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"Long time no see, Lady Tsunade."
Konan approached after finishing her conversation with Kido Sakae, offering a polite greeting. "I'm Konan."
Hanekawa blinked. Wait, they know each other?
"It's you," Tsunade said, studying the woman with obvious recognition. "I wouldn't have placed you without that distinctive hair color. You've changed quite a bit over the years."
"How is Teacher Jiraiya?" Konan asked, a subtle smile crossing her otherwise composed features.
"Same as always." Tsunade snorted. "Probably drinking at some bar right now, chasing rumors about prophecies and children of destiny."
"That sounds like him." Konan glanced at Hanekawa and the others before gesturing toward the building. "Lady Tsunade, you must be exhausted from your journey. Please, come inside and rest. We have food prepared."
"Don't mind if we do," Tsunade said without hesitation. They'd been walking since morning, and lunch was overdue.
As they walked, Konan turned to Tsunade with genuine curiosity. "I have to ask—why would you accept an escort mission? That doesn't seem like you."
"To train my student." Tsunade pulled Hanekawa forward. "This is Hanekawa, my newest pupil."
"Hello, I'm Konan." She extended her hand with a slight nod. "Since Teacher Jiraiya taught me, I suppose we're of the same generation."
Hanekawa shook her hand with a warm smile. "Sister Konan. It's an honor to meet you."
Konan blinked, momentarily caught off-guard by his politeness. She'd expected someone more... guarded.
Tsunade's eyes narrowed as she watched the exchange. What is this kid doing? Building rapport already? She shot him a look that clearly said: Don't get any ideas.
"I'm Yuhi Kurenai!" The red-haired girl poked her head out from behind Hanekawa, unwilling to be left out of introductions.
"And I'm Nohara Rin," the other girl added quickly, not wanting to miss her turn.
Konan found herself slightly taken aback. In the span of a single mission, she'd apparently gained three younger siblings. The feeling was... strange. Not unpleasant, but strange.
Across the room, Asuma, Shisui, and Shizune exchanged glances. So this is the power of being one of the Legendary Sannin, they thought in unison. Even people from other villages treat you with respect.
Hatake Sakumo, however, was already piecing things together. The Sannin's legend had been forged in the Land of Rain. Whatever had happened here during that war, Jiraiya had clearly left a mark—and a student—behind. The fact that he'd never mentioned Konan suggested this was a personal connection, not an official one.
"Please, forgive the modest accommodations," Konan said as she led them inside.
The living room was sparse—just two low dining tables with place settings for nine. Everything was neat but clearly functional rather than comfortable.
Hatake Sakumo caught the eye of his genin team and gave them a subtle nod. They moved to the second table without being asked.
"I'm sitting with Hanekawa!" Kurenai announced, pulling him down beside her before anyone could object.
That left three seats at the main table—perfect for Tsunade, Konan, and Rin.
"So," Tsunade said, settling in and studying Konan directly, "you three founded the Akatsuki organization?"
"Yes." Konan nodded. "We all share the same dream—to bring peace to the Land of Rain and free it from endless war. The Akatsuki is our answer to that goal."
"I've heard of your work," Tsunade said, and there was genuine approval in her voice. "You're doing better than most."
"That's thanks to Teacher Jiraiya's teachings," Konan replied modestly.
"I know exactly what Jiraiya's about," Tsunade waved a hand dismissively. "He's out there chasing prophecies while you three are actually doing something. That's the difference between dreamers and doers."
A sudden knock at the door interrupted the conversation.
Konan's expression shifted immediately. She stood and moved to answer it, her hand already drifting toward a kunai.
"Lady Konan!" A middle-aged man stood in the doorway, breathing hard. "Hidden Rain ninjas—they're heading this way!"
"Of course they are," Konan muttered, frustration flickering across her face. "They've been relentless all year."
"What's going on?" Tsunade's voice cut through the tension like a blade.
"The Hidden Rain has been... difficult," Konan explained carefully. "We've been trying to maintain peace, but Hanzo has been increasingly aggressive. We purchased supplies from Kido Sakae to compensate for the trade restrictions he's imposed. We were discovered during transport."
"And now they're following you here," Tsunade finished, already standing. "How many?"
"Sixteen," the messenger said. "Four jonin, but Hanzo himself isn't with them."
Tsunade's lips curved into something that wasn't quite a smile. "That's manageable."
"Lady Tsunade, this is our problem," Konan said quickly. "You don't need to—"
"Our escort mission isn't finished," Tsunade interrupted. "That means you're still our responsibility. Besides," she added with a sharp grin, "if I don't help, Jiraiya will never let me hear the end of it."
Relief flooded Konan's features. "Thank you."
"Prepare for combat," Hatake Sakumo announced, already moving. His team jumped to their feet without hesitation.
"We could set an ambush," Asuma suggested eagerly.
Hanekawa pulled out a stack of detonating tags. "I have—"
He stopped mid-sentence, suddenly aware of who he was talking to. Konan's paper jutsu was legendary. Explosive tags were basically her specialty.
