Reluctant Cultivator in Konoha

[Champjklccmk]

Kenta POV​

With the Wave Arc seemingly done, despite the curveballs sent Team 7's way, it was time to look to the future. Normally, this wouldn't have been an issue. Unfortunately, the world has become a lot more complicated than I could have ever imagined.

"So, let me get this straight." I was in the Hokage's office the day after Kakashi's team came back. With me was Konoha's supreme leader, along with a small group of trusted figures, sitting in the middle of the room. "Not only did all of the hidden villages accept our invitation for the Chunin exams, including the Iwa and Kumo, but Mist is sending two separate delegations?"

"That's right," Hiruzen said with calm serenity.

"And every single one of these delegations comes with heavy-hitters, many of whom come from prestigious clans?"

"Indeed, they do."

"And Konoha is about to play host to all but one of the current Jinchuriki?"

"Don't forget that some of the participants will be kids or grandkids of Kages. Somehow, I doubt they'll be staying on the sidelines when things go to shit."

"Quite right, Jiraiya. And yes, Kenta-kun, there will be Jinchuriki."

"Okay… Right… Yeah…"

Suffice it to say, I was floored.

What the hell? Fanfiction tended to have a rather loose interpretation of what went on during the Chunin exams, so Hidden Stone's attendance isn't exactly a new concept, but this is my reality now. And it wasn't entertaining at all!

That's just the start, too.

All of these major players coming over to my home is just a disaster waiting to happen. And just like that, I understood this meeting's true purpose.

Looking the Hokage in the eye, I asked for confirmation. "I take it we're taking the next step with Team 7?"

To my surprise, the old man shook his head. "Not just them, Kenta-kun. With so many unstable elements coming, we will need to expand beyond our initial plans."

Shit. I knew he was right. Had events proceeded as in canon, keeping our circle small wouldn't have been an issue.

A few supremely talented rookies were just par for the course. Now, though?

"From what Hinata told me," I began, "our current stock of Genin is already more than enough for even elite ninja units of other hidden villages. Is an expansion really necessary?"

I'd really rather not rush this. Not only would it make the secret much harder to maintain, but cultivation had also already proven to have certain unexpected side effects. Noting Iruka standing over to the side, my concerns only grew.

Hiruzen sighed at my question. "While the strength of your generation has been proven, as well as many of those within our overall military forces, the difference isn't nearly enough to guarantee our security against potential enemies. Should the other hidden villages band together, they would outnumber us by a significant margin. We need an ace, Kenta-kun."

"You won't be doing all the work," Tsunade added from her position on the couch. "With the new facilities and the considerable number of new projects, your teaching session won't stand out as much as it would have before."

I knew she was right, of course. Revealing the truth about cultivation to the two Sannin at the beginning of this meeting did irk me, but it ultimately made sense. We now had three expert med-nin and a Senjutsu practitioner to help us out. If anything went wrong, it could immediately be addressed.

What's more, every single person who was now in the know is considerably more experienced at infosec than I was.

Still…

"How many are you thinking of adding, Lord Hokage?"

"In addition to the four you were considering," he said, referring to Naruto, Sasuke, Hinata, and Sakura, "I believe it would be beneficial to teach everyone present, as you have taught Iruka-kun and myself."

Yeah, I thought he'd say that. From a purely tactical standpoint, it even made the most sense. It would certainly bolster our overall combat and medical capabilities. Tsunade is already a powerhouse, and with Sayo and Reina bolstering her healing, casualties could be reduced by a lot.

I wasn't sure how cultivation would interact with Sage Mode, but I can't imagine it hurting Jiraiya's combat prowess.

Then there were Yamato and Kakashi. Both incredibly potent fighters in their own right.

With cultivation, all of them would become gods among men. On that note, there is one problem.

"Lord Hokage, you do remember that this can take a considerable amount of time, right? The exams are set to begin in two weeks. That's not nearly enough for anyone stronger than a Genin to gain the benefits of the sessions."

Our benevolent dictator merely chuckled. "Oh, I haven't forgotten at all. We are simply laying the groundwork for the future."

True, but this doesn't really address our more immediate problems. He must have seen the unspoken question on my face because he continued. "The threats we face in the near-term will need to be handled a different way, Kenta-kun."

In the face of his cavalier attitude, I was tempted to blurt out everything that we would be facing. Forget the new variables of scary powerful people coming to Konoha for the Chunin exams. There was still Orochimaru to consider, not to mention his spies in our ranks.

Kabuto may not have made an appearance yet, but I had no doubt that the slippery eel is already digging for information in the background.

I could only hope that Konoha's increased security measures have made his job much harder.

Then again, my presence in this story has already resulted in all kinds of changes that I may very well have butterflied the Konoha Crush Arc away altogether. Wishful thinking? Maybe. But also, bite me!

Withholding a sigh, I spoke again. "I know it's not my place to ask this, Lord Hokage, but with the full benefits being out of reach for the new participants, I don't understand why including them right now would be worth it. Iruka-sensei has certainly grown powerful, but he's a single shinobi. No offense, sensei."

"None taken," the scarred teacher snarked.

"If we're going to expand anyway," I continued, "wouldn't it be better to include more Genin to ensure a breakthrough? They can already handle Chunin and Jonin. Despite my hesitation, I won't deny that they would be an immediate force multiplier if this whole thing turns into a fight."

"That is assuming combat is inevitable," Hiruzen countered smoothly. "I do not doubt that there will be tensions, but rest assured, plans are already in place to ensure a peaceful outcome." He paused before his smile transformed into a sly grin. "Besides, what makes you think that only the young would have an imminent breakthrough?"

My eyes nearly popped out of my head. "Are you saying…?"

The proud, lively twinkle in those aged eyes was all the confirmation I needed.

Huh, we might survive the coming days, after all.

​

---

The next morning finds me leaving home early.

Having never watched the anime or read the manga in full, I wasn't sure what to expect with the Chunin exams. From the preparations I've seen, though, this event appeared to involve practically every rung of society.

Shops, inns, market stalls, and the whole entertainment district came alive with streamers, banners, and lots of other decorations. The streets got a makeover, too, with new signs and even lanterns strung up every which way. People were moving with vigor, and more deliveries were coming and going throughout the village.

At this point, it's clear that ninjas weren't the only ones who had cause to feel excited. Civilians were getting in on the action, too.

I would've liked to stroll through the market to sample the new fare, but I had somewhere to go and people to meet. So, with mild regret, I continued toward the Hokage monument. Hopefully, no one's there yet. It wouldn't do for the teacher to be late, after all.

When I finally reached the underground chamber set aside for this gathering, a large room that was probably etched to the gills with protective seals, only the Hokage was present.

Greeting him would have been my first instinct, but I froze instead.

