Hinata Hyuga

Early morning.

Su Yu arrived at the training ground looking exhausted.

On the final day, he had finally completed his last achievement.

He still had ten ability draws left unused.

Before long,

Uzuki Yugao arrived.

"Let's begin," she said directly.

Without hesitation, Su Yu launched his attack.

This time, he used standard Konoha-Style Taijutsu. His speed, strength, and taijutsu techniques were all far beyond what they had been a week ago.

Uzuki Yugao's eyes widened in shock.

In just one week, Su Yu had improved his taijutsu so much. He was truly a taijutsu prodigy.

Before, she could dodge him with ease.

Now, she had to take him seriously.

As time passed, however, Su Yu showed no signs of fatigue, while Uzuki Yugao's stamina was rapidly running out.

She realized there was a problem.

Su Yu had more stamina than she did.

What had he gone through this past week? Uzuki Yugao wondered.

Then she leaped backward, putting some distance between them.

Su Yu stopped at once.

"Why has your taijutsu improved so quickly?" Uzuki Yugao asked.

"I had a set of weighted gear custom-made, which made my training a little harder," Su Yu replied honestly.

In truth, thanks to his Uzumaki Clan bloodline, he recovered his stamina quickly, and his chakra had increased considerably as well.

That was the benefit of awakening his bloodline.

Ordinary ninja could only train for a few hours. He could train for more than ten. With his physique strengthened and stamina increased, his abilities had naturally improved.

"I see." Uzuki Yugao understood, and she was pleased with Su Yu's taijutsu.

"Teacher Uzuki Yugao, does this mean I can take on official missions now?" Su Yu asked eagerly.

"You can. Come with me." Uzuki Yugao gave him an approving look and headed toward the Hokage Office.

Su Yu hurried after her.

He could take on an official mission after only one week.

That was surely the fastest any student in his graduating class had managed it.

Once I've completed my first mission, I'll have an excuse to treat them to a meal. Then I can use my draws. If I can get the Byakugan... Su Yu thought.

The Byakugan was definitely useful.

It was top-notch for scouting enemies.

Hokage Office.

Uzuki Yugao brought Su Yu in and explained why they had come.

The Third Hokage trusted Uzuki Yugao, so he brought out the missions available to Genin.

Uzuki Yugao looked them over, then handed the mission list to Su Yu.

"This is your first mission, so you can choose for yourself."

"Yes." Su Yu was taken aback.

He could tell what Uzuki Yugao had in mind.

She wanted to groom him for the Anbu.

With the Third Hokage and Uzuki Yugao watching him, Su Yu lowered his head and studied the mission list.

Most of the missions involved helping people near Konoha, such as catching cats, planting crops, or digging.

Su Yu quickly flipped past them. He had no intention of dutifully taking on beginner missions.

The list grew thinner and thinner as he turned the pages, and his expression began to fall.

Then he reached the final mission.

His eyes lit up.

The mission clearly stated that Tazuna, a master bridge builder from the Land of Waves, had asked Konoha to send ninja to protect his crew while they built a bridge. It was a C-rank mission.

Su Yu knew how difficult the mission would be, but he also knew it was an opportunity.

If he could get Ice Release...

Or Zabuza's jutsu...

"Lord Hokage, I'd like to take this mission," Su Yu said, looking up.

The Third Hokage glanced at the mission and hesitated.

"Lord Hokage, is there a problem with this mission?" Uzuki Yugao asked, puzzled by his reaction.

"Nothing. It's just a long journey, and I'm a little concerned," the Third Hokage said with a shake of his head.

"Lord Hokage, I'd like to see the world beyond the village. My parents were both Anbu, and I want to become an Anbu member too, protecting Konoha from the shadows." Su Yu's expression was earnest.

The Third Hokage heard him out and nodded.

"I look forward to seeing what you can do."

He handed the mission list to Uzuki Yugao.

With the mission list, they could head straight to the Land of Waves, show it to the client, and begin the mission.

Outside the Hokage Office Building.

"Get some good rest today. Tomorrow morning, meet me at Konoha's gate," Uzuki Yugao told Su Yu.

"Yes!" Su Yu replied happily.

Uzuki Yugao vanished.

Watching the spot where she had disappeared, he headed for Ichiraku Ramen.

The commission in the Land of Waves was probably a coincidence.

But since he had the chance to meet Haku and Zabuza, he couldn't let it pass him by.

It was dangerous, but the rewards would be enormous.

Zabuza's jutsu and Haku's Kekkei Genkai came first. Gato's money came second.

Money wasn't everything, but without it, you couldn't do anything.

There's still some time before the Chunin Ninja Exams. I wonder what the advancement mission will be. Surely it won't be asking me to become a Chunin? Su Yu wondered.

He had already decided to leave after the Konoha Crush.

The Chunin Ninja Exams would gather many talented Genin. If he could draw their bloodlines and skills, he would surely be able to advance to Jonin.

In other words, he had to complete one more advancement mission and nine more achievements. The tenth achievement was practically a freebie both times, so he only needed to focus on the first nine.

As Su Yu thought it over, he arrived at Ichiraku Ramen.

He froze as soon as he walked in.

Hinata Hyuga was there, and she wasn't with her teammates.

Su Yu sat beside her, wondering whether to use one of his draws.

The Byakugan could see through Zabuza's Hidden Mist Technique. If he managed to draw it, the mission in the Land of Waves would go much more smoothly.

But Hinata Hyuga was the only one here.

Was he supposed to try his luck with a single draw?

Suddenly, Su Yu's eyes lit up.

The Hyuga Clan wasn't like the Uchiha. They were currently Konoha's largest clan. Instead of trying his luck here, he could go to the Hyuga Clan's compound. With so many clan members there, he was sure to draw the Byakugan!

He might even draw a Byakugan technique.

But how could he get close to the Hyuga Clan's compound?

"Su Yu? Su Yu?" a soft, timid voice called.

Su Yu snapped out of his thoughts and looked at Hinata Hyuga.

"You... you... you're..." Hinata Hyuga's face flushed, and she stammered.

"I guess you could say I'm Naruto's friend." After thinking for a few seconds, Su Yu realized what she wanted to ask.

Hinata Hyuga's face lit up.

"You like Naruto, but he likes Haruno Sakura. You understand that, right?" Su Yu reminded her.

Hinata Hyuga froze and lowered her head.

It was obvious. Naruto Uzumaki had tried to show his affection for Haruno Sakura many times at school.

By contrast, she and Naruto Uzumaki had barely even spoken to each other.