Still Better to Use Only Half My Strength

The next day.

Kanami woke up early in the morning.

He scratched his head helplessly. "Damn it, I graduated, and now I've developed a biological clock, huh?"

After washing up and finishing breakfast, he strolled through Konoha's alleyways as he usually did during holidays, basking in the sun and getting an early start on retirement life.

"Look at that good-for-nothing kid, wandering around again."

"If my kid were like him, I'd break his legs."

"Don't say that. The kid's actually pretty pitiful—no parents, and he isn't a bad person. He's not as mischievous as Naruto, either."

"Tian Hui's right. My kid's incredibly naughty. If he were as obedient as Kanami, at least he'd save me some worry."

"Come to think of it, whenever he walks around with his hands behind his back, he never feels like a child to me."

Several women from the nearby alleyways had gathered together, chatting animatedly about Kanami as he wandered back and forth through the lanes.

Kanami's five senses were far sharper than an ordinary person's, so he heard every word they said about him clearly. But he did not care much, even greeting them with a cheerful smile.

After all, whenever he returned to his hometown on vacation in his previous life, he had always run into these "village intelligence bureaus." He was used to it.

Kanami smiled and greeted them. "Hello, aunties."

"Hello." *n

Seeing Kanami approach, the women stopped talking and returned his smile.

One woman dressed in purple asked curiously, "Kanami, why aren't you taking missions? I see the other graduates clamoring to accept jobs and commissions, preparing for the Chunin Exams."

"What difference would becoming a Chunin make?"

The woman froze. This was the first time she had heard a ninja say he was uninterested in becoming a Chunin.

"I heard Chunin can take higher-level commissions. They make a lot of money."

Kanami shook his head. "No, Auntie. High-level commissions are dangerous. Think about it—wouldn't it be a huge loss to die for a little money? I'm only in my teens. I can't bury my best years so easily."

So you planned to spend your youth chatting with us aunties and sunbathing?

The women exchanged looks, their expressions strange.

Why did this kid sound so old-fashioned? At his age, shouldn't he be full of passion and ambition?

"Take care, aunties. I'm going to look around somewhere else."

Kanami passed from this alley into another.

"Kanami," a woman's voice called out.

A long-haired woman approached him, bandages wrapped around her snowy thighs and a pair of ample breasts pushed forward.

Kanami looked up and asked, "Kurenai? Is something wrong?"

Because of his memories from his previous life, he had instinctively called Kurenai Yuhi by her name.

He scratched his head awkwardly.

Well, well. He actually called me by my name.

Kurenai Yuhi raised an eyebrow, but did not take it too seriously.

"Why aren't you doing any missions?"

Kanami felt rather helpless. Why did everyone keep asking him that?

He rattled off, "I don't want to do missions. I'm not short on money right now, and what if I run into some overpowered monster, like Zabuza Momochi or someone? Wouldn't I be dead meat?"

After hearing that, Kurenai Yuhi became even more interested in him. His unique attitude stood in stark contrast to the impatience and ambition of others his age.

Many children his age were eager for quick success and often put themselves in danger. That was why Jonin were required to lead teams.

"You have a steady temperament. No wonder Hinata cares about you. Are you interested in training with Team 8?"

Kanami asked skeptically, "Why me? Besides, haven't you already chosen your three members?"

"I think you're worth cultivating."

Kanami glanced at her. "What makes you think that?"

"Instinct. Besides, Naruto has a teacher guiding him, but you don't. Doesn't that bother you?"

Kanami nodded without hesitation. "Not at all."

Naruto was the protagonist. He himself was just a background extra; the main storyline was not even focused on him.

Kurenai Yuhi sighed in a deliberately regretful tone. "Well, then there's nothing I can do. Hinata kept begging me to bring you along at the barbecue restaurant yesterday. Since you aren't willing, I suppose I'll have to go back and tell Hinata you rejected her."

Heh! You think Little Hinata is enough to move me?

