There was a knock on the door.
Hanekawa glanced at Tsunade, who was sprawled across the sofa in a decidedly unladylike manner—legs crossed, one foot dangling, her anklet catching the light with each lazy swing.
"Teacher," he said pointedly. "If anyone else sees you like that—"
"Long-winded!" Tsunade cut him off without moving.
But her body betrayed her. She sat up, smoothing her posture just as the door opened.
Hanekawa smiled despite himself and answered the knock.
Nara Shikaku stood in the doorway, arms laden with stacks of documents. "The roster for the three thousand ninjas," he said without preamble.
"Come in."
Hanekawa took the papers and gestured him inside. He placed them on the coffee table in front of Tsunade.
"Lady Tsunade," Shikaku bowed slightly. "Please review the personnel assignments. Let me know if anyone needs to be replaced."
"Hanekawa, help me sort through some of these," Tsunade said, already flipping through a document.
"Sure."
Hanekawa opened another file. The information was organized by team—names from every major clan and countless minor ones. Uchiha, Inuzuka, Nara, Yamanaka, Akimichi. Ordinary ninjas filled the rest.
He paused.
Uchiha Itachi.
His eye twitched slightly. The kid was barely three years old—two months shy of four. Hanekawa had to suppress a grimace. Uchiha Fugaku, what kind of father sends his toddler to war?
Though he knew the answer. The same kind who did it in the original timeline, shaping a traumatized genius into a prodigy. Except this time, Hanekawa had the power to stop it.
"Teacher," he said, sliding the document in front of Tsunade. "Uchiha Itachi is too young. We should remove him."
Tsunade's frown deepened. "Uchiha Itachi? Who approved this?"
"The Uchiha clan requested it," Shikaku explained hastily, clearly nervous about being blamed for the oversight.
"Children under four years old are liabilities on the battlefield," Tsunade said flatly. "Tell them to send someone else."
"Yes, ma'am!" Shikaku practically jumped at the chance to escape.
He was terrified of offending the Uchiha clan. Tsunade, however, had no such fears—and the Uchiha knew better than to push back against her.
Hanekawa continued reviewing. Everything else looked standard.
"That should do it," Tsunade said, closing her document. "Get them mobilized."
"Understood." Shikaku gathered the papers and left.
Once outside, he took a moment to collect himself before heading to the Uchiha compound. Fugaku was deployed to the Frost Country, so he found Mikoto instead.
"Lady Mikoto," he said directly. "Lady Tsunade requests that you replace Uchiha Itachi."
Mikoto blinked. "Why?"
"She believes he's too young for active combat," Shikaku said carefully.
Mikoto's expression shifted—surprise, then something like relief. She'd never been comfortable with Fugaku's decision to send their son to war. But as clan leader, her husband's word was law. Tsunade, however, answered to no one.
"I understand," Mikoto said. "I'll assign a genin in his place immediately."
Shikaku exhaled. Crisis averted.
---
Frost Country—Konoha Headquarters
Shimura Danzo entered the command tent with a scowl etched across his face.
Orochimaru glanced up from his maps. "Problem?"
"Tsunade is bringing three thousand ninjas to support us," Danzo said grimly. "She arrives tomorrow."
"Isn't that fortunate?" Orochimaru's smile didn't reach his eyes.
"Fortunate?" Danzo's voice dripped with disdain. "She's coming to steal the credit. If we defeat the Hidden Cloud now, the victory is ours. With her here, everything becomes muddied."
Orochimaru leaned back. "I'm the commander. The credit belongs to whoever holds the position."
"Then use it." Danzo's eyes gleamed with something dangerous. "Assign her to logistics. Keep her off the battlefield."
"She won't accept that," Orochimaru said flatly.
Danzo began pacing, his mind working. Then his expression hardened. "Arrange an ambush. Have the Hidden Cloud catch her in a trap."
Orochimaru's eyes narrowed. "Do you understand what happens if you're discovered?"
"Of course." Danzo's voice was ice. "But if you become Hokage, it will all be worth it."
Orochimaru frowned. Morally and strategically, attacking a former teammate—especially one connected to the Senju clan—was reckless. There was also Nawaki to consider.
"Orochimaru, don't hesitate now," Danzo pressed. "Remember our agreement."
"Ambushing her won't be simple," Orochimaru said slowly. "There's also Rōshi, who defeated the Four-Tails jinchuriki. And Hanekawa—the one who killed the Third Mizukage."
At the mention of Hanekawa's name, Danzo's jaw clenched. That prodigy should have been his. Should have been Root's greatest asset. Instead, Hiruzen and Tsunade had snatched him away. Now he was becoming Danzo's biggest obstacle.
Eliminating Tsunade meant dealing with Hanekawa. And with both of them present, the odds shifted dramatically. Only direct intervention from the Fourth Raikage or Killer Bee would guarantee success.
"Leave it to me," Danzo said quietly. "I'll make it work."
His Root operatives still answered to him. With Orochimaru's cooperation, the chances were acceptable.
