Tsunade stood frozen with embarrassment, her toes curling against the floorboards of the barbecue restaurant.
Just as she considered digging a hole through the floor with her bare feet, Suzuki finally arrived. He paid the bill and ushered all six teenagers outside.
As they said goodbye, Yuta noticed Tsunade's thoughtful expression. He silently mourned for poor Shizune's future.
Back in his small wooden house at the village outskirts, Yuta closed the door without lighting the lamp. He sat cross-legged on his bed in the dark.
His focus turned inward, to the glowing bead floating in his mind's eye.
Yuta wasn't from this world. Three years ago, he'd woken up in this body - a child who'd died from grief after losing his parents.
Through the boy's memories, Yuta recognized the Naruto universe.
This troubled him. In this world, only those connected to the Ōtsutsuki clan achieved true power.
The original Yuta came from common stock. His parents had died on a mission alongside Uchiha Kagami - all killed under mysterious circumstances.
The safer someone was here, the quicker death seemed to find them.
Yuta resolved to live quietly. But during his final semester at the Academy, after barely reaching genin level, the bead appeared.
After much experimentation, he discovered its powers:
First, the bead's constant glow strengthened his body to the natural human limit for his age while repairing any damage.
Second, it granted one yearly epiphany—a chance to master any technique to its peak.
Last year's epiphany had perfected his Academy Three techniques and chakra control, putting him ahead of even Tsunade.
Combined with the body flicker technique he'd developed under Suzuki's guidance, Yuta now rivaled most chūnin, despite knowing no elemental jutsu.
Tonight marked his second epiphany. He chose to master the Rasengan - the perfect instant attack for his speed-focused style.
As Yuta sat motionless, faint light pulsed around him.
At dawn, Yuta opened his eyes, amazed. The night's work had exceeded expectations—not only completing the Rasengan but perfecting his body flicker and strength techniques too.
He rushed to a training ground to test his new skills. Surveying the devastated field afterward, Yuta nodded in satisfaction before slipping back into his usual smiling mask.
"Yuta! Where were you so early?" Akano waited at his doorstep, holding a money pouch. "Suzuki-sensei sent your mission pay."
Yuta held up grocery bags. "Just buying breakfast. Want to join me?"
"Perfect! I'm starving." Akano grinned. "Thanks, Yuta!"
When Yuta invited him for breakfast, Akano accepted eagerly. Inside Yuta's home, Akano poured himself hot water while glancing around the room.
Yuta moved through the kitchen with practiced ease, preparing their meal.
After eating, they strolled through the village streets. Academy students rushed past them in their uniforms.
"Can you believe it's been almost a year since we graduated?" Akano marveled.
Yuta nodded. "I miss those school days."
He remembered his first confused months after arriving in this world.
Little Kiko's constant encouragement had kept him going until he unlocked the mysterious bead's power.
"Yuta! Come quick!" Jiraiya's voice interrupted their reminiscing. He grabbed Yuta's arm without explanation, dragging him toward the Senju compound while a bewildered Akano called after them.
At Tsunade's home, they found a chaotic scene. A red-haired woman was apologizing to a frightened, heavy-set man.
Another woman comforted a crying child while Tsunade knelt in the corner, muttering rebelliously. Orochimaru stood silently nearby.
Yuta approached Orochimaru. "What's happening here?"
Tsunade's eyes lit up at Yuta's arrival, but a sharp look from the red-haired woman silenced her.
"Hello, Grandma Mito," Orochimaru and Jiraiya chorused.
"Mi...Grandma Mito?" Yuta echoed before realizing—this was Uzumaki Mito, the First Hokage's wife and the Nine-Tails' jinchūriki. She looked remarkably young.
"You seem to recognize me," Mito observed. Sensing no malice through the Nine-Tails' chakra, she pressed further.
"Everyone knows the famous Lady Mito," Yuta deflected smoothly.
"That's not what I meant... Never mind." Mito caught herself. "Let's discuss how you convinced my granddaughter to use clan children as gambling collateral."
Yuta blinked. "I did what?"
===========