“My name is Hanekawa.
I don’t really have many hobbies, but as for my dream…
I hope to become a shinobi just like the Hokage-sama.” Hanekawa’s actual dream was just to survive, but saying that out loud would sound entirely out of place.
Therefore, he spat out the ultimate mandatory dream for any Academy student: becoming the Hokage.
It wasn’t any different from saying you wanted to be a scientist in his past life.
Moreover, he played a subtle little mind game—he didn’t say he wanted to become the Hokage, but rather a shinobi just like the Hokage-sama.
Since he was currently being targeted by Danzo Shimura, his only choice was to seek shelter under Hiruzen Sarutobi for the time being.
A wise man submits to circumstance, and his main selling point right now was absolute loyalty.
“The one who’s ultimately gonna become the Hokage is definitely me, Obito Uchiha!” Obito suddenly shot up from his seat, declaring proudly with a chin held high.
Rin Nohara instinctively tugged at his sleeve, but she failed to pull him back down.
“Childish,” Kakashi Hatake said, his face entirely expressionless.
He wasn’t some three-year-old toddler; he was already a mature five-year-old big kid!
Even if he wanted to become the Hokage, he wouldn’t waste time arguing about it with words—he would use actions.
Looking at Obito, Hanekawa was suddenly reminded of a dark joke from his past life: If you can’t become the Hokage, just go ahead and destroy the Hokage.
“What’s so great about being the Hokage anyway?” Asuma Sarutobi slowly stood up, his voice low and heavy.
“I am going to surpass the Hokage!” The classroom instantly fell dead silent.
Everyone knew he was the son of the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi.
Hanekawa’s expression turned slightly subtle.
As a member of the audience who thoroughly knew the plot, he was well aware of how completely unrealistic Asuma’s statement was.
The guy’s talent was painfully finite.
Even among Jonin, he wouldn’t be considered exceptionally outstanding, let alone surpassing Hiruzen.
“Having a dream is a good thing, but if you want to make it a reality, you have to study hard,” Yamamoto-sensei clapped his hands, drawing everyone’s attention back to the front.
“Hanekawa, that empty seat in the back row by the window is reserved for you.” The desks in the classroom were arranged to seat three people each.
As a transfer student who arrived two months late, Hanekawa could only sit in the very last row.
But he didn’t mind at all; the back row by the window was a classic protagonist seat.
His desk mate was a young girl with short black hair.
Meeting her gaze, Hanekawa smiled.
“Hello, I’m Hanekawa.” As a spy, there were usually two paths to take: either become a complete ghost, or become a social butterfly.
Unfortunately, his system cheat and his looks completely ruled out the option of flying under the radar.
It was a pity he wasn’t from the Aburame clan, otherwise, he’d possess a natural aura-erasing effect.
“I’m Shizune.
Nice to meet you,” Shizune said, a polite smile gracing her face.
Hanekawa was instantly caught off guard.
Shizune?
Is she still at the Academy right now?
In the original timeline, after Nawaki and Dan Kato died, Tsunade developed hemophobia—a psychological trauma that made her terrified of blood.
As a medical ninja, contracting hemophobia was a career-ending blow, causing Tsunade to take Shizune along to leave Konoha and wander the world, gambling away her worries.
Hanekawa stroked his chin thoughtfully.
Does this mean Tsunade is still in Konoha right now?
Hanekawa glanced around his surroundings.
Sitting directly in front of him were Kakashi, Rin, and Obito.
To his front-left were Kurenai, Asuma, and a boy he didn’t recognize.
“Today’s lesson is The History of Konoha.
Everyone, please open your books to page thirteen,” Yamamoto-sensei’s voice snapped Hanekawa out of his thoughts.
He casually flipped open the book, pausing for a few seconds on the table of contents.
There were four main chapters in total, dedicated to: the Sage of Six Paths, Hashirama Senju, Tobirama Senju, and Hiruzen Sarutobi.
Hanekawa flipped to the first chapter, and an immediate sense of profound weirdness washed over him.
