Romance and Ninjas: In Naruto With Infinite Skill Points!

Leaving the gates of the Hyuga compound, Yuuki cast a final glance at the confused child he left behind.

That name—Hizashi—felt oddly familiar.

Where had he heard it before?

His mind drifted, sifting through fragmented memories, and for some reason, all he could recall was Naruto's fight against Neji in the Chunin Exams.

But what did that have to do with this?

After a moment, he sighed and shoved the thought aside.

There were more pressing matters.

He couldn't afford to be late for his appointment with the Hokage.

As he strode through the village streets, a sudden blur of green shot toward him, grabbing onto his arm.

His body tensed instinctively, but before he could react, he was met with a pair of gem-like blue eyes, shimmering with playful mischief.

It was Kushina.

And she was wearing... a green spandex?!

"Kushina…" His voice came out strained, his heart giving a slight, unexpected lurch.

"You're… too close."

Kushina grinned, leaning in even more, her vibrant red hair brushing against his shoulder.

"Teehee, why? Is Yuuki-kun disgusted by my hair?" She pouted dramatically, hands clasped over her chest in an exaggerated display of heartbreak.

"I'm so sad!"

Her big, cat-like eyes gleamed up at him, her act so over-the-top that he immediately knew she was just messing with him.

Before he could even process a response, a booming voice filled with energy and laughter erupted from nearby.

"Hahaha! Yuuki! I see your Youth still shines as bright as ever!"

Yuuki turned his head slightly, already mentally preparing himself.

Standing before him was Duy, beaming with boundless enthusiasm, holding up an identical set of green spandex in his hand.

"Have you finally decided to accompany us in today's training?!"

His eyes sparkled as he proudly displayed his offering.

"Look! I brought you this brand-new, just-released, aerodynamic green spandex straight from the store!"

Yuuki blinked, barely registering what was happening before Duy continued—even louder.

"I even got one for Kushina!"

Kushina laughed and did a quick spin on her foot, stretching her arms out to show off the ridiculous outfit.

"What do you think, Yuuki? Does it look good on me?"

Yuuki narrowed his eyes, trying not to laugh, forcing his expression into seriousness, though the corners of his mouth twitched slightly.

"Hm. Very beautiful indeed."

Although he said that, he couldn't help but think she looked like a watermelon.

Duy, completely unbothered by anything, raised his fist toward the sky, his voice booming across the entire street.

"With these beauties, our training is bound to be ten—no, a hundred times better today!"

Then, with an explosive burst of passion, he threw his fist even higher.

"YOSHAAAA!"

Smiling slightly, Yuuki shook his head.

"I'm sorry, everyone. I'm really busy this time." His tone was firm but not dismissive.

"I have an appointment with Lord Hokage. If everything goes well, I'll be allowed to learn medical ninjutsu."

"What!? Really!?" Duy's eyes widened in shock.

"Yes."

For the first time in a while, Duy's wild enthusiasm quieted. His expression shifted into something more serious, filled with understanding.

After a moment, he nodded firmly.

"Thank you, Yuuki." His voice held rare sincerity, and with an uncharacteristic calmness, he patted Yuuki's shoulder and gave him a thumbs-up.

Yuuki, touched by the gesture, returned the nod with a small smile before bidding them farewell and heading toward his destination.

As they watched his figure disappear down the road, Kushina clenched her fists, a fire igniting in her eyes.

Yuuki works so hard…

How can she afford to fall behind?

If she wants to become Hokage, she needs to train even harder!

With renewed determination, she turned to Duy, her voice full of energy.

"Let's go, Duy! Another lap around Konoha!"

Duy's face lit up, his youthful spirit burning brighter than ever.

"YOSHAAAA!"

...

There was a knock on the door, followed by a calm voice from inside.

"Come in."

Yuuki stepped in, his eyes immediately falling on the man seated before him.

For a moment, he hesitated.

A complicated mix of emotions swirled in his chest.

As he stared at the aging figure of the Third Hokage, memories flashed in the back of his mind—visions of another timeline, of events not yet written in this world.

A clash between Kages.

A serpent with both its arms severed by the Shinigami's blade.

The downfall of Orochimaru, the collapse of Konohagakure's worst age.

His expression remained neutral, but deep inside, his thoughts churned restlessly.

Sarutobi Hiruzen.

From what Yuuki had come to understand, this man was possibly the worst thing to have ever happened to this village.

Every tragedy suffered by the most beloved figures of Konohagakure seemed to trace back to him, either directly or indirectly.

