Hanekawa spotted Minato across the courtyard and offered a respectful nod. "Minato-senpai."
The Fourth Hokage's signature smile appeared instantly. "Hanekawa. It's been too long. I've heard remarkable things about your work in the Grass Country."
"I had help," Hanekawa replied with practiced humility.
"Still modest as ever." Minato glanced toward the Iwagakure delegation. "I need to brief the Hokage on our guests. You all catch up."
As Minato departed, Nohara Rin's eyes immediately searched the crowd—looking for one face in particular. Kakashi noticed her expression darken and turned away, jaw tightening.
"You killed the Third Mizukage?" Might Guy's voice cut through the moment, practically vibrating with excitement.
"I did," Hanekawa confirmed.
"THEN YOU ARE WORTHY OF BEING MY ETERNAL RIVAL!" Guy thrust both thumbs up, his teeth gleaming. "My blood is BOILING! We must have a youth showdown RIGHT NOW!"
Here we go, Hanekawa thought, suppressing a smile. This man's life philosophy is literally just 'fight everyone about everything.'
"I'm in," Hanekawa said simply.
Guy's eyes went wide. "Wait—really?"
"You want to spar, don't you? I learned some new taijutsu from Chen Rōshi. Perfect chance to test it."
"Chen Rōshi?!" Guy's confusion lasted exactly two seconds before recognition hit. "Oh! The one they call Konoha's Strongest Taijutsu Master! I've heard the legends!"
Of course he has. They're probably the only two people in the village who care that much about hand-to-hand combat.
"The SPRINGTIME OF YOUTH BURNS WITHIN ME!" Guy clenched his fists, practically vibrating. "This is what being alive means!"
"How many gates have you mastered?" Hanekawa asked.
"The sixth gate, stable. The seventh is still rough." Guy didn't hesitate to answer. "I'm working on it."
Hanekawa nodded with genuine respect. Guy had basically conquered the Eight Gates—a feat that should have been impossible for someone his age. The man was a freak of nature, just in a completely different way than Hanekawa.
"When we spar, use the sixth gate," Hanekawa said. "I want to see if my new technique can handle the Peacock."
Guy's expression flickered with concern. "The Daytime Peacock? That's... I don't want to hurt you."
"You won't," Hanekawa said with a slight smile. "Trust me."
That was all Guy needed. His worry evaporated instantly, replaced by pure excitement.
But then Hanekawa noticed Rin's face had gone pale. Her eyes were red-rimmed, glistening with unshed tears.
"What happened?" he asked, already knowing the answer.
Kakashi's voice was flat, controlled—the voice of someone holding themselves together by sheer willpower. "We requested the prisoner roster from Iwagakure. Obito wasn't on it."
Rin's last thread of hope snapped. Tears spilled down her cheeks before she could stop them.
Hanekawa hesitated for only a moment before pulling her into an embrace. She stiffened in surprise, then collapsed against him, her shoulders shaking as she finally let herself break.
Kakashi turned away, his own eyes glistening. He was managing fine until Guy suddenly rushed forward and wrapped both arms around him, crying dramatically with snot running everywhere.
"...?" Kakashi's eye twitched. His urge to cry evaporated completely.
After several minutes, Rin pulled back, her face flushed. "Um... thank you."
"It's nothing," Hanekawa said quietly. "Obito died a hero. He sacrificed himself for Konoha. That's something to honor, not regret."
Even if I have to make sure he stays dead, Hanekawa added silently.
Rin nodded, then suddenly noticed the wet stain on his shirt. "Oh no! Your clothes—I'm so sorry!"
"It's fine. I'll wash it when we get back."
"I'll do it!" Rin said firmly, clutching his damp shirt like it was precious cargo.
Hanekawa changed into a spare coat from his storage scroll. "Then I appreciate it."
"Ready for that showdown?" Guy was already bouncing on his heels, his emotional whiplash complete.
"Let's head to the training grounds," Hanekawa said.
---
The nearest training ground was empty at midday. Kakashi positioned himself as referee while Rin stood to the side, still holding Hanekawa's shirt.
"BEGIN!" Kakashi called.
Guy moved first, his speed already impressive even without the gates. "KONOHA GREAT TORNADO!"
His leg came around in a whirlwind kick. Hanekawa met it with his own spinning kick, their legs colliding with enough force to send shockwaves rippling outward. Guy slid back several steps, shaking out his numb leg.
"You're stronger than ever," Guy said with genuine admiration.
"You're not bad yourself," Hanekawa replied.
They traded blows for several minutes, testing each other's limits. Then Guy's aura shifted.
"TIME TO GET SERIOUS!" His body flushed red as chakra erupted around him. "EIGHT GATES—OPEN!"
The third gate. His speed tripled instantly.
Hanekawa responded with Chen Rōshi's second technique—a three-part spinning kick that sent Guy sliding backward despite his enhanced state. Progress, but not enough.
"AGAIN!" Guy was grinning like a madman.
They continued for several more minutes before Hanekawa called out: "Warm-up's over, Guy!"
Guy's expression turned serious. His aura intensified as he opened gate after gate.
Fourth. Fifth. Sixth.
By the time the sixth gate fully opened, the ground beneath him cracked. His chakra became a visible force, sending dust and debris swirling into the air. Even Kakashi's expression grew tense.
"MORNING PEACOCK!" Guy announced, giving Hanekawa time to prepare.
His fists became a blur, moving so fast they ignited from friction with the air. Each punch was a controlled explosion of force and speed—beautiful and terrifying, like a peacock spreading its tail in all its glory.
Hanekawa's hands came together.
Lightning erupted around him—the Thunder Release Chakra Mode activating instantly. But that wasn't his real answer.
His body began to spin.
The Konoha Dragon God.
A massive blue tornado erupted around him, thirty meters tall, spinning with such force that the air itself became a weapon. The wind sharpened into invisible blades that shredded Guy's flames and cut into his arms.
From the outside, it looked like a dragon devouring a peacock.
Guy's fists connected with the tornado again and again, each punch sending pain shooting through his arms as the wind cut him. But he kept attacking, kept pushing, because this was what he lived for—the pure joy of testing himself against someone equally strong.
Hanekawa felt every impact through the wind barrier. Guy's strength was immense, his technique flawless. The force of his attacks penetrated the tornado and struck Hanekawa's Lightning Chakra armor, each one a hammer blow.
But Hanekawa wasn't being hurt. That was the difference.
After a final barrage of punches, Hanekawa's tornado suddenly contracted, wrapping around Guy like a cocoon. The peacock's feathers scattered. The ground exploded outward in a massive crater, debris flying in all directions.
Kakashi quickly raised an earth wall to shield himself and Rin.
When the dust settled, Hanekawa stood untouched in the center. Guy was covered in blood, his arms shredded with shallow cuts, breathing hard but grinning like he'd won the lottery.
"THAT WAS INCREDIBLE!" Guy laughed, genuinely delighted despite his injuries. "What a glorious battle! THIS IS YOUTH!"
Hanekawa couldn't help but smile. "You pushed me harder than I expected."
"We should do this again!" Guy was already talking about their next match, his injuries completely forgotten.
Kakashi approached, his expression unreadable. "That taijutsu... I've never seen anything like it."
"Chen Rōshi's technique," Hanekawa explained. "It's designed to counter speed-based attacks."
"It worked," Kakashi said simply. But his eyes held questions—questions about just how far Hanekawa had come, and how much further he might go.
Rin was staring at Hanekawa with an expression he couldn't quite read. When she noticed him looking, she quickly looked away, hugging his shirt a little tighter.
Well, Hanekawa thought. That's going to be complicated.
---