The Mangekyō Sharingan made Shisui's speed terrifying, but Hanekawa remained calm as he sensed the heat building above him.
Shisui materialized in the air, hand seals flowing. His body arched back as a massive fireball erupted from his mouth—a sphere of flame easily three meters across, descending like a meteor.
The inferno swallowed Hanekawa whole. Scorching heat radiated outward in waves.
Shisui landed smoothly, only to feel hands clamp around his legs. His body lurched downward—but the sensation dissolved. Another illusion.
Hanekawa withdrew his hands, the Earth Style technique dissipating. He's adapting faster than I expected.
Shisui's eyes narrowed. He formed seals rapidly, and seven clones materialized around Hanekawa, each wielding a ninja sword. They converged from all directions, blades flashing.
Hanekawa clapped his hands together.
"Earth Style: Yellow Spring Marsh!"
The ground erupted into a ten-meter swamp centered on him. Shisui reacted instantly—the Mangekyō Sharingan let him see the danger coming. He pivoted, stepping back to solid ground just as the earth liquefied beneath his feet.
His clones weren't as fortunate. They sank into the mire, struggling uselessly.
"First time my Shadow Clone Technique's been countered by Earth Style," Shisui admitted, his expression sharpening. He could see Hanekawa's movements clearly now, but seeing wasn't the same as matching speed. He took a breath and charged again.
"Fire Style: Impatiens Flower Claw Crimson!"
Kunai wrapped in flames scattered like seeds from a balsam pod.
Hanekawa's hands moved. "Compound Ninjutsu: Earth Dragon Flame Fusion!"
A dragon's head erupted from the ground at his feet as flames poured from his mouth. The mud and fire merged into a single projectile, meeting Shisui's kunai mid-air.
The collision detonated in a violent bloom of fire and earth.
Shisui's pupils contracted. The compound jutsu had held its shape through the explosion, the force still driving forward.
Compound ninjutsu?
His hands didn't hesitate. He drew his blade and swung, meeting the flaming mud bomb with a technique of his own.
"Uchiha Style: Sword Flicker Flame!"
The burning blade cut through the projectile. Mud and sparks erupted around him like fireworks.
Hanekawa flowed seamlessly into his next technique. "Water Style: Water Torrent!"
His hands pressed together. A water tornado materialized, then surged forward like a tidal wave, relentless and overwhelming.
Shisui's form blurred. Body Flicker Technique.
He reappeared twenty meters away, but water still surrounded him. Fire Style was useless here—fire could evaporate water, but only if there was more fire than water. Right now, water was everywhere.
Three needles of crystallized water materialized without warning, aimed at his vitals.
Shisui's hair stood on end. He twisted, barely avoiding them.
"The Mangekyō Sharingan is impressive," Hanekawa called out, his tone almost conversational.
"What else can it do?" he asked, genuinely curious.
Shisui landed, breathing steady despite the intensity. He knew what Hanekawa was asking. It was time to stop holding back.
"Susanoo," he said simply.
His eyes blazed with power. The air itself seemed to scream.
A massive skeletal warrior materialized around him—a half-formed colossus of ethereal green chakra, towering and terrible. Its presence made the very ground tremble.
Hanekawa tilted his head, assessing. First form. No weapons yet. Pure physical offense.
The skeleton's fist clenched and swung downward like a falling mountain.
Hanekawa stepped back with the Body Flicker Technique. The fist crashed into the earth where he'd stood, leaving a crater.
"Water Style: Water Dragon Bullet Technique!"
A dragon of pure water erupted from Hanekawa's mouth, roaring toward Shisui. The skeleton's arms crossed defensively, absorbing the impact. Water exploded outward, but the construct held firm.
Shisui exhaled in relief. It can defend.
He drew his blade and charged forward, the skeleton mirroring his movements. "Uchiha Style: Sword Flicker Flame!"
The burning blade flew forward, the skeleton's fists driving it deeper into Hanekawa's guard.
Hanekawa's hands moved in a new pattern. "Dissolution Style: Melting Monsters Technique!"
Acid bloomed like a morning glory, corrosive and hungry. It met the skeleton's palms—and the construct's hands began to dissolve. The acid ate through the ethereal chakra, consuming the flaming blade as well.
Shisui's eyes widened. That's not possible.
The skeleton's arms were gone, melted away like wax.
"What is that technique?" Asuma demanded from the sidelines, his mouth hanging open.
"Dissolution Style," Hanekawa explained calmly. "A bloodline limit from the Hidden Mist Village. I learned it during negotiations."
Asuma's head spun. "You learned a bloodline limit? Just like that?"
"There are two ways to obtain bloodline limits," Hanekawa said. "Inheritance, or synthesis."
"You synthesized it?" Shizune's voice was barely a whisper.
Hanekawa nodded simply.
