Talent System In The Naruto Universe

As the puppets stopped, everyone collapsed to the ground, gasping for breath.

Although the battles of Hanekawa and Mei Terumi had been perilous, the others were equally exhausted.

To provide support, Kenbei, Bi, and the rest had to use chakra-intensive large-scale jutsu to fend off the seemingly endless puppets.

If the fight had continued, they would have reached their limits before Hanekawa and Mei Terumi.

After all, apart from the abnormal chakra reserves of the Senju and Uzumaki clans, most people only had average amounts of chakra.

"I'm going to change my clothes," Mei Terumi said after regaining her composure.

She was wearing a standard-issue vest over a tight gray outfit, which, while not revealing, became uncomfortable when soaked.

"Do you need me to—" Hanekawa began to say, only to sharply inhale as Mei stepped on his foot.

Without another word, she walked past him toward the shrine.

"Only kids step on people's feet," Hanekawa muttered under his breath.

"Shut up!" Mei glared at him before turning back around and storming off.

Hanekawa shook his head and followed her.

"Why are you following me?" Mei noticed him and frowned. "You're not some kind of creep, are you?"

"Of course not," Hanekawa snorted dismissively. "I'm heading back to rest. Besides, what's there to see?"

Mei Terumi, though she had a good figure later in life, was currently nothing special.

Compared to someone like Tsunade, there really wasn't much competition.

"You jerk!" Mei was infuriated by his words, clenching her teeth as she cursed him.

"So, do you want me to look or not?" Hanekawa sighed, exasperated.

"I..." Mei froze, realizing his point.

She turned away, deciding to ignore him altogether.

If this conversation continued, she'd want to bite him out of sheer frustration.

Mei silently entered her room, exhaling as she began removing her clothes.

"Am I really that bad?" she wondered, glancing at herself in the mirror.

Her skin was fair, her proportions perfect, with long legs and a slender waist.

Meanwhile, Hanekawa returned to his own room.

He had been arguing with Mei without any real intention of peeking.

After all, he prided himself on being a person of integrity.

Lying on his bed, Hanekawa began to think about when Tsunade and the others would return.

It shouldn't take much longer.

The Land of Marsh was close, bordering the Land of Demons.

Besides, except for the Five Great Nations, most countries in the ninja world were small and compact.

Traveling from Konoha to Sunagakure took about three to four days; reaching the Land of Marsh would take at most half a day.

Hanekawa closed his eyes, his exhaustion from the battle against Yomi catching up to him.

It hadn't just drained his chakra but also taxed his mind. Still, the feeling of victory was exhilarating, reminiscent of beating a Souls-like game.

As the moon set and the sun rose, a knock on his door woke him.

Hanekawa's eyes snapped open.

Looking outside, he realized it was already the next day.

He dressed and opened the door to find Minato Namikaze standing there.

Hanekawa was momentarily surprised. "Did you make it in time?"

"Or not?"

"Hanekawa," Minato said, walking alongside him, "we need to go to the shrine."

He began explaining the events that had transpired.

Minato had arrived in the Land of Marsh just as Miroku sealed Moryo. However, she had only sealed Moryo's body, not its soul.

Using the Flying Raijin Technique, Minato had quickly brought Miroku back to the Land of Demons to help her seal Moryo's soul.

Hanekawa raised an eyebrow.

So, Miroku survived?

"The priestess is in poor condition," Minato said, explaining his purpose. "Tsunade is still in the Land of Marsh, so I need you to take a look."

Minato's chakra was nearly depleted from using Uzumaki sealing techniques.

Returning to fetch Tsunade would waste too much time, so Hanekawa was the best option.

"Alright," Hanekawa replied, thinking this outcome was already far better than the original storyline.

The two quickly arrived at the shrine.

Miroku was half-sitting, half-lying in her priestess's chair, her face pale as if she'd lost too much blood.

"Your Highness," Hanekawa said, stepping forward and extending his hands.

Pale green chakra flowed through her body, quickly revealing her condition to him.

"It's not too serious, just some loss of lifespan," Hanekawa murmured after a moment of thought.

Minato was stunned.

