Two hours later, Kato Dan led Haruki and the others to meet Tsunade.This time, they finally came face-to-face. But Haruki didn't meet her as Tsunade's disciple — instead, he was introduced simply as an ordinary chūnin.
So this is the famous Tsunade-hime? She really is young right now… and as expected, one of the most beautiful women among the Hokage.Haruki's eyes quietly studied her. In his previous life, he had admired this remarkable kunoichi. Tsunade loved her village deeply, combining boldness and strength with a hidden gentleness, sharp wisdom, decisiveness, and unmatched medical ninjutsu — she was one of the people Haruki truly respected.
Glancing at her neck, Haruki noticed she wasn't wearing the First Hokage's necklace. Maybe she's keeping it put away… afraid she might lose it, he thought.
"Dan, Shikaku, Inoichi, Chōza, Shibi, Mizuki — you've all worked hard. That battle escorting the supply convoy was well fought!" Tsunade smiled as she nodded in approval to each person in turn. But she didn't seem to notice the small six-year-old standing beside Kato Dan.
Haruki didn't think much of it. He was only six, and short for his age — easy to overlook.
"Tsunade-sama, now that we're here, we're under your command. Please assign us to our duties," Shikaku said.
"Mm. Dan, take the Ino–Shika–Chō trio and join a combat unit. Shikaku, I've heard you're a good strategist — you three can help me plan. Aburame Shibi, Hyūga Mizuki, report to the reconnaissance unit. As for this little one…" Tsunade's eyes flicked briefly to the boy standing behind Dan.
"Little one, you'll be helping in the logistics department. Does that sound fine to everyone?" she said.
Everyone seemed satisfied with their assignments — except Haruki, who raised his hand.
"Tsunade-sama, I'm not 'little one.' My name is Hinata Haruki. And I have a different opinion," Haruki said, meeting her gaze.
"Oh? What opinion?" Tsunade asked, puzzled.
"The logistics department is where genin go. I'm not willing to be stuck there."
"Not willing?"
"Tsunade-sama, I'm a chūnin — and I've made more than a few contributions. With my abilities, am I really only fit to do menial work in logistics?"
"A chūnin with achievements, hm?" Tsunade's smile carried a faint trace of condescension. It irritated Haruki — she was clearly looking down on him.
"Then where do you want to go, little one? The recon unit? Surely not the combat squads?" she asked with mild curiosity.
"No, neither. Tsunade-sama… I want to go to the medical station," Haruki replied with a shake of his head.
"The medical station? You know how to perform nursing work?"
"I'm not a nurse — I'm a medical ninja. I can do a lot there," Haruki said confidently.
"A medical ninja, little one?" Tsunade chuckled. A six-year-old claiming to be a chūnin and a medic, wearing a custom vest from who-knows-where? This child Dan had brought along was certainly… unusual.
The others weren't surprised. Haruki's mother was a doctor, and he occasionally demonstrated his skills when needed. For a prodigy who had made chūnin at five, it would be stranger if he didn't know medicine.
Now Haruki understood how Naruto must have felt when Tsunade underestimated him. In Naruto's case, she had insulted the title of Hokage — which made him furious. Haruki had thought that was just because she'd grown bitter after losing Dan and Nawaki. But now, he realized Tsunade simply had no patience for children like him.
"Yes, my mother passed down much of her medical knowledge to me," Haruki said truthfully.
"Medical work isn't child's play, Hinata Haruki." Tsunade's sharp gaze locked onto him, hoping he would back down.
But Haruki stared right back, refusing to yield.
"I know it's not a game, Tsunade-sama."
"Your mother's a doctor? You've learned a lot?"
"Yes. Just give me one chance — just one — and you won't be disappointed," Haruki said, nodding firmly.
Tsunade considered for a moment. Then she said flatly, "I've decided — little one, you'll still be helping in logistics."
Haruki froze. So much for trying to prove myself… Naruto had the advantage of being the Fourth's son — she was willing to give him a chance. But I'm just a rootless wanderer in her eyes, not even worth testing.
He tried one last time, his tone earnest: "Tsunade-sama, please… just give me a chance. My medical skills—"
"This is an order," Tsunade cut him off. Her words struck Haruki like a cold wind through the heart.
"…Understood." His voice was quiet, his eyes dim with disappointment.
