After dinner, Hanekawa followed Tsunade away from the compound.

  Half an hour later, they arrived at a modest house on the outskirts of the village. The man who answered the door was older, with a weathered face and kind eyes. He wore a gray vest and carried several cooking spatulas alongside what looked like a large black pot—more chef than ninja at first glance.

  What struck Hanekawa immediately was that the man's left leg was intact. In the original timeline, Maruboshi Kosuke had lost it. Interesting. Guess some things change when you're not looking.

  "Lady Tsunade?" Kosuke's surprise was genuine. "It's been a while."

  Tsunade placed a hand on Hanekawa's head. "This is my student, Hanekawa. I'd like you to teach him Leaf Village swordsmanship."

  "Uncle Kosuke," Hanekawa greeted respectfully.

  Kosuke smiled warmly. "I've heard your name. Lady Tsunade speaks highly of you."

  "I came here today to ask you to teach him Leaf Style swordsmanship," Tsunade said, getting straight to business.

  "No problem at all," Kosuke agreed without hesitation.

  "Thank you," Tsunade said, visibly relaxing.

  "Please, Lady Tsunade." Kosuke waved a hand dismissively. "The Second Hokage held nothing back when he taught me. How could I refuse to pass it forward?"

  He was referring to the Water Style: Water Dragon Bullet Technique—the version that took the Second Hokage only three to six hand seals instead of the standard forty-four. That's the kind of knowledge that changes everything, Hanekawa thought.

  "Does Hanekawa have basic swordsmanship training?" Kosuke asked, shifting into instructor mode.

  "Yes," Tsunade confirmed.

  "Then let's spar first," Kosuke suggested. "Combat teaches us more than words ever could."

  Tsunade nodded to Hanekawa. "Show him what you can do. Use your full strength."

  Here we go. Hanekawa drew his samurai sword.

  "Don't hold back!" Kosuke unsheathed his ninja blade and rushed forward.

  The collision of steel rang out sharp and clear. The force behind Kosuke's strike was substantial—enough to make his arm tremble slightly. Not bad for someone who looks like he spends more time cooking than fighting.

  They exchanged blows in rapid succession. Steel sang against steel as they moved through the forms—punch, block, slash, dodge. The rhythm was almost musical, dozens of exchanges flowing into one another within a minute.

  Tsunade's eyebrows rose slightly. He's better than I realized.

  After less than two minutes, Kosuke stepped back, creating distance. "That's enough."

  He wasn't even breathing hard. "Lady Tsunade, I think you were being modest about his foundation."

  Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions.

  Tsunade couldn't help but smile. Praising my student is praising me, even if I don't particularly care. This kid really was something special.

  "I've developed a technique that combines illusion and swordsmanship," Kosuke continued thoughtfully. "It's called Leaf Style: Willow. I can teach him that."

  Exactly what I was hoping for, Tsunade thought. "That would be perfect, Kosuke."

  "It's no trouble at all," Kosuke laughed. "I was worried Leaf Style: Willow would be lost. Now I don't have to worry anymore."

  The technique was elegant but demanding—most genius ninjas considered basic swordsmanship beneath them, while ordinary ninjas struggled to master it. Finding a worthy student had proven nearly impossible.

  "Hanekawa, come train with Kosuke whenever you have time," Tsunade instructed. "And be respectful."

  "Of course," Hanekawa replied, suppressing a smile. As if I'm not already the model student.

  ---

  After Tsunade left, Kosuke explained the fundamentals of Leaf Style: Willow.

  The concept was straightforward: use swordsmanship to engage the opponent, then activate genjutsu to blur your own figure and confuse their senses. Once they're disoriented, strike from their blind spot. The execution, however, was anything but simple. The difficulty lay in the seamless integration of both disciplines.

  A month or two, Hanekawa estimated. Maybe less if I push it.

  ---

  Three days later, at the Ninja Academy.

  Hanekawa opened his Ability System during a break.

  [A-Rank Ninjutsu Entry: Leaf Style: Willow]

  [Trigger Condition: Successfully perform this ninjutsu]

  [Current Progress: 5%]

  The progress was slower than his physical skills—no bonus from his body's natural attributes—but his illusion and swordsmanship training were accelerating the learning curve. Still, a month or two sounds about right.

  "Hanekawa!"

  Kurenai's voice pulled him back to reality. She stood with her hands on her hips, her ruby eyes flashing with irritation. Her cheeks were slightly puffed.

  "What's wrong?" he asked, reaching over to gently poke her cheek. It was soft and gave way easily under his finger.

  "Where have you been these past few days?" she demanded, her voice tinged with hurt. "You haven't been training with us!"

  "I've been learning swordsmanship from a senior," he explained. Then, on impulse: "Hey, Kurenai—do you want to learn Water Style jutsu?"

  She blinked, caught off guard. "Water Style? But... I'm already slow at learning illusion techniques. Wouldn't I be even worse at something completely different?"

  "Try it anyway," Hanekawa said with a smile. "Besides, illusion has a ceiling. Water Style doesn't."

  Kurenai frowned slightly. "My father will scold you if he hears you criticizing illusion techniques."

  "Will you tell him?" Hanekawa asked, gently twirling a strand of her red hair around his finger.

  Her heart skipped. "N-no way."

  "Then you're the best," he said softly.

  "Of course I am!" She looked at him with fierce determination. "I would never betray you!"

  Across the training ground, Asuma Sarutobi watched the exchange with a complicated expression. He'd already accepted that Kurenai wasn't interested in him, but seeing Hanekawa so effortlessly capture her attention still stung. They really are perfect for each other, he thought bitterly. Who am I to object?

  ---

  After class, Hanekawa brought Kurenai to Kosuke's house.

  "Uncle Kosuke, hello. I'm Yuhi Kurenai," she greeted politely, bowing slightly.

  Kosuke studied her with interest. "Shinku's daughter? I didn't realize you'd grown so much."

  "You know my father?" Kurenai asked, surprised.

  "We were temporary teammates on a mission once," Kosuke explained. "It's easier to talk when you have connections."

  Kurenai visibly relaxed. She glanced at Hanekawa, gathered her courage, and asked, "Uncle Kosuke, would you be willing to teach me Water Style jutsu?"

  Kosuke's eyes lit up. "Water Style? You came at the perfect time! I was just thinking Hanekawa had learned everything I could teach him about Leaf Style: Willow. I was getting bored."

  He grinned. "Now I have two students. This is going to be fun."