timeline. In the canon story, Asuma had eventually defeated Kurenai—but that was before Hanekawa's arrival. Things were different now.

  "I see!" Kurenai puffed out her cheeks with determination.

  "I'll teach you when I have time," Hanekawa offered, unable to suppress his amusement at her expression.

  Kurenai's ruby eyes lit up immediately. "Really? You'll teach me how to beat Asuma?"

  "Why do you want to beat him so badly?" Hanekawa raised an eyebrow. "Do you hate him?"

  "I hate it so much," Kurenai said, pouting. "He's always bragging in front of me, acting so proud."

  Typical six-year-old rivalry, Hanekawa thought. This is probably how Asuma ended up defeating her in the original timeline. But with me here, things should go differently.

  "Alright," Hanekawa said with a slight smile. "I'll teach you."

  Under normal circumstances, Kurenai wouldn't stand a chance against Asuma Sarutobi. But with proper training and some specialized techniques, winning once or twice was entirely possible. After all, Asuma was only six years old—there were limits to how powerful even a prodigy could be at that age. The only real concern was his father, the Third Hokage, who would undoubtedly help his son improve.

  ---

  The walk home was quick. Kurenai pushed open the door and kicked off her shoes, revealing small feet. "I'm home!"

  "Welcome back," Yuhi Shinku appeared almost immediately. "Go wash your hands. Dinner's ready."

  Hanekawa nodded and followed the routine. After the meal, his thoughts drifted to the new entry he'd acquired: Shippuden—a Wind Style talent that increased the effectiveness of wind-based jutsu by 10%.

  Chakra attributes were divided into five basic types: water, fire, lightning, wind, and earth, plus the special yin and yang attributes. Everyone was born with natural affinities, though they required chakra test paper to identify. In the original series, Kakashi hadn't tested Naruto's attributes until after the Chunin Exams—quite late in his training. Most genin never bothered with attribute testing; they simply learned the fundamentals and basic jutsu.

  The real game-changer was learning to change chakra nature—and that led to techniques like the Rasengan. Hanekawa had read the theoretical methods in the original work, but he had no idea if they'd actually work in practice.

  "Uncle Shinku," Hanekawa looked up from his plate. "Do you have any chakra test paper?"

  Kurenai blinked. "Chakra test paper?"

  "It's used to identify your chakra attributes," Shinku explained thoughtfully. "It's early for you both, but there's no harm in knowing." He stood and disappeared into the back room, returning moments later with two small square papers, each about the size of a palm. "Just channel your chakra into it. The paper will react differently depending on your attribute."

  Kurenai eagerly grabbed one of the papers. Within seconds, it transformed—the right half burst into flames while the left half became soaked with water, glistening with moisture.

  "So amazing!" Kurenai gasped, staring at the impossible fusion of fire and water.

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  "Water and fire attributes," Shinku said, genuine surprise crossing his face. "It's rare for water and fire to manifest simultaneously—they're opposing elements."

  "Does that mean I can learn both water and fire jutsu?" Kurenai asked hopefully.

  "Technically, yes," Shinku nodded. "But it's not necessary. Focus on perfecting your genjutsu instead."

  He paused, his tone becoming more serious. "Mastering two chakra attributes is typically a jonin-level achievement. Given your natural talent for illusion, you'll reach jonin rank faster by specializing."

  While they spoke, Hanekawa tested his own paper. It split into lightning and fire—thunder and fire attributes.

  Interesting, he thought. Wind wasn't in my natural affinities. I'd normally need to spend years training to develop it. But with the system...

  "The same applies to you, Hanekawa," Shinku said, turning to him. "Focus on genjutsu first."

  "Understood," Hanekawa replied simply.

  "Oh! I almost forgot!" Kurenai suddenly jumped up. "Hanekawa defeated Asuma today using genjutsu! Illusion is way stronger than wind jutsu!"

  Shinku's eyes widened slightly. The boy defeated the Hokage's son after only a week of training? His respect for Hanekawa's talent deepened.

  "Genjutsu does provide significant advantages in combat," Shinku said carefully, a smile playing at his lips. Though that advantage disappears against Sharingan users.

  Kurenai practically vibrated with excitement and immediately excused herself to practice her illusion techniques. Hanekawa headed outside to the grove, where he spent the evening practicing his throwing accuracy with kunai and shuriken.

  ---

  The next day at the academy, Hanekawa's popularity had skyrocketed overnight. Classmates—especially the girls—kept approaching him to chat. In the ninja world, strength was everything, and Hanekawa had just proven he possessed it in abundance. Combined with his appearance, he'd become the center of attention.

  Kurenai felt something unfamiliar twist in her chest as she watched other children cluster around him. That's... mine, she thought possessively, then immediately felt embarrassed by the thought.

  Asuma, meanwhile, simply observed from a distance. His father had taught him how to break genjutsu the previous night, but Asuma wasn't foolish enough to challenge Hanekawa immediately. He'd wait until he was certain of victory.

  Class passed quickly, and soon Saturday arrived.

  Hanekawa woke early as usual. After his morning run through the village streets, he headed toward the orphanage. Before he'd even arrived, text materialized before his eyes:

  ---

  [E-Rank Talent Entry: Strong Physique (Acquired)]

  [Trigger Condition: Body reaches minimum Genin level]

  [Effect: Physical recovery speed increased by 10%]

  [Note: Two synthesis pathways available]

  [Path One: Combine with "Quick Steps" (E-Rank) and "Thousand Years of Killing" (E-Rank) → "Taijutsu Genin" (D-Rank)]

  [Path Two: Combine with "Medical Ninja" (D-Rank) and "Swift Flight" (E-Rank) → "Innate Divine Power" (C-Rank)]

  ---

  Hanekawa stopped in his tracks. The acquisition of "Strong Physique" was expected—his body had reached the baseline physical requirements of a genin. But the synthesis options caught him off guard.

  The second path was particularly intriguing. Combining "Innate Divine Power" with "Innate Complete Soul" would likely result in a Yang Release talent—one of the most powerful attributes in the ninja world.

  Without hesitation, he mentally selected the second synthesis path.

  "Hanekawa? You're here early. Have you eaten?"

  Yakushi Nonō's voice pulled him back to reality. The orphanage director stood in the doorway, concern evident on her face.

  "Yes, Director," Hanekawa said. "I had rice balls before coming."

  Nonō handed him a glass of milk. "Drink this. After you finish, I'm taking you to meet Lady Tsunade."

  Hanekawa's eyebrows rose slightly, but he drank the milk without comment. Tsunade? Now?

  ---

  Konoha Hospital loomed before them, its white walls gleaming in the morning sun. Nonō led him upstairs through winding corridors until they reached an office on the upper floor.

  Tsunade sat on a sofa, one leg crossed elegantly over the other. She wore a tea-green dress that hugged her curves, her long blonde hair tied back in a ponytail. The diamond-shaped Yin Seal mark on her forehead caught the light. Her sleeveless top revealed smooth, fair skin, and her face was strikingly beautiful—even more impressive in person than in the anime.

  Hanekawa's gaze... drifted.

  Oh no. Oh no, no, no.

  He snapped his eyes back to her face just as Tsunade's sharp brown eyes locked onto his. Her expression shifted into something dangerous.

  I forgot to turn off the automatic aim, Hanekawa thought in panic. This is bad. This is very, very bad.