"Wait, Tsunade, you—" Dan began, ready to defend Haruki. A six-year-old chūnin assigned to menial work? Even if she didn't recognize him as her student, the entire camp knew the rumor — how would this look?
But Haruki shook his head at Dan and the others. Some things didn't need explaining.
Truthfully, meeting Tsunade had left him disillusioned. Yes, she was beautiful, bold, and capable — but she was far too arrogant. His rank was real, his accomplishments genuine. And his medical skills… she could have tested him, but instead she dismissed him outright. He decided he wouldn't even bother using the letter of recommendation from the Third Hokage. If this was her attitude, she wasn't worth calling "sensei."
I'll talk to the Third instead. I'll study medical ninjutsu on my own. I can find another great teacher — someone like Yakushi Nonō.
What Haruki didn't know was that Tsunade had only skimmed the battle report from the convoy incident. It mentioned his spotting the enemy, but not that he was a chūnin — and the main credit was given to the group as a whole. She'd also noticed his small stature and assumed his vest wasn't standard issue for chūnin — she had no idea it had been custom-made for him and modified further.
In her eyes, he was just another overconfident brat Dan had taken under his wing — eager to do something earth-shattering but capable only of trivial tasks.
The truth of his record — making chūnin at five — had never reached her on the war front. And she had no idea the boy was the Third's unofficial "gifted apprentice" to her.
To Tsunade, medical work required years of experience. A six-year-old simply couldn't have it — so assigning him to logistics seemed the safest choice.
Haruki, of course, saw none of this. He only saw arrogance and condescension, and any thought of apprenticing under her died right there.
When the group left Tsunade's tent, Mizuki hoped Haruki would at least stay somewhere safe. Shikaku wanted him in strategy meetings — Haruki had a sharp mind. Others grumbled about his assignment, but Haruki told them not to make a fuss.
He accepted it calmly. If he couldn't learn medical ninjutsu here, he'd find another way later — maybe travel the world, healing people along the way.
Everyone split up to report to their posts. Haruki gave Dan and Mizuki each a reinforced anti-piercing vest he'd modified himself, then headed alone to the logistics camp.
The logistics corps oversaw supplies for the entire army, with vast warehouses and transport squads. Haruki entered the main office tent.
"Hello, I'm Chūnin Hinata Haruki. Tsunade-sama assigned me here," he said, handing over his ID to the supervising ninja.
The supervisor blinked. "A chūnin? At your age?" He examined the ID multiple times.
"Yes, I passed a few months ago," Haruki said with a nod.
"Well, a young chūnin in logistics is rare. Most here are genin. You'll handle special supply inventory," the man said, passing him some documents.
Special supplies included important medical stock — sometimes Haruki would even have to deliver them personally to the front lines.
"No problem. I'll do it well."
From then on, Haruki split his time between warehouse work and intense training — leaving his shadow clones to manage inventory while he honed the Byakugan, refined Gentle Fist techniques, and developed new variations.
Four months passed quickly. His strength grew steadily, while the war with Sunagakure dragged on in a bitter stalemate.
One day, he received orders to deliver antidotes to the medical station. The Sand's poison attacks had been devastating — antidotes were critical. Haruki shouldered the crate and used the Body Flicker Technique repeatedly until he reached the station, slightly winded.
"You're just in time," a doctor said gratefully as he took the crate.
"Don't mention it — lives are at stake," Haruki replied with a smile.
He didn't rush back immediately. The station was large but undermanned — about fourteen or fifteen doctors, thirty nurses, and hundreds of patients. Blood, antiseptic, and urgency filled the air.
The front really is brutal, Haruki thought.
Then a commotion caught his attention — a wounded shinobi punched a doctor to the ground, clutching his dislocated shoulder.
"You idiot! You trying to kill me?! I just came back from the battlefield!" he roared, sweat dripping down his face.
"Hold still so I can fix it!" the doctor urged.
"Get lost, quack!" the shinobi barked, about to kick him — but his leg met Haruki's in the way.
"You want to throw a tantrum? Do it on the battlefield," Haruki said coldly.
"You little—"
Haruki ignored him, seizing the man's injured arm, forcing him face-down, pulling it straight, and sharply pressing it back into place.
"AH! Damn it!" the man howled — then paused in shock. His arm moved freely.
The doctor examined it. "Perfect alignment… well done!"
The shinobi stared after Haruki, muttering, "That kid… is he a doctor?"