Orochimaru studied the old war hawk and shook his head internally. Danzo had apparently forgotten that both Tsunade and Hanekawa possessed the Yin Seal—a technique that made killing them extraordinarily difficult. At best, they'd be severely wounded.
But that wasn't Orochimaru's concern. If Danzo wanted to gamble with his life, so be it.
---
Frost Country—Hidden Cloud Headquarters
The Fourth Raikage A, Killer Bee, Dodai, Mabui, and the two Yugito gathered in the command tent. The mobilization of three thousand Konoha ninjas was impossible to hide.
"Intelligence confirms Tsunade is leading the force," Dodai reported grimly.
"Konoha is escalating," Mabui observed. "They're committing to a decisive engagement."
A stood. "Mabui, after this meeting, use the Heaven's Sending Technique to transport me back to the Hidden Cloud."
The Sky-Song Technique was a high-speed transportation method—not true space-time ninjutsu like the Flying Thunder God, but rather an enhanced version of the Body Flicker. The friction generated would tear apart ordinary ninjas. Only A possessed the physiology to survive it.
"Understood," Mabui nodded. She knew he was going to call for reinforcements.
"Can we contact Hanekawa?" Dodai asked carefully. "His position in Konoha is significant now. If he could assist us—"
"He betrayed us," one of the Yugito said coldly.
Samui wanted to speak but held her tongue, sighing internally instead. After the last incident, Hanekawa had lost the Hidden Cloud's trust entirely.
"Perhaps there's still leverage," Dodai mused. "The Hidden Leaf placed restrictions on him. If those seals remain active—"
"The Hidden Leaf's sealing techniques are sophisticated," Mabui said calmly. "Whether the restrictions still hold is uncertain."
"I'll find an opportunity to test it," Dodai decided.
"And if he's already free?" Samui asked hesitantly.
Mabui's expression hardened. "Then we reveal his identity. Whether Konoha believes us or not, the accusation alone will create complications."
"That should have been done already," the other Yugito agreed.
Samui opened her mouth, then closed it. She wanted to point out that such an action would permanently sever Hanekawa's ties to the Hidden Cloud. But clearly, they'd already written him off.
"For now, we proceed with this plan," A said, standing. "Mabui, take me back."
---
Three Days Later—Frost Country
The Konoha forces arrived in the afternoon. As the barrier lowered, Orochimaru, Danzo, Sakumo Hatake, and others emerged to greet them.
Hanekawa quickly scanned the assembled ninjas. Uchiha Shisui was there—and his Sharingan had evolved. Whether he'd awakened Kotoamatsukami, Hanekawa couldn't determine from a glance.
Asuma Sarutobi waved. Hanekawa nodded back.
But his attention remained on Shisui. Another variable.
"Orochimaru," Tsunade greeted him warmly. "It's been too long."
"Indeed," Orochimaru replied with his characteristic smile.
"Strange to think we're fighting together again," Tsunade said, a hint of nostalgia crossing her features. "Shame Jiraiya isn't here."
"Yes."
"This isn't a reunion," Danzo interjected sharply. "Orochimaru, how do we deploy these three thousand ninjas?"
"Let them rest first," Tsunade said, frowning.
"Tsunade, Orochimaru is the commander here, not you!" Danzo's voice was sharp. "If you understand that, then what authority do you have to give orders?"
"Shut up," Tsunade responded without hesitation. "Since you acknowledge Orochimaru's command, what position are you speaking from?"
Suppression. Hanekawa raised an eyebrow. Danzo was trying to establish hierarchy, and Tsunade had just demolished it.
Danzo's body trembled with barely contained rage. He held no official command position—merely the Hokage's assistant. He had no standing to challenge her here.
"You'll settle this tomorrow," Orochimaru said, cutting through the tension. "Tsunade, take your forces to the prepared camp. I'll assign duties in the morning."
The meeting dispersed. Tsunade didn't spare Danzo a glance as she left.
"Why is he targeting Lady Tsunade?" Kurenai asked, confused.
"Competition for the next Hokage," Hanekawa said casually.
Kurenai's eyes widened. "At his age? Surely the next Hokage will be one of the Legendary Sannin?"
Hanekawa couldn't help but smile. Tsunade did the same, clearly amused.
"What did I say wrong?" Kurenai looked between them.
"Nothing," Hanekawa explained. "But this time, he's backing Orochimaru—one of Teacher's teammates."
"Then what do we do?" Kurenai asked urgently. "We can't let him take away Lady Tsunade's position as Hokage!"
Tsunade's mouth twitched. When did I already become Hokage in her mind?
"Don't worry," Hanekawa said with a smile. "With our team's strength, he can't restrict us."
"Let's see what they attempt first," Tsunade added nonchalantly.
---
The Next Morning
Hanekawa's team received their assignment: medical support at the base camp.
Tsunade read the task and smiled. "So they want us treating the wounded here? Not a bad strategy, actually. We have three medical ninjas—it's efficient."
She set the document down, her expression thoughtful.
Danzo's first move, Hanekawa thought. Keep us away from the main battle. But it won't work.
He was already thinking three moves ahead.
---
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