Naruto: Talent Entry Perks

"Sixteen Nights, Hinata, these are your vests."

Shizune handed over two green vests she had prepared ahead of time, smiling as she passed them to Sixteen Nights and Hinata.

"Thank you, Miss Shizune."

Hinata responded with a gentle smile. If it weren't for the inconvenience of her kimono, she would have wanted to put the vest on immediately.

Though Sixteen Nights wore a smile, he wasn't fond of the green vest.

The reason was simple—it was just too ugly.

He had already decided: even if he became a jonin in the future, he'd be like Kurenai—wear whatever he wanted.

As long as he built up his reputation, people would look at his name, not whether he was wearing a chunin or jonin vest.

After the two received their vests, Tsunade dropped her serious demeanor and smiled. "You're teammates from the same squad. It's rare in the Chunin Exams for two members of the same team to be promoted at once. So, you'll need to decide who the team leader will be."

"Yes, Lady Hokage."

Sixteen Nights and Hinata both responded, exchanging a knowing smile.

Tsunade, who had just returned, either didn't know them well enough or was teasing them.

After all, considering Sixteen Nights' strength and his relationship with Hinata, it was obvious who the leader of Team 8 would be.

"After becoming chunin, you'll have the authority to lead missions and apply for permits to leave the village. In terms of pay distribution, if there's no jonin squad leader, then the captain gets the highest reward, and chunin rank teammates get more than genin."

After going over the perks of being a chunin, Tsunade waved them off. "Alright, you're dismissed."

Hinata was just about to bow when Sixteen Nights spoke up.

"Lady Hokage, I want to recommend someone to join the village."

Tsunade, who had been ready to return to her paperwork, and Shizune, who had just set her teacup down, both looked over at him.

Tsunade frowned slightly. "You're the top student, and now a chunin. You should understand Konoha's position within the Land of Fire. To prevent spies from infiltrating, anyone—ninja or civilian—who can't prove their ancestry usually can't join. So, does the person you're recommending meet the requirements?"

"I believe she does," Sixteen Nights nodded.

"Then tell me—is this person a civilian or a ninja?"

Tsunade was mildly intrigued. She set down her pen, took a sip of tea—

—and nearly spat it out at his next words.

"A ninja. She's a descendant of the Uzumaki clan."

"Pfft—!"

The tea sprayed onto several documents, but Tsunade didn't even care. Her eyes widened in shock, as if she had misheard. "What did you just say? A descendant of which clan?"

"Uzumaki. She's kin of mine."

Cough cough—!

Tsunade choked on the remaining tea and started coughing violently, her face turning red.

Shizune quickly patted her back, pressing on an acupoint to help her recover.

Her gaze was now full of surprise as she looked at Sixteen Nights.

No wonder his chakra was so enormous—he was a distant relative of Lady Tsunade.

Once Tsunade caught her breath, she looked at Sixteen Nights with excitement and doubt. "You're a descendant of the Uzumaki clan?"

"Yes."

Sixteen Nights nodded, and before Tsunade could ask more, he rolled up his sleeve and held out his forearm toward Hinata.

Hinata, understanding his intent, gently bit his forearm.

Blue chakra instantly appeared where her mouth met his arm. Like flowing water, it transferred into Hinata's body.

"Cellular regeneration..."

Tsunade looked dazed.

Ever since her grandmother passed, she hadn't seen that familiar yet long-lost healing technique in years.

Once she came to her senses, she looked at Sixteen Nights with newfound warmth.

She'd already known about his power and potential—the hurricane rasengan and his multi-nature fusion techniques were astonishing.

But even if he was strong, as Hokage, she couldn't show favoritism to a mere genin.

At most, she would silently support his promotions, helping him rise quickly to become another Kakashi.

Among the new generation, only Naruto—the son of her late comrade Minato and her cousin Kushina—had received special treatment from her.

But now, she had one more person to protect.

The Uzumaki clan was distant kin to the Senju clan. Taking care of family was only natural.

"I didn't expect you to be a skipped-generation awakening of the Uzumaki bloodline."

Tsunade looked at his black hair and smiled. "Even among Uzumaki, very few awaken cellular regeneration. Your blood must be quite pure. But black hair, not red—that's rare."

"Probably because I also have Senju blood in me," Sixteen Nights replied, dropping another bombshell.

Then, under everyone's stunned gaze, he raised his right hand—and a green sapling sprouted from his palm.

"..."

Silence fell over the Hokage's office.

From Sixteen Nights' perspective, he could see Tsunade and Shizune's faces slowly shifting into exaggerated, dumbfounded expressions.

"Eh—?!"

A loud exclamation broke the silence, shaking the entire Hokage building.

If no one had been guarding outside, this shout would've had ANBU storming the place.

"W-Wood Release...?"

Tsunade, the legendary kunoichi, was now stuttering.

Shizune stared at the sapling in disbelief—this mythical bloodline limit had appeared right before her eyes.

It was like a starving beggar suddenly being found by a billionaire father—who was dying—and being told he was the only heir.

Hinata was also covering her mouth in shock, but her eyes glowed with joy.

She knew more than Tsunade and Shizune. She alone knew that Sixteen Nights possessed the Tenseigan.

