"Was that really your first time refining chakra?"
As soon as Yukawa finished his training, Kurenai couldn't help but inch closer, full of curiosity.
"It was," Yukawa replied with a blink and a smile.
"Ugh! No fair!"
Kurenai clenched her tiny fists in frustration. "But don't think you can surpass me that easily!"
"I'll do my best," Yukawa answered with a calm smile.
"You… don't have to take it that seriously…"
Kurenai blinked in confusion, slightly flustered by his smile.
Turns out, good looks do influence first impressions.
Especially for a boy like Yukawa—his charm worked on everyone from elegant older women to cute little girls.
"Yukawa."
Yuhi Shinku stepped out of the house and handed him an enrollment notice.
Yukawa opened it and scanned the contents.
It was brief: he had passed the evaluation and was officially admitted to the Ninja Academy, assigned to Class 1-A.
He didn't recall taking any test. Clearly, Hiruzen had pulled some strings.
"Kurenai, take him to meet your homeroom teacher tomorrow," Shinku instructed.
"Got it!"
Kurenai perked up immediately. "Leave it to me!"
"I'll head out and pick up the daily essentials Yukawa needs."
Shinku paused. "Is there anything you two want me to bring back?"
"Tri-colored dango!"
Kurenai called out without hesitation.
"And you?"
Shinku turned to Yukawa. "We're family now. No need to be shy."
"I'll have the same."
Yukawa wasn't sure what else to ask for, so he echoed her request.
Tri-colored dango was one of Konoha's signature sweets, favored by ninjas like Itachi Uchiha and Anko Mitarashi.
Now that he had the chance, he was curious to try it for himself.
"If you get stuck during training, ask Kurenai for help," Shinku said as he waved and headed out.
"Heh!"
Kurenai crossed her arms and tilted her chin up, looking smug as ever—like she was dying for him to ask for guidance.
Yukawa chuckled at the sight.
"What're you laughing at?"
Kurenai puffed her cheeks.
"Just thought of something happy," Yukawa coughed lightly and replied.
"What happy thing?"
Kurenai suddenly looked suspicious, her face stiffening.
"When's your birthday?"
Yukawa abruptly changed the subject.
"June 11th," Kurenai answered without thinking. Then she blinked. "Why do you ask?"
"Then I'm older."
Yukawa smiled slyly. "You should call me 'big brother.'"
"Wait a minute!"
Kurenai instantly snapped out of it. "No way! I'm the big sister here!"
"But you're younger than me," Yukawa said with a deadpan face, spouting pure nonsense.
Truth was, he didn't actually know his birthday—being a war orphan and all.
"Doesn't matter!"
Kurenai huffed. Then her eyes lit up. "Age isn't what counts—strength is what matters!"
"So… if I beat you in a fight, you're my little sister?"
Yukawa raised an eyebrow with a teasing grin.
Kurenai almost blurted out "yes!" but then remembered how fast he refined chakra—and hesitated.
Biting her lip, she muttered, "Try and beat me first."
Yukawa's smile grew even wider.
Teasing a pretty little girl like this was surprisingly fun.
Just to clarify: he wasn't into lolis. He preferred the kind who drove big cars.
Just then, footsteps approached.
"Back already?"
Yukawa turned instinctively—then froze.
It wasn't Yuhi Shinku, but a woman both familiar and unfamiliar: Nonō Yakushi.
But unlike the gentle woman he remembered, her face was clouded with worry.
Yukawa didn't need to guess. He knew what this was about.
It had to be Danzo Shimura. The man clearly hadn't given up.
"Director."
Yukawa nodded to Kurenai and stepped forward.
In the original story, Nonō Yakushi was a deeply tragic figure.
She left Root out of kindness and conscience, but Danzo threatened the orphanage to force her back into service. In the end, she died for knowing too much.
Danzo orchestrated a cruel plot that made her clash fatally with her adoptive son, Kabuto Yakushi.
"Yukawa, I'm glad you're okay."
Nonō gently placed a hand on his head, her voice soft and warm.
"Thank you for worrying, Director."
Yukawa noticed the hesitation on her face. "Is something wrong?"
"…"
Nonō fell silent.
Just earlier, Danzo had come to the orphanage to speak with her about Yukawa.
He wanted the boy to join Root—and said that as long as it was her decision, the Hokage wouldn't intervene.
"What arrangements did the Hokage make for you?"
Nonō finally asked.
"He's sending me to the Ninja Academy."
Yukawa answered honestly.
A spark flickered in her eyes.
She was valued by Danzo for her incredible skills—people once called her a "walking shrine maiden."
And now, hearing "Ninja Academy" gave her an idea to stall for time.
"Yukawa, no matter what happens… you must graduate normally."
Her voice turned firm.
"Understood."
Yukawa immediately picked up on her hidden meaning.
As long as he remained in the Academy, Danzo couldn't move against him.
But that old war hawk would always be a problem.
Join if you can't beat him?
No thanks.
Danzo wouldn't just take your loyalty—he'd reprogram your mind.
If he really joined Root, wouldn't that make him Danzo's brainwashed lapdog?
No way.
Yukawa wasn't looking to serve some grumpy old man—he wanted to be pampered by a 36D, black-stocking-clad, rich older woman.
If Danzo were swapped with Tsunade, then he might consider.
Sure, she was deep in debt, but hey—big is justice.
He did a quick mental check: Kabuto didn't seem to be in the orphanage yet.
So there were probably ten years to go.
Evil—no, righteous—Gardenia Plan: Activated.
Three years to rise, three years to bide, ten years to rewrite Nonō Yakushi's fate.
Even if his arrival at the orphanage had been orchestrated by the Kumo, Nonō had genuinely treated him with kindness.
"Come visit the orphanage when you have time."
Nonō gave him a gentle smile.
"I will."
Yukawa nodded seriously.
She patted his head once more before turning to leave.
Yukawa watched her go, the corner of his mouth twitching.
Why is it that on my very first day, I'm already getting headpats?
"Kurenai."
Yukawa turned to her. "Can you teach me how to throw ninja tools?"
Danzo's looming threat had lit a fire under him—he had to push harder.
The [Throwing Tools] trait was essential for synthesizing [Genius Genin].
The system hadn't specified how to unlock it, but based on past experience, the trigger likely lay in actions.
"Of course!"
Kurenai snorted confidently. "I'm pretty good at throwing ninja tools, you know!"