The alliance signing ceremony concluded without fanfare. As Tsunade dismissed the gathered ninja, Hanekawa remained behind, watching the Hidden Cloud delegation file out with military precision. Mabui led them with her characteristic efficiency, while Samui lingered just a moment too long before following.
He'd expected this.
In the hallway connecting the Hokage Building to the ANBU base, she found him waiting.
Samui wore her standard mission attire—a light gray dress cut dangerously low, paired with a black miniskirt that left little to imagination. The vertical belt cinching her waist made the whole ensemble look perpetually on the verge of falling apart. White thighs, black high-top shoes, and that characteristic cold expression that never quite reached her eyes.
She looks like she's here to assassinate me, Hanekawa thought with amusement. Not that I'd complain.
"Looking for me?" he asked, closing the distance between them.
His hand rose to her head, fingers threading through her shoulder-length blonde hair. It was as soft as he remembered.
"Goodbye," Samui said, her voice carefully controlled. But her body had already betrayed her—a subtle tension in her shoulders, a slight tremor she couldn't quite suppress.
"Do you need an escort?" Hanekawa's hand drifted down her hair, following the curve of her neck.
"Unnecessary." The word came out clipped, defensive.
"When will you return to Konoha?"
Samui's breath hitched as his hand settled on her hip. She tried to maintain her composure, but her voice wavered. "When we deliver the ninjutsu, techniques, and reparations."
Hanekawa's hand tightened slightly. "Next time we meet, wear a cheongsam."
"I... I know..." Samui's legendary composure cracked. A blush bloomed across her pale cheeks, spreading down her neck.
"And black stockings," he added, patting her rear before withdrawing his hand.
"Ah." She nodded like a docile cat, completely unlike the intimidating kunoichi she presented to the world.
Hanekawa produced a kunai from his pouch—ornate, complex seals etched into its surface. Two characters were inscribed along the blade: his name.
Samui's eyes widened as recognition dawned. "Flying Thunder God Technique?"
"I recognized you at first sight," Hanekawa said, his smile confident. "You're exactly the woman I want."
The blush deepened until her face matched the color of her lips. She took the kunai with trembling fingers, turned, and fled the alley without another word.
Hanekawa watched her go, satisfied. By the time she exited into the street, her breathing had become ragged, her legendary composure shattered. She clutched the kunai to her chest, her mind spinning with thoughts of him.
---
A week later, Hanekawa emerged from the ANBU training grounds, exhausted but triumphant. Wood Style: Woodman Technique—finally mastered.
Six months of intermittent training since the war's end. Not fast, but respectable considering the technique rivaled Susanoo's complete form in power. Few ninja in the world could claim such an ability.
He'd hit the limits of what Yamato's knowledge could teach him. The truly devastating techniques—Flower Tree World Advent, True Thousand Hands—required chakra reserves beyond even his current capacity. A problem for another day.
For now, he had other priorities.
The S-rank entry "Invincible Shadow" beckoned. It required synthesizing two A-rank entries: "Seven Attributes Jonin" and "Seven Kekkei Genkai." He'd made solid progress on the latter, but the former remained incomplete.
Water and Earth jutsu—done. Medical ninjutsu and genjutsu—acquired just last month. That left Lightning, Wind, and Fire.
He'd start with his strongest suit: medical techniques and illusion arts. Both represented fundamental aspects of his power.
By mid-April, both entries were his.
"Lord Hanekawa."
Aoi entered without preamble, document in hand. "The investigation you requested has yielded results."
Hanekawa opened the file. The ANBU's work was meticulous—they'd been tracking unusual expenditures from the Hidden Mist for weeks. Then, two days ago, the Land of Water's daimyo had sent a massive supply shipment.
And then it vanished.
Obito.
The Uchiha's Kamui dimension made for an excellent storage space. In the original timeline, he'd filled it with ninja tools and weapons. Apparently, he was doing the same here—but with supplies meant for Hidden Mist.
"I'll be gone for two days," Hanekawa announced. "You have command of the ANBU. Anything serious goes to Tsunade."
"Understood, Lord Hanekawa."
After Aoi left, Hanekawa made his rounds. A brief word with Tsunade about "ANBU business." A visit to Kurenai and Rin to ensure they'd be fine without him. Then he headed for the Hidden Mist.
The Flying Thunder God Technique made the journey trivial. Throw a kunai with maximum force, teleport to it, repeat. Chakra-intensive, yes, but the Yin Seal meant he could maintain the technique indefinitely.
By the next morning, he'd arrived at Hidden Mist.
The current Mizukage was Karatachi Yagura—the Three-Tails jinchuriki. The previous Mizukage had died of old age and war injuries, leaving Yagura to assume leadership.
Hanekawa moved through the village's shadowed streets, his presence masked by chakra suppression. He needed information, not confrontation.
Not yet, anyway.
---
[B-Rank Talent Entry: Land of Snow]
[Trigger Condition: Support Koyuki Kazahana to become Daimyo of the Land of Snow]
[Effect: Ice Release talent increased by 150% of original basis]
[Note: Can be synthesized]
The notification had appeared days ago, right before the alliance signing. Minato's mission to the Land of Snow had succeeded—Koyuki Kazahana would become daimyo, and Hanekawa would reap the rewards.
Not bad, he'd thought at the time. One step closer to "Seven Kekkei Genkai."
Now, standing in the Hidden Mist's shadowed streets, Hanekawa considered his next move. Obito was gathering resources. The question was why.
And more importantly—how could Hanekawa turn it to his advantage?
The answer came to him as naturally as breathing.
He'd stop Obito's theft, of course. But not before learning exactly what the Uchiha was planning.
After all, information was the most valuable currency in the ninja world.
And Hanekawa had learned long ago that the best way to control the future was to understand the present.
He melted into the mist, a ghost among ghosts, ready to hunt.