Shisui lowered his hands, the skeleton fading. "Unless I use Kotoamatsukami, I can't win this. And that's not appropriate between teammates."
"Agreed," Hanekawa said. He'd learned what he needed—Shisui was elite jonin tier, capable of matching the Fourth Raikage in a prolonged fight. The Mangekyō Sharingan and Susanoo made him genuinely dangerous. But Kotoamatsukami, with its long cooldown, was his trump card.
"Dinner?" Hanekawa offered.
"Yes!" Asuma perked up immediately.
An hour later, in Sakumo's tent, five people sat around a table laden with Hanekawa's cooking.
Asuma took a bite of chicken and froze mid-chew, his expression transforming into something between awe and disbelief.
"What?" Sakumo asked cautiously.
"Just eat," Asuma managed.
Sakumo, Shisui, and Shizune each took a piece. The same stunned silence fell over the table.
"How did you—" Shizune started.
"I cooked it," Hanekawa said simply.
The conversation died. They ate in reverent silence.
---
The next morning, Hanekawa and Tsunade woke early. A jonin meeting was scheduled—held weekly during wartime to assess battle conditions and assign new missions.
Today's meeting would be different.
Today, Tsunade was taking control.
"Ready?" Hanekawa asked as they walked toward the main tent.
Tsunade stretched, rolling her shoulders. "Let's go."
The jonin stood when she entered, offering respectful greetings.
"Impressive presence," Danzo observed to Orochimaru.
"Normal," Orochimaru replied coolly.
"How much longer do we wait?" Danzo pressed quietly.
"For the right moment," Orochimaru said. "We have time."
The war was stalemated. Neither side would break through quickly.
At nine o'clock, everyone was assembled. Konoha's jonin, plus Rasa and Pakura from the Hidden Sand.
Shikaku began the briefing. "Current battle status: we maintain a slight advantage, but the fighting remains evenly matched overall."
Hanekawa absorbed the details. The situation was exactly as he'd anticipated—a grinding stalemate.
"Next, task assignments," Orochimaru said calmly. "The Fourth Raikage and Eight-Tails jinchuriki Killer Bee will continue under my command and Shimura Danzo's—"
"I have a different proposal," Tsunade interrupted.
Orochimaru's eyes narrowed slightly. "What proposal?"
"Hanekawa and I will handle the Fourth Raikage and Killer Bee," Tsunade said flatly. "It's time for a change."
"Change?" Danzo's voice hardened. "Are you suggesting we can't handle them?"
"You've been fighting them for months," Tsunade replied without hesitation. "You know whether you're winning or losing. We're not."
"You're only the deputy commander!" Danzo snapped.
"And the commander assigns missions," Tsunade countered. "I'm asking the jonin for their opinion on who should lead."
Danzo's face darkened. He'd walked into that trap perfectly.
"I support Lady Tsunade," Hizashi Hyuga said immediately. "This stalemate has lasted too long. Fresh leadership might break it."
"Agreed," Fugaku Uchiha added. The Uchiha had bled under Orochimaru's command. "Lady Tsunade's approach deserves consideration."
One by one, the jonin voiced their support. Within minutes, more than half the room had sided with Tsunade.
Danzo stepped back, his face twisted. "This is rebellion!"
Orochimaru licked the corner of his mouth, his expression unreadable. He'd underestimated Tsunade. She'd moved decisively, and the jonin had responded. Interesting.
Rasa and Pakura exchanged glances but said nothing. The Hidden Sand wouldn't interfere in Konoha's internal politics.
"Very well," Orochimaru said smoothly. "If everyone agrees, we'll proceed as Tsunade suggests."
"Orochimaru!" Danzo stared at him in disbelief.
"What would you have me do?" Orochimaru asked mildly. "Fight her here?"
Danzo's body shook with rage. He turned and stormed out, the tent flap snapping behind him.
"The meeting continues," Orochimaru said, as if nothing had happened.
---
Later, in Danzo's tent:
"Is this the opportunity you promised?" Danzo demanded, his voice dripping with venom.
"Exactly," Orochimaru replied calmly.
"Where's the opportunity? We just lost command!"
"She's going to face the Fourth Raikage and Killer Bee," Orochimaru said. "Isn't that what we wanted?"
"It's humiliating!" Danzo snarled.
Orochimaru studied him thoughtfully. "Tsunade's behavior today was uncharacteristic. She has no ambition for power. Unless..." He paused. "Unless it's about Hanekawa."
Does she really value her student that much? The thought intrigued him.
"Regardless of her reasons, she won't remain arrogant for long," Danzo said coldly. "She wants to fight the Fourth Raikage and Killer Bee? I'll grant her wish."
"How?" Orochimaru asked, his eyes narrowing with interest.
"Pass the information to the Hidden Cloud," Danzo said. "Let them know exactly where and when she'll be fighting."
Orochimaru's lips curved into a smile. "Now that's inspired."
---
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