This was different from the Five Elements of metal, wood, water, fire, and earth.
Those five were mostly used in the ninja world for sealing techniques.
For example, Orochimaru's "Five Elements Seal" utilized metal, wood, water, fire, and earth. It was used to disrupt the dual "Four Symbols Seal"—or rather, the "Eight Trigrams Seal"—that Minato Namikaze had placed on Naruto, thereby allowing him to cast his own sealing technique.
"Participate in the Chunin Exams?"
Sarutobi Asuma rubbed his slightly swollen hand.
"That's right."
Kiyoshi nodded.
As long as this "young prince" spoke up, their jonin instructor, Mizunotsuki Yuki, wouldn't dare block them.
"Well…"
Having lost face in front of Kurenai, Asuma finally found himself a way out.
He coughed lightly and said:
"That depends on Kurenai's opinion."
Truthfully, Asuma had long wanted to participate early.
He wanted to make a name for himself as soon as possible—to prove to everyone that he was not just the Hokage's son.
He had his own name—
Asuma.
But that depended on whether Kurenai was willing.
If she didn't want to join this year's exams, he was willing to wait for the next one.
"If… if Kiyoshi says so too, then… we'll participate."
Kurenai spoke softly, her small lips releasing faint white breath into the winter air.
"Kurenai, why is it that if Kiyoshi agrees, you agree too? Do you care that much about his opinion?"
Asuma asked, a hint of jealousy in his voice.
He clenched his fists, feeling both physically and mentally exhausted.
He had worked so hard in front of her—
And yet, couldn't even earn a single glance?
Was he, the childhood friend, destined to lose to someone who appeared out of nowhere like Kiyoshi?
"Th-that's not it…"
Kurenai's already crimson eyes deepened further in color, even her earlobes turning slightly red.
Even with her bold personality, she wasn't good at dealing with situations like this.
Especially when facing Kiyoshi—
Who was growing taller by the day, his features becoming sharper and more resolute.
"It's just that… Kiyoshi looks the strongest. If he agrees, then our team's chances of passing will definitely be high."
"Kurenai, that makes perfect sense."
Asuma let out a sigh of relief.
Looks like he had overthought things.
The childhood bond still meant something.
Watching the two, a faint, playful smile curved at Kiyoshi's lips.
Kurenai wasn't a frivolous girl.
There was no way she would fall for him so easily.
But as for goodwill—
That, he believed, already existed.
Still… that alone was far too dull.
Traditional romance?
Kiyoshi had no interest in it.
Of course, it wasn't about being the one losing either.
He preferred—
Taking what belonged to others.
What he enjoyed was the look of a woman sinking… and the helplessness of the one who lost her.
Compared to the original storyline, the future of Asuma and Kurenai had already begun to shift.
Wasn't that, in itself, a kind of "taking"?
The more he watched Asuma relax, letting down his guard, believing he still had a chance—
The more Kiyoshi felt a faint warmth rising within his eyes.
His ocular power… had increased slightly.
Even the upper limit of his chakra bottleneck was being nudged upward by that subtle surge.
Yes—
This was the feeling.
After chatting a while longer, the three went to a dango shop for a meal before Kiyoshi left first.
On the bustling streets, he bought a basket of apples as a gift.
During this period, he had visited the Konoha Hospital frequently.
Yakushi Nono had taken time out of her schedule to teach him medical ninjutsu.
A small gift like this only served to highlight his sincerity and gratitude.
Women, after all—
Liked this sort of thing.
Kiyoshi was confident that Yakushi Nono, who loved children, was no exception.
Konoha Hospital
"Sensei Nono, this is a small gift."
Kiyoshi placed the basket of apples down.
"You shouldn't have, Kiyoshi."
A surprised smile appeared on Yakushi Nono's gentle, saintly face.
She hadn't expected him to be so considerate.
Especially for someone like him—an orphan.
Who knew how much effort he must have put into learning these social niceties?
At that thought, her gaze toward Kiyoshi softened with a trace of pity.
What a pitiful child.
"Come, sit. I have something to tell you."
She beckoned him over.
Only after he sat beside her did she begin to speak.
Elsewhere in Konoha Hospital
"Rin, well done. After graduation, how about joining us?"
A female medical ninja praised Nohara Rin as she used medical ninjutsu on a budding cherry blossom branch.
If she could control her chakra well enough to make the blossom bloom, it meant she had mastered "emergency treatment."
The goal was to train medical ninja to instantly gather large amounts of healing chakra—
To keep a comrade alive in critical moments.
"Sister Minako… um, I don't want to become a support-type medical ninja."
Rin politely declined Nishiyama Minako.
"That's fine. You'll still be part of a team anyway."
Minako shook her head.
Back then, Lady Tsunade had proposed that every three-man squad include one medical ninja.
But the idea was eventually shelved.
Rin's current path could be seen as following that original vision.
"Lady Nono has heard about you. It seems she'll have her disciple come train with you. Make sure you seize this opportunity."
Minako patted Rin on the shoulder.
She truly valued this girl.
Rin picked up medical techniques incredibly fast—
At this rate, mastering the Mystical Palm Technique wasn't impossible.
But in this world—
Connections mattered.
If Rin built a good relationship with Yakushi Nono, she would have a smooth path in Konoha Hospital.
After all, Yakushi Nono was second only to the Hokage's wife, Sarutobi Biwako.
"Thank you, Sister Minako."
Rin expressed her gratitude sincerely.
At the same time, curiosity stirred within her.
Who exactly was Yakushi Nono's disciple?
She had never seen them before.
It was said that this disciple only trained inside Nono's private office—
And no one ever disturbed them.
After finishing her training for the day, Rin changed into a white nurse uniform.
She worked part-time at the hospital to help ease her family's burden.
For a civilian household, raising a ninja like her was costly.
Life was far from easy.
"I'd like a week's supply of soldier pills."
At a hospital counter, Kakashi spoke to the staff.
Rin, pushing a small cart to restock the shelves, spotted him.
"Kakashi!"
She waved.
"Rin… what are you doing here?"
Kakashi looked at her in confusion.
"I help out here to earn some money."
In Konoha, child labor regulations weren't strict.
After all, once ninja adapted to the field, they could take on C-rank missions.
Even if they killed an enemy during such missions, they wouldn't be judged for it.
Like the daimyo's army—
Ninja had immunity when it came to killing.
Kakashi nodded.
"I just saw Kiyoshi here earlier. It seems he found a teacher. I heard he was looking for Nishiyama Minako—said she'd introduce him to a talented medical ninja."
Looking at Rin in her nurse outfit, Kakashi had a feeling—
That person might be her.
"Kiyoshi…?"
Rin froze.
She hadn't heard anything about this.