Author Note:
Here's the BONUS CHAPTER as promised—thanks for the support, and let's keep this energy going!
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Guts arrived just a bit earlier than Kakashi in the end.
He never intended to copy Obito's annoying habit of being fashionably late like Kakashi did. Today's delay was simply because he had been training in the virtual space. Hanabi didn't have to wait too long.
"Oh? What a strange combination."
Guts grinned the moment he entered the classroom.
"You...!"
Naruto pointed at him with an annoyed expression.
Though they weren't exactly familiar, every time Naruto crossed paths with Guts, things never seemed to go smoothly.
"Him?"
Sasuke narrowed his eyes from the back row. He knew exactly who Guts was...the teacher of Uchiha Shisui, the man known across Konoha as its strongest ninja.
If he's the one guiding Hanabi... then maybe he can help me with my revenge against Itachi.
Only Shisui's strong strength proved that point.
just how powerful Guts must be.
"Mmmhh~~"
Hanabi puffed out her cheeks like an angry little frog.
She'd developed this pouty reaction as a habit, probably because Guts had bullied her since she was little.
"Alright, wild girl. You're with me."
At those words, the classroom went still.
"Huh? Me? Alone?"
Hanabi blinked in disbelief, pointing to herself.
A one-man team?
She couldn't help but feel nervous—yet excited. Guts had never shown the full extent of his power to her, but she knew he was on another level.
Becoming his student? That was something she'd never dare dream of. Though... it also meant she'd be bullied even more.
Still, she followed him out of the room obediently.
"W-Wait a sec! What about Team Seven's teacher!?"
Naruto asked frantically as they reached the door.
Guts turned his head slightly and smiled. "You'll be waiting at least two more hours."
"Two—what!?" Even Sasuke looked stunned.
But, as fate would have it, Guts was right.
Three hours later, a certain white-haired man with a dead-fish stare would show up. Late, as always.
Outside the academy gates.
"Go home, pack up, and get ready to leave the village."
Guts didn't waste any time.
Hanabi blinked. "Huh? So fast? I wasn't even mentally prepared yet..."
Thwack!
He flicked her forehead, making her stumble.
She covered the red spot with a whimper and glared at him.
"No questions. When your teacher gives an order, you follow it. You've got thirty minutes. Meet me at the village gate."
He wasn't about to bother with bell-snatching exams or theatrics.
Hanabi pouted but sprinted home.
Fifteen minutes later, she showed up at the gate, dressed lightly and ready to move.
No fuss. No complaints. Just a small pouch of supplies, food, and weapons.
She stood tall, not at all like a Genin who had just graduated.
"So, Sensei, where are we going? What rank mission is this?"
Hanabi asked, keeping pace with Guts as they traveled along the forest path.
"Just follow the chakra trail," Guts said casually. "Remember that strange energy I sensed around your sister? It's not natural. Not even from this world."
Hanabi nodded slowly.
Whoever left that chakra had tried to erase their presence. But Guts had a trump card, they didn't realize that his Observation Haki could read even the faintest traces.
A few hours into the journey, the silence grew heavy.
"Alright, since we're officially teacher and student now, let's break the ice."
Guts spoke suddenly, glancing over his shoulder. "Tell me what you like, what you hate, and what your dream is."
Hanabi, who had been quiet for hours, immediately brightened.
"I like milk and bananas! I hate celery! My dream is to grow strong enough to protect my sister and the entire Hyuga clan!"
Guts suddenly choked.
Pfft!
He burst out laughing.
"W-What!? What's so funny!?" Hanabi glared, flustered.
She thought he was laughing at her dream.
What she didn't realize was that Guts was mentally a grown man, and "milk and bananas" meant something entirely different to him.
"It's nothing, really. It's… cute."
Guts smiled and gently patted her head.
This time, it wasn't teasing or bullying. His touch was gentle, almost brotherly.
Hanabi stiffened in surprise.
"Wh-What the heck… being nice all of a sudden?"
When he pulled his hand away, she pouted. "Then it's your turn. You tell me now!"
"Me?" Guts raised a brow. "I like food, any kind. I don't really hate anything. My dream?"
He smirked.
"To be the strongest... and surrounded by beautiful women."
"Ugh, you're such a pervert!" Hanabi rolled her eyes. "You better not have any ideas about my sister!"
"Fist of love."
Thwack!
He knocked her gently on the head with his knuckles.
"Don't overthink things. Your tiny brain can't handle it."
"Hmph!"
She crossed her arms but followed along anyway, grumbling to herself.
They traveled unhurriedly for nearly a week, crossing rivers, forests, and villages. The closer they got to the northwest border of the Land of Fire, the more dangerous it became.
This was criminal territory.
During one of their camps, Hanabi killed for the first time.
She didn't hesitate. She didn't cry. And she didn't vomit.
That day, Guts nodded in approval.
She had officially taken her first step toward becoming a real ninja.
Eventually, they reached a forest of striking beauty.
In the distance, a hundred-meter waterfall roared down into a clear river below, cascading like a white dragon.
Hanabi looked around, curious. "Aren't we going further?"
Guts stopped walking.
"No. This is it."
He pointed to the massive waterfall ahead.
"We found it."
"Found… what?" Hanabi turned toward where he was pointing.
Guts once again pointed at the big waterfall with a deadpanned expression saying
"It's that big ahh waterfall."
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