The March sun warmed Konoha's streets as Hanekawa stood before a boulder, chakra swirling in his palm. Molten Release energy crackled and spun, forming a sphere of roiling magma that distorted the air itself.
Molten Release: Rasengan.
He drove it downward. The impact was catastrophic—the boulder shattered into charred fragments, each piece scorched black by the intense heat. Hanekawa examined the destruction with clinical detachment. Double the damage of a standard Rasengan. That would be... unpleasant on a human body.
A notification flickered across his vision:
```
[S-Rank Ninjutsu Entry: Molten Release Rasengan]
[Trigger Condition: Successfully combine Lava Release with Rasengan]
[Effect: Combines tearing and burning damage]
[Note: Cannot be synthesized]
```
S-Rank already? He raised an eyebrow. Well, Rasengan was A-Rank to begin with. Guess there's a tier gap even within the same rank.
The wind shifted. An ANBU materialized before him—Haru, one of Tsunade's operatives. She extended a scroll without a word and vanished just as silently. Professional efficiency. Hanekawa appreciated that.
He unrolled the intelligence report and scanned the contents. His expression grew thoughtful.
The Hidden Cloud was split into two forces. The first group, led by A and Killer Bee, clashed with Orochimaru's coalition in the Land of Snow. Evenly matched. Brutal. The second group—under the Third Raikage himself—faced an entirely different problem.
Ten thousand Iwagakure ninjas. Led by Ōnoki personally.
Here it comes, Hanekawa thought grimly. The original timeline's death flag.
The Third Raikage was essentially a faster, more durable version of Minato Namikaze. One of the strongest living shinobi. But even legends couldn't outlast ten thousand enemies. The math was simple. Ōnoki's Dust Release was theoretically superior, but speed was the Third Raikage's domain. Eventually, exhaustion would claim him.
Still, the Hidden Cloud's resilience was impressive. To hold out this long against three major villages spoke volumes about their military strength.
Hanekawa pocketed the scroll and returned to training. This time: the Strength of a Hundred Seal.
The progress bar was nearly complete. Another week, maybe less. Having an S-Rank healing technique was like equipping infinite resurrections—invaluable when facing truly dangerous opponents.
---
That evening, Eiichiro arrived at Tsunade's house with a reminder about the graduation ceremony.
"Are you going, Teacher?" Hanekawa asked over dinner.
Tsunade paused mid-chew. "He invited you, not me." She smiled dangerously. "Besides, wouldn't I overshadow you?"
"My reputation belongs to you anyway," Hanekawa said without hesitation.
Tsunade's chopsticks froze. She glared at him. "What are you implying?"
"Nothing. Just stating facts." He met her gaze steadily. "If you want my earnings, I'll give them to you."
"Don't be ridiculous," Tsunade said, turning away with unusual abruptness. "What else should I tell them?"
"Tell them to focus on getting stronger. The Will of Fire is boring."
"That is boring," Tsunade admitted, then asked casually, "So you're really not going?"
"I might as well gamble," she said, shaking her head. "Better use of my time."
Hanekawa didn't push. He knew better.
---
Five days later, the Ninja Academy's graduation ceremony.
Hanekawa arrived to find the gates crowded with students. A girl with long purple hair waved frantically—Uzuki Yugao, though she'd grown noticeably taller.
"Brother Hanekawa! You're amazing now!" Her admiration was genuine.
"You're doing well yourself," he said, ruffling her hair. "Graduating soon?"
"Not yet. Maybe two or three more years." She tilted her head. "Is it true you defeated a tailed beast?"
"Four-Tails. An ape with four tails."
"That doesn't sound very evil," Yugao observed.
"Evil depends on the user," Hanekawa replied smoothly. "Are you giving a speech today?"
"Lord Hokage couldn't attend, so I'm filling in."
More students crowded around—Umino Iruka, Kamatsuki Izumo, Steel, and a dozen others whose names he'd learned over the months. They treated him like a celebrity. Fame is weird, he thought, accepting autograph requests with good humor.
Eiichiro eventually rescued him from the mob, guiding him to meet the vice-principal—a jonin with distant Senju blood who was far more enthusiastic than necessary.
At nine o'clock sharp, the playground filled with students from all grades.
Hanekawa took the podium. The moment he opened his mouth, cheers erupted.
This kid is quite popular, a familiar voice muttered from the crowd.
Hanekawa's eyes found Tsunade instantly. She stood at the back, arms crossed, trying to look like she'd just happened to pass by. Sure, Teacher. On your way to the casino.
He kept his speech short—thirty minutes, no more. Long speeches were forgotten anyway. Sarutobi Hiruzen could drone on for hours; Hanekawa preferred efficiency.
After stepping down, he took a back route to avoid another crowd ambush.
Tsunade intercepted him anyway.
"Didn't you go to the casino?" he asked with a smile.
"It's on the way," she said flatly.
"That's not on the way."
"I said it's on the way." She glared at him unreasonably.
"Of course, Teacher. You're right." He grinned wider.
"Come to the casino with me!" She turned sharply, clearly flustered. "And I've mastered the Strength of a Hundred Seal."
Tsunade stopped mid-stride. "Already?"
"Five days instead of seven. Better than expected."
She looked at him—really looked at him—and something shifted in her expression. When they'd first met, he'd been a child with potential. Now he was becoming something else entirely. A prodigy. A powerhouse. Someone who wouldn't need her forever.
"You've completed your apprenticeship," she said quietly. "Congratulations."
"I'm not leaving," Hanekawa said, taking her hand. "I'll follow you for the rest of my life."
Tsunade's breath caught. She raised her free hand instinctively, flicking his forehead with practiced precision. "Respect your teacher, brat."
"You taught me that too." He held her hand firmly. "Let's go."
She didn't pull away.
---
April arrived with Hanekawa deep in wind-style and lightning-chakra-mode training.
Then May came.
On the first day, news shattered across the ninja world like breaking glass:
The Third Raikage was dead.
Surrounded by ten thousand Iwagakure ninjas, he'd fought for three days and three nights. Protecting his forces. Buying them time to escape. Eventually, exhaustion claimed even legends.
The death of a Kage rippled through the Five Great Villages like an earthquake.
The ninja world had shifted on its axis.
And Hanekawa, training in Konoha's peaceful gardens, felt the tremor from a thousand miles away.
---