In an open clearing, several targets were fixed to the trees, with Shuriken stuck crookedly into them.

At that moment, Hinata, who was training with her Byakugan activated, noticed two figures approaching from behind.

Teacher Kurenai was back. Hm? The one behind her was... Kanami?

Hinata abruptly deactivated her Byakugan, turned around, and greeted him shyly. "Ah, Kanami, why are you here...?"

Kanami looked up at Kurenai Yuhi. "You even lie to children?"

Hinata's reaction made it clear that she had not known about this.

Kurenai Yuhi rubbed his head and covered her mouth as she chuckled. "But Hinata really does care about you."

Then she looked at the others. "Stop for now. From today onward, Kanami will train and carry out missions with Team 8."

The remaining two stopped their training and slowly walked over to Kurenai Yuhi.

Akamaru looked at Kanami and barked twice.

"Woof! Woof!"

Kiba Inuzuka patted him and grinned at Kanami. "Let's introduce ourselves again. I'm Kiba Inuzuka, the man who'll become Hokage!"

Kanami nodded. "I'm Kanami. Your wish will come true."

Too bad it'll only happen in a dream, he did not say aloud.

Hearing Kiba Inuzuka's declaration, Kanami immediately thought of how Kiba had become Hokage in the Infinite Tsukuyomi, mandating that every ninja had to raise a dog. Luckily, Kiba had not become Hokage in reality. Otherwise, the village might have had to change its name to Dog Village.

"W-welcome, Kanami. Please take care of me from now on."

Hinata lowered her head, her voice growing quieter and quieter.

"Sure. Please take care of me too."

Kanami's lips curved up slightly as he deliberately stepped forward and took Hinata's little hand.

Hinata's face instantly turned bright red. She hurriedly pulled her hand back and said shyly, "...I was very careful this time. My hand didn't get pricked..."

Seeing Little Hinata's adorably dazed expression, Kanami felt his heart melt.

Just as he was immersed in the moment, Kurenai Yuhi knocked him on the head with her fist.

"You're not allowed to bully Hinata anymore."

"How am I bullying her?" Kanami rubbed his head, winked at Hinata, and asked, "Hinata, I didn't bully you, did I?"

"Mm..."

Hinata nodded gently.

"Hmph. I have something to do, so I'm leaving first. You three train properly," Kurenai Yuhi said before departing.

Before they could even ask where she was going, she had disappeared.

"Kanami, come do some sparring with me!" Kiba Inuzuka called as he approached.

"But I only know some very basic ninjutsu."

Kanami deliberately tried to refuse. He had only come because Little Hinata was here. If he could steal Hinata away, then even if that blond brat chased him down and beat him up for the rest of his life, it would be worth it. Besides, Naruto was still too clueless to understand Hinata's charms. Training was secondary.

And even if he were going to spar, he would definitely do it with Hinata. You had to start winning over your future wife early, or she would be whisked away by that blond brat once she grew up.

But Kiba Inuzuka seemingly failed to notice his polite refusal and put an arm around his shoulder. "Don't worry, it's just training. I swear I'll only use some simple ninjutsu too."

Seeing that Kiba Inuzuka had the same hot-blooded idiot personality as Naruto, Kanami knew he would have a hard time refusing. Helplessly, he said, "Fine, but let me prepare first."

This was also a good chance to see just how strong he really was.

Kiba Inuzuka rested both hands behind his head. "Sure, just call me when you're ready!"

Kiba Inuzuka merely assumed that he was too nervous.

I'll only use seventy percent of my strength later, he muttered to himself.

Then he looked at Kanami again.

Seeing Kanami's grave expression, Kiba Inuzuka shook his head. "Forget it. I'll use fifty percent of my strength. It wouldn't be good if I dealt him too much of a blow."

Kanami stood nearby with a slight frown and a solemn expression, thinking, I have to control my chakra carefully. If I accidentally beat him to death, I'm screwed.