Losing lifespan wasn't serious?

"Thank you," Miroku said with a smile. "I didn't expect to survive. Even if I don't know how long I have left, it's a blessing to be alive."

Minato was taken aback, recalling the sealing techniques Miroku had used.

He now realized that each use had sapped her vitality.

"As a ninja," Hanekawa said, "once you accept a mission, you must do your best to see it through."

Hanekawa raised his hand and continued to heal her.

"I understand," Miroku nodded and said, "I will increase the mission's reward."

"...?"

Hanekawa blinked in surprise. He swore he hadn't intended to ask for more money.

But since she was so considerate, Hanekawa wasn't going to refuse.

This mission was already S-rank, with a generous reward. If it was increased further, he might end up with over a million ryo.

By the afternoon, Tsunade and the others finally returned to the priestess's shrine.

"Sensei," Hanekawa quickly greeted her.

"Looks like everything's fine," Tsunade said, glancing at him with relief.

"Nothing happened," Hanekawa explained. "Once you sealed Moryo, the undead army stopped attacking."

"As expected," Tsunade said as she patted his head, then turned to Minato Namikaze. "How is Her Highness, the priestess?"

"Hanekawa already checked her. There's no major issue," Minato replied with his signature smile.

"That's good."

Tsunade knew Hanekawa's proficiency in medical ninjutsu, so the likelihood of a misdiagnosis was slim.

"You've all worked hard. Rest in your rooms," Minato suggested, glancing around.

The battle with Moryo hadn't been easy, but thanks to Tsunade, there were no casualties.

"Sensei, let's go," Hanekawa said, grabbing her hand and leading her to her room.

Tsunade, accustomed to holding hands, wasn't surprised.

When they arrived, she immediately lay down on the bed.

Hanekawa knelt to remove her shoes, then lifted her legs and tucked them into the blanket.

After finishing, he looked up to find that Tsunade had already fallen asleep.

Her breathing caused her alluring figure to rise and fall gently.

Due to the pressure from both sides, the pale, deep abyss seemed even more pronounced than usual.

Hanekawa pulled the blanket over her, then turned to leave.

"Why are you standing outside?"

Closing the door, Hanekawa turned to see Mei Terumi waiting nearby.

"I'm here to say goodbye," Mei said after a brief silence.

"What? You can't bear to leave me?" Hanekawa teased with a smile.

"Shut up!" Mei snapped, her face flushing with embarrassment. "I'm just here to remind you…"

"Your wallet, right?" Hanekawa interrupted. "Don't worry, you can get it when you come back."

"Next time, I'll beat you so badly you'll be looking for your teeth!" Mei growled.

"Make sure to bring usable wallet," Hanekawa replied leisurely.

"You!" Mei, catching his implication, raised her leg to kick him in anger.

Hanekawa dodged easily, only to notice she was wearing fishnet stockings.

"Don't die! I'll come find you again!" Mei said angrily.

"Is that supposed to be a blessing?" Hanekawa asked, stroking his chin.

"No!" Mei glared at him before turning and walking away.

"Hanekawa, you're really popular with girls," Minato said, walking over with a laugh.

"Minato-senpai, aren't you going to rest?" Hanekawa asked in surprise.

"No, I need to head back immediately," Minato said, shaking his head.

"Under a lot of pressure?" Hanekawa raised an eyebrow. "When's the war starting?"

"Hard to say," Minato replied seriously. "But the younger generation from Kumogakure is impressive. I don't have much of an edge."

He was referring to the future Fourth Raikage and Killer Bee.

Hanekawa smirked. "You sound like you're showing off. Taking on two of them—what more do you want?"

He had to admit, the Flying Thunder God Technique was overpowered. Even against someone like Madara Uchiha, Minato could hold his own.

Minato's only weakness was his lack of offensive power. Although he'd developed the Rasengan, it still wasn't enough.

"I'm off. Let Lady Tsunade know for me," Minato said, waving before vanishing on the spot.

He'd left Flying Thunder God markings along the route, allowing him to travel quickly.

The downside was the high chakra consumption, requiring him to rest periodically. But it was still faster than running normally.

