A Flying Thunder God kunai was planted in the ground. As Minato Namikaze formed hand seals, countless formula markings spread out from the kunai. The massive dragon of energy shuddered, was gradually absorbed, and finally vanished.
"Incredible," Sarra gasped. She wasn't a ninja and had only heard stories of their amazing feats, but this was beyond anything she had imagined.
"Done!" Minato said, wiping the sweat from his brow. This was the first time he had sealed something comparable to a Tailed Beast. He hadn't been entirely confident, and the most crucial part was that there was no jinchuriki to serve as a vessel. Fortunately, he had improvised, using the Flying Thunder God kunai as a medium to seal the Dragon Vein into the platform before them.
Suddenly, a massive explosion roared from the distance. Haneul instinctively stood up and activated his 8x scope. It was Anrokuzan's self-destruction. Dust and collapsing buildings obscured his vision.
"I'll go check the situation," Minato said, vanishing. A moment later, he reappeared with Tsunade and Future Kurenai. Haneul sighed in relief. With the Dragon Vein sealed, Anrokuzan had lost his regenerative abilities and was no match for them.
But the next second, he raised an eyebrow. A strange white light was appearing around Future Kurenai's body, and he could faintly feel the flow of space-time energy.
"It seems that because the Dragon Vein was sealed, the timeline around you is correcting itself," Minato said thoughtfully. "In other words, you're about to return to your original time."
"Will my other teammate return as well?" she asked.
"He will," Minato said after a moment's thought. His own Flying Thunder God was a space-time ninjutsu, so he had a good understanding of the subject.
"That's good," she said, then turned to Haneul with a smile. "Little brother, we still have some time. Let's chat."
"Who's your little brother?" Haneul retorted, but walked over anyway.
"Kurenai, do not tell him about the future," Minato said sternly. "The moment you speak of it, you will change history."
"I understand," she nodded.
She and Haneul walked to the side. "Were you hiding it from me for the reason Senior Minato mentioned?" she asked, pursing her lips.
"Mhm," he chuckled. "Besides, it's not like you would stay here with me."
"That's true," she said, patting his head. "You're too little. Not fun to play with."
"...?" Haneul glared at her. What is that supposed to mean?
"This is nice, though," she said, not afraid of him at all. "Getting to meet the childhood version of you."
"Stop patting my head!" he said, turning away.
"It's a rare opportunity," she laughed happily. "It was always you patting my head before."
Haneul's lip twitched. What goes around, comes around. He never thought the boomerang would come back so quickly. The head-patter had become the head-patted.
"It's almost time," she said, looking at the white light enveloping her.
"Let's go back," Haneul said, turning to walk towards Tsunade. Although they were parting, he felt no sadness, and neither did she. After all, for them, nothing was truly lost. When they returned to their own times, they would still see each other. This time-travel incident was just an unexpected surprise.
"To avoid unnecessary trouble, I will seal everyone's memories," Minato said, forming hand seals and pointing them at Future Kurenai. As he finished the last seal, her body vanished in a flash of white light.
"What a strange power," Tsunade mused. Will I really become Hokage in the future?
"Lady Tsunade," Minato said, then continued to perform the sealing jutsu, not even sparing Sarra. And, of course, himself.
Haneul was surprised. He realized his memories hadn't disappeared. What's going on? It certainly wasn't because Minato had gone easy on him. He quickly figured it out—it was the effect of his A-Rank 'Sleeper Agent' Trait. His true memories had been hidden, and Minato had only sealed a false set.
Will this affect the future? No, perhaps it's because my memory wasn't sealed that this plot even happened. In that case, did this mean that in a few years, he would travel through the Dragon Vein to the era of the Sage of Six Paths? Then what about Mukade? The future him could definitely defeat Mukade. Besides, Mukade wasn't supposed to go to the Dragon Vein until Naruto was a teenager. This was at least twenty years too early. The only explanation was that he himself would find Mukade and guide him to the Dragon Vein early.
"Is the mission over?" Tsunade asked, shaking her head with a look of confusion. She remembered coming to Roran with Haneul and Minato, but the events in between were a blur.
"It's over, Master," Haneul said, pointing to the Flying Thunder God kunai. "Senior Minato has already sealed the Dragon Vein."
"This is indeed my seal," Minato said with a frown. He felt like something was missing.
"Thank you, everyone from the Leaf Village," Sarra said, bowing. "You helped me defeat Anrokuzan and restore peace to Roran."
Looks like Minato let her keep more of her memories, Haneul thought.
"It was our duty," Minato said with his signature sunny smile.
After resting for a night at an inn, the three of them returned to Konoha.
"Lady Tsunade," Minato said with a smile, "are you coming with me to report the mission?"
"You go ahead," she waved her hand. "Just give us our share of the reward later."
"Alright then," Minato nodded and vanished.
"Let's go!" Tsunade said eagerly. "To the casino!"
"Master!" Haneul said with an exasperated sigh. "Who goes to the casino the moment they get back to the village?"
"I haven't gambled in a week!" she argued.
"Then you go ahead," Haneul said, ditching her. He had something else to do.
"...?" Tsunade's face stiffened. If she went alone, she would just be giving away her money. "Fine," she said after a moment's thought. "We'll go tomorrow."
Haneul was stunned. She can actually resist the urge?
"What's with that look?" she asked, annoyed. "In your eyes, do I have no self-control at all?"
"Pretty much," Haneul said honestly.
"What did you say?!" A vein pulsed on her forehead. "Looks like you need to be taught a lesson today!"
"See you tomorrow!" Haneul used a Body Flicker and fled.
"You're dead, you little brat!" Tsunade clenched her fists, her brow furrowed.
Haneul took a detour to the commercial district and bought a bag of lollipops and a box of takoyaki. He then headed to Maruboshi Kosuke's house.
"Haneul?!" Kurenai, who was practicing her Water Style, immediately stopped and ran over to him.
"Ah, to be young," Kosuke could only sigh.
"When did you get back?" she asked with a happy surprise.
"Just now," he said, patting her head. "I guessed you would be here, so I came to find you."
Kurenai's smile grew even brighter. The first person he had sought out upon his return was her. That said it all.
"It's been so long. Aren't you going to show me some affection?" Haneul asked, a playful glint in his eye.
"What do you mean?" she tilted her head, looking innocent.
"How about this," he stated his purpose. "You call me 'big brother'."
"Huh?" she was taken aback, then refused. "Absolutely not!"
"Why?" he asked, his voice tempting. "I'll give you a lollipop."
"Not even for a lollipop," she said, shaking her head after a moment's hesitation. She had always dreamed of being the "big sister." She wanted him to call her that, not the other way around.
"What about takoyaki?" Haneul asked with a grin, holding out the lollipops in his left hand and the takoyaki in his right.
Kurenai's face was a picture of conflict. These were her two favorite snacks. Damn it! He's tricking me!
"Just once," Haneul emphasized.
"Fine," she finally gave in to the temptation of food and said reluctantly, "Big Brother Haneul."
"You're so cute," he couldn't help but smile. Now we're even! That's what you get for calling me 'little brother' in the future.
"Even if you compliment me, I won't forgive you!" she said, puffing out her cheeks and snatching the treats from him.
"Yes, my mistake," he quickly apologized. "Who knows, maybe one day I'll be the one calling you 'big sister'."
"Really?" A fire lit up in her eyes.
How obsessed are you? he thought with an internal sigh.
"Here," she opened the takoyaki, speared one with a wooden skewer, and held it to his mouth.
"Thanks," he said, taking a bite.
-------
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