---

  Kurenai emerged from the bathroom, toweling her damp hair dry, her small face scrunched in confusion.

  She'd just finished her morning training routine and was getting ready for school. Normally, her father would have already left for work by now.

  "Your father took the day off to watch your practical exam," Hanekawa explained, picking up the hair dryer. He gestured for her to sit down, then began carefully drying her hair.

  The theory test had been yesterday—results still pending. Today was the practical exam.

  Yuhi Shinku opened his mouth, then closed it again. Finally, he thought with barely concealed frustration. A chance to speak.

  He was beginning to feel like a ghost in his own home.

  "There's something I need to tell you both," he said once Kurenai's hair was dry.

  "We won't let you down!" Kurenai announced proudly, chin raised. "Just wait for our good news!"

  "That's not what I meant." Shinku shook his head. "I know your abilities. But as a genjutsu specialist, remember—stay within your limits."

  Kurenai tilted her head, genuinely confused. "Eh?"

  "No matter what happens, survival comes first," Shinku continued earnestly. "If you can't win, concede. Don't try to be a hero. Getting hurt isn't worth it."

  "But—"

  "Your father's right," Hanekawa interjected.

  Kurenai blinked at him. Naruto might be a series about hot-blooded determination and friendship, but real combat didn't work that way. Without a cheat code, charging forward screaming about bonds was just a way to get yourself killed. Uchiha Madara would probably laugh.

  Shinku gave Hanekawa an approving nod. This one will survive.

  Hanekawa felt an odd twinge. In the original timeline, Yuhi Shinku had died protecting the village during the Nine-Tails attack. The fact that he was here, alive, giving his daughter practical advice about survival...

  Butterfly effect, Hanekawa thought. Or maybe I'm just overthinking it.

  "Okay!" Kurenai nodded seriously. "I understand!"

  If Hanekawa agreed, it had to be right.

  "Let's head out," Shinku said, standing with a smile. "It should be quite the spectacle today."

  ---

  Across the village, Hiruzen Sarutobi was already at his desk, compiling the list of jonin and chunin who would lead the newly graduated teams.

  Every year, the Hokage personally assigned team leaders. Clan heirs and prodigies got jonin instructors. The average students got chunin. There simply weren't enough jonin to go around.

  "Are you ready?" Hiruzen heard footsteps and looked up.

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  Normally, he'd be heading to the Hokage's office by now. But not this year. Not with Asuma involved.

  "Absolutely!" Asuma practically vibrated with eagerness. "I've been preparing for a month!"

  "Don't be overconfident," Hiruzen cautioned with a slight smile.

  "I know," Asuma snorted. "Have you finished your work?"

  "There you go again," Hiruzen said slowly, closing a scroll. "You need to stay calm during combat. Always."

  "You've told me that a hundred times!"

  Hiruzen suddenly felt very tired. How had this boy inherited none of his brother's composure? Where does he get this from?

  The two walked out together. As they made their way through the village, people greeted Hiruzen constantly. The Hokage's popularity was evident in every bow and salute.

  Asuma trailed behind, his expression growing darker by the minute. His father's presence completely overshadowed him. Even when people acknowledged him, it was only to say, "Is this your son? He's quite handsome!"

  Great. Wonderful. Fantastic, Asuma thought bitterly. I'm just the Hokage's pretty accessory.

  He glared at Hiruzen's back and headed straight for the classroom.

  ---

  Before the practical exam came the theory test results announcement.

  Asuma wasn't confident he'd placed first, but he was certain he'd beaten Hanekawa. Last month, Hanekawa had ranked dead last. There was no way he could have jumped that far in just four weeks.

  If he had, Asuma would... well, he'd eat his words. Literally. On the spot.

  "Kakashi, think you did well on the theory test?" Rin asked, making conversation while they waited for the teacher.

  "Probably," Kakashi replied with characteristic indifference. "Same as always."

  He'd consistently ranked first on previous exams.

  Rin nodded, but her eyes drifted to Hanekawa as he entered the classroom. Maybe not this time, she thought.

  Over the past month, she and Hanekawa had studied together frequently. His knowledge was staggering—far beyond what the curriculum demanded.

  "Rin, why not ask me?" Obito poked his head into her line of sight, grinning. "How do you think I did?"

  "How are you feeling about it?" Rin asked politely.

  "Great!" Obito declared with absolute confidence. "I'm definitely not placing last this time!"

  "What difference does that make?" Kakashi asked flatly.

  "What do you mean, what difference?!" Obito bristled indignantly.

  Very spirited, Hanekawa observed, shaking his head slightly.

  Outside the classroom, Hiruzen and Hatake Sakumo stood together, with Eiichiro hovering nearby like an anxious assistant.

  When the bell rang, Eiichiro hurried back inside.

  "I'll now announce the theory test rankings," he said, addressing the class with a smile. "First place goes to Hanekawa. Let's give him our congratulations!"

  The applause came, but it was accompanied by expressions of shock. Several students looked like they'd seen ghosts.

  "Amazing!" Kurenai practically glowed with pride, as if she'd won first place herself.

  Obito's hands clenched involuntarily. How? Last month he was at the bottom. How did he jump to first?

  Kakashi's pupils contracted slightly. He said nothing.

  Rin's mouth fell open. He really did it.

  "Teacher!" Asuma shot to his feet, his voice sharp with accusation. "Did you make a mistake?"

  Outside, Hiruzen's expression became carefully neutral. Why is he anxious again?

  Hanekawa placing first was... unexpected. But not impossible.

  "No mistake," Eiichiro confirmed.

  Asuma's jaw clenched. He sat down heavily, defeated. How is this possible? He studied less than me!

  He has to be cheating.

  "Hanekawa-san achieved first place despite studying two months less than everyone else," Eiichiro continued, his tone turning pedagogical. "What does this teach us? That hard work pays off! I hope everyone will study harder, especially during class—"

  He stopped abruptly, an embarrassed flush creeping across his face.

  Because he'd just remembered: Hanekawa never paid attention in class. He either completed his assignments or read advanced texts.

  The irony was not lost on anyone.