My Kekkei Genkai Is Kinda Weird?!

"Misaki"—that was her mother's name.

But Senju?

—

"The night you were born," the Third Hokage began, his voice like wind brushing across an old gravestone, "out-of-season flowers began blooming across the village."

"The head of the Medical Corps believed it was a sign—the awakening of Senju blood. But your awakening came far too early. Your body was still too young, too frail to bear such a powerful legacy. So your mother… gave you what strength she had left. She poured all of her life force—everything meant for her—into you."

Rin's pupils trembled violently. The bandages on her hand were pulled tight from how hard she clenched her fist, the fabric slowly staining red. Every word from the Third Hokage sliced into her like a dull blade, peeling away a truth she had never known—slow, deliberate, and cruel.

"So… Mother, she died… because of me…"

Rin's voice broke in her throat. The words disintegrated into a breathless gasp.

The memory of the medical ninja's grim "We did everything we could," and the sight of Kenichi crying late that night—those fragments now carved a deep ache of guilt and sorrow into her chest.

She had never imagined her life came at such a price.

Ash from the Hokage's pipe drifted silently onto the grass. His old hand settled gently on her trembling shoulder.

"Before she passed, your mother left only one wish—" he said softly. "That you grow up safe and well."

The wind across the training ground suddenly felt colder.

Rin stared at her bandaged arm. For the first time, she understood the origin of her strange powers. The strength she had always felt—it was never hers alone. It came wrapped in the warmth of a mother's last breath.

"I… I…" She bent over and began to retch. Tears spilled, large and hot, onto the dirt. For six years, Kenichi cried on her birthday every year. And now she understood: each extra day she lived, she was breathing on top of her mother's grave.

The Third Hokage crouched beside her. He gently tapped her blood-soaked bandage with the end of his pipe.

"Hurting yourself… it's to ease the guilt of taking a life, isn't it?" he said, his sigh blending into the morning mist around them. "But punishing yourself like this… Misaki would only grieve more, watching from the other side."

Rin's nails dug deep into her palms.She wanted to disappear.

"I brought you here today for two reasons," he continued. His eyes, half-veiled by pipe smoke, sharpened like blades. "First—you will begin training in medical ninjutsu, starting now."

Rin's head shot up.

Under the shadow of the Hokage's hat, she saw a look of solemn determination—and something else, something deeper.

"The Senju bloodline must not go to waste," he said. "Second…"

He suddenly thrust a kunai into the ground between them.

"I'm taking you on....as my final student."

Rin's breath caught.

So that's what this was about.

He's been waiting for me.

"Why me?" she asked hoarsely.

She was just a six-year-old child. Even with Senju blood, she couldn't possibly be worthy of personal training from the Hokage himself… right?

The Third Hokage looked toward the distant Hokage Rock. The First's stone face gleamed in the morning light.

"Those who feel the weight of a kill… are the ones who understand life's true value," he said quietly. Then he turned to her, locking eyes with her tear-streaked face.

"Konoha doesn't need killing machines. It needs shinobi who understand the Will of Fire."

In the long silence that followed, Rin's mind raced.

She looked down. Her eyes darted quickly, calculating. Then, in a strained voice, she spoke:

"I accept."

The Third gave a satisfied nod. His pipe began to emit smoke again.

"Tomorrow, five o'clock. Bring this to the back mountain," he said, tossing her a bell engraved with a flame pattern. "And treat your wound properly. A medic-nin must first learn to heal themselves."

As Rin left the training ground, the sun had risen above the Hokage Rock.

She looked up at the stone face of the First Hokage and saw the faint smile carved at the corners of his mouth. She understood now—what the Third meant.

Those who are still alive must carry the wishes of the dead and walk forward without bowing their heads.

And she would walk forward—no matter how difficult the road.

The bandage beneath her sleeve was bleeding again. But this time, Rin didn't press down to hide the pain.

Instead, she took out the herbal pouch her grandmother had prepared and gently applied it to the wound. The bitter fragrance filled the air, and in her mind, a faint image of her mother's face seemed to smile at her.

She lightly touched the wound. It still hurt—but this time, she didn't dig her nails in deeper.

Perhaps, truly, her mother's sacrifice had touched her.

Her face showed sorrow. Her steps were heavy. She looked every bit the grieving child as she walked home.

—

At that same moment, Hiruzen Sarutobi returned to the Hokage's office. He stood at the window, watching Rin's distant figure fade from the crystal ball's surface. Smoke curled around him, veiling his expression.

"Hokage-sama," a voice came from the shadows—it was a member of the ANBU. "You're seriously taking her as your student?"

Hiruzen exhaled slowly.

"Hmm. Senju blood… and a heart like that—she's worth nurturing."

"But what about Danzo-sama…"

"I'll handle Danzo," the Third Hokage said, eyes darkening.

"Konoha's future… can't rely solely on the darkness of 'Root.'"

The ANBU remained silent for a long moment before bowing and vanishing into the shadows.

Hiruzen's gaze shifted back toward the training field.

Rin… what kind of shinobi will you become?

—

When Rin returned home, her grandmother had already laid out breakfast. The old woman rushed to meet her, setting her work aside in a panic.

"Rin, what did Hokage-sama want? Are you alright?"

Rin shook her head and forced a small smile.

"I'm fine, Grandma."

She looked down at the table. The food was warm, fragrant, comforting. For a moment, she hesitated.

Then her eyes began to burn.

She kept repeating it to herself—like a mantra. A self-inflicted hypnosis:

Someone gave their life so I could be born.

Grandma, with her worn hands, holds our home together every day.

Even Kenichi—he's been working so hard to support us all.

This can't go on.

She took a deep breath, then looked up—her eyes filled with a determination stronger than ever.

No matter what lies ahead, she would never allow herself to be stopped.

"Grandma, starting tomorrow, I'll be training under Hokage-sama."

The old woman blinked, stunned.

"Huh?" Confusion flickered across her wrinkled face.

Then, a warm smile spread slowly over her lips.

"Well… well, that's wonderful. Our little Rin must be so talented, even the Hokage couldn't resist taking her in."

Rin lowered her head, eating quietly. She didn't dare respond.

After breakfast, she headed to the ninja academy.

She knew she probably wouldn't have much time to attend classes anymore. But she wanted to see her classmates—at least once more. With the Third Great Ninja War looming, who knew how many of them would survive?

—

That night, Rin buried herself under the covers. The thick blanket shielded her from the world—no one could "breach" the barrier to watch her. Only when she was sure she was alone did she finally exhale in relief.

In the narrow, dark cocoon of her blanket, Rin slowly opened her eyes.

All the vulnerability, all the tears and despair she'd shown that day… faded like a tide retreating from shore. In their place was something else—something sharper.

A nearly merciless clarity.

"I've managed to fool them all."

She whispered silently into the darkness, fingers tracing the flame-carved bell the Third had given her.

Inside the body of this six-year-old child… was the soul of a grown woman who had survived the brutal corporate battlefield of the modern world.

And she knew better than anyone—

In a world like this, where lives meant nothing…

To survive, especially with a rare bloodline, she needed power.

She needed a strong enough protector.

And for now—the Third Hokage was her best bet.

---