Hanekawa returned to find the team intact—no injuries, no questions asked. The Mist Village ninjas had been handled. The supply convoy resumed its march, and by afternoon, they'd reached the joint Leaf-Sand base camp.
"Hanekawa!"
Kurenai appeared with a radiant smile, her ruby eyes bright. Behind her, Rin hung back awkwardly, caught between wanting to greet him and the sudden awareness of how Kurenai felt about him. Things had shifted. She could sense it.
He reached out and ruffled Kurenai's hair—a gesture that had become routine.
"Anything new in the village?" Kurenai asked, grabbing his hand and pulling him toward the camp.
"Nothing major. Though I brought you something." Hanekawa handed her a storage scroll. "Snacks from Konoha. Warm them up before eating."
Kurenai's eyes lit up like gemstones. "You're the best!"
"I need to report to Tsunade," he said, gently extracting his hand. "You and Rin go ahead."
Kurenai nodded without complaint—she understood mission protocol. As Hanekawa turned to leave, he caught Rin's hesitant expression. She's overthinking this, he thought. Give it time.
---
Tsunade's tent smelled of ink and strategy. She sat cross-legged on a carpet, studying a map of Land of Rivers, not bothering to look up as he entered. Only Hanekawa had the privilege of entering without knocking.
"Back already?" she asked.
"No complications." He settled across from her, then couldn't help noticing her bare feet—pale, delicate, practically begging for... a massage. Focus.
"Any surprises?" Tsunade stretched, her dark blue pants tightening slightly against her thighs.
"Kurenai mentioned you fought the Fourth Mizukage?"
"Mm." Tsunade set down the map. "His water and wind techniques are solid. Strength comparable to the Third. But he retreated once things got serious."
Hanekawa frowned. "Why would he engage at all?"
"Because you weren't here." Tsunade's lips curved into a knowing smile. "He knew his limits against both of us. Without you, he thought he had a chance to establish himself."
Interesting. Hanekawa realized he'd somehow become a strategic asset—a deterrent. Between capturing the Four-Tails alive and eliminating the Third Mizukage, his reputation had eclipsed even Kakashi's prodigy status and overshadowed Minato's recent accomplishments.
Though I suppose I've balanced the scales. Sakumo won't die. Minato and Kushina will probably survive the Nine-Tails incident when it comes.
"You're thinking too hard," Tsunade observed. "What's on your mind?"
"Just realizing how much has changed." He leaned closer to examine the map, though his eyes kept drifting to the curves her position revealed. This auto-aim is impossible to disable.
"This is the Mist Village's new stronghold." Tsunade pointed to an island off the coast. "I'm planning to take it."
"Revenge?"
"Strategy." She smirked. "A gift for the Fourth Mizukage—and a reminder of what happens when you test us."
"I'm coming with you."
"Obviously. Your water techniques will be invaluable against an island fortress." She glanced at him, and when he didn't pull his hand back, she let him play with her fingers. "There's something else. Have you heard of the Hozuki clan?"
Hanekawa's mind sharpened. "The second Mizukage was Hozuki Gengetsu. They're connected to the Seven Ninja Swordsmen somehow?"
"They maintain the summoning contract for the swords." Tsunade's expression turned predatory. "A genius named Mangetsu Hozuki has declared his intention to defeat you."
Of course he has. Mangetsu was legendary—capable of wielding all seven swords with mastery, possessing the Hozuki clan's water transformation technique that rendered him immune to physical attacks. His only weakness was lightning-style jutsu.
But he had no swords now. Hanekawa held the summoning scroll.
"He's already at the Land of Rivers battlefield," Tsunade continued, clearly enjoying this. "I arranged it deliberately. My student gets challenged; his teacher helps him answer."
Hanekawa couldn't help grinning. "That's devious, Teacher."
"That's mentorship." She pinched his cheek, then flicked his forehead hard enough to sting. "And you're disrespectful."
"Yes, Teacher," he said, adopting an innocent expression.
Tsunade sighed, defeated by his quick mood shifts. "We move at dawn. They won't expect us to attack so fast."
"I'll handle Mangetsu."
"No one will stop you." Her smile turned sharp. "Since he wants to test himself against you, let's give him that opportunity."
The outcome was already decided. Mangetsu was talented, but Hanekawa had transcended mere genius.
"Oh—the Hyuga clan invited me to dinner," Hanekawa said, shifting topics. "Hiashi wants his future children trained by me."
Tsunade snorted. "The Hyuga are strategic thinkers. But there's nothing wrong with it. They're loyal to the Hokage lineage, not troublemakers like the Uchiha."
Hanekawa nodded, though his mind was already spinning ahead. Hinata Hyuga was a given. But who else? Uzumaki Naruto would almost certainly be placed under his instruction—Minato and Kushina would want that connection to Tsunade's circle. The Uchiha might offer Itachi or young Sasuke for the same political reasons.
Everyone wants their children trained by the man who captured a Tailed Beast and killed a Kage.
"Rest well," Tsunade said, waving him off. "We need you sharp tomorrow."
"Are you hungry? I brought your favorite—tender chicken."
Tsunade's eyes lit up immediately. "Give it here."
He warmed the chicken with controlled fire chakra, and the aroma filled the tent. As she ate, he noticed something: the moment he left, her expression dimmed. The chicken suddenly seemed less appealing.
Interesting.
---
Kurenai's tent was warm with the smell of grilled skewers and sweet dumplings. She and Rin were already eating, and Kurenai immediately waved him over, holding up a three-colored meatball.
"Try this!"
He took a bite from her offered stick. Rin watched, her lips pressing together slightly—not quite envious, but aware of the distance between them.
Kurenai noticed and offered Rin the last meatball. "Here."
Rin hesitated, then took a bite from the same stick. The gesture was innocent, but the intimacy of it—three people sharing one skewer—felt significant somehow.
Give it time, Hanekawa thought again. These things resolve themselves.
---
Meanwhile, in Konoha:
Jiraiya emerged from a puff of smoke in a shadowed alley, stretching. He'd rushed back from the Hot Springs on Tsunade's orders to investigate Wood Style experiments. A nondescript toad waited before him—the kind of creature people instinctively ignored.
"Lead on," he commanded.
The toad guided him through careful shadows to an underground chamber. Inside, sealed documents lined the walls. Jiraiya's hands trembled as he read.
Sixty-three children. Disappeared years ago from a village near Konoha. The investigation had gone cold.
But here was the truth: Root. Danzo Shimura. Wood Style experiments.
Failed experiments. Dozens of them.
But the records stopped halfway through. Jiraiya knew why—Tsunade had mentioned a mysterious Wood Style ninja. Danzo's experiment must have succeeded at some point.
Jiraiya turned to the final page and froze.
The handwriting was unmistakable.
Orochimaru.
His mind reeled. No. It couldn't be. Orochimaru wouldn't—
But the evidence was right there in ink.
Jiraiya forced himself to breathe. Handwriting alone proved nothing. If Orochimaru was truly involved, there would be other traces. Other connections.
He needed to investigate further. Both Danzo and Orochimaru.
Once he had confirmation, Tsunade needed to know.