Hanekawa approached Might Guy with an apologetic bow.
"Feel sorry about that."
The Konoha Dragon God's area-of-effect damage made it impossible to control completely. Hanekawa formed hand seals, light green chakra coating his palms as he began treatment.
"I'll help," Nohara Rin said, handing Hanekawa's coat to Kakashi before joining him in applying the Healing Palm technique.
"No problem!" Guy said cheerfully. "This is nothing compared to my usual training injuries!"
He wasn't exaggerating. His extreme workouts left him perpetually battered.
"What was that taijutsu called?" Guy asked excitedly.
"Konoha Dragon God. It's one of Sakumo's signature techniques," Hanekawa explained with a smile.
"Incredible! No wonder the White Fang earned his reputation!" Guy's enthusiasm was infectious.
Hanekawa considered the implications. He could probably withstand the Seventh Gate now, though it would cause serious injury. The Eighth Gate? Even Madara Uchiha with the Ten-Tails had barely survived it. Without his Ability System, it would be suicide.
But he had a cheat. He was confident he could eventually match Guy at full power—though that day would likely never come. After opening the Eighth Gate, Guy wouldn't survive.
"We should train even harder!" Guy declared, giving a thumbs-up. "One hundred more laps when we get home!"
"Rest today," Hanekawa said, withdrawing his chakra. "You're good to go. Change your clothes."
Guy glanced at his tattered outfit and nodded without argument.
After they left, Hanekawa reflected on the battle. The Lightning Style Chakra Mode had proven its worth. Combined with the Konoha Dragon God's massive tornado, he suspected he could threaten even a tailed beast with sufficient chakra.
Two lines of text materialized before his eyes:
[B-Rank Talent Entry: "No Regrets in Youth" has evolved.]
[Physical skill talent increased by 200% from baseline.]
An unexpected bonus. Though in retrospect, defeating Guy with six gates open warranted recognition.
"Want to spar?" he asked Kakashi, who'd seemed distracted throughout.
"No," Kakashi said flatly.
"Why? That's not like you."
"Because I can't stop the Konoha Dragon God," Kakashi admitted. "And more importantly—I'm no longer your match."
"You're conceding before we even fight?"
Kakashi's eye twitched. "You progress too fast. It's not natural."
"Maybe it's just genius," Hanekawa said with a shrug.
Kakashi didn't respond, though his expression suggested he had several choice words he was restraining.
"You must be exhausted from traveling," Hanekawa said, changing the subject. "Get some rest."
After they left, he turned to Rin, who still held his coat. He withdrew a storage scroll from his pocket.
"For you."
Rin's eyes widened. "I can't accept this! They're too expensive!"
"It's a gift. You don't get to refuse." He gently tapped her head with the scroll.
Rin hesitated, her face flushing slightly. "I... I'm going home. I need to do laundry."
"Understood." He reached out and ruffled her hair.
Rin suppressed her embarrassment and hurried away.
---
Hanekawa found Tsunade lounging in his office chair, sipping tea.
"Have you seen Minato?" she asked.
"Briefly. We talked for a while."
He picked up her teacup and took a sip.
"That's my tea!" Tsunade protested.
"Too lazy to pour my own," he said with a blink.
Tsunade stared at him in disbelief. "Is that really the issue here?"
"Forget it. I'm hungry. Let's go eat," she said, standing up.
On their way to the hospital after lunch, they encountered Aoi, an ANBU operative.
"Lady Tsunade, Hanekawa. The Hokage requests your presence," Aoi said with a bow.
"What for?" Tsunade frowned.
"He didn't specify."
Tsunade sighed and headed toward the Hokage Building.
---
The Hokage's office door swung open—kicked, naturally.
"Tsunade," Minato Namikaze greeted, his eye twitching slightly.
"You're here too?" Tsunade seemed surprised.
"I just finished reporting on the Hidden Stone's demands," Minato explained.
"I called you here to discuss compensation," Hiruzen said warmly. "Capturing the Four-Tails jinchuriki was no small feat. What would you like in exchange?"
