Chapter 86. Talented Kid

Chapter 86 - 86. Talented Kid"Why are you two chatting again? I still don't understand the situation," Sara couldn't help but interrupt. "Why are you protecting me?" "Your Majesty, have you not considered why you fell from the tower?" Hanekawa reminded her. Sara froze for a moment, then remembered that someone had pushed her. At that time, only a puppet had been behind her, and the only one who could control the puppets was Anrokuzan. "Impossible!" Sara's face filled with disbelief. "Uncle Anrokuzan would never deceive me!" Uncles, huh? Always the villains, thinking only about power—or rather, uniting the ninja world, Hanekawa mused sarcastically. Just as he was about to speak, the sound of footsteps reached his ears. "We've been spotted by the puppets!" Kurenai's expression shifted. No sooner had she spoken than a group of puppets surrounded them. Water Style: Water Surge Wave! Kurenai clasped her hands together, unleashing a surge of chakra. Before her, a whirlpool of water materialized out of thin air, expanding like a waterfall and engulfing the puppets. The immense force sent the puppets flying. "Let's go!" Kurenai grabbed Sara and dashed away. Body Flicker Technique! Hanekawa quickly followed. The sound of cracking and clanking filled the air as about one-third of the puppets emerged unscathed from Kurenai's Water Style attack. They raised their hands, unleashing purple chakra arrows that shot toward them. Water Style: Water Wall! Kurenai turned and slammed her hand onto the ground, summoning a water barrier. The purple chakra was deflected, but the delay allowed more puppets to converge on them. "This way!" At that moment, Tsunade appeared in front of Hanekawa. She glanced at the approaching puppets and raised her leg. Heavenly Foot of Pain! An application of her monstrous strength. Centered around her, the ground shattered, sending countless shards flying. The nearest puppets were obliterated, reduced to scraps of metal. Even those farther away stumbled, falling into the massive crater created by her attack. "It's really the Hokage?!" Kurenai's eyes widened in shock. Could it be that Tsunade had been secretly protecting them all along after assigning the mission? "Hokage? What Hokage? And who's this girl? I don't recognize her," Tsunade thought, confused. But with the situation urgent, she didn't dwell on it and grabbed Hanekawa, running away. Moments later, the four of them reached a secluded building and shook off the pursuing puppets. "Lord Hokage." Kurenai set Sara down and bowed respectfully to Tsunade. "...?" Tsunade was dumbfounded. Since when did I become Hokage? And why didn't I know about it? "You stay here and wait for us." Hanekawa pulled Tsunade aside, leaving a confused Kurenai behind. S~eaʀᴄh the Novёlƒire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "What's going on?" Tsunade glanced back at Kurenai and asked, "Is there something wrong with her?" "Sensei, what I'm about to say might sound unbelievable, but don't be scared," Hanekawa began, preparing her for the shocking truth. "I'm a ninja. I don't get scared," Tsunade retorted, rolling her eyes. "Stop being so mysterious and just say it." "She's Kurenai Yuhi," Hanekawa said seriously. "Kurenai Yuhi? Which one?" Tsunade asked, puzzled. "Which other Kurenai could it be?" Hanekawa replied. "She's the daughter of Uncle Shinku Yuhi." "Huh?" Tsunade looked at Kurenai, then back at Hanekawa, and said, "Come here and let me examine you." "I'm not sick!" Hanekawa said, shaking his head in exasperation. "She's the future Kurenai, sent back in time to our present by the Dragon Vein." "...How about I still give you a check-up?" Tsunade suggested after a brief silence. "..." Hanekawa grabbed her wrist and said, "Don't you think she looks like an older Kurenai? Plus, she thinks you're the Hokage." Tsunade fell into deep thought. As far-fetched as Hanekawa's story sounded, upon closer inspection, the girl did resemble Kurenai. Could I really have become Hokage? The thought unsettled Tsunade. She had never wanted the position, so why did she end up taking it? Was it because of Hanekawa? She suddenly recalled her birthday last year. At that time, Hanekawa had told her that she should become the Fourth Hokage, and he would take over as the Fifth. "Anyway, let's focus on the mission for now," Hanekawa suggested when he saw that Tsunade was struggling to process everything. Tsunade nodded slightly. "There's one more thing," Hanekawa said seriously. "To avoid issues caused by time interference, we should try to ask as little as possible about the future." "If what you're saying is true, then after the mission is complete, it would be best for us to seal each other's memories," Tsunade proposed, echoing the approach Minato had taken in the original story. "Let's go," Hanekawa said, having no objections. "I've discussed it with Her Majesty," Kurenai said as they approached. "She's willing to take us to see Anrokuzan so we can confront him directly. Lord Hokage, what do you think?" "Let's wait for Minato," Tsunade replied, suppressing her mixed emotions. The priority of this mission was the Dragon Vein, not the Queen of Roran. Only by sealing the Dragon Vein could they thwart Anrokuzan Hanekawa also nodded. He didn't know sealing techniques. While Tsunade did, her knowledge was limited. Minato, however, had learned many advanced sealing techniques for Tailed Beasts from Kushina Uzumaki. Additionally, if they didn't seal the Dragon Vein, Kurenai and his future self might not be able to return to their own timeline, potentially causing unpredictable consequences. "Eh? Minato-senpai is here too?" Kurenai asked in surprise. Mukude was just a jonin, and his abilities weren't strong enough to warrant such an overwhelming response from Konoha. "Do