Rin, what are you guys doing?

Jiraiya didn't hesitate to step into the bookstore.

As one of the Konoha Three Ninjas, he absolutely had to critique it.

"So lively?"

Jiraiya looked at the customers cramming the bookstore, his curiosity growing even stronger.

Seems it wasn't just clickbait—there was real substance here.

Jiraiya squeezed through the gaps and quickly grabbed a copy.

His appearance didn't cause a stir.

Though his fame was considerable, in a scene like this—where everyone wished each other well—it didn't amount to much.

Men were remarkably harmonious in this regard.

Jiraiya casually flipped open "Taimanin" and started skimming.

After a moment, his expression shifted.

He felt like a new world had opened its doors—he'd wasted thirty years of his life.

The ninja themes popular in the Ninja World were all based on reality, making them fairly ordinary.

But "Taimanin" was different—it was a fresh take on the ninja genre.

A near-future world, leaning toward sci-fi, with a sexy, fiery heroine and enemies that were unheard-of monsters.

"This novel of yours really delights me!"

Jiraiya said, his face full of excitement.

He remembered the feeling of his first trip to the Izakaya, accompanied by two young ladies.

Excitement, anticipation, thrill, and impatience.

"What comes next?"

Jiraiya reached the end and couldn't help saying, "Why is there no more? Damn it!"

He took a few deep breaths to calm himself.

After publishing "Tale of the Utterly Gutsy Ninja," he'd been thinking about a new novel but had no inspiration.

Now, after reading "Taimanin," inspiration suddenly struck.

Thinking this, Jiraiya picked up the book and left the bookstore.

He was going home to start writing!

Konoha Hospital.

Hikawa, who had been practicing swordsmanship, stopped.

[E-Rank Talent Entry: Hero.]

[Trigger Condition: "Taimanin" published.]

[Effect: Memory enhanced by 10% over the original baseline.]

[Note: Publishing more novels can evolve this to a D-Rank Entry: Novelist.]

That works too?

But he had to admit, everyone had wished for a hero to show up at some point.

Because they'd leave behind a string of mysterious codes and then swagger off.

Disclaimer upfront: no Calabash Brothers, no Journey to the West.

Hikawa closed his eyes.

He felt many vague pieces of knowledge becoming clear, and what he'd already remembered was even more vivid.

Good.

Hikawa was now confident he could secure first place in the end-of-term theory exam.

"Done training?"

Tsunade opened the window and asked.

"You're going gambling again? Take a break."

Hikawa looked at Tsunade and couldn't help teasing.

"You're so annoying, brat!"

Tsunade clenched her fist, her gaze unfriendly. "Are you coming or not?"

"I'm coming!"

Hikawa said, following his heart.

"Now that's a good kid."

Tsunade casually pulled down the window, clicked her heels, and walked over to him. "Leaving now?"

"Wait. I have one condition."

Hikawa suddenly thought of something and asked, "Tsunade-sama, could you teach me how to use a scalpel?"

"A scalpel?"

Tsunade narrowed her eyes slightly. "At your age, you can't be a lead Medical Ninja."

Medical Ninja scalpels came in two types: forged scalpels and Chakra Scalpels.

The Chakra Scalpel was an A-rank Medical Ninjutsu, generally only mastered by Jonin.

"Not for surgery. I want to get familiar with its usage early."

Hikawa knew she had misunderstood and explained.

"Is that so?"

Tsunade pondered for a moment. "Alright."

"Thank you, Tsunade-sama."

Hikawa breathed a quiet sigh of relief.

Truth be told, who taught him scalpel usage didn't matter much.

But Tsunade-sama carried more weight, making it easier for him to accept.

That evening.

Hikawa followed Tsunade home.

They had just come from the casino and grabbed a big meal on the way.

"Using a scalpel isn't too hard."

Tsunade pulled out a scalpel. "The hard part is precision—especially during surgery, you can't deviate by even a hair."

Hikawa stood before her, listening and mimicking her movements.

Their practice subject was a live chicken bought earlier from the Izakaya.

After being sliced a thousand times, it ended up as their midnight snack for two.

Say what you will, Tsunade's grilled chicken skills were solid.

The kid liked it.

Hikawa gave her a five-star rating in his head.

The weekend passed between gambling and training.

A new week began.

The difference was that March had started, and March was the last month of the first grade.

In other words, Hikawa was going from a first-grade elementary student to a second-grade one.

Truly a cause for celebration.

Hikawa suddenly thought of Hatake Kakashi.

According to the original timeline, he studied at the Ninja Academy for one year, then applied for Early Graduation and became a Genin.

With Hikawa's current strength, he could also graduate early.

But that was too dangerous.

Why did Hatake Kakashi graduate years early and still team up with Obito Uchiha and Rin Nohara?

Because all his previous teammates had died—every last one.

Even his duodenum could tell him the Ninja Academy was better.

Hikawa wasn't graduating until he became a Sword Saint of Shili Slope.

"Hikawa."

A familiar voice rang out.

Hikawa looked up and saw the little girl standing prettily before him.

"There's a problem I don't get."

Rin Nohara asked a bit sheepishly, "Can I ask you?"

Once was never enough.

Ever since Hikawa explained the four writing methods to her last time, she came running to him whenever she hit a tough question.

There was another reason too: Tsunade.

"Let me see."

Hikawa opened her notebook, thought for a moment, and said, "This one's pretty tricky. Listen closely."

The hallway outside the classroom.

Obito Uchiha walked along, his face full of excitement and anticipation.

He had arrived much earlier than usual today.

Because the old lady didn't need his help crossing the street.

"Rin's going to be totally shocked."

Thinking about Rin Nohara's reaction when she saw him, the smile on his face grew even wider.

He stepped forward a few paces, entered the classroom, and froze.

There's an ox here!

Obito Uchiha watched Hikawa and Rin Nohara chatting and laughing together, and the smile that came so easily to him suddenly vanished.

He snapped back to reality, quick and urgent, and asked, "Rin, what are you two doing?"

"Obito?"

Rin Nohara asked in surprise. "When did you get here?"

Hikawa was also taken aback.

The perpetually late Obito Uchiha had actually shown up on time?

"Hikawa was explaining a problem to me," Rin Nohara explained.

"Is he any good?" Obito Uchiha couldn't help but frown.

He remembered that last month's theory exam, Hikawa's results hadn't been impressive—far worse than Rin Nohara's.

"He's really good!" Rin Nohara blurted out, her feelings genuine.

"I can do it too!" Obito Uchiha looked at her expression and quickly said.

"Huh?" Rin Nohara tilted her head, a little confused.

The reason Obito Uchiha was the dead last was because he always ranked at the bottom in every theory exam.

In the original story, he could even perform the Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique during his school days, so there was no way he was actually the weakest in combat.

"Here." Hikawa casually shoved his notebook into Obito's hands.

Obito Uchiha glanced at it instinctively and immediately broke out in a cold sweat.

He recognized every individual character, but when they were put together... was this even Japanese?