Hanekawa sank into the bathwater with a contented sigh. Warmth enveloped him completely—medicinal herbs releasing their essence into the steaming liquid. He'd half-expected something out of a dark fantasy novel, the kind where the protagonist emerges scarred and suffering. Instead, it was just... pleasant.

  Well, that's anticlimactic, he thought, relaxing against the edge of the tub.

  Thirty minutes later, his eyes snapped open.

  A notification flickered at the edge of his awareness.

  [C-Rank Talent Entry: Strong and Vigorous]

  [Progress: +1%]

  Oh, that's actually useful. Hanekawa grinned. Apparently, even a bath counted toward his training if it involved medicinal compounds. The Ability System had a sense of humor.

  He dried off and changed into fresh clothes, emerging to find Tsunade sprawled on the sofa, clearly waiting for him.

  "Come here," she called out.

  "Let me grab the hair dryer first," Hanekawa said, already reaching for it.

  "I'll do it." Tsunade shifted on the couch, making space beside her. "Sit."

  Hanekawa hesitated for only a moment before settling next to her. She pulled the dryer from his hands and began working through his damp hair with surprising gentleness.

  "How do you feel?" she asked.

  "Refreshed. Like I could run up a mountain," he answered honestly, catching the faint scent of sake and something floral from her hair.

  "Good. Keep soaking regularly and you'll develop some real power." Tsunade worked methodically, her fingers careful as she dried each section. "The medicinal baths accelerate physical conditioning."

  "Thank you, Teacher."

  "Don't thank me yet." She set down the dryer and examined his fluffy hair with obvious satisfaction. "You haven't heard the catch."

  Hanekawa tensed. "What catch?"

  "The medicine is expensive." Tsunade's expression turned serious. "Jiraiya's leaving tomorrow, so I can't borrow money from him anymore. Which means we need a new income source."

  "Teacher, no—"

  "The casino," she announced with the enthusiasm of someone who'd just solved world hunger. "We'll go for two or three hours every day. Easy money."

  Oh, you've got to be kidding me. Hanekawa stared at her. "I have training. We can't just—"

  "One hour," Tsunade compromised, though her tone suggested she was making a tremendous sacrifice. "One hour a day."

  He considered this. An extra hour of rest, even if it meant sitting in a casino watching Tsunade's legendary bad luck in action, wasn't the worst trade-off. "Fine. One hour."

  "Excellent." She ruffled his hair again—another head pat—and stood. "Now go burn off that medicinal energy. You're practically vibrating."

  If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

  Hanekawa escaped before she could touch his hair again.

  ---

  Three months dissolved into routine.

  The flat ground outside Tsunade's compound became a training arena. The sharp clang-clang-clang of steel on steel echoed across the yard as Hanekawa and Kakashi Hatake traded blows, their movements almost too fast to follow.

  Asuma Sarutobi watched from the sidelines, his jaw clenched. He'd learned new Wind Style techniques in the past three months, but his progress felt glacial compared to Hanekawa's. Kurenai stood nearby, her ruby eyes tracking Hanekawa's every movement, ready to panic if he took a hit.

  Kakashi accelerated, his short blade flashing. He used Body Flicker to close the distance, aiming for Hanekawa's heart.

  Hanekawa didn't flinch. He twisted his wrist, drawing his katana upward in a smooth arc that intercepted the strike. The moment their blades met, he pivoted, forcing Kakashi to adjust. The dagger redirected toward his neck instead.

  Hanekawa pulled back and struck with the sword's handle.

  Kakashi felt the impact in his ribs and stumbled forward, losing his footing. He gritted his teeth and pushed harder, accelerating his blade.

  The katana blocked him again.

  "Why so fast?!" Kakashi's voice carried genuine shock. This wasn't standard Leaf Style anymore—it was faster, sharper, more refined than anything he'd seen from Hanekawa before.

  The answer came in the form of a new blade strike. Kakashi raised his short sword defensively, but the timing was off. The cold edge of Hanekawa's katana stopped inches from his neck.

  "I lost again," Kakashi said, lowering his weapon.

  "You've improved significantly," Hanekawa replied, offering a hand up. "But you're still a step behind."

  That's because I just unlocked a D-Rank Swordsmanship Genin entry with a 30% power boost, Hanekawa thought, not bothering to mention it. Sorry, kid. Better luck next time.

  Kakashi's eye twitched. He hated being comforted after losing.

  Still, three months of consistent training had paid off. He felt ready for the Chunin Exams—if he ever graduated. His new goal was simple: graduate when Hanekawa graduated, then prove himself in the exams.

  ---

  After seeing his sparring partners off, Hanekawa headed inside.

  "Medicine time," Tsunade announced from the sofa, gesturing to a steaming bowl on the coffee table.

  He downed it without complaint. The taste had stopped bothering him weeks ago.

  "Come with me to Kushina's house tomorrow," Tsunade said casually, eyes still on the television. "She's making dinner."

  "Sure," Hanekawa agreed, heading for the bathroom.

  The medicinal bath was already prepared, the water infused with herbs that made his skin tingle pleasantly. He sank in with a satisfied groan.

  Three months of this routine had yielded solid results. His body had reached Chunin-level conditioning, which triggered a new entry:

  [C-Rank Talent Entry: Strong and Vigorous]

  [Effect: Physical recovery speed increased by 100%]

  For a ninja, physical recovery meant chakra recovery. It was essentially a mana regeneration skill—incredibly useful.

  Beyond that, he'd acquired two D-Rank entries: Swordsmanship Genin (30% boost to Leaf Style techniques) and Wind Style Genin (30% boost to all wind jutsu). The wind entry had triggered after he'd learned three wind techniques from Asuma.

  Not bad for three months of medicinal baths and sparring, he thought, closing his eyes.

  ---

  The next day, Hanekawa and Tsunade made their way toward the Uzumaki residence.

  They were halfway there when Tsunade suddenly stopped dead.

  Her entire body went rigid.

  "What's wrong?" Hanekawa asked, following her gaze upward.

  Blood-red chakra erupted across the sky like a second sunset. It coalesced around a familiar figure—Kushina Uzumaki—and manifested as a massive, writhing tail.

  The Nine-Tailed Fox's chakra.

  "That's... immense evil," Hanekawa breathed, the sheer malevolence of it washing over him like a physical force.

  Tsunade was already moving, her expression hardening into something dangerous. "Stay here. Don't move. Don't follow."

  "Teacher—"

  But she was already gone, launching herself toward the source of the chakra with the speed only a Sannin could manage.

  Hanekawa stood alone on the street, staring at the blood-red sky, his mind racing.

  Well, he thought grimly, so much for a peaceful day.