Sarutobi Hiruzen was sitting cross-legged on a cushion with his eyes closed, as I have seen dozens of times before. However, unlike past instances, I could clearly see the shroud of chakra coating his body. And the sight nearly stole my breath.

This phenomenon wasn't new to me. I'd seen similar displays with several people before.

What made this moment different was how dense and heavy it looked. It was like comparing a slightly misty Spring morning to a pre-Winter fog. There was simply no way to mistake one for the other. It was also a humbling experience.

I mean, I already knew that the old man was exponentially stronger than me. And I certainly had no illusions about how my own chakra would stack up against his, no matter how pure and dense it's gotten. But as the old adage goes, quantity has a quality of its own, and I was in the presence of a hurricane in human form.

Then it all unravelled as the Hokage took a long, deep breath.

Maybe it was because I hadn't been paying close enough attention whenever we met, but this was definitely not the Hiruzen of just a year ago. There was this inexplicable air of energy around him. I'm sure it's there, but I can't seem to place it.

When he finally opened his eyes, for just a moment, I saw a flash of something I couldn't quite catch. Whatever it was, it nearly made me shit my pants.

By the Sage, what have I unleashed?

"Ah! Good morning, Kenta-kun!"

The greeting snapped me out of my daze, and I tried to return it, but the words wouldn't come out. Shit, did that momentary flex of power really leave me speechless?

Clearing my throat, I tried again. This time, I was successful. "Good morning, Lord Hokage. Your cultivation's really coming along nicely, huh?"

My attempt at levity elicited a chuckle from the aged ninja as he got on his feet. "Oh, I'm getting there." Picking up the cushion, he placed it on one of the cabinets that held others like it. "I had to take this opportunity, busy as I am. There won't be another free block of time until this evening, I'm afraid."

I winced in sympathy. "Sorry to hear that, Lord Third."

He waved a hand airily. "No, no. It's quite all right. Even with my strict schedule, I've still made quite a bit of progress, if I do say so myself."

Progress. Right. It might have taken him nearly three years to get to this point, but damn if it's not paying off with interest.

"In any case," Hiruzen continued, "it would appear that our guests are about to arrive."

I perked up at that, before taking my place beside him. Should make for a better visual for receiving my prospective learners. The wait wasn't long, as about a minute later, they started pouring through the door.

First were Tsunade and Jiraiya, followed by Sayo and Reina. Yamato then came after them, with Kakashi and the junior squad making up the rear. When they finally saw me, I could see confusion and surprise in Naruto and Sakura's wide eyes, but both Sasuke and Hinata didn't seem all that taken aback.

In fact, they seemed simultaneously amused and exasperated to discover that I was involved in whatever this was.

Naturally, I gave the four of them a cheeky grin. "Waddup, losers!"

"Kenta!" Naruto took the bait, of course, pointing at me with a screech. "What're you doing here?!"

"Isn't it obvious?" Sakura gave a tired sigh. Aww, she really has become one of us, hasn't she? "Either he'll be joining us for whatever secret training we'll undergo, or he's already ahead of us, and will be helping out."

"Quite right, Sakura-chan!" Kakashi chimed in with his usual devil-may-care attitude.

"What?!" Yes, yes, be more outraged, you annoying brat. "Is that true, Kenta?!"

"Pipe down, you idiot." For some reason, I found Sasuke's nonchalance irritating. I'll have to try harder to break his composure, it seems. Entirely in the name of science, of course. "Kenta's been ahead of us for years. Now, we'll probably find out why."

Hinata merely nodded with a smile sent my way, which I returned with gusto. She really is best girl, isn't she?

"All right, that's enough." Tsunade rolled her eyes at the display. "We're burning daylight."

"Weren't you allotted time for this, hime?" Jiraiya asked her.

The blonde's reply was scathing. "Unlike you, I'll still have to put in a few hours once we're done here. I don't enjoy being buried in paperwork longer than I have to."

Hiruzen gave a mirthful chortle at the scene playing out. "Yes, of course. Best we get on with it, Kenta-kun."

"Fine…" I huffed.

My childish whining was ignored as the old man turned to the kids. "As I'm sure you four have already figured out, you have been chosen for a rather special project. One that holds immense importance for the future and security of Konoha, and will thus require utmost secrecy."

At the grand proclamation, postures straightened, chests puffed out, and eyes gleamed with pride and excitement.

"Make no mistake, children. This is both an honor and a burden. Should you wish to proceed, you will need to accept certain precautions to maintain the integrity of this highly protected village asset. Once you're part of this program, there is no backing out. Do you understand?"

Reactions to Hiruzen's ominous words were varied. Naruto looked just about ready to agree to anything. Sasuke was in from the get-go. Sakura was unsure, seemingly caught in her own mind, probably weighing the pros and cons.

Then there was precious Hinata, who earnestly raised her hand.

"Yes, Hinata-chan?" the Hokage prompted.

"Ano, Hokage-sama, why are we being given a choice?" she asked nervously. "If we were chosen for such an important project, couldn't you make this an order?"

Gah! I just wanna squish this cinnamon roll! Sweet and smart. Naruto, you lucky bastard!

Judging by Hiruzen's warm gaze as he regarded the Hyuga, he shared my opinion. "It's precisely due to the importance of this project that I'm giving you a choice, my dear. Your willing and active participation is the only way it can succeed."

"Then, what're we waiting for?!" Naruto demanded. "We're all in, old man! And Kenta!" He threw me a challenging glare. "I'll surpass you in no time! Believe it!"

Rather than contradict him, Sasuke merely grunted while shooting me his own defiant look. Sakura seemed to have finally made up her mind and stood with her team in solidarity. Of course, Hinata was always a given.

Out of all of them, she was the one candidate from my list that I was confident would flourish once taught cultivation.

Seeing their resolve, I could only respond with equal fervor.

"Then let's get started," I declared while grinning like a maniac.

​

---

The next week passed by at a frantic pace of juggling responsibilities. Most of my time and attention went to teaching cultivation, but I also couldn't just abandon the projects I already had going.

I was close to solving many of the things that could help bolster our forces, starting with better weapons and armor. Frankly, I was amazed that no one thought of using Seals to create usable items other than scrolls.

Granted, they did require ink, so it's logical to use it on paper. But steel engravings were a thing! With a careful application of the chakra ink using etching tools tipped with chakra-conducting metal, I've already achieved promising results.

Increasing durability, hardness, sharpness, and flexibility. All of these were apparently possible with extremely precise control over chakra. And I haven't even begun to look into imbuing these effects from the start of the creation process.

What would happen if we incorporated acid treatments or empowered smithing techniques, for example?

The potential made me positively giddy!

As to how I made this discovery, it came about during a lively discussion with Jiraiya a month ago. He was giving me a deeper outline of the fundamentals of Fūinjutsu when I asked him how the seemingly random squiggles interacted with each other in any kind of structured way.