you have a way to contact your teammate?" Hanekawa asked, steering the conversation away. "I've tried, but there's been no response," Kurenai said, frowning in confusion. "It's as if he's no longer in Roran." No longer in Roran? Hanekawa considered a possibility. The Dragon Vein's time travel wasn't tied to a fixed timeline. In the original story, Mukude and Naruto had traveled through time together, but Mukude arrived six years earlier than the others. Perhaps his future self had ended up in a different timeline. Suddenly, Hanekawa felt a chill run down his spine. He thought of the altered legend of the Sage of Six Paths he had encountered. If it were him, he would indeed change things in that way. "Little guy, what's your name?" Kurenai asked curiously as they waited, her gaze fixed on Hanekawa. "You tell me your name first," Hanekawa countered. "Kurenai Yuhi." Kurenai smiled as she ruffled his hair. "Now, can you tell me yours?" Wait, since when did she learn this head-patting move? Who taught her that? Caught off guard, Hanekawa didn't evade her sudden gesture. Clearing his throat, he decided to use his go-to tactic: deflecting the conversation. "Big Sis Kurenai," he said with an innocent smile. "Your Water Style is amazing. Can you teach me?" Wow, how adorable! Kurenai's eyes lit up. She already liked Hanekawa, and now, seeing a boy who resembled him as a child, her joy was evident. And he even called her "Big Sis"! "Of course!" Kurenai said proudly. "In the village, my Water Style is easily in the top five." Top five? Konoha doesn't have that many people who specialize in Water Style, right? Hanekawa grabbed her hand and said, "Let's go over there and spar." He wanted to see if he could gain some Water Style talent from her. After all, there wasn't much else to do while waiting. "Hey, your name!" Kurenai called out after him. Kurenai finally realized something and called out to him. "Rikka Taki," Hanekawa blurted out a made-up name. Kurenai paused for a moment. She had never heard that name before, but she noticed that this kid not only looked like someone she knew but even acted like them. How strange. "Big Sis Kurenai," Hanekawa said as he formed the Seal of Confrontation. "Please use only Water Style." "Alright," Kurenai replied, snapping out of her thoughts. "But be careful." Water Style: Wild Water Wave! She unleashed a torrent of water from her mouth, resembling a waterfall crashing toward Hanekawa. Although it was a basic Water Style jutsu, in her hands, it had tremendous power. Body Flicker Technique! Without hesitation, Hanekawa bolted to avoid the attack. "Not bad," Kurenai praised, disappearing from where she stood. She quickly caught up to Hanekawa, holding a kunai in her hand. Water Style: Water Blade Slash! The kunai trembled lightly as water surged over it, coating the blade. Hanekawa drew his katana to block the kunai. The force of the impact numbed his arm and sent him retreating backward. Kurenai didn't press the advantage, instead standing her ground with a thoughtful look. Even the techniques and swordsmanship he used were just like Hanekawa. She sheathed her kunai and formed hand seals. Water Style: Water Bullet Barrage! She flicked her hands, sending water bullets flying like cannonballs. Body Flicker Technique! Hanekawa narrowly evaded the attack. Although Kurenai was holding back, the difference in skill level was apparent. What's more, Hanekawa noticed that the Water Style techniques she used originated from the Second Hokage, Tobirama Senju. Tsunade, observing from a distance, realized this even earlier than he did. At last, she believed what Hanekawa had told her. How else could someone capable of using her granduncle's Water Style suddenly appear, unless they were from the future? "I'm done!" Hanekawa called out as he put some distance between them. Despite putting up his best effort and even using his monstrous strength, Kurenai had countered everything he threw at her. But he had already achieved his goal. Two lines of text appeared in front of him: [D-Rank Talent Node "So Much Water" has upgraded.] [Water Style talent increased by 100%.] A single sparring session had resulted in a 70% boost—a huge victory. This marked his third C-Rank talent, alongside Yin and Yang Style. "Little guy, you're quite skilled," Kurenai said, her tone carrying a hint of meaning. "At your age, I wasn't nearly as strong. But there was someone who was just like you." Has she figured it out? Hanekawa was about to respond when he suddenly sensed a distortion in the air. Kurenai immediately grew alert. But when Minato Namikaze appeared, she relaxed, only to be startled again. Why does he look so much younger? Tsunade's appearance remained unchanged due to her Yin Seal, but Minato didn't have that ability. In that moment, Kurenai's doubts reached their peak. "Minato-senpai," Hanekawa greeted, pulling him aside to explain the current situation. "So that's how it is?" Minato said, quickly regaining his composure, his adaptability far greater than Tsunade's. "Minato-senpai, have you located the Dragon Vein?" Hanekawa asked with a sigh of relief. "It's beneath Roran," Minato confirmed, hesitating slightly. "But I'm missing the central focal point." "Sara, as the Queen of Roran, should know where it is," Hanekawa suggested. "For now, we're planning to confront Anrokuzan." "That works," Minato agreed after brief consideration. He doubted Anrokuzan could stand against both him and Tsunade. If so, a swift resolution was the best course of action. -- This is the ranking based on how good the novel is) Patreon.com/rashta Be a member so you can read: 1. 190 adv ch of Talent System In Naruto 2. 530 adv ch of Qian Renxue's Younger Brother 3. 270 adv ch of Uchiha Madara's Cousin 4. 163 adv ch of WDQK: Divorcing Ling Qingzhu (Complete)