The next morning, after breakfast, Hanekawa and the others bid farewell to Miroku and began heading back to Konoha.

The ninja from Kirigakure and Iwagakure had left the day before.

_____

Five days later, the three of them returned to Konoha.

"It's good to be home," Hanekawa said, looking at the familiar streets with a sigh of relief.

The journey had been brutal, with deserts and torrential rain.

Konoha's moderate climate made it the most livable place in comparison.

"I'll report the mission," Sakumo Hatake volunteered. "Once we receive the reward, I'll distribute it."

"Thanks," Tsunade agreed without hesitation, then grabbed Hanekawa and headed to the gambling den.

Hanekawa didn't even realize it before automatically following Tsunade into the casino.

Shaking his head, he decided to let her gamble as she pleased.

After all, the two-week journey back and forth must have tested her patience.

Tsunade sat at the gambling table, while Hanekawa took the seat beside her.

Ever since his growth spurt, he had lost his softest pillow—he could no longer sleep nestled in Tsunade's embrace.

This, without a doubt, was the greatest cost of growing up.

---

Hokage's Office

Sakumo Hatake knocked on the door, and after receiving permission, stepped inside.

"You're back?" Hiruzen Sarutobi asked, noticing he was alone. "Tsunade took Hanekawa to the casino again, didn't she?"

"Yes," Sakumo nodded slightly.

"I knew it. I should never have let Hanekawa become her student," Sarutobi sighed.

Hanekawa's natural talent was now evident—he was undoubtedly a future pillar of Konoha.

But Sarutobi worried Tsunade's bad habits might corrupt him.

Dealing with one Tsunade was already troublesome; he didn't want another.

"I think Tsunade has been a great teacher," Sakumo remarked, recalling Hanekawa's performance during their discussions about the Hokage and his impressive behavior during the recent mission. "He's already outstanding."

Not only was his talent remarkable, but his sharp instincts were equally praiseworthy.

Even his subtle mention of the Hokage was likely out of consideration for Tsunade.

"I'm well aware of Tsunade's teaching capabilities," Sarutobi said, tapping his pipe and taking a puff. "Thankfully, Hanekawa hasn't picked up any bad habits from her."

"Here's the mission report," Sakumo said with a smile, placing a scroll on the desk.

"I've already read the Anbu's report on the mission," Sarutobi said approvingly. "You all did an excellent job. Priestess Miroku was very pleased and even expressed interest in forming closer ties with Konoha."

"Ties?" Sakumo asked in surprise. "Isn't the Land of Demons a neutral country?"

"It is, but when lives are at stake, neutrality becomes less important," Sarutobi said with a chuckle.

Traditionally, the priestess's line had sealed Moryo at the cost of their lives. However, Minato Namikaze's intervention had created a turning point.

Sacrificing lifespan was far better than outright death. Even losing half a lifespan was considered a major gain.

"And forming ties is not the same as forming an alliance," Sarutobi added after a pause.

Even as a friendly relationship, Konoha stood to benefit.

The most immediate advantage was increased mission commissions. With Miroku favoring Konoha, its shinobi would undoubtedly receive more tasks.

The Land of Demons lacked shinobi, so their missions were numerous.

"This mission's reward has been doubled to three million ryo," Sarutobi said after some thought. "This time, Konoha will forgo its cut, and you can split it among yourselves."

"Thank you, Lord Hokage," Sakumo said with a slight bow.

"You've earned it," Sarutobi said, exhaling a cloud of smoke. "Do you think it's time to let Hanekawa graduate early?"

Kumogakure was showing signs of unrest, and war seemed inevitable.

Most importantly, Hanekawa's strength was extraordinary.

From his performance in this mission, it was clear he was already beyond the level of a Chunin—possibly even at Jonin level.

Yet he hadn't even graduated from the academy and wasn't officially a Genin. Was this reasonable?

"That's something you'd have to ask Hanekawa himself," Sakumo said after some thought, avoiding a direct recommendation.

"True," Sarutobi said, thinking of Asuma Sarutobi. Perhaps he could ask for his son's opinion later that night.

