Hanekawa closed his eyes, extending his perception across a ten-kilometer radius. The original story had mentioned Danzo capturing Konan, but never specified where. A systematic search was his only option.
At least she wasn't in immediate danger.
"Nothing here," he said, opening his eyes. "Let's move on."
"Go!" Tsunade nodded sharply.
Five figures sprinted through the downpour at maximum speed. Yahiko and Nagato had taken the opposite direction. With the Akatsuki base as their center point, they'd split into two search teams—one heading south, one north. Additional Akatsuki members fanned out across the region, though their lower skill levels meant they were mostly relying on luck.
"Something's wrong over there!" Hanekawa's head snapped up thirty minutes later.
"Did you find her?" Kurenai asked urgently. She'd grown fond of Konan and didn't want anything to happen to her.
"Not exactly. But there's a clue."
They arrived at a devastated valley. The ground had collapsed into a maze of cracks and fissures. Buried vegetation and scorch marks from detonating tags were still visible beneath the rain.
"Earth Style ninjutsu," Tsunade observed, her eyes narrowing. "Significant terrain alteration."
She frowned. Most Hidden Rain Village ninjas specialized in water techniques—the constant rainfall made it practical. Earth Style users existed, but ones capable of this level of destruction? That meant jonin-level power. She didn't recall any such ninja in the Rain Village.
Hanekawa's mind raced. In the original timeline, Danzo's Root operatives had disguised themselves as Hidden Stone ninjas to attack Akatsuki.
"These detonating tags belong to Konan," he said, examining the debris. "I've seen her work before."
"Then they're close." Tsunade leaped skyward, scanning the area. She landed moments later. "I found traces. Follow me."
Despite Root's careful planning, Tsunade's sharp eyes and decades of experience caught what others would miss. An old person in the family is like a treasure, Hanekawa thought, then immediately suppressed the observation. Tsunade would kill him if she ever heard that comparison.
He followed, mentally cataloging the tracking signs he'd learned in the Academy—disturbed earth, bent vegetation, the direction fallen leaves had scattered. In this rain, such marks were nearly invisible. Only experience separated the hunters from the blind.
"There," Tsunade said finally.
Hanekawa looked ahead. A bare mountain rose in the distance, its slopes clearly visible. His enhanced vision caught the camp at its base immediately—two ninjas standing rigidly at the entrance, moving with the mechanical precision of Root operatives. Puppets following orders without question.
They wore Hidden Stone clothing and forehead protectors.
"Hidden Stone?" Tsunade's confusion was evident. "Why would Iwagakure want Konan?"
She didn't know about Root. Hanekawa did.
"Eight total," he reported, closing his eyes to confirm with his perception. "All strong. Jonin or special jonin minimum."
Root members were hand-selected geniuses. There were no exceptions.
"That matches Hidden Stone's reputation," Tsunade decided. "Duy and I take the front. Hanekawa, Kurenai, and Rin—rescue her from behind."
"Understood," they replied in unison.
---
The moment Tsunade and Might Duy appeared, the two gate guards reacted.
"I won't hesitate!" Duy shouted. "Konoha Gouriki Cyclone!"
His body vanished, transforming into a spinning vortex that kicked toward the guards.
Tsunade's expression turned complicated. Did he really just announce his technique AND his village? Infiltration missions were clearly not in Duy's future.
A massive water dragon materialized from the rain, crashing down on Duy before he could land his strike. He was engulfed instantly.
Tsunade stepped forward and punched, shattering the water dragon into spray.
"Thank you!" Duy gasped, then immediately opened his stance. "Eight Gates Open!"
Green chakra erupted around him. The third gate. He charged like a living projectile.
"Konoha's Gouriki Cyclone!"
Both Root guards flew backward, cratering the mountainside.
The commotion drew the remaining six operatives. Five emerged from the camp, their pupils contracting when they recognized Tsunade. For a moment, fear flickered across their faces—then they remembered Danzo's orders, and their resolve hardened.
The rain intensified. Chakra-infused droplets became cutting streams. The earth heaved, spawning spike forests. Flames erupted like a crimson dragon.
Five sets of hand seals formed simultaneously. Ninjutsu filled the air.
"Open the Shang Gate! Open the Du Gate! Open the Jing Gate!" Duy felt the danger spike. He didn't hesitate. "Attack Peacock!"
This was his first S-rank mission. With Tsunade leading, his youth had to triumph.
