"Was that really your first time kneading chakra?"
Once Hagawa finished his meditation, Kurenai couldn't help but move closer.
"It was the first time," Hagawa replied with a blink.
"Argh! Damn it!" Kurenai clenched her small fists, refusing to accept it. "But it won't be that easy for you to surpass me!"
"I'll do my best," Hagawa said with a smile.
"You... don't have to be that serious about it."
Looking at his handsome smile, Kurenai suddenly felt a little flustered. This was proof that good looks could heavily influence one's perception of a person. A young boy like Hagawa was universally appealing, from mature older women down to cute young girls.
"Hagawa."
Shinku Yuhi walked out of the house and handed him an admission letter. Hagawa opened it and scanned the contents. It was simple, stating that he had passed the assessment and was now officially enrolled in the Ninja Academy as a student in the first-year Class A.
He didn't remember taking any assessment, so it must have been Hiruzen Sarutobi pulling some strings.
"Kurenai, take him to meet your homeroom teacher tomorrow," Shinku instructed.
"No problem!" Kurenai's spirits lifted. "Mission accepted!"
"I'm going out to buy some daily necessities for Hagawa," Shinku said, then paused to ask, "Is there anything you two want me to bring back?"
"I want Tricolor Dango," Kurenai said without hesitation.
"What about you?" Shinku looked at Hagawa. "We're a family now, so there's no need to be so formal."
"I'll have the same," Hagawa said casually, not knowing what else to ask for.
Tricolor Dango was a specialty snack in Konoha, beloved by ninja like Itachi Uchiha and Anko Mitarashi. Now that he had the chance, he wanted to see what it tasted like.
"If you have any questions about training, just ask Kurenai," Shinku said with a wave of his hand before turning to leave.
"Hmph, hmph!" Kurenai crossed her arms, lifted her chin, and gave him a smug look that practically screamed, Well? Go on and ask me something!
Seeing her like this, Hagawa couldn't help but laugh.
"What are you laughing at?" Kurenai pouted.
"I just thought of something happy," Hagawa said with a light cough.
"What's so happy?" Kurenai felt she was being slighted and instinctively put on a serious face.
"When is your birthday?" Hagawa suddenly changed the subject.
"June 11th," Kurenai replied, momentarily stunned. "Why do you ask?"
"Then I'm older," Hagawa said with a faint smile. "You should call me 'big brother'."
"Wait a minute!" Kurenai's mind caught up, and she refused without a second thought. "No way! I'm the big sister!"
"But you're younger than me," Hagawa spouted nonsense with a perfectly straight face. In reality, being a war orphan, he had no idea of his actual age or birthday.
"No means no!" Kurenai said, a sudden spark of inspiration hitting her. "What's the use of being older? The one with the bigger fist gets to decide!"
"Are you saying that if I defeat you, you'll be my little sister?" Hagawa asked with a raised eyebrow and a grin.
Kurenai was about to agree instantly, but when she remembered the speed at which he had kneaded chakra, she hesitated. She bit her lip, her confidence wavering. "We'll see after you manage to defeat me."
The smile on Hagawa's face grew wider. Teasing a pretty little loli was quite fun.
(Disclaimer: I'm not a lolicom. I prefer driving big cars.)
Just then, footsteps approached.
"Is he back already?" Hagawa turned his head instinctively, only for his expression to freeze.
It wasn't Shinku Yuhi. It was a woman who was both a stranger and yet familiar: Nonō Yakushi. But the woman he remembered as always being gentle now wore a grave expression.
Hagawa didn't even have to think to know what was going on. This was most likely an order from Danzo Shimura, who clearly hadn't given up on his wicked intentions for him.
"Matron," Hagawa said to Kurenai before walking forward.
In the original series, Nonō Yakushi was undoubtedly a tragic character. Because of her own kindness, she had quit Root. But Danzo threatened her with the orphanage, forcing her to continue serving the organization. In the end, she died simply because she knew too much. Under the Scapegoat-kage's design, she and her adopted son, Kabuto Yakushi, were manipulated into trying to kill each other.
"Hagawa, I'm so glad you're alright," Nonō said softly as she reached out to pat his head.
"Thank you for your concern, Matron," Hagawa said, noticing the hesitation on her face. "Is something wrong?"
"..." Nonō fell silent.
Not long ago, Danzo had visited her at the orphanage to explain Hagawa's situation. He wanted Hagawa to join Root, arguing that if it was of the boy's own free will, even Hiruzen would have no reason to object.
"What are Lord Hokage's arrangements for you?" Nonō asked after a moment of thought.
"He wants me to attend the Ninja Academy," Hagawa replied.
Nonō's eyes lit up. The reason Danzo valued her so highly was because of her exceptional abilities, which had earned her the moniker "The Walking Shrine Maiden." Upon hearing about the Ninja Academy, she immediately thought of a way to stall for time.
"Hagawa, no matter what happens, you must graduate normally," Nonō said in a low, serious tone.
"Okay." Hagawa understood her underlying meaning. As long as he was in the Academy, Danzo wouldn't be able to touch him, at least for a while.
But the Scapegoat-kage would always be a problem.
If you can't beat them, join them? Not an option. Danzo didn't just want you to pledge your heart; he wanted to brainwash you. Besides, if he joined Root, wouldn't he become a man of three masters... like Lu Bu?
He was looking to be kept by a rich, mature "onee-san" with a 36D bust and black silk stockings, not some old man. If it were Tsunade instead of Danzo, he might consider it. She was drowning in debt, but "big is justice."
Hagawa recalled that Kabuto wasn't at the orphanage yet. By his estimation, that meant he had at least ten years.
The evil—no, the righteous Gardenia Plan begins now!
"Thirty years on the east bank, thirty years on the west." Ten years should be more than enough time to save Nonō Yakushi. Although he had joined the orphanage as part of a mission from the Cloud Village, the Matron had genuinely been very good to him.
"You can come back to the orphanage to visit anytime," Nonō said, a gentle smile gracing her lips.
"I will," Hagawa replied with a firm nod.
Nonō reached out and patted his head again. As Hagawa watched her leave, the corner of his mouth twitched.
How did I get head-patted on my very first day?
"Kurenai," Hagawa said, turning to her. "Can you teach me how to throw ninja tools?"
Danzo's threat had given him a powerful surge of motivation. He had to step up his game. [Shurikenjutsu] was a required Trait to synthesize [Genius Genin]. Although the system didn't specify the trigger, based on his previous experience, it was clear he needed to perform the corresponding action.
"Of course I can!" Kurenai replied with a little huff. "I'm actually quite confident in my shurikenjutsu."