"My name is Yukawa. I don't have many hobbies, and as for dreams… I hope to become a ninja like the Hokage."
Yukawa's real dream was simple: to survive. But saying that aloud didn't quite fit the setting.
So, instead, he said the go-to dream every Academy student was expected to have—becoming Hokage.
Just like how, in his previous life, every kid claimed they wanted to become a scientist.
That said, he had cleverly added a small twist. He didn't say become the Hokage—only to become a ninja like the Hokage.
Now that he was under the watchful eye of Danzo Shimura, he had no choice but to align himself with Hiruzen Sarutobi for the time being. That's called knowing the right side of the chessboard to stand on—and selling loyalty was his best move right now.
---
"The one who's gonna become Hokage… is ME—Obito Uchiha!"
Obito jumped to his feet, puffing out his chest proudly.
Rin instinctively reached for his sleeve to calm him down—but didn't manage to hold him back.
"Immature,"
Kakashi Hatake said coldly.
He wasn't some three-year-old anymore—he was five now, practically a grown-up!
If he wanted to become Hokage, he wouldn't waste time shouting about it. He'd prove it with action.
Yukawa looked at Obito and couldn't help recalling a dark joke:
If you can't be Hokage… then just create one.
"What's so great about the Hokage?"
Asuma Sarutobi stood up slowly, his tone low and serious. "I'm going to surpass the Hokage."
The classroom fell silent.
Everyone knew who his father was—the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi.
Yukawa's expression twitched subtly.
As someone who knew the canon inside and out, he understood just how delusional Asuma's declaration really was.
The truth? Asuma's talent was mid-tier at best. Even among jōnin, he wasn't particularly outstanding—surpassing the Hokage? Not happening.
"It's good to have dreams,"
Eiichiro Yamamoto clapped to regain the class's attention, "But to reach them, you'll need to study hard."
He looked at Yukawa and said, "Your seat's in the back row, next to the window."
Seats were arranged in groups of three. Since Yukawa was a transfer student arriving two months late, only the last row had space.
He didn't mind. In fact, back row by the window was the perfect spot.
His deskmate was a short-haired girl. Meeting her gaze, Yukawa smiled.
"Nice to meet you. I'm Yukawa."
As a spy, you typically took one of two routes: become invisible… or become very social.
But with his face and system, Yukawa had no chance of blending into the background.
If only he were part of the Aburame clan, maybe he'd naturally have that aura-suppressing ability.
"I'm Shizune. Nice to meet you!"
She returned his greeting with a friendly smile.
Yukawa blinked in surprise.
Shizune? She was still in the Academy at this point?
In canon, Tsunade had left Konoha with Shizune after the deaths of Nawaki and Dan Katō, developing a phobia of blood that derailed her medical career.
They wandered the shinobi world, gambling and drifting without direction.
So Tsunade's still in Konoha?
Yukawa glanced around the room thoughtfully.
Ahead of him sat Kakashi Hatake, Rin Nohara, and Obito Uchiha.
To the left sat Kurenai Yuhi, Asuma Sarutobi, and a boy he didn't recognize.
"Today's lesson is History of the Hidden Leaf. Please turn to page 13."
Eiichiro's voice brought Yukawa back to the present.
He flipped open his book, pausing briefly at the table of contents.
There were four major chapters:
The Sage of Six Paths
Hashirama Senju
Tobirama Senju
Hiruzen Sarutobi
Yukawa flipped to the section—and frowned.
Something wasn't right. Very not right.
The book claimed the Sage of Six Paths not only created ninjutsu, but also set the standard for modern team formations—including the rule that every squad should include a medical ninja.
Wasn't that Tsunade's contribution?
Had history been altered? Or was something else going on?
"During the Warring States period, the First Hokage founded Konoha and established the Ninja Code. One of the rules states that shinobi are forbidden from drinking or gambling during missions..."
Eiichiro continued teaching from the podium.
Yukawa blinked in disbelief.
This is practically fanfiction!
It wasn't full-blown internet nonsense… but the part about Hashirama abstaining from drinking and gambling? Yeah, right.
He flipped to the back of the book—and saw the author's name: Hiruzen Sarutobi.
Oh. That explains everything. This is propaganda.
He could already sense where this curriculum was headed.
Ding-ding-ding!
The lunch bell rang.
Eiichiro gathered his materials and exited the room. Immediately, the classroom erupted with chatter.
"Kurenai—"
Asuma had just spoken her name when Kurenai hopped down from her chair and ran straight over to Yukawa.
Asuma clenched his fists instinctively.
At this rate, I'm losing everything—including my dignity!
"Yukawa, are you settling in okay?"
Kurenai greeted Shizune, then turned to Yukawa.
"Yeah."
He nodded.
As a university student revisiting grade school-level content, this was child's play.
In his last life, he'd even tutored kids online. This was nothing.
"Here—this is for you."
Kurenai handed him a notebook.
"It's everything I've written down over the past two months. I thought it might help."
"Thanks."
Yukawa replied with sincere gratitude.
"Alright, I won't bother you then. See you at lunch!"
Kurenai waved cutely and skipped away.
"You two know each other?"
Shizune asked curiously.
"Her father's my teacher,"
Yukawa explained.
"A jōnin sensei?"
Shizune's eyes widened in surprise.
Normally, students only got assigned a jōnin mentor after graduating.
For someone like Yukawa to already have a jōnin teacher? That was… unexpected.
"Do you know Lady Tsunade?"
Yukawa asked casually, intrigued by her reaction.
Shizune shook her head.
That only deepened Yukawa's sense of discord.
Suddenly, a thought hit him.
In canon, Tsunade and Dan Katō bonded during a jōnin council meeting, where Tsunade proposed integrating medical ninja into every squad.
But if the Sage of Six Paths had already introduced that concept here...
Then something in this timeline had definitely shifted.
Could this be the butterfly effect from my transmigration?
He couldn't figure it out—so he let the thought go.
---
Soon, it was lunchtime. Some students went home, others sought out places to eat.
Yukawa closed his book—and found Kurenai standing in front of him, waiting quietly.
Her ruby-red eyes sparkled in the sunlight. She was genuinely beautiful.
In the distance, Asuma watched them, his eyes practically seething with bitterness.
"I'll leave you two to eat,"
Shizune stood up and went to sit with Rin.
Kurenai immediately sat down in Shizune's seat.
"Are you and Asuma close?"
Yukawa asked as he opened his bento.
"Not really. We just sit together,"
Kurenai replied, visibly annoyed. "But he's always clinging to me."
"I see."
Yukawa picked up a piece of fried shrimp with his chopsticks.
As a loyal supporter of true love, he was firmly against becoming the villain in someone else's story.
But if there wasn't even a relationship to begin with, then there was no burden on his conscience.
---
(Author's Note: The retcon involving the Sage of Six Paths will be explained later. It's not a plot hole, nor is this a parallel universe.)