The alarm's shrill beeping cut through the darkness like a kunai through silk. Hanekawa's arm shot out from under the quilt, silencing it with a practiced tap. 6:00 AM exactly.
The ninja world has some weird tech priorities, he thought, eyeing the digital display. Computers, refrigerators, air conditioning—but apparently no concept of a gentle wake-up call. At least they got the alarm clock right.
He dressed quickly and headed out. The streets were nearly empty at this hour, which suited him fine. His plan was simple: run until his body told him to stop. Push too hard too fast, and he'd spend the next three days regretting it. He'd already made that mistake once.
The morning air was cool against his skin as he settled into a steady pace. His breathing deepened, sweat began to bead on his forehead, and his vision started to blur slightly from exertion.
That's when he saw the green blur.
A figure was running upside down on his hands, legs kicking through the air with absurd enthusiasm.
Oh, come on, Hanekawa thought, recognizing the green jumpsuit. Really?
"Are you running too?" The figure flipped upright with impossible ease. It was Might Guy, grinning like he'd just discovered the secret to eternal youth. "I felt the presence of a fellow taijutsu enthusiast! This is the springtime of youth!"
Hanekawa nodded, too breathless to respond.
"You look familiar," Guy said, tilting his head. "Oh! You're the transfer student from yesterday. Yu... something?"
"Hanekawa," Hanekawa managed between breaths.
"Hanekawa-san! I'm Might Guy—just call me Guy!" His smile was somehow even brighter than the sunrise. "Your dedication to physical training is admirable!"
Hanekawa held up a hand. "I need to rest. You go ahead."
Guy didn't hesitate. He waved cheerfully and took off at a pace that would have killed a normal person. That guy's a different breed entirely, Hanekawa thought, collapsing onto the nearby steps.
He pulled up his Entry panel while catching his breath.
[E-Rank Talent Entry: Strong Physique (Not Obtained)]
[Trigger Condition: Body reaches Genin-level physical standards]
[Current Progress: 1%]
Not exactly a sprint to the finish line, he mused. But at least it's tracking.
After a few minutes of recovery, he headed toward Kurenai's house. The streets were livelier now, filled with early morning shoppers and vendors. He passed the Konoha Knowledge Bookstore—the meeting point for Hidden Cloud operatives—without slowing down. No need to complicate things.
At a takoyaki stand, he paused. Kurenai would like these. He bought a box and continued on.
Yuhi Shinku was just opening his door when Hanekawa arrived, drenched in sweat.
"Jogging?" Shinku raised an eyebrow, taking in Hanekawa's appearance. "At your age? That's impressive dedication."
"My health could use improvement," Hanekawa explained, catching his breath. "Figured I'd start early."
The door to Kurenai's room swung open. She stumbled out barefoot, her hair a complete disaster, yawning widely.
"Why's everyone up so early?" she mumbled, still half-asleep.
"You should follow Hanekawa's example," Shinku said pointedly. "Instead of sleeping until noon."
Kurenai blinked at them both, clearly still processing consciousness. She looked like a kitten that had just woken up from a nap.
"I got you takoyaki," Hanekawa said, offering the box.
Her eyes lit up immediately. "You're such a good Brother!"
Shinku's expression became unreadable. He looked like he was watching someone steal vegetables from his garden.
"It's just repayment for lending me your study notes," Hanekawa said smoothly.
Kurenai stuffed a takoyaki into her mouth and made an indecipherable sound of approval. If anyone else had done that, Hanekawa might have called them out. But somehow, on Kurenai, it was just... cute.
---
On the walk to the Ninja Academy, Kurenai turned to him. "Did you finish yesterday's homework?"
"Some of it," Hanekawa admitted.
"Want me to help?" She put her hands on her hips, looking very much like a miniature version of a stern teacher. "I'm actually pretty good at this stuff."
Hanekawa raised an eyebrow. "You want to help me with homework?"
"Of course! What kind of Sister would I be otherwise?" She puffed out her chest proudly. "Come to my room after school, and I'll teach you properly."
Sister energy activated, Hanekawa thought, suppressing a smile.
He asked her questions as they walked, and she answered with the confidence of someone who'd actually paid attention in class. By the time they reached the Academy, he had a decent grasp of the material.
Back at his desk, Hanekawa opened his Entry panel again.
[E-Rank Talent Entry: Academic Master (Not Obtained)]
[Trigger Condition: Achieve first place in theory class for first semester]
[Current Progress: 1%]
Interesting. The system had registered his study session with Kurenai. But what's the point of being an academic master in a ninja village? Sakura was top of the class in the original timeline, and she spent most of her early career as dead weight.
He filed the thought away. For now, he had more pressing concerns—like not dying during combat training.
The day proceeded normally. Classes, training, the usual mix of academic instruction and physical conditioning. By the time the final bell rang, Hanekawa was ready for a break.
He made his way to Kurenai's house as promised. Shinku answered the door, looking mildly suspicious.
"Kurenai's waiting in her room," he said, stepping aside. "Don't stay too late."
Well, that's not awkward at all, Hanekawa thought, climbing the stairs.
Kurenai had her textbooks spread across her bed, looking surprisingly serious for a six-year-old. Her ruby-red eyes brightened when she saw him.
"Finally! I thought you'd forgotten." She patted the space next to her. "Sit. We're starting with theory fundamentals."
For the next hour, Kurenai walked him through the material with surprising patience. She had a gift for explanation, breaking down complex concepts into digestible pieces. It was clear she took this seriously—this was her chance to prove she was more than just a competitive rival.
Not bad, Kurenai, Hanekawa thought, genuinely impressed. Not bad at all.
---