---

Nightfall

Hanekawa yawned, stretching.

Having gone without gambling for so long, Tsunade was especially excited today and had been playing for most of the day.

"Sensei," Hanekawa turned to her and asked, "Aren't you hungry?"

"Just one more round!" Tsunade replied without even looking up.

"I've heard that many times already!" Hanekawa muttered, unable to hold back his exasperation.

But Tsunade ignored him, her eyes fully focused on the gambling table.

Hanekawa's mouth twitched in frustration.

Reaching out, he pinched her thigh.

The soft flesh quivered slightly under his touch.

"What are you doing?" Tsunade glared at him.

"Time to go home!" Hanekawa said firmly.

"I said one more round! Stop causing trouble!"

To prevent him from interfering further, Tsunade pulled him into her embrace.

Hanekawa's face was suddenly subjected to immense pressure.

The overwhelming fragrance mixed with the oxygen and rushed into his nose, making him feel lightheaded.

"I won!" Tsunade exclaimed triumphantly.

Tsunade's face lit up with excitement. She hugged Hanekawa tightly, patting him a few times in celebration.

"Can we leave now?"

Hanekawa broke free from her embrace, taking deep breaths of fresh air. Just now, it had felt like a near-death experience.

"Let's go."

Tsunade collected the money on the table, her smile brimming with satisfaction as she left the casino. Not only had she gambled for hours, but she had also won a significant amount, thoroughly indulging herself.

"Let's go eat something good," Tsunade said, rubbing her chin. "How about barbecue?"

"As long as you don't drink," Hanekawa sighed.

"Not drinking is impossible!" Tsunade declared. Suddenly, she seemed to remember something and stared at him. "Did you pinch me earlier?"

"Nope."

Hanekawa's expression shifted slightly, and he quickly denied it. "You must've imagined it."

"Really?"

Tsunade clenched her fists, and a cracking sound echoed.

"I was just reminding you!" Hanekawa immediately caved, admitting his guilt.

"Is that how you remind people?"

Tsunade snorted and said, "I'm your teacher, you know!"

"Yes, Sensei, I was wrong," Hanekawa replied obediently.

"That's more like it."

Seeing his docile response, Tsunade couldn't help but pinch his cheeks.

She had to admit, this kid was quite cute. Feeling amused, she patted his head too.

"That's going too far!" Hanekawa glared at her.

"What's there to be mad about?" Tsunade laughed even harder. "What's wrong with your teacher patting your head?"

What the heck?

Hanekawa took a step back and said, "I'm hungry. Let's eat."

Tsunade stopped teasing him, flipping her golden ponytail as she said, "Fine, your Sensei's treating!"

The two of them arrived at a barbecue restaurant.

Tsunade expertly ordered beef, pork belly, and sake. Meanwhile, Hanekawa instinctively started grilling the meat for her.

"Not bad," Tsunade said, taking a bite of the grilled meat. "Your grilling skills are getting better."

"That's because you're too lazy," Hanekawa replied as he poured her a cup of sake.

"Students are supposed to be useful like this," Tsunade said, licking the oil from her lips with her pink tongue, smiling mischievously.

"..."

Hanekawa silently picked up a piece of beef for himself.

"I heard from the Anbu about your performance during this mission," Tsunade said, taking a sip of sake. "Very impressive."

"It's all thanks to you, Sensei," Hanekawa replied casually.

"Come on, no one else is here," Tsunade said, waving her hand dismissively. "I know how hard you've worked."

"Does that mean there's a reward?" Hanekawa coughed lightly and asked.

"Nope."

Tsunade spread her hands with a carefree grin. "Besides, I've already given you the most precious reward."

"...?"

Hanekawa looked at her with a face full of question marks.

Don't say weird things!

Wait a minute.

Hanekawa lifted the First Hokage's necklace and asked, "You mean this?"

"Exactly."

Tsunade gazed at it, her expression distant.

"Make sure you take good care of it."

"I know."

Hanekawa sighed, shaking his head.

If he thought about it, Tsunade was really broke. Aside from two large boxes of IOUs, her house had absolutely nothing valuable.

__

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