The Leaf Village Ninja Academy's third-grade classroom buzzed with anticipation. Today marked the final exam—the last hurdle before summer break. Hanekawa arrived early and claimed Asuma's seat, his mind already three steps ahead of the day's events.

  Yamato and his crew should be hunting someone called Mukade, he thought, drumming his fingers against the desk. But thanks to time travel shenanigans, that's probably Mukade now. Former minister of Loulan, current wielder of dragon vein puppets. Fun times.

  The uncertainty gnawed at him. The original plot had shifted. He'd become the variable that changed everything.

  "Hanekawa, are you worried I'll finally beat you today?"

  Asuma Sarutobi strutted through the doorway, grinning with unearned confidence.

  "How is that possible?" Kurenai shot back immediately, hands on her hips. "You've never won once."

  "That was before!" Asuma's face flushed. "We haven't fought yet today, so don't count me out!"

  "I will take action," Obito announced suddenly, his Uchiha pride bristling.

  "Don't cause trouble," Asuma waved him off dismissively.

  Hanekawa suppressed a smile. And so the peacocking begins. It's like watching a nature documentary, except everyone's six years old and armed with chakra.

  "I've learned Fire Style recently," Asuma continued, puffing his chest out. "My strength has increased significantly."

  Obito's eyes widened. "Fire Style? I thought you were training Wind Style?"

  "I have dual chakra affinities—wind and fire," Asuma said, patting his shoulder with exaggerated importance. "If you lose to my Fire Style, then—"

  "No way!" Obito practically vibrated with anxiety. The thought of losing to Fire Style—the Uchiha clan's signature technique—was apparently worse than death itself.

  Rin giggled softly. "Just do your best, Obito."

  "I will!" Obito's entire demeanor shifted instantly, his confidence restored by her attention. "My training is so diverse it actually works against me!"

  "That's not how that works," Asuma muttered.

  "Look, Hanekawa's learned more than you and he's fine," Obito countered, then immediately froze. Wait. Did I just compliment my love rival?

  Kakashi glanced up from his book. "You'll know once you've fought. No point arguing."

  "You are worthy of being my lifelong rival!" Guy suddenly appeared in the doorway, practically vibrating with youthful energy. "Kakashi, I can finally have a proper duel with you again!"

  Kakashi's eye twitched. Why does he always target me? Hanekawa's stronger. Oh right—Hanekawa's too strong. And Guy's only been here a few months out of the year.

  The bell rang, cutting off further conversation.

  "I'm heading out," Hanekawa announced, standing up. "See you later."

  "If you could trade places with Asuma..." Kurenai started, then caught herself. "Never mind. That's too mean."

  Asuma's entire body turned gray.

  Rin covered her mouth to stifle laughter.

  Obito sighed, realizing he wasn't much better off.

  "Come on, everyone," Hanekawa said, returning to his seat with a smile. "Let's go."

  Moments later, their instructor Eiichiro appeared at the classroom door. "Follow me to the playground. Time for the practical exam."

  The playground was already crowded with other classes, but when Class 3A arrived, all eyes turned toward them. Hanekawa and Kakashi especially drew scrutiny—though Asuma's status as the Hokage's son certainly didn't hurt his reputation.

  "First match: Obito Uchiha versus Mizuki," Eiichiro announced, consulting his roster.

  In practical exams, performance mattered more than victory. Everyone who fought Hanekawa lost, but that didn't mean they performed poorly. It just meant Hanekawa was absurdly strong.

  Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

  Obito winked at Rin and charged forward. Mizuki, a civilian ninja who only knew academy techniques, went down quickly.

  "How was that?" Obito asked smugly.

  "Very good," Rin smiled.

  "It was just Mizuki," Asuma snorted.

  The exam continued. Thirty minutes later, Obito faced Asuma.

  "You lose!" Obito declared, forming hand seals. For once, his Fire Style: Great Fireball Technique worked perfectly—a massive sphere of flame erupting from his mouth.

  Asuma responded instantly with Fire Style: Dragon Fire Technique, exhaling a long, serpentine flame.

  Both were C-Rank jutsu, but Asuma's proficiency was superior. His flame consumed Obito's, forcing him back. Seizing the opening, Asuma slid forward and tackled him, pinning him down.

  "Asuma Sarutobi wins," Eiichiro announced.

  "How is this possible?" Obito lay stunned on the ground.

  "Uchiha Fire Style is only this good?" Asuma stood, smirking like he'd conquered the world.

