The conditions for upgrading the C-Rank entry "Genius Genin" were crystal clear, and there was only one path forward.

  First: place first in the Chunin Exams. Unlike Naruto's generation, this wouldn't be a joint exam between villages—just Konoha's internal selection. Difficult, sure, but manageable with time.

  Second: become a sensory-type Chunin. Hanekawa understood the classification system well enough. Medical ninjas, sensory specialists, close-combat fighters, genjutsu users—each village had its types. The Aburame clan with their insects, the Inuzuka clan with their dogs and heightened senses. Sensory ninjas were reconnaissance specialists, vital to any team's survival.

  Third: master all five elemental Chunin ranks.

  He'd already collected them all.

  The notification appeared before he could even finish the thought:

  [C-Rank Talent Entry: Five-Element Chunin]

  [Trigger Condition: Possess all five elemental Chunin entries]

  [Effect: Mastery of all five chakra property transformations increased by 100%]

  Not bad. That basically cuts my training time in half for escape techniques.

  "Let's go, Hanekawa!"

  Kurenai's hand waved directly in front of his face. He blinked and stood up from his desk.

  "Ah. Yeah."

  "Does anyone know where the archives are?" Might Guy was already halfway out the door, then backtracked. "The records office?"

  "Left corridor," Kakashi answered without looking up.

  "You're worthy of being my eternal rival!" Guy struck a thumbs-up pose, teeth gleaming.

  Kakashi looked like he wanted to transfer schools.

  "I don't know if I can handle being on the same team as you," Guy continued, elbowing him enthusiastically.

  "We'll find out tomorrow," Kakashi replied flatly.

  Hanekawa watched the exchange with mild amusement. At least they're entertaining.

  "After graduation, we won't get time like this anymore," Asuma said, his expression oddly melancholic. He'd changed a lot since Hanekawa had knocked some sense into him—literally. Having actual friends helped.

  "When missions allow, we can still train together," Rin offered gently.

  "Rin's right!" Obito immediately latched onto the idea, already imagining excuses to spend time with her.

  "Here we are." Hanekawa knocked on the records office door.

  "Come in."

  The middle-aged clerk inside barely glanced up as they filed in. "Graduates? I'll call your names. Get your file, add your photo, give it to your assigned teacher."

  Ninja files. The resume of a shinobi's career—missions completed, ranks achieved, everything that mattered for advancement. Hanekawa filed his away without ceremony.

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  "I'm buying barbecue," he announced once they'd collected everything. "Celebration."

  "Yes!" Kurenai pumped her fist.

  "A barbecue showdown!" Guy's eyes lit up like he'd just discovered fire.

  "That's not necessary," Kakashi said quickly.

  "Shizune, you're coming too." Hanekawa gestured to the girl standing nearby. She'd become a normal student instead of Tsunade's wandering companion—another butterfly effect. Top ten in the class, no medical training yet, but talented.

  "Me?" Shizune blinked, then nodded. "Thank you."

  ---

  The barbecue restaurant was packed with the usual after-graduation crowd. Their group claimed a table, raised their drinks, and clinked glasses.

  "Cheers!"

  "Now that you've graduated, watch yourself," Asuma said with a grin once they'd settled. "Being top of the academy doesn't mean much out there. Plenty of geniuses disappear after graduation."

  He wasn't cursing Hanekawa—just stating facts. Missions were dangerous. Death was common.

  "Asuma, you forgot something," Kurenai said, chin tilted up proudly as she watched Hanekawa work the grill.

  "What?"

  "Hanekawa's been on actual missions with Lady Tsunade for months."

  Asuma's face fell. Right. He's already battle-tested.

  "Don't give up, Asuma! Youth is eternal!" Guy clapped him on the back encouragingly.

  Asuma looked like he wanted to cry.

  "What do you want, Red?" Hanekawa flipped a piece of beef onto her plate.

  "Beef! That one looks perfect." She pointed at a particularly nice cut.

  He grabbed it and added it to her bowl without comment.

  "I want that one!" Asuma reached for it.

  "Make your own." Hanekawa moved the plate away smoothly.

  Asuma slumped in defeat.

  Obito immediately volunteered to grill for Rin, who politely declined. Kakashi remained silent, methodically cooking his own meat. The noise and chaos didn't bother him—he just preferred not to participate in it.

  The evening stretched on, comfortable and easy.

  ---

  Hokage's Office

  "Any objections?" Hiruzen Sarutobi held up the team assignment list.

  "None," Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu replied in unison.

  "Good. You're dismissed."

  They left without ceremony. The class assignments were finalized. Everything else was administrative.

  "Aoi," Hiruzen called.

  The ANBU operative appeared instantly, mask in place.

  "Distribute these to the assigned jonin. They have thirty minutes to report here."

  "Yes, Lord Hokage."

  She vanished with the list.

  Within the hour, they began arriving. Hatake Sakumo was first, confusion evident on his face.

  "Why am I being assigned as a team leader?" he asked directly. "I didn't apply."

  Hiruzen smiled and handed him a document. "Check your team roster first."

  Sakumo opened it and went very still. Uchiha Shisui was impressive, but Sarutobi Asuma—

  "That's my son," Hiruzen said quietly. "I trust him to you, Sakumo. No one else."

  Understanding dawned. This wasn't just an assignment. It was a statement of trust.

  "I won't let you down," Sakumo promised seriously.

  The other jonin came and went, collecting their assignments without fuss. Only one remained.

  Night had fallen completely when the air shimmered near Hiruzen's desk. A kunai trembled slightly, and Minato Namikaze materialized from the distortion.

  "Apologies for the delay, Lord Hokage. There was unusual activity from the Hidden Cloud this morning."

  "Your dedication is appreciated." Hiruzen handed him the final assignment. "Your third team member."

  Minato scanned the document. Kakashi Hatake was exceptional—no question there. Obito and Guy were solid in combat, even if their theoretical scores were lower.

  "Why was Uchiha Obito selected?" Hiruzen asked, eyes narrowed slightly.

  Minato understood immediately. "To ease tensions with the Uchiha clan."

  "Precisely. I hope his presence on your team will help bridge that gap."

  "They'll understand your intentions," Minato assured him.

  Hiruzen nodded, satisfied. The pieces were in place. Young talent distributed, political considerations balanced, the future of Konoha's shinobi corps carefully arranged.

  Outside, the village slept, unaware of the calculations being made in the tower above.