After the big dinner Yūhi Kurenai treated them to, it was still early. So, instead of going their separate ways, Team 8 headed to the Hokage's Office to officially begin their first mission.
Naturally, their first task was a D-rank mission.
At first, Hinata and Shino were pretty interested. But the moment Kurenai led them to a stinking drainage ditch and told them to figure out how to clean up the trash floating on the surface, that enthusiasm vanished.
For Hinata and Kenjiro, who could already walk on water, this was basically effortless.
Same for Shino.
He'd mastered tree-climbing and water-walking back in his third year. These techniques weren't even part of the regular academy curriculum—most of the major clans required their kids to master this chakra control early on.
Even if Kenjiro hadn't taught Hinata how to climb trees or walk on water, once her Gentle Fist and chakra control reached a certain point, Hiashi Hyūga would've taught her anyway.
After all, these techniques were the foundation for multitasking chakra control.
Mastering this level of control wouldn't just strengthen her ability to strike pressure points—it would make learning the full Gentle Fist technique much easier.
Seeing that all three of her students had already mastered techniques not even taught at the academy, Kurenai was a bit surprised.
But considering Hinata and Shino's clan backgrounds, Kenjiro's strength, and his close relationship with Hinata, she quickly put the pieces together.
For them, this stuff really wasn't a big deal.
But that left Kurenai feeling a little stuck.
She had originally planned to use this task to teach them more advanced chakra control techniques.
But now that they already knew the basics, what was she supposed to teach them next?
Kenjiro had no idea what Kurenai was thinking—if he did, he'd definitely develop a real appreciation for her.
Even though he called her "sensei" a jōnin instructor wasn't really the same as a teacher.
Jōnin instructors and genin had both a teacher-student and superior-subordinate relationship. Their job was just to guide newly graduated genin on how to do missions and become competent shinobi.
If an instructor saw potential in a student, they might build a stronger teacher-student bond and pass down more personal skills.
But if not, once someone in the squad became a chūnin and started leading missions, most instructors would just step back and only reappear if the village gave them high-level missions.
So, instructors weren't actually required to teach their squad ninjutsu.
Genin could also learn new jutsu by completing missions and earning contribution points to exchange at the village.
Of course, the elemental jutsu available to genin this way were basic and pretty common across the ninja world.
Only high-level shinobi who had mastered shape and nature transformation could exchange for the stronger techniques.
The fact that Kurenai was already thinking about teaching them serious skills on their second day together... honestly, she was incredibly dedicated.
Team 7 would cry tears of envy if they saw this.
They still had to use tools just to pick up trash, while Kakashi just lay on tree branches reading dirty books and couldn't even be bothered to teach them how to climb trees or walk on water.
After completing their first mission and dividing up the reward, Team 8 parted ways in front of the Hokage's building.
"Hinata, let's eat something nice today."
"Mm!"
With their first bit of pay in hand, Kenjiro and Hinata went to the market to buy ingredients, planning to treat themselves a little.
But just as they got back to Kenjiro place with full shopping bags, ready to cook most of the meal before bringing Hanabi over...
"Ah—!"
As he was changing shoes at the door, Kenjiro suddenly winced and drew in a sharp breath.
The bags in his hands dropped to the floor.
"Kenjiro-kun, what's wrong?" Hinata's face instantly turned worried.
"Hinata, my bloodline limit... it's awakening!"
Kenjiro pressed a hand to his eye, leaning against the wall. His expression looked pained, but the grin on his face gave away how thrilled he really was.
"You... really? Kenjiro-kun, you have a bloodline limit?" Hinata's eyes widened with a mix of shock and joy.
"Yeah. And you're the only one who knows."
Kenjiro rested a hand on her shoulder, smiling. "Help me upstairs—I need you to help with something."
"Right."
Hinata nodded with sudden seriousness, ignoring the groceries as she helped him up the stairs.
Once in his room, Kenjiro lay on the bed and said with his eyes closed. "Hinata, get the bandage roll from the first-aid kit."
"Okay."
Hinata quickly left and returned with the kit, taking out a roll of bandages and handing it to him.
Kenjiro wrapped the bandages around his eyes, then said. "Open the drawer beside my bed and get the eye mask inside."
"Yes."
Hinata nodded again, retrieved a black eye mask from the drawer, and placed it in his hand.
After putting it on, Kenjiro formed a hand seal—and in the next moment, a powerful sensory field spread across Konoha's central district.
A few seconds later, he lowered his hands and spoke with a serious tone:
"Hinata, my bloodline limit is an inherited trait that skipped a generation. Whatever happens, you can't tell anyone. Not even Hanabi right now."
"I understand, Kenjiro-kun." Hinata nodded solemnly.
Even without being told, she knew she couldn't say anything.
After all, Kenjiro didn't have a clan name and lived alone. If word got out that he had a bloodline limit, it would draw a lot of attention.
If his bloodline limit turned out to be from the Land of Fire and the clan still existed, then maybe he could be welcomed back into it.
But if it came from another country, that meant his ancestors had immigrated to the Land of Fire. Even if they'd been here since before Konoha was founded and had no shady history, the village would still be wary. His future would be basically ruined.
And so would any future between them.
That secret had to stay hidden—no exceptions, not even for Hanabi.
"I have a feeling it'll take a few days for this bloodline limit to fully awaken." Kenjiro added.
"If Team 8 has missions during that time, I need you to use a shadow clone transformed to look like me and go in my place. But make sure you stop by here first to wear my clothes—Shino would notice something's off otherwise. Also, have the clone tell them it's my clone, and I'm working on developing new jutsu."
"Got it."
"And during this time, find an excuse to keep Hanabi from coming over."
"Okay."
"I won't be able to see for a few days, so I'll need you to bring me meals. I might be hidden with invisibility jutsu—if I'm not around when you arrive, just call out. But don't activate your Byakugan."
"Understood."
Hinata mentally recorded everything.
"Then I'll be counting on you these next few days." Kenjiro said with a smile.
"Mhm..."
Hinata nodded quickly, her face flushing red with excitement.
All her life, Kenjiro had always taken care of her. Now it was finally her turn to take care of him.
Suddenly, she was filled with anticipation for the coming days.
She was even thinking about going home to prepare a full daily schedule.
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