"My name is Hanekawa. I don't have many hobbies. As for my dream, I hope to become a ninja like the Hokage."
Hanekawa's real dream was simply to survive in this dangerous world, but that wouldn't be appropriate to say aloud.
So, he expressed a common ambition among Ninja Academy students: to become Hokage. This was akin to aspiring to be a renowned scientist in his previous life—a respectable and ambitious goal.
He also used careful wording, saying he wanted to become a ninja like the Hokage, not necessarily the Hokage himself.
He was currently caught between Danzo and Sarutobi Hiruzen and needed to tread carefully.
"The ninja who will become Hokage will definitely be me, Uchiha Obito."
Uchiha Obito stood up and declared with a proud look.
Nohara Rin subconsciously tugged on his sleeve, trying to get him to sit down, but he didn't notice.
"Childish," Hatake Kakashi said expressionlessly. He considered such pronouncements immature. He was already five, after all, and believed actions spoke louder than words.
Hanekawa looked at Uchiha Obito and suddenly remembered a dark joke about Obito's future.
If you can't be Hokage, then create a world where you are Hokage.
"What's so great about being Hokage?"
Asuma Sarutobi slowly stood up and said in a low voice, "I want to surpass the Hokage."
The classroom suddenly became quiet. Everyone knew that he was the son of the Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen.
Hanekawa's expression was a little complicated. As a fan of the original work, he knew how unlikely Asuma's statement was.
His talent was decent, but he wasn't exceptionally strong among Jonin, let alone capable of surpassing Hiruzen, who was considered a "God of Shinobi" in his prime. (TN: Undeserved title.)
"It's good to have dreams, but if you want to realize them, you have to study hard," Eiichiro said, clapping his hands to regain everyone's attention. "Hanekawa, that back window seat is reserved for you."
The desks in the classroom were arranged in groups of three. As a transfer student arriving two months into the term, Hanekawa had to sit in the last row.
He didn't mind; the back window seat was often a desirable spot.
His desk mate was a little girl with short black hair. Meeting her gaze, Hanekawa introduced himself, "Hello, I'm Hanekawa."
As a spy, there were two common approaches: remain unnoticed or become highly social. His appearance made the former difficult.
'It's a pity that I am not from the Aburame clan,' he thought, referring to the clan known for their insect-based techniques that allowed them to blend in and conceal their presence.
"I'm Shizune, nice to meet you," Shizune said with a smile.
Hanekawa was a little surprised. 'Shizune? Was she still in the Ninja Academy at this time?' In the original story, Tsunade developed hemophobia after the deaths of Nawaki and Dan Katō and left Konoha with Shizune.
'Is Tsunade still in Konoha Village?' Hanekawa wondered, glancing around.
In front of him were Hatake Kakashi, Nohara Rin, and Uchiha Obito. To his front left were Kurenai Yuhi, Asuma Sarutobi, and an unfamiliar boy.
"Today's class is 'History of Konoha.'. Please turn to page 13," Eiichiro announced, bringing Hanekawa back to the present.
He opened the textbook and paused at the table of contents. There were four main chapters: the Sage of Six Paths, Hashirama Senju, Tobirama Senju, and Hiruzen Sarutobi.
Hanekawa turned to the first chapter and noticed something was off.
The text claimed that the Sage of Six Paths created various ninjutsu and established rules for ninja teams, including the recommendation of having a medical ninja in every three-man squad.
This was a concept that Tsunade advocated for much later.
'Was history being rewritten? Or is there something wrong with this book?' Hanekawa wondered.
"The First Hokage established Konoha Village during a time of great conflict and wrote the Ninja Code, which prohibits drinking and gambling during missions…" Eiichiro lectured from the podium.
Hanekawa internally scoffed. 'Is this some heavily sanitized version of history? Hashirama Senju was known to enjoy both drinking and gambling.'
He flipped to the back of the book and saw that it was written by Sarutobi Hiruzen himself.
'That's okay; that's just how official histories are sometimes presented.' He already had a premonition of what the fourth chapter, presumably about Hiruzen's own accomplishments, would contain.
The bell rang, signaling the end of class. Eiichiro left with his textbook, and the classroom immediately buzzed with activity.
"Kurenai…"
Asuma Sarutobi had just started to speak when he saw Kurenai jump off her stool and run over to Hanekawa.
He clenched his fists in frustration. 'If this continues, I'll lose everything, even my dignity! he thought.'
"Hanekawa, are you settling in okay?"
Kurenai greeted Shizune and then focused her attention on Hanekawa.
"Yeah," Hanekawa nodded.
As a former college student, the Ninja Academy curriculum was quite basic.
"This is for you."
Kurenai took out a notebook and said, "These are the key points I've written down over the past two months. They might be helpful."
"Thanks."
Hanekawa said gratefully.
"Then I won't bother you anymore. See you at lunch."
Kurenai waved and turned to leave.
"Do you two know each other well?"
Shizune seemed to have noticed the interaction and asked curiously.
"Kurenai's father is my teacher," Hanekawa explained.
"A Jōnin-sensei?"
Shizune couldn't help but widen her eyes. Normally, students wouldn't receive personalized training from a Jōnin until after graduating and being assigned to a three-man cell.
Hanekawa's situation was clearly unusual.
"Do you know Lady Tsunade?"
Looking at her surprised expression, Hanekawa asked, a thought forming in his mind.
Shizune shook her head.
Hanekawa felt that something was off again.
He suddenly realized a key difference from the original timeline. 'In the original story, Tsunade and Dan Katō's connection was partially triggered by a jōnin meeting discussing the integration of medical ninjas into standard squads. But in this timeline, the concept of medical ninjas as a vital part of a team seemed to already be established, attributed to the Sage of Six Paths.'
'It seems there's been an unknown change in this world,' he thought. 'Could it be the butterfly effect caused by my time travel?'
Hanekawa couldn't figure it out, so he decided to stop dwelling on it for now.
It was soon lunchtime, and the students were either going home or finding places to eat in the academy.
When Hanekawa closed his textbook, he saw Kurenai standing in front of him. Her ruby eyes sparkled in the sunlight. Not far away, Asuma Sarutobi was giving him a resentful look.
"You two go ahead and eat," Shizune said, getting up to find Nohara Rin.
Kurenai took Shizune's vacant seat.
"Are you close with Asuma?"
Hanekawa asked as he opened his lunch box.
"Not really; we just sit next to each other," Kurenai said with a hint of annoyance. "But he always bothers me."
"I see."
Hanekawa picked up his chopsticks and took a piece of fried shrimp.
'As a person who respects established relationships, I would never interfere,' he thought. But since Kurenai explicitly stated that she wasn't particularly close to Asuma, he didn't feel any guilt about interacting with her.
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