Hanekawa kept his answer simple and measured. "My name is Hanekawa. I don't have many hobbies, but my dream is to become a ninja like the Hokage."
It wasn't entirely a lie. His real dream—survival—didn't exactly fit the curriculum. Better to give them what they expected: the same ambition every student in this classroom probably harbored.
He'd played it carefully, too. Not "I want to become Hokage," but "like the Hokage." A subtle distinction that suggested respect without arrogance. The kind of answer that wouldn't draw unnecessary attention.
Especially not from Danzo, he thought grimly.
"The ninja who will become Hokage in the end will definitely be me, Uchiha Obito!"
Obito shot to his feet, fist raised, his expression burning with absolute conviction. Rin tugged at his sleeve, but he didn't notice.
"Childish," Kakashi said flatly, not even looking up from his desk.
He's five years old and already has the personality of a jaded veteran, Hanekawa observed. This kid's going places. Probably not good places, but places.
Obito's face flushed. "I'm not childish! I'm serious!"
"Then prove it with actions, not words," Kakashi replied, his tone suggesting the conversation was already beneath him.
Hanekawa bit back a smile. If you can't be Hokage, be Hokage's rival. Same energy.
"What's so great about being Hokage anyway?"
All eyes turned to Asuma Sarutobi, who'd risen slowly from his seat, his voice carrying an edge that seemed too sharp for a six-year-old. "I want to surpass the Hokage."
The classroom went silent.
Everyone knew who his father was.
Hanekawa's expression flickered. As someone who'd devoured the original series, he knew exactly how this would play out. Asuma's talent was... limited. Solid jonin material eventually, sure, but surpassing Hiruzen Sarutobi? That's not ambition. That's fantasy.
"It's good to have dreams," their teacher, Eiichiro, said smoothly, clapping his hands to redirect attention. "But dreams require hard work to achieve. Hanekawa, you'll take the back window seat."
Hanekawa nodded and made his way to the last row. Back window seats were always the best—good light, easy exit, perfect sightline of the entire classroom. He'd take it.
His new deskmate was a girl with short black hair. She looked up as he sat down, and Hanekawa offered a polite smile. "Hello. I'm Hanekawa."
As a spy, you had two options: become invisible or become unforgettable. His appearance didn't allow for the former. Shame I'm not Aburame clan, he thought. That whole aura-concealment thing would be useful.
"I'm Shizune. Nice to meet you." She smiled warmly.
Hanekawa blinked. Shizune? Here? In the academy?
That was unexpected. In the original timeline, Tsunade had left the village years ago, taking Shizune with her. But if Shizune was still here...
He glanced around the classroom, cataloging faces. Kakashi, Rin, and Obito sat in the front row. Kurenai, Asuma, and an unfamiliar boy occupied the left section.
Where's Tsunade?
"Today's class is 'History of Konoha,'" Eiichiro announced. "Please turn to page thirteen."
Hanekawa opened his textbook and immediately felt something was off. The table of contents listed four major chapters: the Six Paths Sage, Hashirama Senju, Tobirama Senju, and Hiruzen Sarutobi.
He flipped to the first chapter and frowned.
According to the text, the Six Paths Sage had created ninjutsu and established the rule that ninja teams should include a medical specialist. That was supposed to be Tsunade's contribution during a jonin meeting. The one that had changed everything for her.
Something's wrong here.
"The First Hokage established Konoha during the turbulent times and wrote down the Ninja Code," Eiichiro lectured, "which prohibits drinking and gambling during missions..."
Hanekawa suppressed a snort. Hashirama? The guy who literally gambled with Tobirama over everything? That's some creative history.
He flipped to the back cover. The author was listed as Hiruzen Sarutobi.
Well, at least he's honest about his bias.
The bell rang. Eiichiro gathered his materials and left, and the classroom erupted into chatter.
"Kurenai—" Asuma started, but Kurenai was already moving, hopping off her stool and making a beeline for Hanekawa's desk. Asuma's hands clenched into fists, his expression darkening.
"Are you settling in okay?" Kurenai asked brightly, her ruby eyes sparkling in the afternoon light.
"Yeah, it's fine," Hanekawa replied.
"Here." She thrust a notebook at him. "These are the key points I've been taking for the past two months. Might help you catch up."
"Thanks." He accepted it seriously. The gesture was genuinely thoughtful.
"See you at lunch!" She waved and headed back to her seat, leaving Asuma looking like he'd swallowed a lemon.
Shizune leaned over, her curiosity barely contained. "Do you know her?"
"Her father's my teacher," Hanekawa explained.
"A jonin?" Shizune's eyes widened. "That's unusual. Most students don't get assigned a mentor until after graduation."
"Yeah, well." Hanekawa shrugged. "Circumstances."
"Do you know Lady Tsunade?" he asked, testing the waters.
Shizune shook her head, and Hanekawa felt that familiar prickle of wrongness again.
That's not right.
In the original timeline, Tsunade and Kato Dan had been together. His death had triggered her hemophobia, which had driven her to leave the village with Shizune. But if the Six Paths Sage had already established the medical ninja rule in this version of history...
Did that change prevent their meeting? Or did something else happen?
The butterfly effect. Time travel. Alternate timelines. Pick your poison—something had shifted in this world, and he couldn't quite figure out what.
Hanekawa decided to stop overthinking it. He had enough on his plate without chasing historical inconsistencies.
When noon arrived, students scattered to eat. Shizune excused herself to find Rin, leaving Hanekawa alone with Kurenai, who'd claimed the seat across from him.
"You getting along with Asuma?" he asked, opening his lunch box.
"Not really," Kurenai said, a hint of annoyance in her voice. "He's just... persistent."
"That's all?"
"Pretty much." She watched as he picked up his chopsticks. "Why?"
"No reason." Hanekawa selected a piece of fried shrimp. "Just making conversation."
Besides, I'm not about to get involved in elementary school love triangles. That's a minefield I don't need.
He had enough complications without adding that to the list.
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