My Kekkei Genkai Is Kinda Weird?!

Now that she had officially become the Third Hokage's disciple, Rin no longer needed to hide her abilities. At last, she could begin absorbing knowledge at full speed and pushing her growth to the limit.

War was coming. That looming certainty weighed heavily on her heart, fueling a relentless sense of urgency.

When Kenichi returned home and learned that Rin had been accepted as the Third's personal student, he said nothing. He simply shut himself in his room and sat in silence for a long time.

Though Kenichi often seemed like a carefree man, he hadn't become a jōnin from a civilian background by being foolish. During his absence, the Hokage had taken an uncanny interest in his six-year-old daughter—sending trainers, involving her in missions. It was all too unusual. Deep unease gripped his heart.

He sat in the dim room, absentmindedly rolling a kunai between his fingers. The cold metal grounded him, sharpening his thoughts.

He replayed everything in his mind—Misaki's death, Rin's sudden awakening, the Third Hokage's "special attention"... It was all too coincidental. So much so that Kenichi could no longer believe it was coincidence at all.

"Senju bloodline…" he murmured, brows drawn tightly together.

As a jōnin of Konoha, Kenichi understood all too well what the Senju name represented. The First and Second Hokage, Hashirama and Tobirama, had been Senju. Their blood was the pride of the village—and also a source of peril. Now, with the Senju clan all but vanished, the sudden appearance of a child with that bloodline would surely stir the ambitions of powerful men.

"This isn't right. I can't let Rin get pulled into all this…" His fists clenched as resolve settled in his eyes.

He rose, pushed open the door, and walked toward Rin's room.

She was seated at her desk, absorbed in a scroll on ninjutsu. At the sound of footsteps, she quickly closed it and looked up with a smile. "Dad, you're back?"

Kenichi studied her, his gaze complex. She looked innocent, just a normal six-year-old. But he knew better. Rin had matured far beyond her age.

"Rin." He took a deep breath and sat across from her. "There's something we need to talk about."

Rin blinked, her smile fading. She dropped the pretense. After days of acting with the Hokage, putting on a mask was becoming second nature.

"What is it, Dad?"

Kenichi hesitated for a long moment before finally asking, "Did Hokage-sama… tell you about your lineage?"

Rin's pupils contracted slightly, but she quickly recovered. She lowered her head and answered softly, "Yes."

Kenichi let out a long sigh and reached out to ruffle her hair. "Don't worry. I'll protect you, Rin."

She looked up at him, touched by the sincerity in his voice.

"But…" Kenichi's gaze turned grave, "you need to remember—Konoha isn't as peaceful as it looks on the surface. The Third didn't choose you just because of your talent."

"You're afraid I'll be used," Rin said quietly.

Kenichi didn't answer directly. He simply said, "The Senju were once Konoha's backbone. But now, their blood is seen by some as… a resource."

Rin was quiet for a while, then smiled faintly. "I understand, Dad."

She did understand.

The Third Hokage wanted an obedient disciple. Danzo wanted the Senju blood. And she—she just wanted to live, and grow stronger.

If she became strong enough, then whether it was the Hokage or Danzo—whatever plots and schemes they had—she would break them all with her own hands.

Kenichi looked at her and, for a moment, saw someone both familiar and utterly foreign. In the end, he just sighed. "No matter what happens, I'll protect you."

Rin nodded, but deep down she knew the truth: in this world, true protection could only come from her own strength.

---

A few days later, following the Third's arrangement, Rin began training at the Konoha Hospital to learn medical ninjutsu.

Her instructor, Kobayashi Riko, was a seasoned medical ninja. Calm and composed, she had a reputation for being strict with her students.

She studied the six-year-old girl standing before her and frowned slightly. "You're the one the Hokage recommended?"

Rin nodded obediently. "Yes, Kobayashi-sensei."

Riko's eyes fell to the bandage on Rin's arm. "That injury still hasn't healed?"

Rin lowered her gaze. "It's much better now."

And yet… Rin couldn't help but feel puzzled. If she truly was a Senju, why didn't she possess their famed vitality? By the standards of their clan, a minor wound like this should've healed already.

Riko didn't press. She simply said, "If the Hokage has vouched for you, I won't object. But I'm very busy, so you'll have to be serious. Don't waste his expectations."

Rin looked up, eyes full of quiet determination. "I'll do my best."

Riko stared at her for a few seconds, then finally nodded. "Alright. From today on, I'll teach you the basics of healing techniques."

Rin's progress was swift—so swift that even Riko, with all her experience, was a little stunned.

"Your chakra control is exceptional," she remarked one day.

Rin gave a small nod, mind already spinning with how to weaponize medical ninjutsu to further her strength.

---

That evening, as she left the hospital and walked home, a prickling sensation on her skin made her pause.

Something was off.

Someone was following her.

But this wasn't just a regular ninja. The presence was colder… darker… more elusive.

—Root.

Her heart sped up, but she didn't show it. Her footsteps remained calm, steady.

At the next corner, she slowed down and pretended to be distracted by some wildflowers growing by the path. She crouched, feigning curiosity.

Shhh—

A shadow slipped in behind her without a sound.

Rin continued to act oblivious. Only when the intruder's presence loomed close enough to brush her back did she suddenly whirl around, eyes wide in feigned fright.

"Who's there?!"

Standing before her was a masked Root operative, his eyes devoid of warmth.

"Hanabuchi Rin. Danzo-sama wishes to see you."

Her eyes narrowed for a moment, but then she tilted her head in confusion. "Danzo-sama? Who's that?"

The Root ninja gave no answer. "Come with me."

Rin stepped back, shaking her head. "No. My dad told me not to go with strangers."

The ninja hadn't expected her to refuse. His tone dropped several degrees. "This wasn't a request."

Rin bit her lip and gripped her short blade, adopting a defiant posture. But instead of attacking, she suddenly screamed, "Help! Somebody help! A bad man's trying to take me!"

The Root operative's gaze sharpened. He moved to grab her.

Shhh—

A figure landed between them in an instant, blocking the attack.

"To strike at a child—is that how far Root has fallen?"

Rin looked up and saw silver hair, and the familiar Konoha forehead protector.

—Kakashi!

The Root ninja slowly withdrew his hand, expression cold. "Hatake Kakashi. This is Danzo-sama's order."

Kakashi turned slightly, voice just as icy. "Sorry. This girl is the Hokage's student. I won't let you take her."

A tense silence followed, then the Root ninja let out a dismissive snort and vanished in a blur.

Only then did Kakashi turn and kneel beside her. "Are you alright?"

Rin, eyes wide in "shock," nodded slowly. "Kakashi-senpai… thank you."

He studied her for a moment, eyes unreadable. "Is your injury healed?"

"Uh?"

---