"Leave the detonating tags to me," Konan said, understanding his hesitation. "I'll handle the setup."
Right. The woman who once used 600 billion explosive tags. I'm definitely not the expert here.
"Let's move," Tsunade said simply.
The group dispersed throughout the village, taking positions along the most likely approach routes. Konan worked with practiced efficiency, placing her paper explosives with the precision of someone who'd done this countless times before.
Minutes stretched into an eternity of waiting.
Then—BOOM.
The first explosion shattered the quiet. A chain reaction followed, fire blooming against the gray sky, rain hissing as it fell into the flames.
"Four down," Hanekawa whispered, closing his eyes and extending his senses using the Yamanaka clan's perception technique. "The rest are coming. Straight ahead!"
Konan's form shifted, her body dissolving into countless sheets of paper. White wings materialized from her back as she rose into the air, her hands moving in a precise, graceful pattern.
The paper transformed mid-flight, becoming kunai that rained down like a deadly storm.
That's beautiful, Kurenai thought, her eyes wide with admiration.
The lead jonin from the Hidden Rain didn't hesitate. His hands flew through seals with the speed of experience.
"Water Style: Great Waterfall Technique!"
Massive spheres of water erupted from his mouth, colliding with Konan's paper projectiles. The force was tremendous, scattering her attack into soggy fragments.
Three more jonin followed suit, their combined jutsu creating what looked like an entire ocean materializing in the village square.
"Fire Style," Tsunade commanded.
Hanekawa and Shisui moved in perfect synchronization, their hands flowing through identical seal patterns. Both released their jutsu simultaneously.
"Fire Style: Great Fireball Technique!"
Two massive fireballs erupted, one after the other. They collided with the water wall, creating a massive cloud of steam that swallowed everything.
Huh. Fire Style actually killed someone, Hanekawa thought absurdly as the mist rolled across the battlefield. That's not usually how it works in the stories.
"Clear the fog!" the lead jonin barked.
A young chunin immediately formed seals. "Wind Style: Great Breakthrough!"
The mist began to dissipate—just as Hatake Sakumo's form materialized from within it.
The chunin didn't even have time to scream. A white dagger—Sakumo's signature blade—pierced straight through his heart. He was dead before his body hit the ground.
"Konoha!" another jonin shouted in alarm. "They've sent Konoha ninjas!"
"Does your village want war?" the lead jonin demanded, his voice sharp with anger and something else—fear.
Tsunade stepped forward, her expression cold. "Do you?"
The jonin's face went pale. "You... you're Tsunade?!"
The remaining Hidden Rain ninjas visibly tensed. The Legendary Sannin was a name that carried weight even in distant villages.
"This is an internal matter of the Hidden Rain," the lead jonin said quickly, trying to salvage the situation. "Please, Lady Tsunade, this doesn't concern Konoha."
"We're not interested in your politics," Tsunade replied flatly. "But you attacked our escort. That was a mistake."
She disappeared.
The ground exploded where she'd been standing, massive cracks radiating outward as she materialized directly in front of the lead jonin. The impact sent debris flying in all directions.
The battle erupted in earnest.
Tsunade and Sakumo engaged the four jonin, their movements almost too fast to follow. Meanwhile, Shisui charged forward with his sword drawn, his Sharingan already activated.
"Fire Style: Flame Blade!"
An arc of flame erupted from his weapon, cutting through the rain and turning it to steam.
"Water Style: Water Dragon Bullet Technique!" a chunin countered, but Shisui's blade cut through the water dragon without losing momentum.
"Sharingan!" another chunin shouted. "Watch for genjutsu!"
Hanekawa didn't wait for an opening. He formed hand seals and created two shadow clones, all three versions of himself rushing the nearest chunin simultaneously.
The Hidden Rain ninja panicked, unable to determine which was real. His kunai flew wildly, but Kurenai was already moving, her own kunai intercepting his attacks.
"Water Style: Water Dragon!"
Hanekawa's clones dispersed as he drew the Thunder-Fire Sword, moving with lethal precision. The blade found its mark, and the chunin fell.
Another ninja tried to capitalize on the opening, but Kurenai's water jutsu caught him mid-attack, washing him away.
Nearby, Shisui's fireball consumed another opponent entirely, leaving nothing but ash.
The last chunin tried to flee, but Hanekawa was faster. A simple genjutsu—the Fox's Mind Trick—froze him in place long enough for the sword to do its work.
Silence fell over the village square.
Konan descended slowly, her paper form solidifying back into flesh and blood. Her white wings faded away.
"Burn the bodies," Tsunade ordered, already assessing the damage. "Leave no trace. Konan, you and your people need to move. Now."
"Understood," Konan said, understanding the implication. Tsunade didn't want Konoha to become a target by association.
Hanekawa and Shisui worked efficiently, their flames consuming all evidence of the battle. Within minutes, there was nothing left but scorched earth and rain.
The group moved out quickly, following Konan and her people away from the village, disappearing into the mist like ghosts.
Behind them, the Land of Rain wept its eternal tears, indifferent to the blood that had been spilled in its name.