---
The Hidden Mist was silent under the cover of night.
Mei Terumi jolted awake, her breath coming in sharp gasps. The dream clung to her like morning fog—Hanekawa's face, his hand closing around her wallet, the humiliation of defeat burning fresh in her chest.
"Asshole!" She drove her fist into the quilt, sending feathers dancing through the darkness.
She'd been called a prodigy since childhood. Destiny's favorite. And yet, she'd lost to someone her own age. Not to a swordmaster—to a medical ninja who'd picked up a blade and made her look like an amateur.
Mei Terumi bit her lower lip until it hurt, tasting blood. She would get that wallet back. She would get her pride back.
---
Morning light filtered through Hanekawa's window, and he stretched with the satisfied sigh of someone who'd actually slept in a real bed for the first time in days. Tents were fine for missions. Beds were better.
"It's good to be home," he murmured, rolling out of bed.
In the bathroom, Kurenai was already brushing her teeth. She made room without complaint, and Hanekawa took the space beside her. Yuhi Shinku appeared in the doorway with two bowls of ramen, his expression carefully neutral—which meant he was internally screaming about something.
Breakfast was quiet. Kurenai picked at her noodles thoughtfully before asking, "When's your next mission?"
"No idea." Hanekawa shrugged. "Teacher hasn't mentioned it."
Probably next month, he thought. Tsunade's been too busy losing money at the casino to think about missions.
"Kurenai," Shinku said flatly, "your focus should be on your studies."
"I know!" Kurenai's cheeks puffed out slightly. "But—"
"After graduation, there will be plenty of opportunities," Hanekawa offered.
Kurenai's eyes brightened. "Really?"
"Absolutely. And when we get assigned to teams, I'll ask Tsunade to pull some strings."
Wait, is that actually going to work? Hanekawa wondered. Yeah, probably. She owes me at least a dozen favors by now.
Kurenai practically glowed. Shinku glared at Hanekawa with the intensity of a man watching his carefully laid plans crumble.
---
An hour before class, Hanekawa and Kurenai arrived at Maruboshi Kosuke's house for their usual training session. Hanekawa drew his katana and ran through Leaf Style: Willow forms while Kurenai watched, occasionally asking questions.
"Goodbye, Uncle Kosuke!" they called as they left.
On the walk to the academy, Kurenai asked, "Are you going to learn Water Style?"
"Had an awkward encounter with a water-style user in the Land of Water," Hanekawa admitted. "Figured I should learn the basics."
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"Then I'll help you beat her!" Kurenai declared, fist raised.
"Deal."
---
The classroom was already filling up when they arrived. Asuma Sarutobi waved them over—apparently yesterday's barbecue had made them friends now. Kurenai handed Hanekawa a notebook she'd made, neat and detailed. Asuma immediately made exaggerated gagging sounds.
"Problem?" Kurenai asked sweetly.
Asuma covered his face and sat down. Two against one. He knew better.
Hanekawa flipped through the notes, impressed despite himself. Kurenai's handwriting was meticulous, her summaries thorough. He was still reviewing them when Rin approached, then stopped short when she saw the notebook already on his desk. Her disappointment flickered across her face before she turned away.
What was that about? Hanekawa wondered, but the bell rang before he could think too hard about it.
Eiichiro entered and immediately had to wait for Obito, who slid to his knees in apology at maximum speed. Once class started, Hanekawa pulled out his Water Style training notes instead of the textbook. Eiichiro's eyes met his, and Hanekawa calmly continued reading.
Let him stare, Hanekawa thought. I'm not the one getting shown up by a six-year-old.
---
After school, Hanekawa separated from the group to train alone. He'd been working through Leaf Style: Willow with Maruboshi Kosuke, and the progress was solid. Kurenai had been dragged along to practice Water Style, which she'd taken to with her usual competitive enthusiasm.
He was jogging through the village the next morning when a familiar figure grabbed him.
"Hanekawa! Finally!"
Tsuchihashi, his contact from the Hidden Cloud, looked genuinely distressed. "You haven't published anything in months. Do you know how much money we're losing?"
Right. I'm a spy. Almost forgot with all the head-pats and gambling.
"I'll talk to my friend about a new manuscript," Hanekawa said. "Tomorrow."
"Tomorrow?" Tsuchihashi looked like he might cry. "You can't take longer than that. The bookstore's been asking about you."
Hanekawa was already mentally drafting his next work. Black Beast. His masterpiece. The one he'd bought action figures for in his previous life. This version of him was about to become very famous.
---
The third training ground was empty on Sunday morning. Hanekawa stood alone, exhaled, and formed seals.
"Water Style: Water Chaos!"
Chakra gathered in his throat and... he choked. Violently. Water filled his lungs, and he spent the next minute coughing like he was trying to expel a lung.
Well, that was humbling.
He rested, tried again, and again. By the end of an hour, a notification appeared:
[E-Rank Ninjutsu Entry: Water Style: Water Wave]
[Trigger Condition: Successfully perform this ninjutsu]
[Effect: This ninjutsu automatically reaches proficient level]
Progress, Hanekawa thought, wiping sweat from his forehead. Wood Style synthesis can wait. First, I need to master Leaf Style: Willow.
---
April arrived with the kind of spring warmth that made the village feel alive. The opening of Ichiraku Ramen had drawn a crowd that stretched down the block—more than thirty people deep.
"Wow! So many people!" Kurenai stared at the line in amazement.
Hanekawa frowned. That's... a lot of hype for a ramen shop.
"Hanekawa!" Kushina's voice cut through the crowd. She waved enthusiastically, Minato beside her looking amused.
"Kushina-sister, Minato-senpai," Hanekawa greeted, carefully avoiding calling Minato "big brother." Not doing that. Not happening.
"Why does he call you sister but me senpai?" Minato asked, genuinely confused.
"Because Hanekawa and I have a good relationship," Kushina said firmly, glaring at him.
Minato wisely retreated.
"Hanekawa! Kakashi!" Asuma's voice rang out as he arrived with Kakashi, Rin, and Obito in tow.
"HANEKAWA! KAKASHI!" Guy appeared upside-down, running on his hands. "THE SPRINGTIME OF YOUTH BRINGS US TOGETHER!"
Minato smiled. "You're really popular."
Hanekawa looked at the crowd—Kushina and Minato, Asuma and Kakashi, Rin and Obito, Guy still doing handstands—and felt something warm settle in his chest.
Not bad, he thought. Not bad at all.
"Come on," he said to Kurenai. "Let's get in line. I want to try what all the fuss is about."
