The opening ceremony dragged on for three hours.

  Hanekawa had made a critical error: he'd come alone. If he'd brought Tsunade, he could've slipped out halfway through. Instead, he was trapped in an auditorium with a hundred other six-year-olds, all slowly dying inside as the Third Hokage waxed poetic about the Will of Fire.

  By hour two, everyone's eyes had glazed over. By hour three, Hanekawa was pretty sure he'd achieved enlightenment through sheer boredom.

  Note to self: Never underestimate the Hokage's ability to talk. This man could bore a tailed beast into submission.

  After the ceremony came registration and textbook collection—the administrative equivalent of watching paint dry. But at least it was mercifully brief.

  "How about we have lunch together?" Rin asked, appearing at his side with her usual gentle smile.

  "Of course!" Obito practically vibrated with excitement, then shot Kakashi a pointed look that screamed don't you dare join us.

  Kakashi, still nursing his wounded pride from the morning's decisive defeat, shook his head. "I'm going to train."

  "You should come with us," Rin said warmly. "Hanekawa helped me a lot."

  "Rin!" Kurenai bounced over, grabbing Hanekawa's hand and waving enthusiastically.

  Obito's eyes flickered toward Rin—a look of pure longing that would've been funny if it wasn't so painfully earnest. Kid's got it bad, Hanekawa thought.

  "What do you want to eat?" Rin asked him.

  "What's the most famous ramen shop in the village?" Hanekawa asked, already knowing the answer but hoping for a miracle.

  "Ichiran Ramen, at the entrance of the village," Rin replied.

  So Ichiraku isn't open yet. Noted.

  "Let's go there," he said.

  "Wait!" Asuma caught up with them, slightly out of breath. "Hanekawa, fight me."

  "After we eat," Hanekawa said smoothly. "Come with us."

  Asuma hesitated, then his expression shifted. Ah, I see where this is going. "I don't want to owe you a favor," he announced generously. "My treat."

  Kurenai's smile vanished. She'd been enjoying their time together, and now Asuma was inserting himself again. Typical.

  ---

  Ichiran Ramen was modest but clean, the kind of place that would become legendary someday. Hanekawa ordered tonkotsu without hesitation.

  "Me too," Kurenai said, mirroring his choice.

  "Me too," Asuma echoed immediately.

  Kurenai's eye twitched slightly.

  This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.

  "How did you become so strong?" Kakashi asked suddenly, his analytical mind still working the problem. He'd spent the morning reviewing their fight, searching for the key variable.

  "Don't you know who my teacher is?" Hanekawa replied smoothly.

  Can't exactly say it's because I have a cheat system. Better let Tsunade take the credit.

  Kakashi's eyes widened as understanding clicked into place. Tsunade—medical ninja, physical specialist, famous for her superhuman strength. Of course.

  "What do you mean, strong?" Asuma asked, confused.

  "Hanekawa defeated Kakashi with one move this morning," Kurenai said proudly, puffing out her chest.

  Asuma looked at Kakashi, who nodded silently in confirmation.

  The color drained from Asuma's face. Oh no.

  ---

  After lunch, Hanekawa excused himself and headed toward Tsunade's house. He'd made it three blocks when he noticed the clumsy shadow following him.

  "Come out," he called without breaking stride.

  Asuma emerged, looking sheepish. "How did you find me?"

  "I have eyes," Hanekawa said simply.

  "Eyes behind your head?" Asuma scoffed.

  "Want to spar?" Hanekawa asked, changing the subject.

  "Yes!" Asuma's competitive fire reignited. He'd been planning to beat Hanekawa in front of Kurenai, but Kakashi's instant defeat had forced a tactical retreat. This was his chance to gather intel.

  "Why should I?" Hanekawa asked reasonably.

  "Because I'm challenging you! You have to accept!"

  "That's not how practical training works," Hanekawa said, shaking his head.

  Asuma's jaw clenched. "You have to spar with me!"

  Hanekawa considered him for a moment. Time to play this smart. "How about a wager? You lose, you show me that Wind Style scroll you've been learning."

  Asuma's eyes widened. "You want to learn Wind Style?"

  Of course he does. The guy already knows illusions, swordsmanship, and medical ninjutsu. Now he wants Wind Style too?

  "Not learning saves time," Hanekawa lied smoothly. "After I read it, I can beat you faster."

  That did it.

  "You arrogant bastard!" Asuma's pride ignited like a match. His hands flew through seals with angry precision. He leaned back and exhaled a massive sphere of chakra that expanded into a roaring wind tunnel.

  Wind Style: Great Breakthrough!

  Hanekawa didn't hesitate. He flicked a kunai with casual precision.

  The projectile punched through the wind like a bullet, whistling past Asuma's ear. It slammed into a tree trunk behind him with enough force to bury itself halfway through the wood.

  Asuma spun around, his face going pale. If that had hit me...

  "Again?" Hanekawa asked, walking up to him.

  Asuma's shoulders sagged. Without a word, he pulled out a scroll and handed it over.

  Three wind-style jutsu: Great Breakthrough, Fierce Wind Palm, and Air Flow Dance. Hanekawa scanned them quickly, his enhanced memory locking everything in place. The E-Rank entry "Hero" gave him a 10% memory boost, and combined with two lifetimes of human experience, he'd never forget anything he read.

  He handed the scroll back.

  "Thank you," he said, then added casually, "Want to train together?"

  Asuma stared at him. "What?"

  "We make better progress helping each other, right?" Hanekawa smiled. "Besides, that's the Will of Fire, isn't it? Teamwork?"

  Something shifted in Asuma's expression. For a moment, shame flickered across his face. He'd been picking fights with Hanekawa over Kurenai, but the truth was obvious now—Hanekawa outclassed him in every way. Yet instead of gloating, he was offering partnership.

  "Yeah," Asuma said quietly. "Yeah, okay."

  A notification appeared.

  [E-Rank Talent Entry: Diplomatic]

  [Trigger Condition: Successfully convince Asuma Sarutobi to stop being hostile]

  [Effect: Hand seal speed increases by 10%]

  Hand seal speed? Really? Hanekawa thought wryly. Not conversation speed or persuasion ability? The system has a weird sense of humor.

  But he'd take it.