Early morning two days later, Hanekawa stood at the first training ground and opened the Eight Gates under Might Duy's watchful eye.
The transformation was instantaneous. His body thrummed with power—vision sharpened, hearing heightened, every sense amplified. The chakra roiling through him felt limitless, intoxicating.
This is what they mean by "Eight Gates," he thought, unable to suppress a small sigh. And that's just the first one.
But power came with a price. His chakra was now too volatile to control with precision. Attempting even basic Fire Style ninjutsu would likely end in failure. Then again, if he could pull it off, his chakra control would level up significantly.
The first three gates were manageable. The remaining five? Those were a different beast entirely.
Still, Hanekawa was satisfied. This was progress.
"You have remarkable talent!" Might Duy exclaimed, practically vibrating with excitement. Unlike many jonin, he held no prejudice against any training method—he was simply thrilled to see another Eight Gates user emerge.
"Thank you, Uncle Duy." Hanekawa deactivated the gates and immediately felt the backlash—his body ached as if he'd been beaten. The Eight Gates forced your body into overdrive. The crash afterward was inevitable.
A figure descended from above in a blur of motion.
"Lady Tsunade!" Might Duy snapped to attention.
Tsunade nodded absently, then fixed her gaze on Hanekawa. "Come with me to see the old man."
"Uncle Duy, see you later," Hanekawa said, already moving to follow her.
As they walked, Tsunade didn't wait for him to ask. "It's about the Akatsuki organization."
"Akatsuki?" Hanekawa's brow furrowed. "Shouldn't Jiraiya handle this? He's the one with the connection."
"He's off chasing his 'Child of Prophecy' nonsense," Tsunade said with a snort. "Only stayed in Rain Village a week before bolting. The old man's stuck with me."
Of course he is, Hanekawa thought. Hiruzen's building her resume for the Hokage position.
They reached the Hokage's office within minutes. Hiruzen Sarutobi sat behind his desk, pipe smoke curling lazily around his head.
"This is a secret letter from Akatsuki," the Third Hokage said without preamble, sliding a sealed envelope across the desk.
Tsunade picked it up, her expression darkening. "Hanzo?"
"Indeed."
She opened the letter and scanned its contents. Her frown deepened. "What's he playing at? He and I fought during the Second War. Why the sudden cooperation?"
"Because it's a trap," Hiruzen said quietly.
Hanekawa's stomach dropped. The original timeline. Hanzo's ambush. Yahiko's death.
"A trap makes sense," Tsunade agreed, her mind clearly following the same logic. "Hanzo couldn't beat us back then, so he let us go and got famous for it. Now he wants to finish what he started."
"I want you to go to the Akatsuki base," Hiruzen continued. "Refuse the cooperation in person. Hanzo will have contingencies—we need to be prepared."
Tsunade hesitated only briefly. "Fine. This is a chance to settle old business."
"S-rank mission," Hiruzen said firmly. "Take additional jonin."
"No." Tsunade shook her head. "War's coming. We need them watching the Hidden Cloud. Besides, Akatsuki can help us."
"Teacher," Hanekawa interjected, "what about Uncle Duy?"
Tsunade glanced at him, surprised.
"He's opened the Eight Gates," Hanekawa continued. "After that, he's stronger than most jonin. And he deserves a real chance to prove himself."
Hiruzen's expression shifted—approval, perhaps a hint of amusement. "Might Duy would be acceptable. A successful S-rank mission would justify promoting him to chunin."
"Then it's settled," Tsunade said, already moving toward the door. "We leave at two o'clock."
---
Hanekawa found Might Duy still at the training ground, practically glowing with excitement when told about the mission.
"The Hokage personally assigned me?!" Tears streamed down his face. "My youth has finally been recognized!"
After Duy rushed off to prepare, Hanekawa made his way to Nohara Rin's house.
He found her in the yard, hands glowing with pale green chakra as she worked on a small carp. The light flickered like a failing bulb before dying completely.
"Failed again," Rin sighed, frustration clear in her voice.
"The Healing Palm is difficult," Hanekawa said, stepping into view. "Don't be too hard on yourself."
Rin's head snapped up, surprise lighting her face. "Hanekawa! What are you doing here?"
He handed her a tissue without answering. She took it, wiping sweat from her forehead, and Hanekawa found himself noticing things—the way her damp hair clung to her neck, the faint flush in her cheeks from exertion.
Focus, he reminded himself.
"There's a mission this afternoon," he said, keeping his tone professional. "We're heading to the Land of Rain."
"I'll be ready," Rin said quickly, then hesitated. "Would you... like to stay for lunch? My parents are out."
The invitation hung in the air between them. Hanekawa considered refusing, then decided against it. "I could cook something."
Rin's eyes widened. "You'd do that?"
He simply walked past her toward the kitchen, leaving her standing in the yard looking flustered.
Twenty minutes later, they sat across from each other at the dining table. Rin took a bite of the chicken he'd prepared and her eyes lit up immediately.
"It's delicious," she said, and meant it.
Hanekawa smiled. The 'Senior Chef' upgrade was worth it.
---
At two o'clock, the team assembled at Konoha's gate: Tsunade, Hanekawa, Nohara Rin, Kurenai Yuhi, and Might Duy.
"Move out!" Tsunade commanded, and they vanished into the afternoon, heading west toward the Land of Rain.
---
Morning of the third day
The Akatsuki base was quiet when the messenger entered Yahiko's chamber.
"A letter from Konoha," the man reported.
Yahiko opened it, reading quickly. "They're sending an envoy to help us." He glanced at Konan. "Go meet them."
She nodded and departed, her paper wings carrying her skyward.
Minutes later, another knock.
"The Hidden Leaf envoy has arrived," the messenger announced.
Yahiko stood. "I'll greet them personally."
He entered the main hall and stopped short. Tsunade?
The legendary kunoichi stood before him, flanked by several younger ninja. Yahiko felt simultaneously honored and unnerved by Konoha's show of force.
"Lady Tsunade," he said, introducing himself. "I'm Yahiko. Welcome."
Tsunade's eyes swept the room. "Where's Konan?"
Yahiko's stomach tightened. "She went to meet you. Didn't you see her?"
"No."
The word fell like a stone into still water.
Yahiko's mind raced. "The letter—did you send it through our secure channel?"
"No," Tsunade said slowly. "But it came through Konoha's official lines."
Someone's manipulating us.
"We need to find Konan immediately," Hanekawa said, his voice urgent.
Tsunade's expression hardened. "Split up. Search everywhere. Move!"
The team dispersed into the rain-soaked streets of the Hidden Rain Village, searching for a kunoichi who had vanished without a trace.
And somewhere in the shadows, Shimura Danzo smiled.