"Hanekawa!"
Kurenai rushed toward him the moment Madara disappeared, Rin close behind. The others gathered around as well.
"I'm fine," Hanekawa said, withdrawing his shadow clone with a shake of his head.
After discovering Obito's dual Kamui, he'd decided on a simple strategy: keep moving. The Mangekyō Sharingan was powerful, sure, but it required line of sight and a moment to activate. If he just kept dodging, Obito would be left frustrated and helpless. As for actually killing him—that would've been impossible with Madara watching.
"I got the feeling he knew you," Kurenai said thoughtfully, tilting her head. "Have you offended any Uchiha?"
"You know me. I'm always kind to everyone." Hanekawa smiled innocently.
Right. And I'm secretly a spy from the Hidden Cloud.
"That's true," Kurenai agreed, though she still looked puzzled.
"Hanekawa, you fought him directly," Hizashi asked, stepping forward. "Was that really Wood Style?"
"It was," Hanekawa confirmed. "But it's nowhere near as powerful as the legends suggest."
Hizashi's eyes widened slightly before he nodded in agreement. The legends of Wood Style all traced back to Hashirama Senju—a figure who'd dominated the entire ninja world. The fact that this mysterious Wood Style user had been seriously wounded by Hanekawa shattered the myth of its invincibility.
"About the Wood Style," Hanekawa said carefully, "I'd appreciate it if everyone kept this quiet."
Time to plant some seeds.
"Of course," Kurenai and Rin agreed immediately.
The four Hyuga clan ninjas exchanged glances and nodded. In their view, Hanekawa's word carried Tsunade's authority, and Tsunade would be the next Hokage. Keeping secrets for her was simply good politics.
"Let's head back to base camp," Hanekawa said, glancing toward the village headquarters.
He could still sense the massive chakra signature of the Three-Tails from earlier, but it had vanished completely. There was no way Chiyo and Tsunade had killed it—which meant the Hidden Mist had retreated on their own. Losing their leader would do that.
The group made their way back, and Hanekawa finally allowed himself to check the system notifications that had been pinging at him.
[B-Rank Talent Entry: Green Ninja]
[Trigger Condition: Defeat the enraged Uchiha Obito]
[Effect: Wood Style talent increased by 150% from base]
His eyes lit up. A Wood Style talent entry? That was beyond what he'd expected. Sure, Obito's Wood Style came from White Zetsu, but the entry itself was legitimate.
He couldn't use it yet—he didn't know any Wood Style jutsu—but once he learned some, this entry would accelerate his mastery significantly.
The second notification made him pause.
[S-Rank Talent Entry: Kamui Cannot Hide Tears]
[Trigger Condition: Defeat Uchiha Obito upon opening his eyes]
[Effect: Spatial talent increased by 300% from base]
Finally.
The spatial talent he'd been waiting for. With this, he could actually learn space-time ninjutsu. And in Konoha, there was only one space-time technique worth learning: the Flying Thunder God Jutsu.
He'd never attempted it before because he lacked the spatial aptitude. Now? Now he had a real shot.
Flying Thunder God was absurdly convenient—combat, escape, even redirecting Tailed Beast Balls. It was almost as broken as Obito's Kamui.
Thanks for the gifts, Obito. You're a real pal.
Of course, Obito probably hated him with the fury of a thousand suns right now. Hanekawa suspected that if there was another Nine-Tails incident, Obito wouldn't bother with Minato and Kushina—he'd come straight for him.
Well, that's a problem for future me.
Obito would need half a year to recover from his injuries anyway, and he had Madara's Eye of the Moon to worry about. That bought Hanekawa time to master Flying Thunder God and teach it to Tsunade and Kurenai. With those seals in place, even Obito would think twice.
The base camp came into view, and Kurenai gasped.
The neat rows of tents were now tilted and torn, scattered like debris after a storm. The air reeked of blood.
"The destructive power of tailed beasts is truly astonishing," Hizashi sighed.
Tsunade had arrived in time to help, but there was only so much one person could do against a monster like the Three-Tails. Many ninjas had been caught in the crossfire.
"We need to help," Hanekawa said immediately, moving toward the nearest injured person.
"I'm coming with you!" Rin hurried after him.
Kurenai and the others began helping rebuild the camp while Tsunade continued her medical work. She caught sight of them and visibly relaxed—at least they'd made it back unharmed.
Hours passed. By noon, things had finally stabilized enough for a brief respite.