He explained that understanding the principles of advanced Sealing requires a different mindset compared to regular reading and writing. Almost intuitive and contextual, which can make it difficult to grasp for those whose thinking is too rigid.

Just as Jiraiya was giving me examples of how multiple lines can be read the same way, I noticed a pattern. One that almost didn't rely on specific syntax, but rather, interpretation.

The idea reminded me of certain pieces of fanfiction based on another IP. And when I brought up the concept with Jiraiya, his eyes became, dare I say it, quite frog-like. From there, things took an interesting turn as we experimented, which eventually yielded results.

It took a few more weeks after that before I could finally say with certainty that my idea was panning out. The Sannin was already confident long before I was, but it just seemed so absurd.

Who knew that treating Seals as Runes would work so well?

Of course, with the Chunin exams and teaching cultivation, Fūinjutsu had to take a backseat. But it's not like the sessions were taking up all of my time. At the end of the day, my students only really needed my help in the beginning.

Getting a feel for compressing their chakra, tailoring the approach to their individual control and quirks, as well as telling them what to watch out for. All of those were pretty much done by the second day. Not exactly surprising, considering how long they've been practicing the chakra control exercises developed for exactly this reason.

By the end of the first session, I could already tell who would get the most from cultivation, at least at the start.

Naruto and Sasuke were extremely miffed that both Sakura and Hinata beat them to forming their first layers. The former was particularly proud of her achievement, even as the heiress was only behind her by less than a minute.

As the two marvelled at their newfound strength and awareness, the boys became ever more competitive. Usually a bad thing since cultivation required serenity and calm to actually progress.

That would have been the case for us lowly mortals.

With shonen protagonists, though? They got their first layers nearly at the same time, and only an hour after the girls.

I wanted to call shenanigans and plot bullshit, but what would've been the point?

They succeeded in the thing I was teaching them to do. That they did it with such ease, despite the multitude of advantages they already had, was fine.

Annoying, but fine.

Annoyingly fine.

Okay, just annoying.

Naruto was the most surprising to me, though, since his chakra reserves were supposed to be comparable to a Kage. Wasn't that what Kakashi said in canon? Or was that yet another fanon misconception that was muddying my meta-knowledge?

I'll have to look into that.

Following their breakthrough, some sparring occurred, supervised by the Hokage. He was also looking for signs of unusual behavior or any kind of side effect. As he shared later that day, the four seemed normal, if incredibly exuberant.

I wasn't there at the time since they had to go to another room, and I had to remain with the adult learners. Thankfully, just as with Iruka-sensei and Hiruzen, they weren't making nearly the same amount of progress as their younger counterparts.

With Naruto putting a neat crack in my assumption that chakra quantity directly affects the speed of cultivation, I was left wondering if there were other factors at play.

Oh, God… I was going to have to really start examining my memories of all those Xianxia stories, wasn't I?

Then a more disturbing thought cut through the rest.

Am I turning this world into a generic cultivation story? Will there be jade beauties everywhere? Young masters? Sects? Oh, please, say it ain't so!

None of these thoughts showed on my face as I continued supervising the remaining learners. Otherwise, they would've been baffled at my expression of unadulterated horror.

---

You can read up to Chapter 29 over at Patreon and Ko-fi!

 

[trashtaker]

Boy is about to start finding out that Heavenly yang type qi

Demonic Yin type Qi

And even different types of Body type like Yang and Yin bodies exist.


The sheer amount of Cultivation-slop I have to fucking consume to even have a sliver of knowledge to understand ching chong ping pong cultivation slangs

 

[Marlow3]

Really enjoying this story and progression. Thank you. The exams should be quite the ruckus when all the other village's ringers get bodied by the 1st yr Genin of the leaf.

 

[Champjklccmk]

Kenta POV​

"Okay, I'm officially lost," I grumbled as I watched Team 7 plus Hinata's high-speed spar in an underground testing chamber.

"It really does seem like the larger side effects only apply to older cultivation practitioners," Reina posited.

"Just say cultivators," I sighed dispiritedly, knowing that there's no point in avoiding the label.

She, Sayo, the two Sannin, along with Kakashi and Yamato, were observing the quartet with me. After a week of lessons, my role was reduced to an overseer and observer instead of a teacher. Cultivation isn't really that difficult a concept to grasp, after all.

With the start of the Chunin exams only two days away, we needed to make sure that they were in tip-top shape.

So far, aside from an increase in enthusiasm for fighting, there really hasn't been anything close to what Iruka experienced. If anything, the changes in their behavior closely aligned with what I tracked in myself when I first started.

On that note, the improvements in abilities and performance weren't nearly as linear as I expected.

Case in point, Sakura can now keep up with Hinata's speed. She's not winning, but prior to forming her first layer, the Hyuga would have had the pink-haired Genin eating dirt in seconds. From what we could tell, it basically boiled down to the speed at which they could compress their chakra.

With her lower starting reserves, Sakura was much faster at cultivation than Hinata. The girl now has four layers, the highest of the group. Sasuke has two, and so does Naruto, but the heiress has three.

As a result, the least combat-capable member of Team 7 can now comfortably take on either of her teammates. In turn, the boys can now challenge Hinata without her treating them like a couple of children. Both are examples of visible, measurable, and most importantly, encouraging improvements.

Even so, the Hyuga still stands above the three, despite the distance between them having closed considerably.

The dynamic has made them more competitive, thus creating a cycle of self-sustaining improvements.

At this point, every single one of them now has considerably more explosive power to varying degrees. Their movements are sharper, reactions faster, and their Taijutsu has become more refined. As to how cultivation has affected their bloodlines or special abilities, the tests for those are set to begin this afternoon.

The only reason we even waited this long was to make sure that they weren't going to go on a rampage or something. After nearly two weeks of isolation and confinement, we can reasonably say that they can be safely released.

Which still begs the question of why.

"Perhaps it has something to do with age, specifically?" Sayo suggested.

"It could be a million other things," Tsunade huffed, and despite her attitude, I really didn't have cause to doubt her.

At the end of the day, we didn't really know all that much about cultivation. It's too new and barely understood, and I discovered the damn thing.

"So, what should we expect from Lord Third?" I brought up. "Once he crosses that threshold, he'll be the single most powerful cultivator alive. Can we even stop him if he goes nuts?"

"Relax, kid." Something about Jiraiya's nonchalant attitude really grated on me sometimes. "We've already taken precautions. Sensei won't be breaking through out in the open. He'll be under similar restraints as Jinchuriki candidates."

"I don't know what that means." The old bastard had the audacity to smirk at me.

"Good. We'd have to slap even more seals on you if you did." He laughed as I rolled my eyes.