The death of Kakashi's father, driven to suicide by the weight of the village's judgment.

The leaking of Naruto's identity, branding him as an outcast from birth.

The death of Yahiko, forcing Nagato down a path of vengeance that would lead to unimaginable destruction.

The demise of the Uchiha, their fate sealed by political failure and paranoia.

Even the possible extinction of the Senju clan, once the backbone of the village.

And then…

The kidnapping of the Hyuga princess in the future.

At that moment, it finally clicked.

That's why that name sounded familiar.

Hyuga Hizashi.

His heart tightened, but he let out a silent sigh and pushed those thoughts aside.

For now.

He entered the room fully, closing the door behind him.

Yuuki observed the old man carefully, his gaze subtly shifting.

Just a few months ago, he had declared with absolute certainty—he would become the village's strongest sword.

But now, for the first time, doubt crept in.

If that meant becoming a weapon under this man's control…

Would he be nothing more than another piece on the board, a pawn misguided by an old fool's philosophy?

His fingers clenched slightly at his sides.

And then, an even more irritating thought surfaced.

A fleeting memory of golden hair.

Minato.

In another timeline, that guy stole Kushina's heart.

His jaw tightened, frustration settling in his chest.

Should he get closer to him?

No—no!

What the hell was he thinking? How could he lack this much confidence?!

Kushina wouldn't fall for him!

Would she…?

He shoved the thought aside violently.

What mattered now was the village's future.

He had no interest in the title of Hokage, no desire for the burdens it carried.

But a village couldn't exist without a leader.

And if anyone should take that seat…

It could only be him.

Unaware that Yuuki was already planning his early retirement, the old man sitting before him, his once jet-black hair now peppered with streaks of gray, smiled warmly.

"Welcome, young man."

His voice carried the calm authority of a leader who had seen generations rise and fall.

"I've heard a lot about you, Yuuki. You and Minato are always toe-to-toe in the academy's assessments. I've long wanted to meet both of you. Thankfully, I finally get to meet at least one."

Yuuki held back a sigh.

As the saying goes—do not slap the face that smiles at you.

He pushed aside all his rebellious thoughts, keeping his expression composed.

With measured politeness, he bowed slightly.

"Sandaime-sama, good morning. Thank you for receiving me! I hope I didn't disturb your work."

Regardless of his personal thoughts, this man was—at least for now—his true superior.

And the education drilled into him early on was clear on one thing:

A true man must always maintain composure and politeness.

And if composure couldn't be kept, then at the very least—

One must always stand on the moral high ground.

Because more often than not, a villain and a hero aren't defined by their actions alone—

But also by the reasoning behind said actions.

"Hmm."

Straightening his beard, the Hokage's smile deepened in satisfaction.

Children weren't usually this composed and polite—only those forced to mature early turned out like this.

Knowing this, though pleased, Hiruzen also felt a quiet sadness.

The dream of his predecessors, of building a world where children wouldn't have to experience the tragedies of the ninja world, was still far from reality.

But there was no time to dwell on such thoughts.

With a slight shift in demeanor, he focused on the matter at hand.

"Yuuki, according to the letter you submitted, you wish to study medical ninjutsu."

He set aside the document on his desk and clasped his hands together.

"From your grades alone, you're certainly qualified. However, before I approve your request, I want to hear the reasoning behind this decision."

His sharp eyes studied Yuuki carefully.

"Only then can I determine whether you should be allowed to proceed."

Resting his elbows on the desk, he leaned forward slightly.

"After all, the village's resources are scarce, and every medical shinobi we train requires an expert mentor. That's time that could have been used elsewhere for the village's benefit."

His words weren't harsh, but they carried weight.

This wasn't just about skill—intent mattered.

With a slight frown, Yuuki didn't rush to answer.

He took a moment, carefully considering his response.

Hiruzen noticed this immediately—and his satisfaction grew.

If Yuuki had spoken too quickly, without careful thought, the answer would have been meaningless.

Hiruzen would have refused him outright.

After all, Yuuki was still a child.

And no matter how talented, a child's resolve was unpredictable.

Would he truly commit to this path?

Or would he abandon it midway, wasting precious village resources?

A medical shinobi couldn't afford to be indecisive.

They couldn't afford to be irresponsible.

If Yuuki was lacking in determination, he wouldn't be worth the investment.

Of course, Hiruzen didn't believe Yuuki was that kind of person.

But in a system where rules dictated structure, decisions had to be made without bias.