She had assumed that mysterious dojutsu was his unique kekkei genkai.

She never expected that he was a hybrid of Uzumaki and Senju—and had awakened the legendary Wood Release.

If this news got out, it would cause a storm not just in Konoha or the Land of Fire—but across the entire ninja world.

After all, the ninja god who ended the Warring States era and helped form the current one-nation, one-village system—was a household legend, unlike the more mythical Sage of Six Paths.

This kekkei genkai wasn't just rare—it symbolized Konoha's noble lineage.

Once he revealed his Wood Release, even the Hyūga elders wouldn't dare object to their relationship.

She was overwhelmed with emotion.

A breeze passed by, and Tsunade instantly reappeared before Sixteen Nights. She grabbed his wrist and injected her chakra to examine him.

Gradually, a look of euphoria overtook her.

"Hahaha! This vitality and Yang Release chakra—it's definitely genuine Wood Release!" Tsunade clapped his shoulder. "You little brat, you've been hiding this all along? How did you manage to keep it in?"

"I wanted to use it," Sixteen Nights said with a meaningful smile, "but imagine—a 13-year-old boy wipes out one of the strongest clans in the ninja world in a single night, and escapes Konoha's barrier system. Who would dare reveal themselves after that?"

Tsunade's grin faltered.

Seeing how sharp and mature he was, she realized he likely had the Kagura Mind's Eye too.

With a hint of sorrow in her eyes, she nodded in praise. "You did well to hide it."

Then she smirked proudly and thumped his shoulder again. "But from now on, you don't have to hide anything—I've got your back."

"I was waiting for those words, Lady Hokage," Sixteen Nights said with a smile, crushing the withered sapling in his hand.

From this moment on, his identity and status would change completely.

No longer would he need to prove himself through strength or talent.

The moment he revealed Wood Release, the Hyūga clan would become his biggest supporters.

No one in Konoha—or the ninja world—could resist the allure of Wood Release.

"Right, where is the person you're recommending?" Tsunade asked. "Is she like you—Uzumaki blood awakened in a later generation, or a red-haired descendant?"

"Her name is Karin. She's a red-haired Uzumaki. I've placed her in Sakura Street in the Land of Fire," Sixteen Nights said honestly. "Hinata and I met her during the Chunin Exams, in the Forest of Death. She was a Grass ninja, used as a disposable healer because of her regeneration. If I hadn't sensed the kinship in her chakra using the Kagura Mind's Eye, she might've died from overexertion."

Tsunade's eyes turned icy. She sneered, "Fools. Just because her chakra was weak, they dismissed her as an Uzumaki? Since when did red hair become a common ninja trait? No wonder Konoha has declined in just a few decades."

Then, turning to Sixteen Nights, she said confidently, "Your recommendation alone isn't enough. Go bring Karin back. I'll personally vouch for her."

"Yes, ma'am."

Sixteen Nights smiled and nodded.

This was one of the reasons he revealed his Wood Release.

If only a chunin or jonin vouched for Karin, she'd be interrogated by T&I.

They might use genjutsu or mind-reading techniques, possibly exposing secrets—like the fact that Yamato was in his hands.

But if one of the Legendary Sannin or the Hokage herself vouched for her, all that could be skipped.

High-level figures could break the rules.

Outside the Hokage building, Hinata finally couldn't hold it in anymore. She leapt into Sixteen Nights' arms and hugged his waist tightly, quietly cheering in his embrace.

Sixteen Nights returned the hug, rested his forehead against hers, and smiled. "Happy?"

"Mhm..."

Hinata nodded enthusiastically.

It wasn't just joy from becoming a chunin—she was excited that nothing could stand between her and Sixteen Nights now.

Perhaps overcome with emotion, she suddenly looked up and spoke boldly, "Sixteen Nights-kun, I..."

But before she could finish, Sixteen Nights placed a finger on her lips.

He glanced around and smiled. "Someone's watching. Let's leave first."

"O-Okay..."

Hinata responded instinctively and followed him.

Turning into a narrow alley, Sixteen Nights asked, "Hinata, what were you trying to say earlier?"

"N-Nothing..." Hinata lowered her head and fidgeted with her fingers, too shy to continue.

Her face was surely bright red by now.

Only she knew how bold she had just been.

What she didn't realize was the warmth in Sixteen Nights' eyes as he looked at her.

He knew exactly what she wanted to say.

Which was why he'd stopped her.

Those words should be said in a more romantic moment.

And they should come from him—not her.

He took her hand and smiled. "Hungry? How about some BBQ?"

"Mhm..."

Hinata nodded again, smiling.

Then, noticing the scroll at her waist, she asked, "Sixteen Nights-kun, since we've been promoted to chunin, should we treat the others to a meal?"

"They're probably all out on missions right now. Let's wait until our new house is ready, then invite them for a feast."

"Okay. Let's go find Hanabi, then."

"Sure. I think school's starting for her soon. Let's spend time with her while we can."

"Mhm..."

The boy and girl walked hand in hand down the path.

Sunlight poured over them, casting long shadows behind—shadows that looked like two children in snowman suits, also holding hands.