Lurking in Konoha, Part-Time Hokage

"Hiruzen, hand Hanekawa over to me!"

Danzo Shimura spoke with a stern face, getting straight to the point. "He's too dangerous! He might be a spy from the Hidden Cloud Village!"

"He's not."

Sarutobi Hiruzen tapped his pipe, speaking indifferently.

"Don't forget about the previous incident where Kushina was kidnapped by the Hidden Cloud Village!"

Danzo huffed in reminder, "Hanekawa is an orphan adopted by Nono Yakushi. He should have joined the Anbu."

"Are you trying to teach me how to do my job?"

Sarutobi Hiruzen squinted slightly, saying, "You need to understand, the orphanage belongs to Konoha, not the Anbu."

Danzo Shimura was a bit vexed by these words and couldn't help but retort, "Hiruzen, you..."

"Are you trying to say I'll regret it?"

Sarutobi Hiruzen interrupted him, stating, "I won't regret it."

Danzo found himself at a loss for words, his thoughts in disarray.

Damn you, Hiruzen, is this also part of your plan?

Should I congratulate you on learning to interrupt? These were my lines!

He wanted to say, 'I am the Hokage,' but he couldn't.

With a bang, Danzo angrily stormed out.

After a few steps, he turned around and said, "Hiruzen, you will regret this!"

Having said that, his mood improved considerably.

Hiruzen Sarutobi looked at the now empty doorway and shook his head.

Being an assistant to the Hokage is like this—you just need to argue back, but being the Hokage, you must consider much more.

"Haru, call someone to replace the door and charge the expenses to Danzo."

Hiruzen Sarutobi looked down at the documents on Hanekawa.

Hanekawa, male, six years old, war orphan, adopted by Nono Yakushi. During an examination by a member of the Yamanaka Clan, he demonstrated terrifying mental power. Upon investigation, it wasn't due to any pre-planted spy Ninjutsu; it was a matter of mental strength.

Despite not having trained, his spiritual strength was several times that of his peers.

"Nono is Danzo's subordinate. He can't stay in the orphanage."

Hiruzen Sarutobi mused. Yin Release signifies spiritual power, like the secret techniques of the Yamanaka and Nara Clans, or the Sharingan. However, ninja clan secrets are rarely shared, unless you're a civilian ninja.

"Kurenai Yuhi."

Hiruzen Sarutobi's thoughts turned to her. Kurenai Yuhi is a Jonin skilled in Genjutsu and serves as an instructor for Chūnin and Genin. She is a fitting choice.

Hanekawa suddenly opened his eyes, feeling his whole body aching as if he'd been struck by fortune or roughed up by numerous women.

Looking at the unfamiliar ceiling, he instinctively glanced around, a bewildered expression spreading across his face. 

Where on earth am I? Is this still my room? Where are my figures of Rin Tohsaka, Celes, Tsunade, and Tifa?

As he was lost in thought, something suddenly rushed in. Memories of his past life began to flood back. He had traveled through time, or rather, awoken to his past life's memories.

The good news was he was now in the Hidden Leaf Village. Having watched "Naruto," Hanekawa knew the Hidden Leaf Village was relatively safe within the chaotic Ninja World. With cautiousness and patience, he might wait for Naruto Uzumaki and Sasuke Uchiha to save the world and perhaps survive until the end.

The bad news was he was a spy from the Hidden Cloud Village. Born in the Hidden Cloud, Hanekawa was chosen as a spy to gather intelligence in the Hidden Leaf Village because of his outstanding intelligence.

Quickly, he faced his first obstacle: the examination. In the Village Hidden in the Leaves, the Yamanaka Clan's secret techniques could make a corpse speak, let alone a living person. However, he fainted during the examination.

Thinking of this, Hanekawa began to sweat and tremble with anxiety. Had he been exposed?

The fate of an undercover agent was famously documented in "Infernal Affairs."

Just then, some text appeared before his eyes.

