"Is this really your first time channeling chakra?"
Once Kurenai finished her training, she couldn't help but approach him.
"Yes, it's my first time."
Yukawa blinked his eyes and answered.
"Ah! Damn it!"
Kurenai clenched her small fists, not willing to admit defeat. "But it won't be so easy for you to surpass me!"
"I'll do my best."
Yukawa smiled.
"You... you don't need to be that serious."
Kurenai looked at Yukawa's beautiful smile and was momentarily lost in thought.
It was clear that looks could affect one's perception.
Especially for someone like Yukawa—a young boy who could charm everyone, from older women to cute little girls.
"Yukawa."
Kurenai's mother, Hinagiku, came out of the room and handed him an admission notice.
Yukawa opened the notice and glanced at it.
The content was simple: it said that he had passed the assessment and officially joined the Ninja Academy as a first-year student in Class A.
But he didn't remember any assessment, so it was likely that Sarutobi Hiruzen had used his special privileges.
"Hinagiku, take him to meet your homeroom teacher tomorrow."
Hinagiku instructed.
"No problem!"
Kurenai immediately perked up, saying, "I'll make sure it's done!"
"I'll go buy the daily necessities that Yukawa needs."
Hinagiku paused and asked, "Do you need anything?"
"I want to eat some dango."
Kurenai said unceremoniously.
"And you?"
Hinagiku turned to Yukawa and asked, "We're family now, so don't be shy."
"Same as her."
Yukawa didn't know what he wanted to buy, so he just casually replied.
Dango was a specialty snack from Konohagakure, favored by many ninjas, including Uchiha Itachi and Mitarashi Anko.
Now that he had the chance, he was curious about what it tasted like.
"If there's anything you're unsure about during training, ask Kurenai."
Hinagiku waved her hand and turned to leave.
"Hehe!"
Kurenai crossed her arms, tilted her chin, and looked at Yukawa with a smug expression, as if to say, "You'd better ask me."
Seeing her like this, Yukawa couldn't help but laugh.
"What are you laughing at?"
Kurenai puffed out her cheeks and asked.
"I thought of something happy."
Yukawa cleared his throat and said.
"What happy thing?"
Kurenai felt offended and instinctively frowned.
"When's your birthday?"
Yukawa suddenly changed the subject and asked.
"June 11th."
Kurenai was taken aback for a moment and then asked, "Why do you want to know?"
"Then I'm older than you."
Yukawa smiled slightly and said, "You should call me 'Big Brother.'"
"Wait!"
Kurenai quickly realized what he meant, and without thinking, she refused, "No way! I'm the older one!"
"But you're younger than me."
Yukawa said with a serious face, making up nonsense.
He didn't actually know the exact age or birthday, as he was an orphan from the war.
"No means no!"
Kurenai quickly thought of something and said, "What's the use of being older? You need to have bigger fists!"
"Does that mean if I beat you, you'll be my little sister?"
Yukawa raised an eyebrow and asked with a smile.
Kurenai was about to agree, but then she remembered how quickly he had learned to channel chakra, and hesitated.
She bit her lip, her confidence wavering. "We'll talk about it after you beat me."
Yukawa's smile deepened.
Teasing the pretty little girl was quite amusing.
At that moment, footsteps could be heard.
"Back already?"
Yukawa instinctively turned his head, but his expression stiffened.
It wasn't Hinagiku returning, but a familiar yet strange woman—Yakushi Nonō.
But unlike the gentle woman he remembered, her expression was heavy.
Yukawa didn't need to think to know what was happening.
It was probably another order from Danzo Shimura, who never gave up on him.
"Director."
Yukawa nodded to Kurenai and then stepped forward.
In the original series, Yakushi Nonō was a tragic character.
Due to her kindness, she left the ROOT organization, but Danzo used the orphanage to force her to continue working for ROOT. Her eventual death was a result of knowing too much.
Under Orochimaru's design, she was made to kill her adopted son, Yakushi Kabuto.
"Yukawa," it's good that you're alright."
Yakushi Nonō reached out and gently touched his head, speaking softly.
"Thank you for your concern, Director."
Yukawa noticed the hesitation in her face and asked, "Is something wrong?"
"..."
Yakushi Nonō fell into silence.
Not long ago, Danzo had come to the orphanage to see her and explain Yukawa's situation.
He hoped that Yukawa would join ROOT. As long as it was his choice, Sarutobi Hiruzen wouldn't stop it.
"What has Hokage-sama arranged for you?"
Yakushi Nonō thought for a moment before asking.
"He asked me to attend the Ninja Academy."
Yukawa replied.
Yakushi Nonō's eyes lit up slightly.
Her reputation for being a skilled "Walking Priestess" had earned her Danzo's attention.
When she heard about the Ninja Academy, she immediately thought of a way to delay things.
"Yukawa," no matter what happens, you must graduate on time."
Yakushi Nonō said in a serious tone.
"Understood."
Yukawa understood her hidden meaning.
As long as he was in the Ninja Academy, Danzo wouldn't take immediate action.
But Danzo would always be a problem.
Was joining ROOT the solution?
Not quite.
Danzo not only wanted your heart, but he also wanted to brainwash you.
And if he joined ROOT, wouldn't he be just another pawn for the Uchiha clan?
He wasn't interested in old men like Danzo—what he wanted were 36D black stockings and wealthy women who would support him.
If Danzo were replaced by Tsunade, he might consider it.
Though she was deeply in debt, big was still justice.
Yukawa recalled that Yakushi Kabuto wasn't in the orphanage.
That meant he still had at least ten more years.
The evil—no, the righteous Gardenia Plan had begun!