Cough, cough!

Feeling oddly embarrassed for no reason, Hiruzen inwardly sighed.

Was someone cursing him in secret?

Shaking off the thought, he focused back on Yuuki, just as the boy lifted his head and spoke.

His voice was calm and steady, with no trace of hesitation or embellishment—only clear conviction.

"Sandaime-sama, the reason behind my request is both for personal growth and the benefit of the village."

Hiruzen's eyebrows lifted slightly, intrigued.

"I believe Lord Hokage is already aware of my goal—to become the village's strongest sword."

Yuuki's expression remained unwavering, his tone carrying a weight beyond his years.

"Through careful consideration and research, I have come to the conclusion that mastering medical ninjutsu will also grant me mastery over Yang Release."

Hiruzen's gaze sharpened, his fingers pressing together as he listened.

"For several months now, Might Duy and I have been working to refine the Eight Gates. We are attempting to improve it—but with our current knowledge, all we can do is refine the method of accessing the gates more efficiently."

Yuuki's eyes gleamed with resolve.

"However, to truly enhance the technique itself, we need a deeper understanding of how the body works."

He paused briefly, allowing his words to settle.

"After much discussion, we realized that if we want to push the Eight Gates beyond its current limitations, I must learn medical ninjutsu and master it."

For the first time, Hiruzen's lips curled slightly in amusement.

This boy… was he already looking into improving a technique developed by the Nidaime himself?

"If all goes well, not only will we become stronger more efficiently, but it may even be possible to turn the Eight Gates into something that more shinobi can learn and use safely in battle."

Yuuki exhaled slowly, then continued without pause.

"Of course, there is another reason."

Hiruzen watched closely, sensing the shift in his tone.

"In the future, when I go on missions with my team, knowing medical ninjutsu will greatly enhance our survival rate."

His fists clenched slightly at his sides, but his voice remained firm.

"I do not want to go out one day… only to lose one or more of my teammates."

At this, Hiruzen's expression subtly softened.

For all of Yuuki's ambition, there was still something undeniably noble about his reasoning.

A boy his age, thinking about the lives of his future comrades rather than just his own strength—this was not something ordinary.

And of course, Hiruzen already knew everything Yuuki was saying.

In fact, he could see deeper than what Yuuki might have been willing to reveal.

He could read between the lines—the unspoken reasoning behind this determination.

If there had been a medical ninja present that day, wouldn't his father have survived?

That thought alone was enough motivation for a boy like Yuuki.

But beyond that, Hiruzen was well aware of the two children's ongoing experiments with the Eight Gates.

At first, he had been tempted to intervene—to ban them outright from continuing such a dangerous pursuit.

However, upon further observation, his worries had been dispelled.

Rather than recklessly pushing themselves toward destruction, they were meticulously refining their approach, focusing on efficiency and sustainability rather than brute force.

That level of discipline and foresight—especially at their age—was rare.

And then, there was another factor Hiruzen couldn't ignore.

If Yuuki's relationship with Kushina continued to deepen, his mastery of medical ninjutsu would grant him exceptional chakra control.

And what did exceptional chakra control lead to?

Fūinjutsu.

The very thing that would one day be crucial in handling the burden placed upon Kushina.

And why would he need to learn such a thing?

The answer was obvious.

Without a word, Hiruzen reached for the marker on his desk, pressing it firmly onto the document before him.

His seal of approval.

Suddenly, at that moment, a figure appeared in a blur of motion, dropping to one knee before Hiruzen.

A man clad in ANBU armor, wearing a dog-shaped mask.

"Dog, make a copy of this and take it to that girl. Tell her we're waiting for her."

"Yes!"

Sakumo nodded without hesitation, swiftly rising to his feet.

As he turned to leave, his gaze briefly met Yuuki's, lingering for just a second.

There was no hostility, no condescension—just quiet acknowledgment.

And then, in a flash, he was gone.

Before long, the office door was kicked open with a thunderous bang, sending a thick cloud of dust billowing into the air.

Yuuki instantly snapped around, his body tensing on instinct.

The sudden commotion caught him off guard, but what truly left him speechless was the figure standing in the doorway once the dust settled.

A young woman with bright blonde hair stood there, her arms crossed, eyes burning with irritation.

"Old man! I was in the middle of a game! You better reimburse me for that loss!"

Hiruzen's smile visibly twitched, veins bulging on his forehead as he clenched his pipe.

Meanwhile, Yuuki was frozen in shock, his mind racing.

Isn't that…?