The Heavens: From Naruto to sign in

On the hillside.

Beneath the waterfall.

Yoruha stood still as the icy river water poured down over him, rinsing away the blood and sweat that clung to his body.

The cold stream cascaded over his muscles, washing off the residue of battle.

From a short distance away, Anko watched silently, arms crossed, eyes narrowed as she studied Yoruha's lean frame and impassive expression.

She let out a quiet sigh.

"Damn brat. Is he the reincarnation of some evil spirit? His first time killing people—and that many—and he actually looked like he was enjoying it? That's just sick…"

Yoruha finished washing up and changed into a fresh set of clothes.

After that, Anko led him back up the slope. Together, they double-checked the village's situation, made sure everything was as the mission parameters had described, and recorded the entire execution process accurately.

Once done, they both signed and stamped the official mission scroll.

Mission: Complete.

On the way back to Konoha, Anko couldn't stop frowning. She kept sneaking glances at Yoruha from the corner of her eye.

Finally, after what felt like forever, she couldn't hold back anymore.

"Hey, kid," she asked, voice low. "You really didn't feel anything after killing that many people? How can you stay so calm?"

It wasn't a casual question.

Most ninjas—especially fresh genin—would get so rattled after their first kill that they'd vomit or even pass out.

Even Anko herself had been shaken the first time.

But Yoruha?

He'd been like stone.

No—worse. He was smiling.

Yoruha glanced sideways at her, then suddenly grinned.

"Of course I wasn't calm. But I made sure not to show it—because I wanted to see you squirm, wanting to ask but too shy to say it. That flustered look on your face? Honestly… kinda cute."

"…"

"You little bastard!"

"Haha! Why are you getting so mad now? You weren't like this earlier."

"Shut up! Go to hell!"

Over the next month, Yoruha and Anko kept taking mostly D-rank missions, with the occasional low-risk C-rank mixed in.

After all, C-rank assignments suitable for new genin were rare.

The bandit extermination mission they'd completed earlier? Technically, that wasn't even supposed to be assigned to rookies.

But back then, there had been nothing else available.

And for the sake of that 200,000-ryō "teacher-student bond," Anko had shamelessly pulled strings to get it approved by the Third Hokage.

Naturally, that kind of stunt couldn't happen twice.

Because after reading Anko's mission report, the Third Hokage grew a little… concerned.

Yoruha's performance had been too efficient. Too bloodless. Too perfect for a genin.

He worried that Yoruha might be veering toward the dark path.

So the Hokage made a decision:

From now on, Yoruha could only take escort-style, low-risk C-rank missions.

No more bandit hunts. No more bloodshed.

When Yoruha heard about the Third Hokage's decision, he actually gave him a big thumbs-up.

"Being Hokage is hard.

Being a good Hokage is harder.

Being a Hokage who understands me?

Legendary."

And the Sandaime—Hiruzen Sarutobi—had clearly earned that title in Yoruha's eyes.

One particular day.

Anko brought Yoruha with her to the Hokage's office to check for new C-rank postings.

Coincidentally, Team Kakashi happened to be there too.

"Yo. Anko, Yoruha. What's up?" Kakashi greeted them in his usual laid-back, half-dead tone.

Most people didn't understand why Kakashi always looked like he'd just woken up from a five-day nap with no will to live.

But Yoruha knew the truth.

It wasn't just the burden of Obito's Sharingan draining him—it was also his addiction to steamy romance novels.

Frankly, it was a miracle Kakashi could stand upright, much less lead a genin team.

Then again…

Maybe that was fate's way of nerfing him.

Because if someone like Hatake Gogo hadn't been held back, how would the world's protagonists ever compete?

After some casual greetings, the old man himself—Hiruzen Sarutobi—exhaled a long puff of smoke, watching it curl out the window.

Then he turned and smiled at Yoruha.

"You two came at just the right time," he said warmly. "I've got a C-rank mission here that suits you perfectly."

He handed over a scroll.

"Take it home. Look it over."