[System Loading…]

[You have activated the Ninja Entry System.]

[Achieving certain conditions will grant you corresponding entries; some special entries can be synthesized into higher-level entries.]

[Entries are ranked E, D, C, B, A, S; consisting of three main types: Ninjutsu Type, Ninja Tools Type, Talent Type.]

"Hmm?"

Hanekawa widened his eyes in disbelief.

Had his cheat been activated?

Being a ninja without a bloodline, secret techniques, or a clan in the Ninja World was exceedingly challenging.

Now there was finally a glimmer of hope, and the thought made him hum softly in relief. 

Hanekawa examined the system, finding it extremely simple with just one entry panel displaying the entries he had obtained.

[A-Rank Talent Entry: Infiltrator.]

[Trigger Condition: Newcomer Gift Pack.]

[Effect: Your memories will be forged when others attempt to probe them.]

[Note: Cannot be synthesized.]

Great. 

The classic beginner's gift pack. 

Hanekawa sighed with relief. Now he didn't have to worry about the Yamanaka Clan's secret techniques. 

[C-Rank Talent Entry: Innate Full Soul.]

[Trigger Condition: Fusion of two souls from two lifetimes.]

[Effect: Yin Release talent is enhanced by 100% from the original basis.]

[Note: Cannot be synthesized.]

Why didn't Innate Full Soul awaken Wood Release... oh no, I meant why isn't it awakening something more dramatic like a legendary technique? 

Hanekawa fell silent. 

Yin Release was tricky.

He didn't have the Sharingan, nor was he part of the Yamanaka or Nara Clans. Should he study Genjutsu instead? But as a Genjutsu Ninja, let's not even talk about it.

Kurenai Yuhi studied Genjutsu her entire life, yet she couldn't compare to anyone from the Uchiha Clan just opening their eyes for the first time.

Anyway, better eat first.

Hanekawa felt a strong pang of hunger.

Suddenly, he looked regretful.

"Damn! My holy sword!"

He remembered how, before transmigrating, he was up all night playing a duel game. In the blink and open of an eye, a lifetime had passed. 

He wondered what state his former self was in. If it was simply a disappearance, someone would undoubtedly crack open his phone.

Just thinking about it made him feel aflame with embarrassment. 

The sound of the door opening drew his attention. 

He looked up instinctively at the entering girl. Calling her a girl was inaccurate; she was a delicate, doll-like young girl. 

Her most striking feature was her eyes, like crimson rubies.

Hanekawa was puzzled.

Who was she?

Where was he?

Certainly not the orphanage. He had an impression of the children there.

Which in his case was a good thing. 

Nono Yakushi, who managed the orphanage, was a subordinate of Danzo Shimura.

If noticed by the Pot Shadow, he would be imbued with the Will of Root, unable to escape a grim fate.

"You're awake?"

Kurenai Yuhi spoke with a smile, "I'm Kurenai Yuhi."

"I'm Hanekawa."

Hanekawa, seeing her radiant smile, felt his tension melt away.

So it's Kurenai, not some alternate universe version of her? 

In the original work, she married Asuma Sarutobi, eventually becoming a widow.

"Can you walk?"

Kurenai paused for a moment, saying, "I'll take you to see my father, he'll explain everything."

"I can walk."

Hanekawa got off the bed, mentally calculating his situation.

Kurenai's father was Shinku Yuhi.

So is her father named something like "Super Red?"

The name might be somewhat hasty, but he wasn't a subordinate of Danzo Shimura.

As a Genjutsu Jonin, it's likely the orders he received came from the Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen.

Because she's too young, it's probably not the Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze.

Despite the controversies surrounding Sarutobi Hiruzen, he indeed dedicated his life to the Village Hidden in the Leaves.

Compared to Danzo Shimura, he seemed kindly, at least he wouldn't seal a curse mark on your private areas, such as the Cursed Tongue Eradication Seal.