The Third Hokage set down his pipe and steepled his fingers, considering the implications of Hanzo's death.
The benefits to Konoha were immediate and substantial. The Salamander had been a persistent thorn in their side—a threat that had claimed many of their finest shinobi. With him gone, the Hidden Rain Village would slip back into obscurity, no more significant than the Hidden Grass or Hidden Water villages.
But should they move on the Land of Rain itself?
Hiruzen considered it briefly, then dismissed the notion. The Land of Rain's strategic position made it a powder keg. Any attempt to seize it would provoke both the Hidden Sand and Iwagakure—a complication Konoha didn't need. Besides, the constant rainfall and lack of resources made occupation impractical. The Fire Nation would shoulder the burden of support indefinitely.
His thoughts turned to Tsunade.
This victory would elevate her standing considerably. If she chose to pursue the Hokage position, the path was clear. She possessed everything required—strength beyond question, fame that now reached new heights, the prestige of her name, and a character the village respected.
Hiruzen reviewed the other candidates mentally. Orochimaru and Jiraiya were formidable, but neither matched her overall profile. Sakumo Hatake had the strength but lacked the political standing. As for Minato Namikaze—the boy was brilliant, but too young. He would make an excellent Hokage eventually, perhaps even the one after Tsunade.
And then there was Hanekawa.
The boy's performance against the Salamander had been extraordinary. In raw capability, he was Tsunade's equal, perhaps even her superior. The future of Konoha suddenly seemed remarkably bright—three potential Hokages, each capable of leading the village for decades to come.
Hiruzen nodded with satisfaction. He had done well.
"Aoi," he called to his ANBU assistant.
The masked ninja stepped forward immediately.
"Publicize that Tsunade and Might Duy killed Hanzo," Hiruzen instructed. "The village should know that their enemy has fallen."
Aoi bowed. "Yes, Lord Hokage."
"And add that Hanekawa defeated the Salamander," Hiruzen continued. "Both victories deserve recognition."
"Understood."
As Aoi departed, Hiruzen leaned back in his chair. Now came the matter of rewards. Tsunade lacked nothing material—money would be crude but practical. Hanekawa could learn new techniques from her directly. As for Might Duy...
The man deserved promotion. Chunin seemed insufficient given the circumstances. Jonin was technically beyond his qualifications—his taijutsu expertise, while exceptional, didn't meet the standard criteria. A special jonin rank would suit him better.
---
In the Raikage Building, the Third Raikage reviewed the intelligence scroll with characteristic calm.
"Hanzo is dead," he said simply.
"An incredible development," Dodai agreed, though his tone suggested deeper concerns.
"The Salamander was aging," the Raikage replied. "His decline was inevitable. What matters is Konoha's response."
Mabui stared at the scroll, her mind elsewhere. The intelligence mentioned Hanzo's death and the involvement of Konoha shinobi, but there was something else—something that made her stomach tighten.
Hanekawa had killed the Salamander.
She thought of their last encounter, of the humiliation that still burned despite her intensive training since. Even without tapping into her tailed beast's power, she'd been outmatched. The gap between them had only widened.
"Mabui," the Raikage prompted. "Your assessment?"
"Konoha will wait," she said carefully. "Patience gives them the greatest advantage. They can observe how events unfold without committing themselves."
"Then the real danger lies with us," Dodai observed grimly. "The Hidden Sand presses from one direction, The Hidden Leaf from another, and now the Land of Rain—if Akatsuki takes control, they'll become Konoha's ally."
The Third Raikage waved a dismissive hand. "One small village changes nothing. The Hidden Cloud stands alone if necessary."
His confidence was absolute, but even he couldn't deny the shifting balance of power.
---
Across the ninja world, the news rippled outward.
The Hidden Sand, locked in their own struggle with the Cloud, acknowledged the development with grim acceptance. One less threat to the east was welcome, but it meant facing a potentially stronger Konoha once their current war ended.
The Hidden Mist Village, distant and isolated, registered surprise but little else.
Mei Terumi, however, held the intelligence report longer than necessary. She thought of Hanekawa—of their brief encounters, of the gap that had widened between them. She bit her lip, determination hardening her expression.
"I've grown stronger too," she murmured. "Just wait."
In a hidden base shrouded in darkness, White Zetsu emerged from the earth before Uchiha Madara.
"Lord Madara, I have news you'll find... interesting."
Madara's single eye fixed on the creature. "Nagato?"
"He's well. Hanzo is dead. Akatsuki will inherit the Rain Village."
"Who killed him?" Madara's interest sharpened. Few shinobi possessed the capability.
"Konoha ninjas—Tsunade and Might Duy. The Eight Gates technique proved... effective."
Madara's expression shifted to something between intrigue and calculation. "Eight Gates. Interesting. Continue monitoring Nagato. The Akatsuki needs proper guidance, and this war provides the perfect opportunity."
---
Night had fallen by the time Tsunade settled into the bath at the Akatsuki base.
Steam rose around her, carrying the scent of hot water and soap. She stretched languidly, letting the heat ease the tension from her muscles. Her eyes drifted to the raincoat Hanekawa had given her, draped nearby.
