Hanekawa watched Tsunade disappear into the distance and couldn't help but feel a twinge of regret.
Just a few seconds. It was really too short.
Still, he'd noticed something different about her. A change that made him smile.
He took a deep breath, pulled out his sleeping bag, and settled in for the night. The camp was large enough that they didn't need to share quarters.
---
Morning came with noise.
Hanekawa opened his eyes to the sound of organized movement. He yawned, rolled up his sleeping bag, and stepped outside the tent.
Five hundred Hidden Sand ninja were entering the camp in perfect formation, led by Maki.
Nara Shikaku's subordinate—a strategist named Nara Suzaku—greeted them. The Nara clan's reputation for intelligence made them natural choices for command positions. Shikaku himself was following Orochimaru into the Land of Snow, leaving Suzaku to manage the smaller-scale conflict here in the Land of River.
Tsunade was probably still asleep.
The Sand ninja were already constructing additional tents, creating considerable noise. Hanekawa scanned the crowd but recognized no one besides Maki. That made sense—Chiyo, Gaara, Temari, and Kankuro weren't here. Gaara and Kankuro hadn't even been born yet, and Temari was barely a year old.
"Good morning, Hanekawa."
Kurenai emerged from a nearby tent, smiling as she jogged over. "How did you sleep?"
He naturally took her hand. "Pretty well."
She blushed but didn't pull away.
"What passionate youth!"
Might Duy suddenly appeared, striking an enthusiastic pose. "Want to go for a morning run?"
Kurenai immediately withdrew her hand, embarrassed.
Hanekawa smiled at the reaction. Cute. "Uncle Duy, we're in wartime. Save your energy for actual enemies."
"You're absolutely right!" Duy glanced around eagerly. "When do we get our mission?"
"Once Teacher arranges it," Hanekawa said. "Don't worry though—I'm sure there's something that'll satisfy you."
"Exciting!" Duy practically vibrated with enthusiasm.
Kurenai watched the exchange quietly. She didn't quite understand Duy's obsession with youth, but she respected it. Hanekawa, though—he could talk about anything. He was better at this than she was.
"Come eat," Yuhi Shinku called, waving them over.
Breakfast was simple: rice balls. Not fancy, but warm and decent enough.
Tsunade picked at hers with obvious disappointment. She'd grown accustomed to Hanekawa's cooking and found the rice balls underwhelming. She ate half and stopped, already planning to ask him to prepare something special for lunch.
"Lady Tsunade."
Nara Suzaku entered the tent. "The Hidden Sand ninja have been settled."
Maki followed behind him. "Granny Chiyo sends her regards. We're ready to follow your orders."
Chiyo was pragmatic enough to understand that Konoha needed Hidden Sand support, and there was no shame in cooperating with Tsunade.
"Call all jonin for a meeting," Tsunade said, standing. "Main tent. Now."
"Yes, ma'am."
Everyone responded in unison.
Hanekawa followed Tsunade to the command tent and positioned himself to the side, observing quietly.
The jonin arrived quickly. Hanekawa was surprised to count nine from the Hyuga clan alone—an impressive investment of their forces. The Byakugan would indeed prove invaluable against the Mist Village's concealment techniques.
"Let's begin," Tsunade said, her eyes sweeping the gathered commanders.
"The Hyuga reconnaissance team, led by Hyuga Tsuru, investigated the Mist Village positions last night," Nara Suzaku reported first.
Tsunade's gaze fixed on a young man in the crowd.
"We found five outposts in the southern Land of River," Hyuga Tsuru stepped forward. "No main base camp yet, but we spotted a transport ship on the beach."
Tsunade's expression grew thoughtful. "Their base camp and supply depot are likely on the sea. Islands, probably."
"Fighting them on water puts us at a disadvantage," Suzaku frowned. "Water Style is their specialty."
"We don't wait passively," Tsunade said firmly. "We eliminate their outposts, locate their base camp and supply points, then strike."
The Mist Village's strength lay in water techniques, but their bases still required land—islands.
"Understood," everyone chorused.
"Task assignments begin now," Tsunade announced, glancing at Hanekawa.
She'd just realized he was the strongest Water Style user present, followed by Kurenai. The Hidden Sand ninjas? Better not to ask. Desert dwellers didn't typically specialize in water techniques.
Three hours later, assignments were complete. Hanekawa's team received the sea exploration mission.
"This is a joint operation," Tsunade explained at the camp entrance.