"For now, I think we can safely say that younger practitioners won't have as adverse a side effect as older ones will," Yamato pointed out. "Whether that remains true in the long run remains to be seen."

"This is a new field of study that will likely take decades to be understood," Reina noted. "And that's assuming there won't be any new discoveries along the way."

Tsunade snorted derisively. "Decades? Try centuries. The brat basically showed us how little we understood chakra and its true potential. No wonder the old man's so confident in his plan despite the risks."

"And you're not, Tsunade-sama?" asked Kakashi, looking uncharacteristically grave.

"You know as well as I do that shinobi can be extremely unreasonable," the blonde practically growled. "They'll walk the rockiest, thorniest roads if it means they can satisfy their egos or vengeance or whatever pathetic excuse they can conjure up, screwing over everyone else in the process."

Throughout the exchange, we kept a watchful eye on the lively matches, with Sayo and Reina dutifully jotting down in notebooks with highly specialized Seals for privacy. Annoying as Jiraiya can be, we've really made huge strides in encoding sensitive documents since he came back.

It's not like I can teach them English. Not only did the Hokage specifically order me not to share my 'coded language' with anyone else, but we were also too busy to add yet another major undertaking to our plates.

"Not that I necessarily disagree," I interjected. "But there's a chance, right? If the Hokage succeeds, everyone'll be too busy to fight each other."

"Like they were too busy when Grandfather shared the Biju with the other villages?" she countered. "How long did it take them to declare war, again?"

Surprisingly, it was Jiraiya who chose to chide her. "You're being pedantic, hime. There's a huge difference between what the First did and what sensei is planning on doing. He won't be handing them weapons but an entirely new school of thought regarding chakra."

"Besides," I chose to jump in before Tsunade could find the glaring flaws in the Toad Sage's argument, "I wasn't talking about what the Lord Third will give them. I'm talking about how he's essentially laying a trap that our rivals will have no choice but to walk into."

All of the adults shot me looks of genuine astonishment, which I found incredibly grating. "I'm not that dense," I huffed. "When you know what the Hokage ultimately wants, you just need to walk back from there."

Honestly, even Naruto wouldn't have any trouble following Hiruzen's logic. The plan might have a lot of holes, but that was always going to be the case. Moreover, Konoha will have the edge for a few more decades, if only because of the projects that we've already got going.

Jiraiya chuckled. "Where was that sharp mind when you first met Tsunade?" The reminder made me groan. "Or that Haku kid?" Another groan.

"You gave Kurenai and Anko terrible first impressions, too, Kenta-kun." Oh, Kakashi, you dick!

"Come to think of it," Yamato thoughtfully decided to add to my suffering, "you seem to have a knack for making inappropriate comments at the worst times, Kenta."

"None of those were my fault!" I objected vehemently. "Those women shouldn't have dragged me to the hot spring, and you know damn well that those nobles weren't supposed to be there!"

"We're just saying," the old pervert gleefully teased. "You've established a pattern of bumbling through sensitive situations. Did you know that sensei's been getting letters from the Daimyo about you and his granddaughter?"

I didn't dignify that with a response, mostly because I was now covering my face in shame. Being Yamato's apprentice should've kept me away from ludicrous nonsense that shonen protagonists often got tangled in. Yet, in the midst of conducting wetwork, I've had to wade through awkward developments more than once.

Developments that I've done my best to forget, but which the whole world seemed hellbent on always reminding me of.

Case in point, I stupidly asked Haku a few days ago if he was a boy or girl after spending an entire day having my more subtle attempts at finding out consistently foiled. The look of disappointment on his – her – their? – Haku's unreasonably beautiful face nearly made my heart break in two.

My friends really let me have it afterward, and I had to do a dogeza in apology.

And even after all that? I still didn't know the answer!

​

---

"Really?!" Naruto's exclamation echoed through the underground chamber. "We can finally start using Jutsu?! Yatta!"

"You're being too loud again, Naruto." The reproach came from Sakura, who had to cover her ears. "Why aren't you affected by your own voice? You should've gotten the same boost in hearing as us!"

"Dunno," came the guileless answer.

"Isn't it obvious?" Sasuke snarked. "He's been shouting everywhere he goes for years and has probably gone deaf already. Either that or he's got ramen in his ears."

"You bastard! I can hear just fine, and ramen goes into your mouth, not your ears. Are you stupid?"

"Idiot says what?"

"What?"

"Ha!"

"Gah! Kenta, why'd you have to teach him that?!"

"I have no idea what they're talking about, Lord Hokage. Their unruly behavior shouldn't reflect on me."

"I never thought otherwise for a moment, Kenta-kun."

We were walking toward a different part of the labyrinthian structure underneath the Hokage Monument, one that has the equipment needed for this upcoming test. Hiruzen went with me to get the other kids from their temporary rooms, where they had to stay for observation.

Since this entire thing was classified as a high-level mission, their absence is easily explained to most. Unfortunately, I knew for a fact that the cover won't work on everyone.

Danzo is likely already trying to figure out what we're doing here. I wasn't sure about other spies like Kabuto, as I still haven't run into him or anyone else who might be snooping around. Trying to find him isn't an option, either, since I wasn't nearly experienced or subtle enough to pull it off without drawing attention.

For the moment, we should be safe, but I didn't know how long that would last.

When we finally reached the testing chamber, I made a beeline for the monitors set up in one corner. The room was divided into four parts, with the target range at the very back, the medical examination space just before it, and the observation platform to the far right.

The spot I'm occupying with Sayo and Reina displayed the readings we're getting from special sensors around the target range.

Honestly, with this world's technological development being so eclectic, I wouldn't have expected such equipment to be available. And, had I not deliberately steered other civilian academy kids to pursue unique avenues of using chakra, I'm not sure we would have.

Oh, sure, the base technology already existed. Kind of.

Computers, display screens, medical monitoring equipment. Those were already a thing. If somewhat limited in use. The past three years changed that, and our batch's graduation accelerated that change.

According to Reina, many of the Jonin and Chunin who eventually took in apprentices have been keeping an eye on students who were showing promise in their chosen projects. I guess a lot more was happening in the background than even I was aware.

Most of the gizmos we're using today only became available in the last few months, and none of them are available to the public yet.

I'll have to see if I can reconnect with my classmates. If this is what they can do in such a short amount of time, maybe I can hand off some of the ideas I've had but simply don't have the time to explore.

Finding out which one of them was responsible for some of these doodads would be helpful too since, for the life of me, I couldn't make heads or tails of how they work.

"We're ready," Sayo declared after fiddling with a few knobs.

"Great!" I cheered. "Remind me, though. Why isn't this standard practice for the village, again?"

Reina sighed. "We told you, Kenta. Shinobi are secretive by nature, particularly the clans. Allowing anyone else to learn the truth about one's Jutsu or abilities is effectively putting your life in their hands."

