Asuma's face flushed red as he processed what Kurenai had just told him.
"Wait—your father assigned you to bring him here?" His voice came out higher than intended.
Kurenai blinked at his sudden intensity, genuinely confused. They'd only known each other a short time, and at six years old, she had no idea why he'd reacted so dramatically. She certainly didn't understand that she'd just handed Asuma Sarutobi the emotional equivalent of a kunai to the chest.
"Yeah," she said simply, recounting the whole story.
By the time she finished, Asuma was trembling—not from cold.
His own Father had orchestrated this? The Third Hokage himself had decided to take in this... this brat?
Here Asuma was, trying to escape his family's shadow, trying to prove himself as his own person rather than just "the Hokage's grandson," and now the old man was collecting talented kids like they were trading cards.
"Asuma?" Kurenai tilted her head. "Why is your face all red?"
"It's fine," he said quickly, forcing a smile. "We're going to be late. Let's go."
It's fine. Everything's fine. Totally fine.
Kurenai didn't press it, already moving toward the school entrance. Asuma followed, but his eyes kept drifting to Hanekawa. The way he stared probably looked ridiculous—like some kind of obsessed emoticon—but he couldn't help it.
I will watch you. Forever and ever.
When they reached the Ninja Academy, Kurenai turned to them both. "I need to take Hanekawa to the teacher's office. Asuma, you can head to class."
"I'll take him!" Asuma volunteered immediately.
"No." Kurenai's refusal was firm. "My father gave me this task."
"But—"
She'd already turned away, Hanekawa in tow. Asuma's hand rose instinctively, as if he could somehow pull them back.
No. No, no, no.
He glared at Hanekawa's retreating figure, his jaw clenched.
Damn that brat.
---
The teacher's office was quiet except for the scratch of a pen. The young chunin behind the desk—Yamamoto Eiichiro, according to Kurenai's introduction—looked up as they entered. He was ordinary in almost every way, which made his next words carry unexpected weight.
"Hanekawa-san, welcome to Class A, First Year," he said, his smile warm but his eyes sharp. As a special student of the Third Hokage, this boy warranted careful attention. "I'm glad to have you."
"Thank you, Teacher," Hanekawa replied with practiced politeness.
Eiichiro nodded approvingly. No troublemaker attitude here, at least not on the surface.
"Kurenai, you can go ahead," he said to Kurenai. Then, turning to Hanekawa: "I'll take you to the classroom."
Kurenai winked at Hanekawa before leaving—a gesture that made Asuma's eye twitch from three rooms away, somehow.
Eiichiro gathered a stack of textbooks from his desk. Seven in total. Hanekawa scanned the spines: Chakra Concept Explanation and Refining Techniques, Ninja Tool Throwing, Will of Fire, Ninja Code, History of Konoha...
The works, he thought. In his previous life, someone had analyzed Chunin Exam questions and found they covered everything from basic sciences to history. Ninja school was more comprehensive than most people realized.
"You have a few minutes before class starts," Eiichiro said. "Feel free to look around."
The bell rang before Hanekawa could respond.
"Let's go," Eiichiro said, already moving.
---
Class A, First Year was exactly what Hanekawa expected: a room full of six-year-olds with varying degrees of attention span. The moment he appeared in the doorway, curious eyes locked onto him. Some of the girls' eyes went wide—the kind of wide that suggested they'd already decided something.
Great. Fan club acquired. Fantastic.
He spotted Kakashi immediately. White hair and a mask made for easy identification. The kid was already a prodigy—graduated at five, chunin by six, jonin by thirteen. Future teacher of Naruto and Sasuke. Basically a walking resume of excellence.
Kakashi sat with an empty seat to his left and Nohara Rin to his right. Rin had short brown hair and a gentle face marked with two purple patterns. The empty seat was obviously waiting for—
"AHHHHH!"
A scream like a wild animal split the air.
A boy in a sports jacket and sunglasses came barreling through the classroom at full speed, his face flushed with exertion.
"Get out of the way!" he shouted at Hanekawa.
Hanekawa stepped aside smoothly. The boy—Uchiha Obito, obviously—charged into the classroom, hit the brakes hard, skidded backward several times, and finally crashed to the ground like a falling bird.
"You're late again, Obito," Eiichiro sighed.
"Sorry, Teacher!" Obito scrambled up. "I was helping an old lady cross the road!"
"Find a new excuse next time."
"But it's true!" Obito protested.
Eiichiro clearly didn't believe him. Who helped old ladies cross the road every single day?
Obito slumped into his seat and immediately turned to Rin. "Rin! Good morning!"
"Good morning, Obito," Rin replied softly.
Obito grinned like an idiot.
Oh, he's got it bad, Hanekawa observed. This kid's going to have a rough time.
"Before we start, I have an announcement," Eiichiro said, tapping the podium. The classroom quieted instantly. The smarter students had already figured out this was about the new kid.
"From today on, Hanekawa-san will be joining our class. Everyone, please welcome him!"
Eiichiro started clapping. Most of the class followed suit. Asuma, watching from his seat, did not. His eyes were fixed on Kurenai, who was clapping enthusiastically, and his expression suggested he was eating something very sour.
"This new classmate is pretty cute," a girl with short black hair sitting behind Rin whispered.
Obito's head snapped toward Rin like it was on a swivel. "Rin, what do you think?"
Rin hesitated. She did think Hanekawa was attractive, but saying so out loud would definitely upset Obito. She could see it in his eyes already.
"Looks don't matter," Kakashi said coolly. "Strength is what counts."
"Stinky ass!" Obito shot back, stung. "When I open my Sharingan, I'll make you eat dirt!"
He'd convinced himself that Rin paid more attention to Kakashi because the white-haired prodigy was stronger. It was a convenient explanation that had nothing to do with Kakashi's actual personality or Rin's actual preferences.
"I think Kakashi's right!" A boy in a green jumpsuit in the front row suddenly spun around, flashing a brilliant smile and a thumbs-up. "Strength is what matters! The springtime of youth shines brightest in those who push themselves to their limits!"
And there's Guy, Hanekawa thought. Loud, enthusiastic, and completely unhinged about youth. Perfect.
"Hanekawa-san, why don't you introduce yourself?" Eiichiro gestured toward the front of the class.
All eyes turned to him.
Hanekawa stepped forward, his expression calm and composed. This was the moment to establish himself—not as a prodigy, not as the Hokage's student, but as someone worth knowing.
"My name is Hanekawa," he said simply. "I'm looking forward to training with all of you."
It was humble. It was confident. It was exactly the right thing to say.
Kakashi's eyes narrowed slightly—the look of someone recognizing a potential rival.
Obito's expression darkened—the look of someone who'd just realized the competition had gotten fiercer.
And Kurenai, watching from the doorway with her father's aide, smiled.
He's going to fit in just fine, she thought.