Slug's form dissolved into smoke with a gentle farewell, leaving Tsunade and Hanekawa alone in the tent.
Tsunade lay back on the carpet, her expression unreadable. The sudden appearance of a Wood Style user—and the revelation that someone was conducting experiments—had caught her completely off guard. It was too much, too fast.
"Teacher."
Hanekawa shifted closer, drawn by the faint fragrance of sake and something uniquely her. When Tsunade turned her head, she found their faces barely ten centimeters apart. For a moment, she simply stared at him, then looked away.
"What is it?" she asked softly.
"Don't let Danzo get to you." Hanekawa's fingers found hers, and when she didn't pull away, he held her hand. "He's not worth your unhappiness."
Tsunade gazed at the tent's ceiling. "I just feel... sorry for him, in a way. He wasn't always like this. He was my grandfather's student—a good man, once."
"People change," Hanekawa said, feeling the warmth of her hand in his.
"Yes." Tsunade's voice carried the weight of old grief. "They do."
She thought of Hashirama Senju, of Nawaki. The losses that had shaped her into who she was.
"Teacher," Hanekawa began hesitantly, unsure how to proceed.
"I'm fine," Tsunade said, cutting him off gently. She'd been with him long enough to know what he wanted to say before he said it. After a pause, she added, "Would you like to hear about the past?"
Something in her wanted to talk. Perhaps it was the Wood Style user, bringing back memories she'd buried. Perhaps it was simply that Hanekawa had earned the right to know.
"I'd like that," he said. "My teacher must have been incredible."
Tsunade laughed despite herself. "You little brat! I was beating people up since the Academy!"
"I'm guessing Jiraiya was your favorite target?"
Hanekawa turned to look at her, but his gaze climbed higher than intended—to the snow-capped peaks of her chest. He quickly looked away, face burning.
"That pervert's been a disgrace since childhood!" Tsunade snorted. "I didn't kill him, which shows remarkable restraint on my part."
Hanekawa broke into a cold sweat. He had a feeling she'd punch him if he wasn't careful. Still, at least he'd never peeked at hot springs or spent his time in bars chasing women. That had to count for something.
"What about Orochimaru?" he asked, changing the subject.
"Orochimaru was different," Tsunade said thoughtfully. "A ninjutsu genius, like you. He learned everything so quickly. Jiraiya seemed like a laggard in comparison."
Hanekawa nodded. In the original timeline, Orochimaru had mastered forbidden techniques—Impure World Reincarnation, the Eight-Headed Serpent Technique. He'd created new jutsu, pushed the boundaries of what was possible. Except for lacking a bloodline limit, he was one of the most talented civilian-born ninja ever.
"It's a pity," Tsunade said suddenly.
Hanekawa looked up at her.
"I had a younger brother named Nawaki. He was Orochimaru's student." Tsunade's voice grew quieter. "After he died, Orochimaru... changed. Became someone else entirely."
Hanekawa felt a jolt of surprise. He hadn't expected her to mention Rope Tree so openly. The fact that she had meant he'd truly found his way into her heart.
"Teacher," he said, squeezing her hand, "Nawaki wouldn't want you suffering because of him."
"You disrespectful brat!" Tsunade glared at him. "You should call him uncle!"
Hanekawa froze. What?
Technically, she was right. Nawaki was her younger brother, which made him Hanekawa's senior. By the rules of hierarchy, he should use the honorific. But that would make things incredibly awkward, and—
No. Absolutely not. I'm not calling him uncle.
"Teacher, please continue," Hanekawa said quickly, redirecting. "Tell me about the Academy."
The question of titles was not up for discussion. He'd already lost this round.
Tsunade's expression softened into nostalgia. She didn't push the issue—Nawaki was still too painful to dwell on. As she began sharing stories of her youth, Hanekawa listened quietly, his hand still in hers.
He tried to be subtle about it, tracing gentle patterns on the back of her hand, exploring her palm. But Tsunade caught him immediately.
"Stop moving your hands," she commanded.
Hanekawa froze, expecting punishment. But instead of releasing him, Tsunade tightened her grip, holding him firmly in place. He could only lean against her quietly, listening to her voice drift through the tent as exhaustion claimed them both.
Eventually, her words faded into silence, and they fell asleep intertwined.
---
Hidden Mist Village
On a distant island, the atmosphere was entirely different.
When the Third Mizukage's body was brought back, shock rippled through every ninja in the village. The main tent fell silent—a suffocating, violent silence that pressed down like a storm.
Mei Terumi sighed heavily.
She'd imagined many scenarios for meeting Hanekawa on the battlefield. Never this one. Never the death of their Kage.
How strong is he? she wondered. Can I ever surpass him?
The questions spiraled, making her mood increasingly complicated.
"What do we do now?" Qing finally spoke, breaking the oppressive quiet.
"We take revenge!" a middle-aged jonin declared immediately. He'd been close to the Third Mizukage—a supporter who now demanded blood.
"The priority is selecting a new Mizukage," a younger ninja countered. "Only the Mizukage can make that decision."
