The next morning, Senju Haruto didn't go to the Ninja Academy.
Even though the new sign-in task had a time limit of three days, the thought of earning another reward made it hard for him to contain his excitement.
After all, Danzo had already made up his mind to eliminate him.
Even though his last attempt failed, there was no guarantee Danzo wouldn't try again — maybe not with an ambush this time, but through poison or some other underhanded method.
And the sign-in system was the simplest and most direct way for Haruto to grow stronger.
After a quick wash and change into fresh clothes, Haruto left the Senju compound, heading straight for the Hokage Tower.
The mission required him to stay in the Hokage's Office for ten seconds — and once that was done, the reward would be his.
As long as he had a good excuse for being there, there was no reason the Third Hokage would suspect anything.
"Then again, it's not like anyone would believe I've got a system that gives me sign-in rewards," Haruto muttered to himself as he approached the tower.
Hiruzen Sarutobi was not only the Third Hokage, but also one of the most powerful shinobi in the village. Yet oddly enough, the building's security wasn't particularly tight — at least, not on the surface.
When questioned by one of the guards, Haruto calmly explained that he had urgent business to report to the Hokage.
Coupled with the Senju clan crest he wore, the guard didn't push back.
Of course, protocol still had to be followed. Haruto was escorted by the guard all the way to the Hokage's Office.
Standing before the door, Haruto exhaled slowly.
"So far, so good."
Now all that was left was to step inside, hold out for ten seconds, and the task would be complete.
As for Danzo, no matter how insane he might be, there was no way he'd lay an ambush in the Hokage's own office.
A moment later, the escorting guard knocked on the office door and informed the Hokage of Haruto's presence.
"Him? What's he doing here…"
Hiruzen's brows furrowed. At this hour, Haruto should've been at the Ninja Academy.
"Come in."
Barely three breaths later, the Third Hokage gave the order.
"Good morning, Lord Hokage," Haruto greeted respectfully the moment he stepped inside.
To be honest, he wasn't thrilled about coming here — but he had no choice. The task required this location.
Congratulations, Host! You have arrived at the designated sign-in location.
Sign-in has begun. Leaving before completion will result in failure.
Initiating progress…
1%... 23%...
As the familiar mechanical voice echoed in his ears, Haruto relaxed slightly.
"Do you need something?" Hiruzen asked calmly, pressing his hands together with his elbows resting on the desk. He leaned forward slightly while also giving a subtle nod, signaling the guard to leave.
Haruto nodded but didn't speak immediately. He waited until the guard closed the door behind him, then took a few steps further into the office.
Hiruzen was a man of great patience. Seeing that Haruto remained silent, he didn't press him.
86%...100%
In the quiet atmosphere of the room, the sign-in completed successfully.
Sign-in complete!
Reward received: Kekkei Genkai — Wood Release!
As soon as he heard the words, Haruto was hit with an intense wave of pain.
It felt like his flesh was being torn apart and reconstructed — but the agony, though sharp, vanished almost as quickly as it came.
Before he had time to brace himself or grit his teeth, the pain disappeared without a trace.
In fact, his entire body now felt lighter — freer.
"Wood Release..."
He swallowed hard, barely able to contain the joy surging through him.
Yes, he was a Senju — and yes, he had chakra on par with Hashirama, and he'd mastered all five chakra nature transformations.
But still…
A Kekkei Genkai wasn't something that could be obtained just through talent.
Kekkei Genkai — bloodline limits — were abilities passed down through specific lineages, usually the result of combining two chakra natures or having mutated organs, like the Uchiha's Sharingan or the Hyuga's Byakugan.
Wood Release was born from the fusion of Water and Earth chakra — yet even those who had both natures, like Sarutobi Hiruzen or Hatake Kakashi, couldn't use it.
That was why Haruto's excitement couldn't be put into words.
More than anything else…
He had just obtained the First Hokage's legendary Wood Release — right here, in the Hokage's Office.
So then — what if the next sign-in location was the Uchiha compound?
Would he gain the Sharingan?
What about the Hyuga estate?
Might Guy's house?
The possibilities excited him.
Just like before, however, there was no immediate announcement of a new task after completing this one.
It seemed that his system only issued sign-in missions at certain key moments.
"Haruto?" Hiruzen finally asked, noticing the boy had yet to speak.
"Ah—" snapped out of his thoughts, Haruto returned to the matter at hand.
He had come here with a cover story prepared.
"I came to inform you that I've changed my name — from now on, I'll go by Senju Haruto."
Hiruzen's expression darkened for a moment.
You were just attacked by Root assassins yesterday…
And today you show up first thing in the morning — just to tell me you're changing your name?
Adding a single Haruto to your name?
That's it?!
"What's the meaning behind the name?" Hiruzen asked dryly.
"Haruto stands for humility. No matter how powerful I become, I want to remind myself that I'm still just an ordinary person — one of the people."
Haruto took a deep breath and recited the same speech he'd once used to persuade Naruto. Now, he was using it to impress the Hokage.
Hiruzen: "???"
When he first heard that Haruto was waiting outside his office, countless scenarios ran through his mind.
Maybe Haruto feared another assassination attempt and wanted protection.
Maybe he'd come to accuse Danzo, or ask the Hokage to punish Root.
Or maybe he was here demanding an explanation for what happened.
But this?
He wanted to talk about a name change?
He wasn't even concerned about Danzo or Root at all!
Classic Haruto.
For a moment, Hiruzen couldn't help but lean back in his chair in disbelief.
"So… that's the only reason you came here?" he asked.
"Of course," Haruto nodded without hesitation. "It's important to me. Having two different names just felt weird — better to unify them."
It was more convenient, after all.
"Although…" Haruto added, "there is one more thing."
Finally, Hiruzen let out a sigh. Now this sounded a bit more like what he'd expected.
"Lord Hokage," Haruto said seriously, "I want to graduate from the Ninja Academy — early."
"Hmm?" Hiruzen's brows knit into a tight frown.
"There's nothing left there for me to learn," Haruto said with unwavering determination.