"Lava Release ninjutsu," Hanekawa replied immediately.
"Already added to your records," Hiruzen noted. "Anything else?"
Hanekawa considered carefully. What he truly needed was a bloodline limit. The Hidden Stone possessed four: Explosion Release, Lava Release, Boiling Release, and Dust Release—the latter being a kekkei touta combining fire, earth, and wind.
He'd already obtained Lava Release and had talents for Lava Release and Boiling Release from Mei Terumi. With the "Flower-Fruit Mountain" entry, he'd mastered Lava Release completely.
His goal was to collect seven bloodline limits for the A-Rank entry "Seven Bloodline Limits." He currently had four. He needed Dust Release, Ice Release, and Magnetic Release—or substitutes like Storm Release or Crystal Release if Dust Release didn't qualify.
"Explosion Release ninjutsu, Dust Release ninjutsu, and Boiling Release ninjutsu," he said.
Both Tsunade and Hiruzen looked startled.
"Bloodline limits are extremely difficult to master," Hiruzen cautioned. "Perhaps you should reconsider?"
"Explosion and Boiling Release are feasible," Hiruzen continued, "but Dust Release is Ōnoki's exclusive technique. He'll never share it with another village."
"Not even for the Four-Tails?" Tsunade challenged.
"It's difficult to judge which holds greater value," Hiruzen admitted. "But we can attempt negotiations."
"Thank you, Lord Hokage."
"We'll have Minato and the Nara clan monitor the situation closely," Hiruzen said. "Frankly, I'd welcome Hanekawa learning Dust Release. That kekkei touta frightens me."
"So Minato handles Hidden Stone negotiations while I handle Mist Village?" Tsunade asked.
"Correct. You simply need to observe—your presence alone will suffice."
Tsunade understood. Finding someone more intimidating than her would be difficult.
"Nara Shikaku will assist you," Hiruzen added. "The Mist delegation arrives in two days. The Hidden Sand should arrive shortly after."
"Got it. Anything else?"
"That's all."
Tsunade stood. "Minato, bring Kushina by sometime."
After they left, Hanekawa reflected on the negotiations ahead. Two days felt simultaneously too long and too short.
---
Two days later, at Konoha's gates.
Tsunade and Hanekawa stood waiting, with Nara Shikaku's negotiation team positioned behind them. Their objective was straightforward: extract maximum concessions from the Mist Village.
Hanekawa reviewed the delegation roster Aoi had provided. Two names caught his attention: Ao and Mei Terumi.
Ao's presence made sense—he was a veteran jonin. But Mei Terumi?
Is she here to collect a debt? he wondered. We fought recently, and she lost decisively.
The sound of wind announced their arrival. More than a dozen figures descended from the sky.
"Apologies for the delay, Lady Tsunade," Ao said respectfully. The Mist Village was the defeated party, after all.
Mei Terumi's gaze locked onto Hanekawa with such intensity he couldn't ignore it. Her expression screamed disdain.
He smiled at her anyway.
Her response was a look of utter disgust. Pervert, he could practically hear her thinking.
This future Mizukage deserves a good thrashing, he thought wryly.
"Welcome," Tsunade said after exchanging pleasantries. "Shall we proceed to the conference room?"
Ao nodded without objection.
As they passed the first floor, Hanekawa heard the Hidden Stone delegation arguing loudly. The second-floor conference room awaited them, with Konoha and Mist representatives seated across from each other.
"Today we exchange terms only," Tsunade announced. "Detailed negotiations begin tomorrow once the Hidden Sand arrives."
"When will they arrive?" Ao asked.
"This afternoon."
Ao stood and presented a scroll. Tsunade scanned it briefly before passing it to Shikaku.
The Mist Village's losses were actually moderate—they hadn't lost the Three-Tails jinchuriki. Their demands included returning the Seven Ninja Swordsmen and releasing captured shinobi.
Shikaku produced Konoha's counter-offer.
Ao's expression froze as he read.
Why do they want Lava Release and Boiling Release? he thought. Those are Mei Terumi's bloodline limits...
---