Mei Terumi frowned. This young man was aligned with Karatachi Yagura, the strongest candidate for the position. She'd wanted to compete for the role herself, but she was too young, lacked the necessary achievements. Yagura had both.
Her mind drifted to Hanekawa. With his record—capturing a tailed beast alive, killing a Kage—he could become Mizukage without question. He'd probably become the Fifth Hokage too, with Tsunade's backing.
While I struggle to become Fifth Mizukage, she thought bitterly.
"We should invite Elder Genshi to discuss the succession," Qing suggested.
"That will take days," another jonin objected. "We don't have time. We don't know what Konoha will do next."
"I propose we hold a jonin vote," Karatachi Yagura said calmly. "We have enough jonin here to make the decision."
Yagura had been waiting for this opportunity for years. The Third Mizukage was in his prime—succession should have been decades away. But fate had intervened. In a strange way, he owed Hanekawa his gratitude.
"I agree," the younger ninja said immediately.
Within half an hour, Karatachi Yagura was officially the Fourth Mizukage. Few were surprised—his strength and reputation made him the obvious choice.
"We cannot retreat," Yagura announced, his voice heavy with authority. "Not for the Third Mizukage's honor, and not for the village's reputation. Returning in defeat after sending five thousand ninja would be a laughingstock."
"The Mizukage is right!" voices echoed in agreement.
"However," Yagura continued carefully, "Konoha and Hidden Sand do have the advantage. We must proceed strategically."
Mei Terumi understood immediately. Yagura had just taken power—he had to fight to maintain credibility. But he was also pragmatic. The best approach was delay, buying time. Perhaps eventually they could bring in the other jinchuriki, though that was risky. The Nine-Tails and One-Tail combined exceeded their Three-Tails and Six-Tails, and Yagura wasn't significantly stronger than his predecessor.
Has the Mist Village truly fallen so far? she wondered sadly.
As Yagura began assigning tasks, Mei Terumi's suspicions were confirmed. The village would return to harassment tactics, using the sea as their advantage. A war of attrition rather than direct confrontation.
---
Konoha - Hokage's Office
By afternoon, the news had reached The Hidden Leaf.
Sarutobi Hiruzen received it first. Even with ANBU operative Haru present, he couldn't contain his laughter. Killing an enemy Kage on the battlefield was nearly as valuable as capturing a tailed beast alive.
And once again, it was Hanekawa.
Not only had he captured the Three-Tails alive—he'd killed the Third Mizukage. Tsunade's student was accumulating a battle record that was becoming legendary.
Sarutobi Hiruzen considered carefully. In recent years, finding another ninja with comparable achievements would be difficult. The Legendary Sannin and the White Fang were famous, yes, but Hanekawa's actual combat record surpassed them both.
If he were older, Sarutobi Hiruzen suspected he'd already be Hokage.
But he wasn't. Tsunade would be.
It's time to seriously consider the succession, the Third Hokage thought, rubbing his temples. Even if he didn't bring it up, someone else would. Every new Hokage brought opportunities for advancement—positions, power, influence. Danzo, Koharu, and En had all benefited when Sarutobi took office. The cycle would repeat.
"Clear this information for public release," he instructed Haru.
"Yes, Lord Hokage."
After Haru left, she paused to read the scroll. Her eyes widened. Hanekawa again?
Even as an ANBU operative, she had her own thoughts. Tsunade and Hanekawa were people worth cultivating relationships with. The smart move was obvious.
---
Hyuga Clan Compound
Hyuga Hizashi had sent the information through proper channels, deliberately omitting any mention of the Wood Style user. Angering Tsunade would be catastrophic for the clan.
Hyuga Hiashi read the report with quiet appreciation. "Remarkable."
"What news?" his wife asked gently, adjusting her kimono.
"Hizashi sent information about the Mist Village. Hanekawa killed the Third Mizukage."
His wife's eyes widened. "The boy who captured the Four-Tails? He's only in his teens!"
"Yes. Tsunade's student. His future is... exceptional."
"Indeed," she agreed. A young man with strength, status, and potential—no one in Konoha could match his trajectory.
Hiashi's expression grew thoughtful. "We should find ways to strengthen our connection to him."
"How?" she asked curiously.
"I'm not certain yet." He paused, then smiled slightly. "Perhaps when we have children, we could ask him to be their teacher."
His wife blushed. "Then we should try harder."
---
Land of Soup - Hot Spring
Jiraiya was soaking contentedly, listening to the sounds of young women playing on the other side of the wall, when a toad suddenly surfaced in the water.
He looked over sharply. This was Fukasaku Sennin's liaison toad.
"New instructions from the Sage?" he asked.
"No," the toad replied, spitting out a scroll. "From Lady Tsunade. The Slug Sage sent this."
The three sacred places maintained connections. The Slug Sage, being the most even-tempered, had contacted Mount Myōboku directly after speaking with Tsunade.
Jiraiya opened the scroll quickly. His expression darkened as he read.
Someone is conducting Wood Style experiments.
---