  "Bastard!" Obito sputtered. "When I open my Sharingan, I'll make you beg for mercy!"

  "I'm waiting," Asuma said dismissively.

  "Hanekawa and Kakashi Hatake," Eiichiro called out.

  The playground went silent. This was the match everyone had been waiting for.

  Kakashi drew his sword, but Hanekawa shook his head. "How about we use ninjutsu this time?"

  Kakashi blinked. "You've learned ninjutsu?"

  "Picked one up yesterday," Hanekawa said casually.

  You're going to use a jutsu you learned yesterday against me? Kakashi's expression darkened. That's just insulting.

  "Be careful," Hanekawa raised his hand.

  Lightning Style: Thunder Arrow!

  Brilliant white lightning coalesced in his palm. Gasps erupted from the crowd—no one had seen Hanekawa use Lightning Style before.

  Kakashi's eyes narrowed. He formed seals immediately.

  Earth Style: Earth Flow Wall!

  The ground erupted, a thick barrier rising with four dog heads carved into its surface. White lightning struck like arrows, shaking the wall violently but failing to penetrate.

  Kakashi barely had time to breathe before a second volley of lightning bolts shot toward him.

  Is this ever going to end?

  He escaped into the air, but more lightning followed. Kakashi slapped the ground, summoning another earth wall. The pattern repeated—walls rising, lightning piercing, Kakashi barely staying ahead.

  Meanwhile, Hanekawa stood perfectly still, continuously casting Thunder Arrow without pause. His seal-making speed, boosted by his Ability System, allowed him to attack relentlessly.

  "No more!" Kakashi finally threw his hands up. "I give up!"

  His chakra reserves were depleted, and he'd already lost countless times. One more loss wouldn't change anything.

  "Thank you," Hanekawa said, breathing normally.

  Perfect. A new notification appeared:

  [D-Rank Talent Entry: Earth Affinity]

  [Trigger Condition: Defeat young Kakashi Hatake]

  [Effect: Earth Style talent increased by 30%]

  All five of his elemental affinities now had a 30% bonus. Yin and Yang both sat at 100%.

  "How can Hanekawa perform jutsu so quickly?" Asuma stared in shock. It had been months since they'd sparred. The gap had widened dramatically.

  Obito clenched his fists. I can't even see his hand seals. How am I supposed to compete?

  "Hanekawa!" Kurenai waved enthusiastically.

  Her excitement spread like wildfire. Screams erupted across the playground as students rushed to cheer. Hanekawa had officially replaced Kakashi as the school's most popular student—and not just because of his strength.

  "Quiet!" Eiichiro's voice cut through the chaos.

  The playground settled.

  Eiichiro studied Hanekawa thoughtfully. I can no longer beat my own students. Probably can't beat Kakashi either. He sighed internally. I'm getting old. Or they're just too talented.

  "Next match: Kurenai Yuhi versus Asuma Sarutobi," he announced.

  "Kurenai, I'm sorry, but I have to win," Asuma said, stepping forward. "I can't lose before fighting Hanekawa."

  "It's still uncertain who'll win!" Kurenai protested.

  "Your illusions are inferior to Hanekawa's. They won't work on me," Asuma said confidently.

  Kurenai smiled mysteriously and began forming seals.

  Asuma immediately looked away from her eyes, starting his own hand seals for Dragon Fire Technique. He heard a dragon's roar and felt the crowd gasp.

  Am I under an illusion?

  He looked up and saw a water dragon flying toward him.

  When did she—

  The dragon hit him like a freight train, sending him flying backward. He crashed to the ground, soaked and unconscious.

  "I won!" Kurenai's shock transformed into pure joy. She'd never beaten Asuma before.

  Eiichiro quickly signaled the medical ninja to take Asuma away.

  "When did Kurenai become so strong?" Rin's eyes widened.

  Another person I can't beat, Obito thought miserably.

  Kakashi remained thoughtful. Asuma underestimated her. In a real match, it wouldn't be so easy. But her progress is... significant.

  The afternoon exam concluded with predictable results: Hanekawa first, Kakashi second, and Kurenai third—a surprise that shocked everyone.

  After the exam, Hanekawa treated his friends to barbecue, casually mentioning he'd be away for a while. No one seemed particularly concerned; he went on missions regularly.

  That evening, he purchased ninja tools and food pills at the village market, preparing for tomorrow's departure to Loulan.

  Time to meet Mukade and his dragon vein puppets, he thought, loading supplies into his pack. This should be interesting.