Meeting Tsunade

Chapter 16: Meeting Tsunade

"Why are you even happier than I am?"

Hikawa looked at Yuhi Kurenai, who was hopping and skipping, and asked.

"Because you beat Asuma with genjutsu."

Kurenai tilted her head, found a reason, and said, "Maybe I can do it someday too."

"Then you still need to work hard."

Hikawa recalled the plot and said.

"I know!"

Kurenai gave a light snort, somewhat dissatisfied.

"I'll teach you when I have time."

Hikawa couldn't help but smile.

That puffed-up look was pretty cute.

"You said it!"

Kurenai's ruby-like eyes lit up as she said, "Teach me how to beat Asuma!"

"Why do you want to beat him?"

Hikawa raised an eyebrow, curious, and asked, "Do you hate him?"

"I wouldn't say hate."

Kurenai pouted and said, "He's always showing off in front of me, all smug and proud."

Kids showing off is normal.

Maybe in the original story, Sarutobi Asuma won Yuhi Kurenai over just like that.

But now that he was here, the situation was different.

Hikawa smiled and said, "Alright, I'll teach you."

Under normal circumstances, Kurenai definitely couldn't beat Sarutobi Asuma.

But with a prepared mind catching an unprepared one, plus a little special training, winning once or twice wouldn't be a big problem.

After all, Sarutobi Asuma was only six years old right now.

No matter how strong he was, he couldn't be that strong.

The only thing to worry about was his father, Sarutobi Hiruzen.

He would definitely step in to help.

The two soon arrived home.

Kurenai pushed open the door, took off her shoes to reveal her little feet, and called out, "I'm home!"

"Welcome back."

Yuhi Shinko quickly appeared before the two of them and said, "Wash your hands, get ready to eat."

Hikawa nodded slightly.

After dinner, he remembered the new trait he had acquired, 'Shippuden,' which increased his Wind Release talent by 10%.

Chakra natures were divided into five types: Water, Fire, Wind, Lightning, and Earth, plus the special Yin and Yang.

Everyone was born with innate natures, but they needed to be tested with Chakra Paper.

Hikawa didn't know what innate natures he had.

In the original story, Hatake Kakashi tested Uzumaki Naruto's nature after the Chunin Exams, which was quite late.

It was probably because only by the time one became a Chunin would they consider training in chakra nature transformation.

For Genin, learning the Three Body Technique and chakra shape transformation was enough.

Speaking of the pinnacle of chakra shape transformation, one had to mention the Rasengan.

In the original story, the method for training the Rasengan was also given.

He just didn't know if it would work in reality.

"Uncle Shinko."

Hikawa looked up and asked, "Do you have any Chakra Paper?"

"What's Chakra Paper?"

Kurenai asked curiously.

"It's used to test your chakra natures."

Yuhi Shinko thought for a moment and said, "It's a bit early now, but knowing early won't do any harm."

He got up and went to a room. Before long, he came back with two square pieces of paper, each only the size of a palm.

"Channel your chakra into it."

Yuhi Shinko explained, "The Chakra Paper will react differently based on your chakra nature."

"Let me try."

Yuhi Kurenai took the Chakra Paper with an eager look.

Soon, the paper began to change.

The right half burned up, but the left half was soaked with water, showing dampness.

"That's amazing!"

Kurenai exclaimed, watching the water and fire coexist.

"Water Style and Fire Style."

Shinko said with some surprise, "Mutually opposing water and fire appearing together—that's rare."

"Does that mean I can learn Water Style and Fire Style ninjutsu?"

Kurenai blinked and asked.

"Yes."

Shinko nodded, then added in a grave tone, "But there's no need. Mastering genjutsu will be enough for you."

Being able to proficiently handle two chakra natures was already the mark of a jonin.

That showed how difficult it was.

With Kurenai's talent, specializing in genjutsu would let her become a jonin much faster than splitting her focus between Water and Fire Styles.

As the two talked, Hikawa's chakra nature had already been tested.

It was Lightning and Fire.

Pick up a sword and he could start guiding it?

Hikawa mused.

Wind wasn't among his innate natures.

Under normal circumstances, he'd need to spend time training it.

