Saturday morning arrived with the kind of perfect weather that made even Hanekawa consider skipping his usual cynicism. He'd barely opened the door when a voice cut through his thoughts.

  "Hanekawa! Look!"

  Kurenai skidded to a stop in front of him, spinning with the enthusiasm of someone who'd discovered fire. She'd traded her usual loose hair for a high ponytail and swapped her everyday clothes for a white athletic outfit that screamed "I'm ready to train."

  "Not bad," Hanekawa said, stifling a yawn. "Very energetic."

  "Right?" Kurenai beamed, clenching her fists with determination.

  Her father emerged from the house moments later, confusion written across his face. "Isn't today Saturday? Where are you two headed?"

  "Uncle Kosuke's place," Kurenai announced seriously. "I'm learning Water Style jutsu today!"

  Yuhi Shinku's eyes widened. His daughter—the genjutsu prodigy—was abandoning illusion techniques? "What's this about?"

  Hanekawa launched into an explanation, carefully omitting the part where he'd suggested it, or that Maruboshi Kosuke was teaching her as a favor to him. Some details were better left unmentioned.

  "I didn't realize Kosuke still remembered me," Shinku said warmly, his expression softening.

  Kurenai caught Hanekawa's eye. She knew he'd bent the truth, but she kept quiet. Smart kid.

  "Kurenai," her father said, using her childhood nickname, "Kosuke may be a Genin, but don't underestimate him. Learn well."

  He wasn't wrong. Water Style had its merits—more visually impressive than genjutsu, at least to the untrained eye. And Shinku knew Kosuke had studied under the Second Hokage himself. His daughter would be in good hands.

  "Dad, let's go!" Kurenai grabbed Hanekawa's hand and pulled.

  "Slower!" Shinku called after them. "You just ate breakfast!"

  "We know!" Kurenai shouted back without breaking stride.

  The March sun was perfect—warm without being oppressive. The streets were quiet for a Saturday, with only shop owners preparing for the day ahead. Hanekawa and Kurenai walked hand in hand, a picture of childhood innocence that would've made anyone smile.

  "When did this open?" Kurenai pointed at a small ramen shop with a simple sign: Ichiraku Ramen.

  An elderly man in a white chef's uniform was arranging the counter inside.

  "We should try it sometime," Hanekawa said, already noting the location. In the original timeline, Ichiraku had survived things that destroyed entire districts. The old man running it had to be blessed by something. Ichiraku Otsutsuki, as the joke went.

  "Definitely!" Kurenai's eyes lit up.

  They arrived at Maruboshi Kosuke's home within minutes. The greeting was warm and practiced by now.

  This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

  "Good morning, Uncle Kosuke."

  "Good morning, you two." Kosuke smiled with genuine warmth. Living alone for so long, he'd come to treasure these visits.

  Training began immediately. Hanekawa drew his sword and settled into the familiar rhythm of practice—watching the progress bar inch forward with each movement. Meanwhile, Kosuke began Kurenai's lesson.

  "You've mastered the basics over the past few days," Kosuke explained. "Today we'll learn Water Style: Water Sweeping Wave. It's fundamental, not difficult."

  "Yeah!" Kurenai practically vibrated with excitement.

  Kosuke formed hand seals with practiced precision. Water erupted from his mouth—first a small wave the size of his arm, then a second demonstration that produced something closer to a river.

  "Amazing!" Kurenai gasped. "This is so much cooler than genjutsu!"

  Oh no. Hanekawa suppressed a smirk. If Yuhi Shinku heard that, there'd be hell to pay. Though probably not literally—he wouldn't hit his daughter, just suffer in silence while his pride took a beating.

  Not that he'd be wrong to feel slighted. Genjutsu wasn't inferior to Water Style. But Kurenai had a point about visual impact. Water escaping techniques had a certain... showiness that illusions lacked.

  Hanekawa returned his focus to his sword work.

  ---

  The Hokage's office.

  Hatake Sakumo stood outside the door, gathering his nerve before knocking. The sound was soft but decisive.

  "Come in."

  Sarutobi Hiruzen looked up from his paperwork, pipe smoke curling lazily around his head. "Sakumo. What brings you?"

  "I came to thank you," Sakumo said, bowing slightly. "For handling the rumors."

  He'd heard the whispers, of course. But he'd never let them dictate his path as a ninja. Then, two days ago, they'd simply... stopped. Vanished like morning mist.

  Only a handful of people in the Leaf Village had that kind of influence. The Third Hokage was the most obvious candidate.

  And if Hiruzen had acknowledged him? That meant Sakumo hadn't failed. His ninja way was sound.

  "That was Tsunade's doing, actually," Hiruzen said with an amused smile.

  Sakumo blinked. Tsunade? That was unexpected. She was influential, certainly, but she didn't typically involve herself in village politics beyond her official duties.

  "She's in the mission hall right now," Hiruzen continued casually. "You could thank her directly."

  "Thank you, Lord Hokage."

  Sakumo bowed again and left, his mind already turning toward the mission hall.

  Hiruzen watched him go, taking a slow drag from his pipe. He understood Sakumo well enough. If Tsunade had done him a favor and later sought the Hokage position, Sakumo would likely step aside—or even support her. The man's loyalty to those he respected was absolute.

  ---

  The mission hall was organized chaos, as always. Tsunade stood before the assignment board, carefully reviewing options. She'd finally settled on one: a B-Rank mission to the Land of Water to retrieve an intelligence operative.

  The difficulty was moderate—chunin-level opposition at worst, no jonin encounters. But more importantly, it would expose Hanekawa to the harsh realities of the ninja world. The Hidden Mist and its surrounding territories were perfect for that kind of education.

  "Tsunade."

  She turned to find Hatake Sakumo approaching, his expression serious but respectful.

  "Thank you for your help with the rumors," he said directly.

  Tsunade's eyebrow arched slightly. Hiruzen's handiwork, clearly. He'd sent Sakumo straight to her.

  "Hanekawa asked me to handle it," she said with a dismissive wave. "If you want to thank someone, thank that brat."

  Sakumo's confusion was almost comical. How was a child involved in something like this?

  He knew Hanekawa through Kakashi, of course. But the boy was just that—a boy. Getting tangled up in village politics seemed impossible.

  "Regardless," Sakumo said, bowing slightly, "I'm grateful for your assistance."

  Tsunade watched him leave, a small smile playing at her lips. That brat had a way of pulling people into his orbit without them even realizing it. First her, now Sakumo.

  Interesting.