He Tui!

The scroll unfurled, and the black jutsu inscribed upon it came into view.

"Nine Mask Svāhā. A forbidden jutsu that uses the Nine-Faced Child Fox as its foundation to command summoning beasts with all sorts of abilities. It's the summoning jutsu used by Uzumaki Menma, isn't it?"

Hanazuki sat cross-legged on the pale blue water. According to the setting of the Limited Tsukuyomi, this technique was powerful enough to let him dominate the battlefield—as long as he didn't run into any particularly troublesome opponents.

In practice, among the Nine Masked Beasts, only Nanto Sennin and Hokuto Sennin, who could restrain their targets, and the Grim Reaper, who could drain chakra, were worth a look. Most of the others were nothing special.

"Hey, kid. Don't you think you've got something wrong? The reason Nine Mask Svāhā was classified as a forbidden jutsu is that its potential is limitless."

"Think about it. As long as you put stronger chakra into each of the Nine Masked Beasts and use stronger materials and summoning beasts, Nine Mask Svāhā will become more powerful."

Perhaps because he was enjoying his food, Black Nine-Tails lounged in the little nest made of weeds, not even lifting his eyelids as he spoke.

"True. This doesn't say anything about the materials or summoning beasts needed to build Nine Mask Svāhā. That means using an entire Tailed Beast is possible, too."

His gaze shifted back to the Limited Tsukuyomi Ninja World Sign-in System, and he couldn't help feeling a little hopeful.

The first sign-in yesterday gave me Black Nine-Tails. So what'll I get today—a Rinnegan? I wouldn't even turn down a One-Tail...

He eagerly checked in. The reward, which should have appeared in his hands, dropped from the sky and landed on Hanazuki's head.

[Daily sign-in successful. You received Tsunade's intimate bra...]

The garment, brimming with girlish sentiment and still faintly warm, made Hanazuki furrow his brow. The next instant, he was furious.

"Wait! What is this supposed to be? Some kind of false advertising? The size doesn't even match, and Tsunade doesn't even... Ahem, ahem."

"Right, since this is the Limited Tsukuyomi, things are the opposite, aren't they? So the Tsunade over there is..."

"Hahahaha! Kid, are you telling me you want a woman too? You actually used your eye technique to create something like this? Hahahaha!"

Black Nine-Tails laughed so hard he doubled over. His enormous paws slapped the water, sending up countless waves. Hanazuki's mouth twitched, and he vanished from the spot.

"Mind your own business, Orange Pig."

"Brat! You looking for a fight?"

When no reply came for a long while, Black Nine-Tails snorted and settled down in his nest to sleep.

The next morning, at the gates of Konoha, the Third Hokage gave his customary pre-battle speech.

The village shinobi about to head for the front lines against the Cloud gathered together. Hanazuki and Anko waited with the others in a corner near the edge of the crowd.

Sarutobi Hiruzen wore his Hokage robes, fingers rubbing his pipe. Though his face was old, his hair and beard showed not a hint of gray.

Thin curls of smoke drifted around him. He looked over the crowd, and when he saw all those young faces, he couldn't help sighing deeply.

"War is always detestable. That's why the Hokage of every generation have devoted themselves to finding a path to peace, and have continually sought peace with the neighboring nations."

"But now, in the midst of war, we have no choice but to send you into battle. It is truly unavoidable."

"Where the leaves dance, the fire burns on... The light will drive away the darkness in the village, and Konoha's new buds will grow once more into towering trees..."

A crisp spit echoed through the crowd. There was no hiding the scorn in his tone. He preached the Will of Fire while sending children who were still tender buds onto the battlefield. That was hypocrisy, plain and simple.

"Lord Hokage truly is a gifted speaker! When will we get to learn such profound wisdom from our books?"

The shinobi about to head into battle turned at the sound. At the edge of the crowd stood a figure who could barely be called a boy. He turned his head away and spat.

"He tui! Sorry, my throat's been a little itchy lately. I might have to get it checked at the hospital."

"Uchiha Hanazuki, are you deliberately trying to cause trouble?"

Mitokado Homura, the Hokage Advisor beside him, glared at Hanazuki. Some of the shinobi looked at the innocent expression on his face, their gazes growing colder.

"Never mind, Lady Mito. If you've caught a cold, you should take good care of yourself. Would you like me to accompany you to the hospital?"

A gentle, kindly voice came to Hanazuki's defense. He glanced back, and his eyes narrowed slightly at the warm, forgiving smile and bright yellow hair.

The future Fourth Hokage—the Yellow Flash, Namikaze Minato?

As Hanazuki stood there in a daze, the Limited Tsukuyomi Ninja World Sign-in System, which hadn't given him a sign-in since yesterday's underwear incident, popped up again to make its presence known.

[You have come into contact with a person from the Limited Tsukuyomi Ninja World who is the opposite of their counterpart. Character sign-in unlocked!]

[Character sign-in: Namikaze Minato]

[Abilities: Sage Mode (Mount Myoboku version), Rasengan, Flying Thunder God Technique...]

[Random selection in progress... Sign-in successful. Today's reward: Flying Thunder God Technique!]

Huh? There was someone even better?

Hanazuki's expression shifted from surprise to confusion, then delight and contemplation, before settling back to normal.

His face-changing skills, worthy of an ancient and mysterious nation, had taken less than a second. Even Namikaze Minato, standing before him, was left bewildered.

He'd thought the beginner's protection period only lasted one day. Who would've guessed there'd be an even more impressive feature? He could sign in by encountering people who were the opposite of their Limited Tsukuyomi counterparts?

The surprise had come so suddenly that he'd naturally been thrilled. But with all eyes on him, Hanazuki could only hide his excitement behind his excellent face-changing skills.

In truth, Uchiha Hanazuki had often felt inferior about his talent. He was still a ways behind the truly gifted. After all, his Mangekyō Sharingan was a consumable magic card.

Hanazuki was so lost in his own thoughts that he didn't notice the fleetingly dark looks exchanged by the two Hokage Advisors.

He openly opposes the Will of Fire. As expected of the successor to the evil Uchiha Clan. We can't let our guard down.

"That's all. I wish you success in battle. For the sake of the buds who have yet to grow, let's go."

Sarutobi Hiruzen turned and left. The two Hokage Advisors quietly heightened their vigilance, then followed him.

"Are you all right? Do you need to go to the hospital?"

Anko looked worried. The usual hotheaded fool now showed genuine concern.

Uzuki Yugao, the new teammate they'd only met yesterday, looked worried too. They were about to head to the battlefield. If a comrade let them down at a critical moment, she might lose her life as well.

"It's nothing. I just need to rest a little. So, are we heading to the battlefield now? If we're not careful, we could get ourselves killed."

"If you're afraid of dying, don't become a shinobi. If you don't have the resolve to sacrifice your life to complete a mission, then take off your Forehead Protector. Coward."

Scornful gazes turned toward Hanazuki. Their expressions varied, but most were mocking and hostile, and most of them belonged to graduates his age.

He turned to look at the slightly taller, silver-haired boy with the deadpan expression. A smile tugged at Hanazuki's lips.

"Could you be Kakashi-senpai, the legendary genius graduate of the Ninja Academy?"