"You'll be facing ninjas from the Hidden Cloud next," Tsunade said as they walked. "Stay sharp. As shinobi from the Five Great Villages, they operate under stricter standards than most opponents you've encountered."
Hanekawa nodded. Their previous missions had largely avoided the major villages—this would be their first real test against elite-tier opposition.
"Once we reach the outpost, Rin and I will handle medical treatment," Tsunade continued. "Hanekawa and Kurenai, you two defend the perimeter."
"Understood," all three responded in unison.
They left the Konoha camp and headed north. After twenty minutes of travel, Tsunade called a halt.
"Hanekawa. Scout ahead."
He closed his eyes and formed hand seals. Mind's Eye.
The surrounding terrain materialized in his mind like a detailed map. "Southwest—a sentry post with six personnel. No sign of Hidden Cloud ninjas yet, but..." He frowned slightly. "That doesn't mean they're not there."
"Correct," Tsunade said. "Plenty of jutsu and barriers can mask chakra signatures. Stay alert."
Hanekawa opened his eyes. "With you here, we're not worried about ambushes."
Tsunade's lips curved upward. "Move out."
All four used Body Flicker simultaneously, appearing at the outpost in a flash.
"Wh—who's there?!" The two Leaf Village sentries tensed.
"It's me," Tsunade said calmly, stopping them before they could attack.
"Lady Tsunade?!" The younger guard exclaimed.
"Kazuki and the others—they're saved!" The middle-aged man's face lit up with relief.
"No time for pleasantries," Tsunade said. "Take us to the wounded."
"Right away, Lady Tsunade." The middle-aged man led them inside.
"Hanekawa, Kurenai—stay here," Tsunade instructed. "If this is an ambush, they'll strike soon."
She and Rin disappeared into the building.
Hanekawa closed his eyes again, activating his sensory jutsu. Mind's Eye.
The young ninja started to introduce himself but stopped, sensing the situation.
"Eight ninjas," Hanekawa said suddenly, eyes still closed. "Southeast direction. One jonin-level among them."
"An ambush!" Kurenai's breath caught.
"Eight ninjas?" The young guard's voice wavered. "Should we alert Lady Tsunade?"
"She's treating the wounded," Hanekawa said, opening his eyes. "Interrupting could cost lives. Eight ninjas isn't too many—we can handle it."
The young ninja looked at their youthful faces with obvious doubt.
Hanekawa pulled out a black pill. "Antidote. Take it."
The guard hesitated, then swallowed it, trusting Tsunade's judgment.
Kurenai bit hers down without hesitation, then made a face. "So bitter!"
"I'll add more sugar next time," Hanekawa said, ruffling her hair.
The young ninja's expression screamed: Have you considered my feelings?
"Prepare yourselves," Hanekawa said, turning toward the southeast.
Eight figures rushed toward them at incredible speed. Hanekawa's eyes widened slightly as he recognized one of them—Samui. Her distinctive blonde hair and... other features were unmistakable, even after years.
Well, this is awkward.
He didn't hesitate. Two smoke bombs flew from his hands with full force.
Wind Style: Great Breakthrough!
Hanekawa formed seals, gathering chakra in his mouth. A violent whirlwind erupted, catching the smoke bombs and spreading the cloud across the battlefield in seconds.
The first Cloud ninja rushed into the smoke and immediately choked. His hands flew to his throat as he gasped out, "It's... poisonous!"
"Clear the smoke!" Samui's voice cut through sharply.
Wind Style: Gale Palm!
Two Cloud ninjas formed seals in unison. Violent winds tore through the smoke, dispersing it completely.
The first ninja lay motionless, his skin ulcerated and covered in pustules.
"What kind of poison is that?" Samui's shock was evident.
"Stay alert!" she commanded.
Water Style: Water Torrent!
Hanekawa and Kurenai formed seals simultaneously. Two water tornadoes erupted from the ground, colliding mid-air and exploding into a massive wave that crashed down with terrifying force.
Earth Style: Earth Flow Wall!
Two earth barriers rose to meet the assault, but cracks spider-webbed across them instantly.
"Scatter!" Samui leaped upward, her feet glowing with chakra as she walked across the water's surface like solid ground.
A scream echoed behind her. One Genin hadn't reacted in time and was swallowed by the flood.
Before Samui could move to help, two massive water dragons materialized, bearing down on her position.
Where did Konoha get a water-style specialist?
She drew her dagger without hesitation.
Cloud Style: Lightning Blade!
Lightning crackled along the blade as she slashed. The water dragon shattered into fragments.
Her jonin teammate wasn't idle.
Lightning Style: Thunder Sphere!
Two balls of lightning erupted from his hands, detonating the second water dragon in a shower of sparks.
"To the outpost! Now!" the jonin shouted.