"And for the ninja who aren't in the clans?"

"They weren't worth the investment," Tsunade curtly answered from her position at the medical examination area. "Until relatively recently, shinobi from less prestigious backgrounds were used to pad our numbers, more often than not. It's only because of your discovery that we're even bothering to set this up now."

Her words naturally drew Naruto's ire and the attention of the other three.

"That's not right!" the whiskered blond yowled at Hiruzen, the old man looking more than a little put out. "How can we treat fellow ninjas of Konoha like that? Aren't we supposed to be a team or something?!"

"Calm down, Naruto. Tsunade's exaggerating." Jiraiya gave his former teammate the stink eye. "We don't throw our people away for no good reason. But the reality is that there will be times when we need to prioritize. Clans do have certain privileges, but this also comes with bigger responsibilities, which could put them in more danger."

"The Uchiha were often sent on high-risk, high-priority missions," Sasuke added his two cents with his arms crossed. "I imagine the same went for the Hyuga," he said while eyeing Hinata, who nodded in confirmation.

"It's not just them," Kakashi pointed out. "Ninjas from civilian backgrounds with extreme potential receive the best training and opportunities to grow, with the expectation that they will frequently be thrown into dangerous situations when the need arises."

Sakura, who had been listening quietly this whole time, then threw me a suspicious glare. "Did you have to use such a roundabout way just to tell us this?"

"I don't know what you're talking about," I said while buffing my nails.

None of them bought it, though Jiraiya looked more amused than anything. "Cut the crap, kid. You aren't that slick."

"There was no need for such subterfuge, Kenta-kun." Hiruzen was gentle in his admonishment. "We would have told them eventually."

I shrugged. "Oh, I know, Lord Third. But considering what's coming, I'd rather they get the full picture from different points of view. Lady Tsunade might have put it harshly, but she's not entirely wrong, is she?"

"Gramps?" Naruto prodded.

The Hokage sighed. "We will tell you everything after the tests, Naruto-kun. And I do mean everything."

Eh, I'll take it.

These kids might have already been exposed to some of the more unsavoury aspects of shinobi life, but they were still treading the shallows. Sheltering them by sharing a sanitized version of what's really about to happen could make them hesitate at the worst possible moment.

Hypocrites that they are, Hiruzen and Kakashi only planned on telling them the bare essentials of the monstrous complexity that will be the upcoming negotiations.

I had absolutely no doubt that they would be on the front lines, whether it happens during the Chunin exams or afterwards. And everything they're getting now would need to be paid back with bloody interest.

On a side note, I really underestimated Sakura's intelligence.

Getting caught by the adults was expected. That's what I planned for. Either I'm misremembering just how smart she can be, or she's getting used to my antics. Both cases spell trouble for me.

We eventually got underway, though Sayo and Reina were both clearly annoyed with me. I'll have to make it up to them later. Fortunately, my mom's always happy to bake cookies for me.

I'll bring double what I usually take to work.

Focusing on the present, the three medical experts carefully conducted examinations behind privacy curtains. The results were pretty much as expected: higher bone density, better chakra flow, tougher muscle fibres, the works.

All four of them were already beyond typical Chunin they'd face out in the wilds before they learned cultivation. Now? They'd thrash just about anyone outside of Konoha save for the true monsters roaming this world.

Hmm, that reminds me. I probably need to convince Hiruzen to let Naruto learn his signature Shadow Clone Jutsu. It wouldn't hurt to stack the deck and give the protagonist every advantage he could get.

The Rasengan would be next. While I'm at it, maybe Kakashi can teach Sasuke Chidori? And with Tsunade here, Sakura could start learning under her much sooner than in canon.

Wait. Is any of that even necessary at this point? Should I even get involved? They've been doing pretty well so far. Much better than in the original timeline.

Decisions, decisions.

​

---

"Oh, yeah… we've got this in the bag," I heard Jiraiya say over at the observation platform.

Nobody called him out on the premature declaration. Not even Tsunade, who was staring at the monitoring equipment with stunned disbelief. Even though we'll likely be refining the metrics after this, the numbers don't lie.

All four have become absolute monsters.

Sasuke's Grand Fireball can now melt stone and flies at nearly twice the speed of sound. Even I would have trouble avoiding that.

Naruto's wind armor now acts both as an offensive and defensive Jutsu. It grants him a stupid amount of protection, makes him capable of accelerating from zero to practically going over subsonic velocity in a fraction of a second, and the outer layer has overlapping, high-DPS, rotating wind blades.

Before compressing her chakra, Hinata was capable of releasing blasts of high-pressure shockwaves from her hands. They were strong enough to send opponents flying from afar or cause considerable internal damage with physical contact. She didn't even need to make Hand Seals to do it, which made the unique Jutsu exponentially more effective when combined with her Gentle Fist.

Now? She can release those shockwaves from any part of her body. And, as if the omnidirectional shift wasn't enough, the girl can inject more chakra into the wall of pressure. This allowed her to crush an all-metal dummy from ten meters away.

As for Sakura?

"You better snatch that girl up now, hime," Jiraiya had said when the pink-haired Genin obliterated a block of wood that Yamato produced for the test at Hiruzen's urging.

Targets of weaker materials simply couldn't provide an accurate measurement of how much force she could generate, and we certainly didn't have convenient punching machines à la DBZ. So, we needed something that could give us a better understanding of where Sakura stood.

The block of wood was dense, heavy, and large enough to put even Tsunade's immense strength to the test. Yamato even made it the size of a house for good measure.

It was shattered in a single punch to our open-mouthed, slack-jawed stupefaction.

Granted, the medic-in-training had only done it after several seconds of preparation, which would've been an eternity in a fight. But that didn't make the results any less impressive. Blocking such an attack is simply impossible for most.

Forget any Genin she'd face during the Chunin exams. The pint-sized brawler would destroy most Jonin if she managed to land a hit.

And we just got started!

How had cultivation affected their other Jutsu?

How far could they push the physical enhancement techniques?

Did Sasuke and Hinata's Dojutsu change? They've been given explicit instructions not to use them until later this afternoon, so we still don't know. But the possibilities range from simply becoming more powerful and easier to use, to changing into entirely different versions.

Most importantly, did I see a bit of red and gold in Naruto's wind shroud?

All of these questions and more chased each other in my mind as the tykes were examined once more. Whatever else we learn today, however, the four looked just about ready to take on the world.

And I can't even say they're entirely wrong to feel that way. I'm not entirely sure where I measure up to them anymore.

I let out a sigh, deep and unrestrained. "I'll have to train even harder now, won't I?" I grumped to a round of chuckles.

"They've been chasing after you for a long time," the Hokage said. "It would be a shame if they lost their motivation now."