Something was wrong—terribly wrong.
The text claimed that the Sage of Six Paths not only created various ninjutsu but also laid down the foundational regulations for shinobi squads.
Among those rules was the mandate that a three-man squad should ideally include at least one medical ninja.
Wait, wasn’t that a proposal explicitly put forward by Tsunade in the future?!
Had history been rewritten?
Or had something gone structurally wrong with this universe?
“The First Hokage established Konohagakure during a chaotic era and penned the Shinobi Regulations, stating that drinking and gambling are strictly forbidden during missions…” Yamamoto-sensei droned on and on from the podium.
Hanekawa snapped out of his daze, internally screaming.
Is this a fanfiction history book?!
While it wasn’t quite as wild as unauthorized rumor mills, Hashirama was canonically a master of both heavy drinking and compulsive gambling.
When he flipped to the back of the book, he discovered the author was listed as Hiruzen Sarutobi.
Ah, well, that explained it.
That was a true professional at work.
Hanekawa could already guess what the glowing praises in the fourth chapter would look like.
Ring, ring, ring.
The bell marking the end of the period rang.
The moment Yamamoto-sensei grabbed his lesson plan and walked out, the classroom instantly erupted into a lively chatter.
“Kurenai…” Asuma had just opened his mouth when he saw Kurenai hop off her stool and dash straight toward Hanekawa’s desk.
He instinctively clenched his fists.
If this kept up, he was going to lose everything, including his dignity!
“Hanekawa, are you getting used to things?” Kurenai offered a quick greeting to Shizune before turning her eyes completely onto Hanekawa.
“Yeah,” Hanekawa nodded.
For a college student, sitting through elementary school material felt exactly like a walk in the park.
Back in his past life, he had been a private tutor, absolutely dominating primary school coursework.
“Here, this is for you,” Kurenai said, pulling out a notebook.
“These are the main points I’ve written down over the past two months.
It should be helpful for you.” “Thank you,” Hanekawa said, completely genuine.
“Then I won’t disturb you anymore.
See you at lunch!” Kurenai waved her tiny hand and turned to walk away.
“You two know each other?” Shizune asked, unable to contain her curiosity as she picked up on the dynamic.
“Kurenai’s father is my mentor,” Hanekawa explained.
“A Jonin mentor?!” Shizune’s eyes widened significantly.
Regular students had to wait until graduation before they were assigned an instructor squad leader.
Hanekawa’s situation was clearly way outside the standard operating procedure.
“Do you know Lady Tsunade?” Hanekawa asked, his heart stirring as he watched her surprised reaction.
Shizune shook her head.
Hanekawa felt that jarring sense of historical anomaly creep up again.
He suddenly realized a massive discrepancy.
In the original series, Tsunade and Dan Kato bonded specifically during a Jonin council meeting regarding the integration of medical ninjas into squads.
But now, the history book claimed the Sage of Six Paths had already taken care of that centuries ago.
It seemed this world had undergone some unknown, hidden changes.
Could it be a butterfly effect brought about by my transmigration?
Hanekawa couldn’t wrap his head around it, so he decided to put it out of his mind for now.
Lunchtime arrived in a flash.
The students were either heading home or looking for a place to eat their bentos.
As Hanekawa closed his textbook, Kurenai appeared right in front of him.
Those ruby-red eyes glinted beautifully under the sunlight.
Not far away, Asuma’s gaze was burning with pure, unadulterated resentment.
“You two can eat here,” Shizune stood up to go find Rin, and Kurenai smoothly slid into her empty seat.
“Are you and Asuma close?” Hanekawa asked as he slid open his bento box.
“Not really, we’re just desk mates,” Kurenai said, looking slightly annoyed.
“But he constantly pesters me.” “I see.” Hanekawa picked up his chopsticks and grabbed a piece of fried shrimp.
As a self-proclaimed champion of pure love, he usually wasn’t one to step on anyone else’s toes.
But since there was absolutely nothing going on between them, he could proceed with zero psychological baggage.