"Lady Tsunade!" A messenger from the Hidden Sand outpost approached. "The Hidden Mist has withdrawn from the Land of Rivers."
Tsunade's eyes widened. "They... withdrew? Why?"
"Unknown, ma'am."
"I know why," Hizashi said with a slight smile. "Hanekawa killed the Third Mizukage."
The camp fell silent.
Shocked expressions rippled through the gathered ninjas. Tsunade herself looked stunned, her mouth opening and closing without sound.
Chiyo stared at Hanekawa like he'd grown a second head. She'd known he was strong, but this? The Third Mizukage was a legendary figure. She'd expected a grueling battle, not... this.
The boy is stronger than I thought, she realized with a mixture of awe and envy. If only my grandson had inherited my skills like this one inherited his talent.
"No wonder they retreated," Tsunade finally said, her voice steady despite the shock. "Well done."
"Teacher deserves the credit," Hanekawa replied modestly.
Tsunade's lips twitched upward before she caught herself and forced her expression back to serious. Can't let them see me smile like that.
"The Mist may have withdrawn, but we can't lower our guard," she announced to the camp. "Hizashi, Maki—I want patrols doubled. Everyone else, rest in your tents."
"Yes, ma'am," they chorused.
As the crowd dispersed, Tsunade caught Hanekawa's eye. "Come to my tent. We need to talk."
---
Inside the tent, Tsunade immediately dropped the act. She peeled off her green coat and collapsed onto the carpet with a groan.
"I'm exhausted."
Hanekawa blinked. From where he stood, all he could see was the graceful curve of her body, the pale skin that seemed to glow, the way her clothes clung to—
Focus, you idiot.
He lay down beside her, keeping his gaze carefully neutral.
"What are you looking at?" Tsunade's eyes snapped open, catching him mid-stare.
"Teacher, I need to tell you something important," he said quickly, pivoting to business.
Tsunade pouted but let it slide. "Go ahead."
"After I killed the Third Mizukage, another ninja appeared. He has a Sharingan and can use Wood Style."
Tsunade sat up so fast her clothes shifted. "Wood Style? That's impossible!"
Hanekawa's eyes twitched as he forced himself to look at her face. "It's absolutely true. I fought him. It was definitely Wood Style."
Tsunade's hands clenched and unclenched repeatedly. She looked overwhelmed, lost in thought.
"His power level was average, though," Hanekawa added carefully. "Nothing like the First Hokage's level. Just a standard bloodline limit."
Something clicked in Tsunade's expression. She suddenly remembered—years ago, the Third had conducted Wood Style experiments. As his granddaughter and a high-ranking kunoichi, she'd been informed. She'd reluctantly approved, and when the volunteer subject died, the experiments had been halted.
But what if someone restarted them?
"This ninja was openly hostile to Konoha," Hanekawa continued, "but he wasn't strong enough. We drove him back."
Tsunade's mind raced. If the experiments had restarted, they wouldn't be sanctioned by the Third. Which meant someone was conducting illegal research. And who had the resources, the access to Hashirama's DNA, and the ruthlessness to do that?
Danzo.
"I think I know what's happening," Tsunade said slowly. She explained the Wood Style experiments, her suspicions about Danzo, everything.
Hanekawa listened with appropriate surprise. Perfect. She's already connecting the dots.
"So Danzo would definitely try to restart the experiments," he said thoughtfully. "He wouldn't be able to resist the temptation."
"The problem is investigating him," Tsunade said with frustration. "I don't have anyone I trust enough to look into something this sensitive. And Danzo's still a high-ranking official—I can't just move against him without proof."
"What about Uncle Jiraiya?" Hanekawa suggested.
Tsunade's eyes lit up. "That's... actually perfect. He has the status to investigate without fear, the moral compass to care about the truth, and the resources through Myōboku Mountain."
She formed hand seals immediately, summoning her slug companion. Within moments, she was relaying instructions—contact Jiraiya, inform him of the situation, request his investigation.
Hanekawa watched her work with quiet satisfaction. And that's how you plant a bomb without anyone knowing you lit the fuse.
By the time Jiraiya got involved, Danzo's illegal experiments would be exposed. Tsunade would gain leverage. The political landscape would shift.
And Hanekawa? He'd just be the helpful student who'd mentioned a suspicious ninja.
Relaxed and invincible, he thought with a slight smile. Just as planned.