"You'll have to continue being my students' guiding post, Kenta-kun," Kakashi added. "So, please do your best."

Well, it's not like I wasn't already planning on doing exactly that. Still…

"I'll have to speak with my former classmates," I said. "Offload some of my projects, if any of them are interested. This is gonna be a busy month."

---

You can read up to Chapter 30 over at Patreon and Ko-fi!

 

[noobody77]

It's too bad the mc is just a side character/researcher. It was obviously where the story was going but I was previously hopeful that the author wouldn't relegate him to being the "Weak smart guy" like has obviously happened. Literally every single other cultivator is stronger than him by now which is pretty disappointing. Think I'll stop here.

 

[AshKing]

It's too bad the mc is just a side character/researcher. It was obviously where the story was going but I was previously hopeful that the author wouldn't relegate him to being the "Weak smart guy" like has obviously happened. Literally every single other cultivator is stronger than him by now which is pretty disappointing. Think I'll stop here.

Click to shrink...

I would recommend giving it another chapter or two; the author has been putting a lot of narrative emphasis on the cultivation bottleneck he is in, so the story will probably refocus a bit on him once he breaks through during some action scene during the chunin exams or something like that.

 

[Guardian1165]

It's too bad the mc is just a side character/researcher. It was obviously where the story was going but I was previously hopeful that the author wouldn't relegate him to being the "Weak smart guy" like has obviously happened. Literally every single other cultivator is stronger than him by now which is pretty disappointing. Think I'll stop here.

Click to shrink...

Uh, you know they've already tested Kenta, right? He's got, like, thirty layers of chakra built up, and he's been eminently more useful advancing the people with more experience in combat than him or have bloodlines, or are his students, and then there's the fact he's the golden goose with an exceptionally overactive mind.

Dude's not weak, he's preoccupied with building up or thinking up all the other stuff. He also trained the four who've wowed everyone else with their progress, and he's constantly overthinking everything, like how the shonen protagonists are going to outstrip him and do ninja Jesus/Satan things.

 

[Bev]

Kenta is the Functioning Hidden Master to Team 7 and Hinata's Protagonist Disciples. Sage nod.

 

[Akuma-Heika]

Hinata's Protagonist Disciples

Click to shrink...

What?

 

[Champjklccmk]

AN:

You can read up to Chapter 31 over at Patreon and Ko-fi!

---

Well, that is both promising and underwhelming. Looks like extreme psychological trauma was still needed for Sasuke to get his super-extra-mega eye powers.

"Focus on the left card and read from the bottom to the top," Tsunade instructed the Uchiha in a terse, professional tone. She's playing the doctor right now, so she's not nearly as snarky as usual.

He patiently complied, effortlessly rattling off tiny characters he could read from nearly half a kilometer away, even though we've been at this for a little over thirty minutes. A harrowing amount of time for anyone constantly using their Dojutsu, but my friend seems to be doing just fine. In fact, he doesn't seem to be showing much strain, both in his features and from what our equipment could measure.

Was this really all two layers of compressed chakra could give him?

I honestly expected more. Four tomoe instead of three? Maybe turn the crimson color a different hue?

But, nah.

Still three, still red, and still ordinary.

Not that I was complaining about the results. From what we've been able to tell so far, Sasuke can effectively use his Sharingan for an indeterminate amount of time. The responses were smoother, the boosts to vision and perception increased, and his body is now significantly more capable of taking advantage of those benefits.

He essentially skipped years of training and experience with this ocular power, and is responding like a more mature Uchiha who has seen a lot more battles.

I was just hoping that he could get the Mangekyo without all the bullshit that came with it. And with the new advancements in medicine and chakra usage, even the downsides of having it could be mitigated or outright removed.

No such luck, though.

"All right," the blonde said a few minutes later. "We're done. You're up, Hyuga-san."

"Hai," the girl responded.

"How're ya feeling?" I asked Sasuke once he rejoined us.

"Fine," he grunted.

"Any aches or pains?" Sakura prodded.

"Tsunade-sama confirmed that the strain is minimal," he grunted again.

"Can you see through clothes now?" Naruto curiously put in.

Naturally, his question was the one that finally drew the strongest reaction from the stoic boy. I mean, all three of us gave the hyperactive blond a look, but Sasuke's was full of judgment.

"You need help," Sasuke told him.

"Hey!" Naruto protested. "It's a legalized question!"

"You mean legitimate," their pink-haired teammate sighed despondently.

"Yeah, that!"

"No, Naruto, I can't see through clothes." Unmentioned was Sasuke's absolute lack of interest, even if he could.

"That's a shame," the whiskered idiot mumbled. "You could check if enemies had hidden weapons and such."

We turned to him again, this time more surprised than judging. That was actually a good point. What does it say about us that our minds immediately went to the gutter?

Sasuke quickly rallied, though. "The Hyuga fulfill that function. Our eyes don't need to do the same things."

"Oh, yeah! Good point!"

Speaking of the Hyuga, our attention returned to the examinations just as Tsunade finished attaching sensors on Hinata. At her signal, the Byakugan was activated. This time, there was a physical change.

"Uh, where's the wriggling worm things on her face?" was Naruto's blunt question.

"Those were veins, you idiot." Sasuke might have just added the insult on reflex. Like us, he was mesmerized by what we were seeing.

When the Hyuga's signature ocular Jutsu was active, it was typically accompanied by pulsating growths on the sides of their heads. As for the eyes themselves, the changes would depend on the person using it. In Hinata's case, her pale irises and pupils remained the same.

That was not the case now.

Not only did the veins not appear, but the irises were practically glowing opalescent colors while the pupils were pinpricks of intense purple flames.

"What do you –" the Sannin couldn't finish her question.

Hinata gasped, clasped the sides of her head, and promptly fell forward. Tsunade caught her, of course, but the change was so abrupt that everybody scrambled. Reina and Sayo checked the instruments for errors or issues, Kakashi and Yamato blurred to catch any signs of sabotage, while Team 7 and I rushed toward our friend.

Only the Hokage remained outwardly unperturbed, though I knew better than to think this was actually the case.

"What happened?" Naruto demanded as soon as we got close.

"Quiet," Tsunade barked while passing a glowing palm over Hinata.

The Slug Princess had the girl in her arms, face up, and was carefully examining her state. Not even the noisy Uzumaki dared to get uppity upon seeing the look of intense concentration on the medic-nin's face.

Less than a minute later, she breathed a sigh of relief. "It's fine. The girl just got overwhelmed. We'll need to take her to the examination room for a closer look, but the change in her Dojutsu seems to have bombarded her with more sensory information than she could handle."

"Oh, thank the sage!" Sakura exclaimed.

"Phew!" Naruto joined in. "You had us worried, Hinata-chan!"

"She can't hear you, moron." Sasuke might play the unworried badass, but even those eyes couldn't hide his anxiety.