The remaining four Cloud ninjas used Body Flicker, finally closing the distance to the building's entrance.
Samui exhaled sharply. Hidden Cloud excelled in Lightning Style and taijutsu—long-range water jutsu was their weakness. Still, these two were skilled. Very skilled.
But her team was strong too. Once they got close enough for hand-to-hand combat, victory would be theirs.
Then Hanekawa appeared directly in front of them.
Recognition flashed across Samui's face. It's him.
Her expression changed instantly. "Retreat!"
If Hanekawa was here, Tsunade was definitely here. They had no chance.
Too late.
Hanekawa's hands came together in a sharp clap.
Genjutsu: False Surroundings!
All four Cloud ninjas froze, their eyes glazing over.
The middle-aged Leaf ninja reacted immediately. "Illusion!"
But speed mattered more than awareness.
Water Style: Water Blade Slash!
Kurenai materialized in front of the nearest Cloud ninja. Her kunai, wrapped in flowing water, cut cleanly through his neck.
The young Leaf guard didn't hesitate either.
Fire Style: Great Fireball Jutsu!
A massive fireball engulfed another Cloud ninja, his screams cut short as flames consumed him.
Hanekawa kept it simple. He raised his hand and threw two kunai with tremendous force.
The projectiles became spears, piercing through the remaining two Cloud ninjas with brutal efficiency. They fell backward, expressions frozen in disbelief.
Blood pooled across the ground.
Samui watched her four teammates become corpses in the span of seconds. The speed was incomprehensible.
"I'll kill them!" Her jonin teammate's body erupted with lightning, his face murderous.
"Don't!" Samui grabbed his arm. "Tsunade is inside!"
The lightning extinguished. Without another word, both Cloud ninjas turned and fled.
"Did we... win that easily?" The young Leaf guard stared at the bodies in shock.
"Are we really that famous?" Kurenai asked, surprised.
"Not us," Hanekawa said. "Our teachers. Your portraits probably circulate through every major village by now."
Though Samui recognized me for different reasons, he thought, deciding not to elaborate.
He didn't pursue them. Now wasn't the time for a reunion.
"I'm going to help Teacher Tsunade," he said. "Kurenai, watch for another attack."
"Leave it to me!" she assured him.
Inside the outpost, Tsunade and Rin were deep in surgery. They glanced at Hanekawa but didn't acknowledge him—their concentration was absolute.
"That's Kazuki," the middle-aged man explained quietly. "Most critically injured. Without Lady Tsunade, he'd be dead."
"The other two wounded?"
"Next room. I'll show you."
The smell of blood hit Hanekawa as they entered. Two conscious patients looked up with relief at his appearance.
"Lady Tsunade's student!" one said. "We're saved!"
Mystical Palm Technique!
Hanekawa began treatment, his hands glowing with healing chakra. The process demanded absolute focus and precise chakra control. By the time he finished, exhaustion weighed on him as heavily as any battle.
"Rest for a few days," he told them. "You'll be fine."
Tsunade and Rin's surgery was still ongoing. Despite his fatigue, Hanekawa joined them. An extra pair of hands could accelerate the process.
---
At the Hidden Cloud camp, Samui and her jonin teammate arrived breathless.
A, the Hidden Cloud commander, looked up from his maps. Dark-skinned and powerfully built like his father the Third Raikage, he radiated raw strength. Beside him stood Killer B, the Eight-Tails Jinchuriki, his seven swords gleaming.
"Why do you look defeated?" A asked. "Did you encounter Minato Namikaze?"
"No," Samui said, catching her breath. "Tsunade. And her student, Hanekawa."
A nodded slowly. "That explains it."
"Lord A, we could mobilize forces to surround and eliminate them!" her jonin teammate said angrily.
"A tempting idea," A said calmly. "But impossible. If we move, Minato Namikaze will notice."
"His Flying Thunder God is infuriating!" Killer B complained loudly. "Every time we fight him, it's a nightmare!"
"Our objective is to delay Konoha," A said. "The Hidden Sand situation must resolve first. Once it does, the Leaf Village falls into our hands. Then we'll deal with Minato Namikaze."
"Brother's right!" Killer B shouted. "Once we control the Sand, Konoha will surrender! Minato will have no choice!"
"Rest," A commanded. "Both of you."
"Yes," Samui said, but she lingered after her teammate left.
"Should we contact Hanekawa?" she asked quietly.
"Not yet," A said. "He'll be useful when the time comes."
Samui nodded and turned to leave, her gaze drifting toward the gray sky.
Hanekawa's strength had grown even more terrifying. If the Two-Tails Jinchuriki knew... well, she'd never sit still. But bringing another Jinchuriki would signal all-out war to Konoha.
A shame, Samui thought. I would have liked to see him again.