But now with the system, there was a new path.

"Hikawa, same for you. Focus on genjutsu first."

Shinko reminded him again, to keep him from wasting energy.

"Mm."

Hikawa didn't argue, just nodded.

"Let me tell you, Hikawa beat Asuma today!"

Kurenai suddenly remembered something and said smugly, "Genjutsu is way more powerful than Wind Style!"

The information was too much for Shinko to process at once.

Hikawa, who had only studied for a week, had beaten the Hokage's son?

A true genius indeed.

Shinko paused for a few seconds, then smiled. "Good. Genjutsu will give you a huge advantage in battle."

That statement wasn't wrong.

Provided you didn't run into ninja from the Uchiha Clan.

The Sharingan's seal-less genjutsu was practically a hard counter to ordinary genjutsu users.

Hikawa showed no reaction, but Kurenai found unprecedented motivation.

After a short rest, she ran off to train genjutsu.

Hikawa went to the small grove outside the house and, using the lamplight, practiced ninja tool throwing.

A new day.

Hikawa noticed his popularity in class had skyrocketed.

People kept coming to talk to him, especially the female classmates.

In the ninja world, strength commanded respect.

Now that Hikawa was good-looking and strong, he naturally drew admiration.

After all, kids were straightforward.

Kurenai watched Hikawa surrounded by others and felt a subtle pang for the first time, as if something that belonged to her was being taken away.

As for Sarutobi Asuma, he glanced over and then ignored it.

Last night, Sarutobi Hiruzen had taught him a way to break genjutsu.

But he wasn't rushing to challenge Hikawa; he planned to wait until he was confident.

The school day passed in the blink of an eye, and soon it was Saturday.

Hikawa woke up very early.

Aside from training, he also needed to go to the orphanage.

Hikawa first ran a lap around the streets before heading toward the orphanage.

Before he even reached the orphanage, several lines of text appeared before his eyes.

[E-Rank Talent Entry: Strong Physique (Acquired).]

[Trigger Condition: Body has reached the minimum level of a Genin.]

[Effect: Body Energy recovery speed increased by 10% on top of the original rate.]

[Note: Has two synthesis paths.]

[First Path: Combine E-Rank Entry Nimble Steps and E-Rank Entry Thousand Years of Death to synthesize D-Rank Entry Taijutsu Genin.]

[Second Path: Combine D-Rank Entry Medical Ninja and E-Rank Entry Nimble Steps to synthesize C-Rank Entry Heavenly Strength.]

Hikawa couldn't help but stop in his tracks.

The acquisition of 'Strong Physique' was a natural progression, so he wasn't surprised.

The Body Energy recovery speed was also good, allowing him to train for longer periods.

What caught him off guard were the two synthesis paths for 'Strong Physique'.

Though the difficulty skyrocketed, Hikawa still chose the second synthesis path without hesitation.

This C-Rank Entry 'Heavenly Strength', combined with the C-Rank Entry 'Innate Full Soul', was most likely related to Yang Style talent.

"Hikawa? Here so early? Have you eaten yet?"

Yakushi Nonō's voice rang out.

"Director."

Hikawa snapped back to reality and said, "I had a rice ball earlier."

"Here."

Yakushi Nonō handed him a glass of milk and said, "After you drink it, I'll take you to see Tsunade-sama."

"Okay."

Hikawa gulped down the milk in one go.

The two walked outside and soon arrived at Konoha Hospital.

Hikawa followed Yakushi Nonō upstairs and eventually met Tsunade in an office.

She wore a tea-green long coat, sitting on the sofa with her long legs crossed, exuding a sense of fullness.

Her golden hair was tied into a ponytail, with the diamond-shaped mark of the Yin Seal on her forehead, her face beautiful and delicate.

Her sleeveless top was bulging, faintly revealing fair skin, forming a distinct curve.

Hikawa's gaze unconsciously fell into that abyss.

Magnificent, no words needed.

Even more stunning than in the anime.

It wasn't until Hikawa met those bright brown eyes that he shuddered.

Damn, he forgot to turn off the auto-aim.

Today is Tuesday. Whether we get on the first round of recommendations depends on today's read-through. Senpais, remember to scroll to the end.