As for me? I did a really great job at hiding my own fears, if I did say so myself.

So what if I was close to throwing up? What does it matter that I wanted to tear my own skin the moment I saw Hinata pass out?

The roaring voices of self-recrimination over being responsible for putting one of the very people I swore to protect in this state went ignored.

They were!

They had to be.

"We're moving her. You four stay here."

"Yes, Tsunade-sama!"

… They just had to be.

​

---

"She will be all right."

Turning to the source of the voice, I saw Hiruzen striding toward me from the entryway. It's been an hour since Hinata fell unconscious, and after making sure that Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura were fine, we were all sent off to do our own thing.

Kakashi took his Genin somewhere, probably to talk to them about the changes they underwent. Yamato asked if I needed company, but I told him no.

I just needed to be alone.

Not even giving his surroundings a second thought, the Hokage approached me in the center of the underground room. His movements were unhurried, his face serene. I'd like to think my own expression was just as smooth, but it likely wasn't.

"I know. Tsunade-sama said as much."

My reply caused the old man to chortle. "You truly are in a bad state if you're referring to her in such a formal manner."

"She's a Senju and a Sannin," I huffed. "She deserves respect."

"That never mattered to you before, Kenta-kun."

Why did I even try? Hiruzen likely knew me better than even my friends did at this point.

At my silence, he kept going. "You once told me that our greatest critic is often ourselves."

Oh, he is not using my own words against me. And we were talking about my atrocious brushstrokes and penmanship!

"So, trust me when I say," he went on, heedless of my non-verbal repudiation of his tactic, "that Hinata-chan's state was not your fault."

I could only let out a humourless chuckle. "I've been trying to convince myself of that for the past hour, Lord Third. The voices screaming in my head haven't gotten any quieter."

"Ah, those." He hummed in understanding. "Quite the noisy little buggers, aren't they? 'You should have done this, you should have done that.' They make demands that we can never truly fulfill."

"First-hand experience, I take it?" I asked with a lightness I didn't feel.

"Over decades and decades," he said, the weight of his statement evident in his voice.

We both fell silent for a moment, allowing the quiet to almost press down in the enclosed space. The Hokage was content to wait for me, though I didn't actually feel pressured to speak up. Weirdly, this made me want to talk even more. I just had to find the right words to express what's in my head.

This was some sort of reverse-psychology nonsense, wasn't it? Damn sneaky ninja and their sneaky sneakiness.

"I never expected this to be bloodless," I eventually managed. "Our profession practically guarantees violence. I strove to grow stronger to protect my loved ones. I'm helping my friends get stronger so they have a better chance to survive. I'm not blind to the cost of helping Konoha become more powerful."

Hiruzen stayed quiet as we both stared straight at the far wall of the chamber. "The tangible progress we've made these past three years fills me with pride, Lord Third. But seeing Hinata fall like that… not even the idea of a war with all the other hidden villages made me that scared.

"In my head, I know she's going to be fine. I may even have theories as to what happened. Yet, try as I might, the memory won't go away. It plays over and over, along with the undeniable fact that my actions caused her so much pain." Aching fingers alerted me to the fact that I was clenching my fists too tightly, but I didn't care. "Making things worse is knowing that I can compartmentalize. I've done it after missions where I had to kill. So, why can't I do it now? Why do I see Hinata when the men and women that I've exterminated remain faceless?"

"Because you love her, Kenta-kun."

Say what?!

I shot the man's aged, smiling face an incredulous stare. What the hell was this old bastard talking about?

"Tell me," he went on, not even commenting on my confusion, "what do you think I mean when I speak of the Will of Fire?"

The sharp turn in topic nearly gave me whiplash. Oh, he wasn't going to give me this feel-good slop, was he? That's the last thing I need right now. My deadpan stare might have clued him in to my unwillingness to play his game. So, he just kept talking.

"Many people believe it's propaganda," Hiruzen said. "In many ways, it is. Every village in every nation uses similar methods to maintain cohesion among the populace. I won't deny that we've relied on it to stoke the flames of loyalty among our shinobi and even our ordinary citizens during times of great trials."

Huh. Didn't expect that. Had I passed some sort of secret test or something? Surely, Konoha's leader wouldn't be so candid just because I was a little sad?

"Yet, if empty propaganda were all it was," he went on, "it wouldn't have survived until today. Our shinobi aren't stupid, and there have been many powerful figures from civilian backgrounds who would have seen through the deception. Do you know why the Will of Fire still stands?"

I dunno, dude! Narrative convenience? Because the author wanted it? Because it sounds cool? I was not in the headspace to dissect tropes and plot devices right now!

Blurting any of those wouldn't have been good, so I just shrugged. A shrug can be excused, given my state, right? When Hiruzen finally revealed the answer, though, I could have kicked myself.

Obvious point is obvious!

"Because our hearts still beat and have yet to go cold," the wise old archetype explained with expected gravitas. "There is still fire in us, Kenta-kun, to protect those we cherish. Every mission, every battle, and every sacrifice is made by those who are willing to spare the ones we leave behind."

For goodness sake, did I expect him to blather on about the power of friendship or something? Of course it would be something like this!

"The Will of Fire manifests when a ninja of Konoha chooses to die for their comrades," Hiruzen continued. "It shows when we fight overwhelming odds, knowing that the chance of survival is zero, and still choosing to go."

He looked me in the eyes, and my breath hitched at the sheer conviction reflected in his gaze. And when next he spoke, each word rumbled with the weight of that conviction, even as his voice rose toward a burning crescendo.

"The Will of Fire allows us to dig deep even when everything tells us that there is nothing left to give. Because even if, or especially when, death is guaranteed, it's the only way for us to pass on peacefully, content in the knowledge that we burned ourselves to cinders for the sake of those we will never see again."

I could see it. As he spoke, I could see everything he was talking about. Reels of half-remembered scenes flashed through my mind. Hiruzen against Orochimaru. Minato and Kushina. Neji, Guy, Asuma, and finally… Hinata, arms wide as she stood between Naruto and a self-proclaimed god.

"The Will of Fire wards off the cold of an uncaring world, Kenta-kun. For in the life we live, where we can place very little value on those beyond our immediate sphere of influence, it's even more imperative that we put all that we are into the ones under our care. That's why little Hinata's current condition troubles you so, my boy. The Will of Fire burns more strongly in you than I have seen in a very long time. And for that, I am eternally grateful that you are with us."

Stupid old man.

With his cheesy lines and that warm, sincere gaze.

Stupid indoor rain, making my face wet. If I catch whoever cast this Water Jutsu, I swear I'll kick them in the balls.

"Thank you, Lord Third." My voice did NOT hitch, and anyone who says otherwise is a filthy liar. "I'm glad to be here, too."