A strange sensation flickered through her chest—something she quickly suppressed.
It was what it was. She didn't hate it, so she wouldn't resist it. Whatever came next, she could accept.
Tsunade closed her eyes and surrendered to the warmth.
When the water cooled, she rose and changed into a yukata—Hanekawa's yukata, since she'd never owned one herself. The fabric was comfortable, loose in a way that suited her.
"Teacher, dinner's ready," Hanekawa called from the main room, waving her over with a smile.
"I need to dry my hair first," Tsunade replied.
"I'll help." Hanekawa pulled a chair back slightly and gestured for her to sit.
Tsunade settled into the seat without hesitation. Hanekawa moved behind her, and she felt his hands begin to work through her golden hair with the technique he'd learned.
Behind her, Hanekawa's eyes suddenly widened.
The yukata had slipped slightly at the collar, revealing the pale curve of her shoulder and the faint tracery of blue veins beneath her skin. He swallowed hard and deliberately looked away, focusing intently on the task at hand.
"We'll head back after breakfast tomorrow," Tsunade said, picking up her chopsticks and taking a bite of chicken. The flavor was perfect—savory and rich.
Hanekawa made a small sound of acknowledgment, his concentration absolute.
After several minutes, her hair was dry and fluffy. He finished with a gentle touch to her head. "Done, Teacher."
"Thank you." Tsunade took another bite, then asked, "Where are Kurenai and Rin?"
"They were exhausted. They went to bed."
"You should do the same," Tsunade said, meeting his gaze.
"Right. Good night, Teacher."
"Come here first."
Hanekawa approached, uncertain. Before he could ask what she wanted, Tsunade's hands shot out and ruffled his hair vigorously, messing it up thoroughly.
His face froze.
How do you even dodge a zero-frame attack like that?
"Consider it payback," Tsunade said with a satisfied smile, "for earlier."
Hanekawa's eye twitched. He made a mental note—revenge later, when I'm stronger—and managed a strained smile. "Good night, Teacher."
"Sleep well," she called after him, her amusement evident.
---
Morning arrived with clear skies and the promise of an easy journey home.
At the Akatsuki base gates, Yahiko tried one last time to convince Tsunade to stay. "Surely a few more days wouldn't be too much trouble?"
"You have work to do," Tsunade replied firmly. "We'd only be in the way."
She turned and left without waiting for further argument.
"Quite direct," Konan observed, watching her go. Over the past days, she'd developed a genuine respect for the woman. Tsunade was powerful and efficient, with none of Hanzo's scheming nature. She simply acted.
"An extraordinary woman," Nagato agreed.
---
Two days later, the group approached Konoha's gates.
"The weather here is perfect," Kurenai said happily, tilting her face toward the sun. "No more endless rain."
"I'll register us," Rin offered, moving toward the gate.
The moment the gate guards spotted Tsunade, they straightened to attention, their voices ringing out in unison. "Lady Tsunade! Welcome back!"
Tsunade nodded in acknowledgment.
The left guard immediately bolted toward the village, shouting at the top of his lungs. "Lady Tsunade has returned! Lady Tsunade is back!"
Tsunade's eye twitched slightly. "What's all this?"
"The entire village knows you killed Hanzo, Lady Tsunade," the remaining guard explained excitedly. "Everyone wanted to see you!"
Hiruzen, Tsunade thought with a flash of irritation. That old man really is determined to push me toward the Hokage position.
She turned and glared at Hanekawa.
This was his fault somehow. It had to be.
Hanekawa blinked innocently, completely bewildered.
"Your registrations are complete," the guard said quickly. "Please, enter the village."
As they walked through the gates, Tsunade saw the crowd.
People lined both sides of the street, waving and cheering. The noise was deafening—a celebration that rivaled festival season.
This is ridiculous, Tsunade thought, though she smiled and waved in response.
The village had decided that Tsunade, as one of the legendary Sannin, must have been the primary force behind Hanzo's death. Might Duy was an unknown quantity to most. The narrative was already written.
---
In the Uchiha compound, Fugaku observed the commotion from his window.
"What's happening out there?" he asked.
"Lady Tsunade has returned to the village," an Uchiha ninja reported.
Fugaku's mind worked quickly. This level of reception didn't happen by accident. The Hokage had orchestrated it. Which meant Tsunade's position had just elevated significantly.
"Mikoto," he called to his wife. "Prepare a gift. Visit Tsunade and offer our congratulations."
It wouldn't do for the Uchiha clan head to appear to curry favor, but his wife could manage the diplomatic courtesy. The other clans—Hyuga, Ino-Shika-Cho, and others—were likely doing the same.
---
In his private quarters, Danzo Shimura listened to the distant cheers with growing fury.
The Hokage had orchestrated this entire spectacle. The position of Hokage, which had seemed within reach, now felt impossibly distant. But that was secondary.
The real problem was protecting himself.
He'd attempted to shift blame to Tsunade when confronted by Hiruzen, but the old man hadn't believed a word. Root's conditioning was absolute—no one could be "bewitched" into betrayal. The excuse had failed, and now Danzo was isolated, watching his influence erode with each cheer that echoed through the village.
He would need to be very careful indeed.