Yuhi Shinku suppressed a laugh, though his mouth twitched slightly as he watched the scene unfold. Hanekawa caught the expression and thought, If you're going to smile, just smile. Your face looks like you're doing a bad impression of a returning movie villain.

  "BBQ!" Kurenai's ruby eyes lit up like fireworks. "I want beef!"

  The three of them were heading out through the school gates when an uninvited guest appeared—Tsunade, standing with her arms crossed.

  "Lady Tsunade," Shinku greeted respectfully.

  "I'm looking for Hanekawa," she said without preamble.

  Shinku nodded knowingly. "Go ahead, Hanekawa. Kurenai and I will head home."

  "Eh?" Kurenai's face fell. She shot Hanekawa a look of betrayal before reluctantly following her father.

  Hanekawa watched them go, then glanced back at Tsunade. Great. Nothing says 'totally normal' like a legendary Sannin intercepting you at the school gates. I'm definitely not getting kidnapped right now.

  "You're quite popular with the girls," Tsunade observed, a smirk playing at her lips.

  If only you knew, Hanekawa thought. Three boys were literally arguing about who gets to fight me earlier.

  "What brings you here, Lady Tsunade? Casino run?" he asked instead.

  "No." She shook her head. "I heard you defeated Kakashi Hatake."

  News travels fast. Hanekawa kept his expression neutral. "That's thanks to your training, Lady Tsunade."

  The real advantage had been the 30% arm strength bonus from his Ability System—a compounding advantage that snowballed once he gained the upper hand.

  "Don't be modest," Tsunade said, though her tone suggested she found it endearing. "It doesn't suit you."

  Hanekawa grinned. "Then I won't be. Do I get a reward for placing first?"

  After two months around Tsunade, he'd learned that gentle teasing was safe—she had a bark far worse than her bite. Mostly.

  Tsunade studied him for a moment, then said, "I'm taking you as my student."

  Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

  Hanekawa blinked. Wait. Seriously?

  He'd expected to need the Yang Release talent first, maybe another few months of proving himself. This was... unexpected.

  "You don't want to?" Tsunade's eyes flashed dangerously.

  "I do! Absolutely, Lady Tsunade!" He recovered quickly.

  "Good." She extended her hand—and before he could dodge, she ruffled his hair. "Let's go home."

  And so it begins, Hanekawa thought with resignation. Welcome to your new life as a human petting zoo.

  ---

  Tsunade's house was familiar territory by now. Hanekawa had visited enough times that the novelty had worn off.

  "What's today's lesson?" he asked as they entered the living room.

  The past month had been foundational work—chakra control, basic theory, and sparring sessions that left him bruised but sharper.

  Tsunade headed straight for the kitchen and stopped at the doorway. "Come here."

  Hanekawa's instincts screamed warning. This is a trap.

  "I'm teaching you to cook today," she announced with a smile. "Be self-sufficient!"

  You're just lazy, Hanekawa thought. But cooking wasn't a bad skill. He'd done it plenty in his previous life, though Japanese cuisine had its own quirks.

  "Tamagoyaki to start," Tsunade decided. "Simple enough."

  "I can handle that," Hanekawa said, rolling up his sleeves.

  He stepped onto a stool and began working with practiced efficiency—cracking eggs, whisking, heating the pan. His movements were smooth, practiced.

  "You do this often?" Tsunade asked, watching with interest.

  "I'm an orphan," he explained casually.

  Tsunade went very still. Then she stepped forward. "Let me—"

  "No," Hanekawa said flatly. "I'm in charge of the kitchen. Don't touch anything."

  She flicked his forehead in retaliation, but retreated to the doorway, arms crossed. As she watched him work, something shifted in her expression—a softness that hadn't been there before. For the first time in years, she felt the simple comfort of having someone to care for.

  "Done," Hanekawa announced, presenting a perfectly rolled tamagoyaki.

  Tsunade took a bite. "Not bad."

  Then three lines of text appeared before his eyes:

  [E-Rank Talent Entry: Chef]

  [Trigger Condition: Cooking for the first time]

  [Effect: Deliciousness increased by 10%]

  Huh. Unexpected bonus. Hanekawa filed it away mentally.

  "Tamagoyaki alone won't fill you up," Tsunade said, shrugging off her coat and tossing it to him. "Wait in the living room."

  Hanekawa caught the warm fabric and settled at the dining table, suddenly anxious. Please don't let this be a repeat of the Nawaki incident. He vaguely remembered reading that Tsunade's cooking had once nearly poisoned her brother.

  But when she emerged with fried shrimp tempura, it actually smelled good.

  He tried a piece cautiously. It was... genuinely delicious.

  "It's excellent," he said, relief flooding through him.

  Tsunade nodded with satisfaction. "I'm better with frying and roasting. Stir-frying isn't my strength."

  Hanekawa smiled into his plate. I'll take it. Survival is a win.