A hand gently, but firmly, squeezed my shoulder before its owner turned around and headed for the door. Just as he stepped over the threshold, though, he turned back once more.

"Be sure to clean up, Kenta-kun. I'm sure Yamato will appreciate not having to rebuild everything. He did put in quite a lot of work to make sure your training area met your needs, after all."

"Copy that," I quipped.

With that, the Hokage left. Alone in the chamber, I examined the wreckage of specially made dummies, targets, buildings, and gigantic statues that were supposed to act as stand-ins for summoned creatures.

In my compromised state, I didn't even notice how many of them were in pieces. Yet, even while mentally disturbed, I still left nothing intact.

Sighing tiredly, I began to reset the field.

​

---

Sakura POV​

– Immediately after Hinata fainted –

"D'you think he'll be okay?" Naruto asked.

None of them needed him to elaborate. Tsunade-sama had already reassured everyone that Hinata would be fine after some rest. So, her blond teammate could only be referring to one person.

"Yamato said to leave him alone," Kakashi-sensei explained. "His adorable student apparently likes to deal with issues on his own."

They were walking toward the temporary accommodations set aside for the duration of the project. It had everything they needed, including rooms, a shared living space, and even a kitchen.

"But –"

"Drop it," Sasuke cut off Naruto's objection. "You know as well as I do that Kenta doesn't like anyone getting involved in his business."

Predictably, the overly emotional boy didn't take that well. "We're his friends, you bastard! He's always been there for us. We should be there for him now!"

"And the best way to do that is to leave him alone."

Sakura chose to stay silent while the two argued. Unlike them, she hadn't known Kenta all that long. They weren't strangers, and since Team 7 was formed, they'd been spending more time around each other.

However, there was still a lot that she didn't know about the mercurial genius.

The verbal fight continued until they reached their destination, which was when their teacher finally decided to intervene.

"Enough, you two." Sasuke and Naruto stopped at Kakashi-sensei's serious tone. "Leaving out the fact that Yamato is his teacher, and therefore holds the most authority regarding his apprentice, Kenta has to deal with his issues his own way." After waiting a beat for anyone to contradict him, he continued. "Your friend is bearing more weight on his shoulders than you can imagine. And, unfortunately for you, Naruto, you're not ready to help him carry it."

"Of course, I am!" came the indignant rebuttal. "I'm really strong now!"

"Your brain really is made of ramen, isn't it?" Sasuke grouched as he plopped down on one of the couches. "That's not what sensei meant."

Naruto rounded on him. "Then what did he mean?!"

"Ask him." Sasuke rolled his eyes in response. Eyes that still had the Sharingan activated.

"Fine!" Naruto huffed and went after their team's Jonin, who went straight for the kitchen.

Shaking her head, Sakura sat down on the couch opposite her teammate. "Are you sure leaving him alone is the right move?" she asked.

Sasuke didn't answer right away, looking off in the distance instead. "Kenta's complicated," he eventually admitted in a low voice. "He offers help even when no one asks for it. You already know that. What you haven't seen is how much of a dunce he can be when he's the one who needs help."

At her inquiring look, he continued. "Have you ever noticed how he sometimes looks like he's about to keel over? Baggy eyes, haggard face, slouching like he hasn't slept in days, stuff like that?"

Thinking back, Sakura remembered a few instances like that. When she nodded, Sasuke jerked his head with a grunt. "We've asked him about it quite a few times, and he'd always blow us off, saying that it was nothing. Considering the past few weeks, we can now say that he's utterly full of shit."

A choking cough nearly escaped the kunoichi's lips at the rare expletive from the normally taciturn boy.

"This time is no different," Sasuke went on, pretending not to notice Sakura's reaction. "Idiot probably thought his blank face hid everything."

"Didn't it?" she asked. "To be fair, he actually did a good job smoothing over his features. I only noticed something was wrong because his voice changed and his gait became more wooden."

Crimson eyes met hers with searing intensity. "That's exactly how we know there's a problem. Since starting his apprenticeship under Yamato-sensei, he only switches when he doesn't want to talk about something."

Sakura nodded. "I guess seeing Hinata like that really got to him."

A rare snort came from Sasuke. "Kenta can pretend he doesn't notice her feelings all he likes, but that girl probably has him wrapped around her finger."

Oh! An opportunity for gossip!

"Yeah, about that." She had to be really careful with her phrasing, considering who she's talking to. "Is he just dense, or is there something else going on there?"

Contrary to her expectation, instead of irritation or offense, Sasuke responded with a quirked brow. "I'm not helping you get one over Hinata."

"That's not what I'm after!" she yelped.

"What's with the shouting?" Naruto asked as he came back from the kitchen with two cups in hand.

"Sakura's asking for the inside scoop on Kenta," the traitor tattled. "I told her she and Hinata can deal with the idiot on their own."

"Not cool, Sakura-chan!" the blond admonished as he placed one of the cups on the table in front of her. "Kaname-san said that this is a battle between two women. You shouldn't involve us."

"I'm not!" she screeched. Where did they even get this idea?

Of course, that's when their teacher decided to join in, as he came back with three steaming cups. "Now, now. It's important to remember that all is fair in love and war. I wholeheartedly support you, Sakura-chan. Even if your taste is a bit questionable."

"My taste is perfectly fine, thank you very much!" she couldn't help but retort.

"You're going after the village cryptid," Kakashi-sensei said. "That about sums up your taste in men."

Sakura gaped at the insinuation. Kenta was certainly not her – well, it's not like he's hideous – but she was supposed to go after – not that much recently, yet…

While the girl was stuck in a spiral of pointless thoughts, the other three jumped on the change of topic.

"'The village cryptid'?" Sasuke asked.

"Blame Tsunade-sama for that one."

"I thought he was called The Walking Liability?" Naruto added.

"Where'd you hear that?"

"ANBU."

"Ah."

"I'm not sure why," Sasuke began, "but the title weirdly suits him."

"The Walking Liability?"

"No, the other one."

"What does it even mean?"

"It means he's strange, Naruto." Kakashi sipped from his cup without removing his mask.

"Are you a crepe-stick too, Kakashi-sensei?"

"Cryptid, and no. Why would I be?"

"Drinking tea without taking your mask off is weirder than anything Kenta's ever done," was the blond's flat reply.

And so, the discussions proceeded, with no solutions formed or questions truly answered. Sakura spent a few more minutes stuck in her own head, and when she was done, the kunoichi then piled on Kakashi's own weirdness.

 

[Pyrususer]

....I'd say kakashi has potential to be a cryptid but he's not one currently I think

 

[trashtaker]

In an Outsider's viewpoint.

Kenta does pull off a lot of weirdshit

I wouldn't be surprised if some of the villagers can somehow see Orochimaru's shadow on top of him.