In a blink, he was among the five Root operatives. His fists moved faster than sight, the air itself screaming. Friction ignited flames across his body—a peacock spreading its tail against the gray sky.
The Root ninjas' jutsu shattered. Screams followed.
Blood mixed with rain, turning the downpour crimson.
"Impressive," Tsunade admitted.
Of the five, one was dead. One critically wounded. Three were badly injured. Only a handful of ninjas could achieve such a record—Hiruzen, the Sannin, Sakumo Hatake, Minato Namikaze.
But power demanded payment.
"No more Peacock," Tsunade said flatly, raising her leg. "I'll handle the rest."
The ground cracked like a spiderweb beneath her.
---
Under cover of the chaos, three figures slipped into the camp.
"Enemy in that tent," Hanekawa whispered, pointing. "I'll hold him. You rescue Konan."
"I'm coming with you," Kurenai said immediately.
"Too many people draws attention. I can manage."
His current strength was jonin-level—not ordinary jonin, but one versed in multiple techniques. With Lightning Style Body active, he'd be elite jonin tier. His limitations were his underdeveloped physique and chakra reserves.
Kurenai wanted to argue but held back. "Be careful."
Hanekawa used Transformation Jutsu, becoming an identical copy of the gate guard. He walked into the tent.
The Root operative inside froze.
Genjutsu: Sharingan Illusion!
Hanekawa's eyes locked with his. The ninja's expression went blank.
Rasengan!
He appeared in front of the operative, spinning chakra compressed in his palm. The technique tore through cloth—revealing not flesh, but densely packed parasitic insects.
An Aburame clan member. That explained why he'd stayed inside. His secret techniques were too distinctive.
The Rasengan crushed hundreds of parasites, but more swarmed out, flying toward Hanekawa.
Chidori Flow!
Lightning erupted around him, wrapping the insects in electricity. They blackened and fell like rain.
"Secret Technique: Insect Jade!"
The operative stepped back, raising his hands. A swarm erupted outward, clinging to the lightning, dying to consume it.
Hanekawa's electrical aura dimmed rapidly.
Fire Style: Great Fireball Jutsu!
He exhaled flame. The heat wave rolled across the parasites, twisting them, burning them.
"Secret Technique: Cocoon!"
The operative created a protective shell, generating fresh insects.
Behind him, Kurenai and Rin cut Konan's bonds and moved toward the tent opening.
The operative sensed the movement. He waved his hand—parasites flew toward them.
Earth Style: Earth Flow Wall!
Hanekawa raised a barrier, buying them time.
Kurenai slashed the tent fabric. She and Rin carried the unconscious Konan and ran.
"Damn!" The operative's face twisted with rage.
Perfect opening.
Body Flicker!
Hanekawa appeared before him and threw a punch. The operative commanded his parasites to form a shield.
Strength of a Hundred!
The insect wall exploded. His fist connected with the operative's body, sending him flying backward. The operative crashed into the mountainside and didn't get up.
Dance of the Three Suns and Moons!
Hanekawa drew his Thunder Fire Sword and finished it.
---
"Status?" he asked, finding Kurenai and Rin.
"Excessive chakra depletion," Rin reported, her hand glowing with medical chakra. "She'll recover with rest."
Kurenai maintained a rain barrier around them.
Outside, Tsunade and Duy had finished their opponents. Tsunade hadn't even released her Yin Seal. Duy, at the sixth gate, had been overkill.
Hanekawa approached the Aburame operative's corpse and pried open its mouth. There—the Tongue Eradication Seal.
Danzo's insurance policy. As long as the operative lived, the seal prevented them from speaking. Dead operatives couldn't talk anyway.
Tsunade walked over, saw the seal, and went very still.
"Aburame clan techniques," Hanekawa said quietly. "And this seal."
"What is that old bastard doing?!" Tsunade's voice was ice. "I suspect Danzo and Hanzo are working together."
Tsunade's hands clenched. "Seal the bodies. We're taking this to Hiruzen."
Hanekawa used storage scrolls to collect the corpses.
"She's waking up!" Kurenai called.
Konan's eyes fluttered open, confusion crossing her face as she took in her surroundings.
Hanekawa exchanged a glance with Tsunade. The implications were clear: Danzo's reach extended further than anyone had realized. And if he was collaborating with Hanzo...
The political landscape of the ninja world just became significantly more dangerous.