The Heavens: From Naruto to sign in

Half a month later.

The entrance exams for the Ninja Academy had officially begun.

Yoruha and Ino arrived at the testing site early in the morning.

By the time they got there, dozens of other children had already gathered outside the examination hall—some from prestigious clans, others from civilian families. It didn't matter where they came from. As long as there was a sliver of hope, every parent wanted the same thing:

For their child to become a ninja.

That single title carried with it honor, future prospects, and protection for the family. For many, it was everything.

"Yo! Yoruha! Ino! Over here!"

Akimichi Choji stood beside Shikamaru, waving excitedly when he saw them.

"Ugh... the deer, the butterfly, and now two pigs," Shikamaru muttered, letting out a heavy sigh. "This is going to be such a drag."

He sounded like someone already resigned to the troublesome fate awaiting him.

"Hey, hey! Nara's stinky deer!" Ino's face darkened, a tick forming on her forehead as she glared at him. "Who are you calling a pig? You wanna get smacked again?!"

She raised her little fist, full of righteous fury.

The Ino–Shika–Cho trio was the legendary formation passed down for generations in Konoha. Each new generation was made up of the heirs from the Yamanaka, Nara, and Akimichi clans. The trio's balance of mind, body, and power had made them one of the village's most stable formations.

But this time around… there was a twist.

Yoruha had originally been the sole heir of the Yamanaka clan. However, due to his early health problems, his parents had a second child—Ino—to carry the clan's expectations.

Now, both siblings were eligible candidates for the "Pig" of the formation.

And neither of them were thrilled about the label.

"Ughhh, I knew it. So troublesome…" Shikamaru groaned again as Ino stomped toward him.

"I seriously don't get it," Ino huffed. "Choji's whole family is literally built like marshmallows, but they get called 'butterflies'? Meanwhile, our family is blessed with such perfect looks, and we get stuck being the 'pig'? So unfair!"

Yoruha chuckled and gently patted her on the head, brushing aside a stray lock of blonde hair.

It was true that Choji was a chubby little guy now…But once he activated his clan's secret technique and transformed into that battle-mode "butterfly"—he actually looked lean and powerful.

More and more children began to arrive at the entrance to the examination hall.

Yoruha glanced over the crowd.

Still no sign of the famous "Konoha Nine." That particular class would go on to hoard nearly all the plot armor in the entire ninja world. If fate played out the same as in his memories…

He'd have some competition ahead.

Not that he was worried.

He was Yoruha, after all.

Just then, a soft voice called out from behind him.

"Y-Yoruha… good morning…"

Turning around, Yoruha was greeted by the sight of Hinata Hyuga, nervously fidgeting with her fingers, her face already pink.

She was so shy she couldn't even look him in the eye.

"Hinata! It's been a while," Yoruha smiled warmly. "You've gotten cuter again."

The words came out effortlessly.

Hinata's entire face instantly flushed crimson, and she lowered her head even further, mumbling to herself in a panic.

There he goes again... saying weird things like that...

She kept fumbling with her fingers as if trying to ground herself.

Yoruha couldn't help but laugh a little.

Honestly?

It's not like he meant to steal Naruto's future wife.

But two years ago, during one of his sign-in quests, he happened to step in when some boys were bullying Hinata.

That little act of heroism changed everything.

From that day on, Hinata's feelings shifted—not toward the hyperactive blond kid… but toward him.

Still, it wasn't like he could be blamed.

He couldn't just ignore a mission.

And speaking of Naruto...

Leaving Hinata Hyuga—Konoha's golden girl, practically wife material—in the house alone every night while you worked late?

What kind of Hokage did that?

If anything, he was doing Hinata a favor.

"I really hope I get assigned to the same class as you, Hinata," Yoruha said teasingly. "That way, I get to see your cute face every day."

The poor girl was about to combust.

Her cheeks turned the color of a tomato.

Her fingers moved in overtime.

By the time Ino returned and saw what was happening, she knew immediately.

"Alright, alright, big brother," she said, placing a hand on Hinata's shoulder. "Stop teasing her. She's about to pass out again."

Sure enough…

Hinata's eyes rolled back.

And she fainted.

Right into Ino's arms.

"…"

Yoruha and Ino both stared at her, then at each other.

Ino sighed. "Seriously. You have to stop doing that."

Yoruha smiled innocently.

"Hey, I didn't even try that time."