Evil Gardenia Plan

"Was that really your first time refining chakra?"

Once Hikawa finished training, Yuhi Kurenai could not help stepping forward.

"It was."

Hikawa blinked and answered.

"Ah! Damn it!"

Yuhi Kurenai clenched her small fists and said unwillingly, "But it won't be so easy for you to surpass me!"

"I'll work hard."

Hikawa smiled.

"You... don't have to take it that seriously."

Seeing his pretty smile, Yuhi Kurenai suddenly felt a little dazed.

It was true that looks affected people's impressions.

Especially for a little boy like Hikawa—whether they were older married women or adorable little girls, he could charm them all.

"Hikawa."

Yuhi Shinko came out of the house and handed him an admission notice.

Hikawa opened it and gave it a quick glance.

The contents were simple. It stated that he had passed the assessment and officially joined the Ninja Academy as a student of First Year Class A.

But he did not remember taking any assessment, so Sarutobi Hiruzen must have used his authority.

"Kurenai, take him to meet your homeroom teacher tomorrow."

Yuhi Shinko instructed.

"No problem!"

Yuhi Kurenai perked up. "Mission guaranteed!"

"I'm going out to buy Hikawa some daily necessities."

Yuhi Shinko paused and asked, "Is there anything you two want me to bring back?"

"I want Three-Colored Dango."

Yuhi Kurenai said without hesitation.

"And you?"

Yuhi Shinko looked at Hikawa. "We're family from now on, so don't be so reserved."

"Same for me."

Hikawa had no idea what to ask for, so he answered casually.

Three-Colored Dango was a Konoha specialty snack, beloved by ninjas like Uchiha Itachi and Anko Mitarashi.

Now that he had the chance, he wanted to see what it tasted like.

"If there's anything you don't understand about training, ask Kurenai."

Yuhi Shinko waved a hand and turned to leave.

"Hehe!"

Yuhi Kurenai crossed her arms, lifted her chin slightly, and looked at him smugly, as if she were just short of saying, Hurry up and ask me.

Hikawa could not help laughing when he saw her like that.

"What are you laughing at?"

Yuhi Kurenai pouted.

"I thought of something happy."

Hikawa coughed lightly.

"What happy thing?"

Yuhi Kurenai felt as though she had been offended and instinctively put on a stern face.

"When is your birthday?"

Hikawa suddenly changed the subject.

"June 11th."

Yuhi Kurenai froze for a moment. "Why are you asking?"

"Then I'm older."

A faint smile appeared on Hikawa's face. "You should call me big brother."

"Wait!"

Yuhi Kurenai finally reacted and refused without a second thought. "No! I'm the big sister!"

"But you're younger than me."

Hikawa said this nonsense with a straight face.

He actually did not know his exact age or birthday, since he was a war orphan.

"No means no!"

Yuhi Kurenai had a sudden idea and said, "What's the use of being older? Your fists have to be bigger!"

"So you mean that if I defeat you, you'll be my little sister?"

Hikawa raised an eyebrow and asked with a smile.

Yuhi Kurenai had intended to agree immediately, but when she remembered how quickly he could Refine Chakra, she suddenly hesitated.

She bit her lip, lacking confidence. "Talk about it after you beat me."

The smile on Hikawa's face deepened.

Teasing a pretty little girl was rather fun.

To be clear, he was not a lolicon. He liked mature women.

Just then, footsteps sounded.

"Back already?"

Hikawa instinctively turned his head, and his expression froze.

It was not Yuhi Shinko, but a woman who was both unfamiliar and familiar to him—Yakushi Nonō.

Yet the woman who had always been gentle in his memory now wore a grave expression.

Hikawa did not need to think to know what this was about.

It was probably Shimura Danzō's order. That old bastard still had designs on him.

"Director."

After saying that to Yuhi Kurenai, Hikawa stepped forward.

In the original story, Yakushi Nonō was undoubtedly a tragically fated supporting character.

Because of her kindness, she had withdrawn from Root.

But Shimura Danzō had threatened her with the Orphanage, forcing her to continue serving Root. In the end, she died because she knew too much.

Under the Pot Kage's scheme, she and her adopted son, Kabuto Yakushi, had been made to kill each other.

"Hikawa, it's good that you're alright."

Yakushi Nonō reached out and stroked his head as she spoke softly.

"Thank you for your concern, Director."

Hikawa saw the hesitation on her face and asked, "Is something wrong?"

"..."

Yakushi Nonō fell silent.

Not long ago, Shimura Danzō had come to the Orphanage to see her and explained Hikawa's situation.

He hoped Hikawa could join Root. As long as it was Hikawa's own wish, Sarutobi Hiruzen would have no reason to stop it.

"What arrangements did the Hokage make for you?"

After thinking for a moment, Yakushi Nonō asked.

"He told me to attend the Ninja Academy."

Hikawa answered.

Yakushi Nonō's eyes lit up slightly.

Shimura Danzō valued her because of her exceptional abilities, and she was known as the Wandering Miko.

The moment she heard "Ninja Academy," she immediately thought of a way to buy time.

"Hikawa, no matter what happens, you must graduate normally."

Yakushi Nonō said in a grave voice.

"Alright."

Hikawa understood the implication behind her words.

As long as he remained at the Ninja Academy, Shimura Danzō would not make a move against him for the time being.

But the Pot Kage was still a problem.

If he couldn't beat him, should he join him?

Not a chance.

Shimura Danzō would not only demand his heart, but also brainwash him.

And if he joined Root, wouldn't that make him a three-surnamed... Lu Bu?

He wanted to be kept by a rich, curvy older woman in black stockings, not some old man.

If Shimura Danzō were replaced with Tsunade, he could consider it.

Though she was drowning in debt, big was justice.

Hikawa recalled that Kabuto Yakushi was not at the Orphanage yet.

By that estimate, there were at least ten years left.

The evil—no, the righteous Gardenia Plan had begun!

Three years east of the river, three years west of the river; saving Yakushi Nonō in ten years would not be a problem.

Although his joining the Orphanage had been arranged by Kumogakure, the headmistress had truly treated him very well.

"You can come back to the Orphanage when you have time."

Yakushi Nonō revealed a gentle smile.

"I will."

Hikawa nodded heavily.

Yakushi Nonō reached out once more and patted his head.

Watching her departing figure, Hikawa could not help but twitch the corner of his mouth.

Why was he getting his head patted on his very first day here?

"Kurenai."

Hikawa looked at Yuhi Kurenai and asked, "Can you teach me Ninja Tool Throwing?"

Shimura Danzō's threat had given him immense motivation. He had to work harder.

"Ninja Tool Throwing" was a required trait for synthesizing "Genius Genin."

Although the system had not said how to trigger it, judging from his previous experience, he obviously needed to perform the corresponding action.

"Of course!"

Yuhi Kurenai gave a light snort and said, "I'm quite confident in my Ninja Tool Throwing."