"Who else?" Kurenai asked curiously.
"Hyuga clan ninja," Hanekawa said. "The Byakugan will make ocean reconnaissance much easier."
"True," Kurenai admitted with a hint of envy. "The Byakugan really is convenient."
While the Byakugan couldn't match the Mangekyō Sharingan's raw power, it was incredibly practical for standard ninja work. Telescope vision, X-ray sight, tactical insight—it was like having cheat codes.
"Sorry for the wait, Lady Tsunade."
Hyuga Tsuru appeared with three younger Hyuga clan members, all bearing the distinctive pale eyes.
"My three students," he introduced.
Hanekawa recognized one of them—Hyuga Kamon, a jonin who would serve primarily in support and reconnaissance roles during the Fourth Great Ninja War, with no particularly memorable moments.
"My plan is simple," Tsunade said once introductions were complete. "Track the transport ship."
"Yes, ma'am."
"The key to this mission is your Byakugan," Tsunade told Hyuga Tsuru seriously. "Exploration and mapping. That's your responsibility."
"Understood!" Hyuga Tsuru's expression hardened with determination. This was a significant responsibility, but also an opportunity. The Hyuga clan had sent numerous members specifically to impress Tsunade. He couldn't afford to fail.
"Move out!" Tsunade commanded.
Eight figures disappeared into the distance.
They reached the coast two hours later.
"Wait," Tsunade said softly, studying the empty sea.
Everyone nodded and found concealment.
Time crawled by. Just when Hanekawa thought they'd return empty-handed, a ship appeared on the horizon.
Finally.
As the transport vessel docked, Mist Village ninja emerged and began unloading supplies.
"Eight ninja total," Hyuga Tsuru reported, his Byakugan activated—the distinctive veins bulging around his eye sockets. "Two jonin, three chunin, three genin."
"Hanekawa," Tsunade said after a moment's thought. "You're our best Water Style user. Follow them at a distance. We'll be close behind."
"Got it," he smiled. "Leave it to me."
"Don't get too close," Tsunade added. "If you're spotted, retreat immediately. We'll extract you."
Hyuga Tsuru glanced at Hanekawa with barely concealed skepticism. The boy was too young, and how could a Tsunade student know Water Style? Even if he did, could he really match Mist Village jonin?
"The unloading is complete," Hyuga Tsuru noted. "The ship will depart soon."
Tsunade nodded to Hanekawa.
He formed a single-handed seal. Water Style: Water Flash Technique.
His body dissolved into liquid, merging with the surrounding water before vanishing completely.
Hyuga Tsuru's eyes widened. What kind of Water Style technique is that?
The jutsu was something Hanekawa had extracted from Hanzo's corpse—similar to Suigetsu Hozuki's water transformation ability. Incredibly useful for avoiding physical attacks, though vulnerable to ninjutsu, especially Lightning Style.
Hanekawa flowed through the ocean like a living current, maintaining distance as the transport ship sailed onward. His Yin Seal provided the chakra reserves necessary for extended aquatic travel. Without it, he'd have exhausted himself hours ago.
About an hour later, he sensed it.
An island.
There.
He closed his eyes and extended his perception. A barrier immediately blocked his senses—sophisticated enough to prevent standard reconnaissance ninjutsu.
Hanekawa continued forward, activating his Eight-Fold Scope as he approached.
The transport ship docked. Crew members disembarked.
His breath caught.
Mei Terumi.
Even after all this time, her distinctive long, reddish-brown curls were unmistakable. Beside her stood a young man with long green hair and two swords strapped to his back.
Raiga Kurosuki. One of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen. Those twin blades were called Raiga. In the original timeline, he'd rebel, seize a gold mine, terrorize the locals, and eventually fall to Neji and Naruto.
Well, well. Found you.
Hanekawa retreated carefully.
Minutes later, Tsunade appeared, standing casually on the water's surface.
Kurenai and Rin lacked the chakra reserves for extended ocean travel, so they'd remained onshore under Hyuga Tsuru's protection.
"Status?" Tsunade asked.
Hanekawa's head surfaced, his body wrapped in water chakra—a technique that let him move through the ocean like a fish. Standing on the water would be too conspicuous. "There's a barrier on the island. I can't sense inside, but I saw Raiga Kurosuki."
Tsunade's eyes flickered as she considered their options.
Hanekawa found himself staring upward—at long legs, a slender waist, and... focus.
"Our mission is reconnaissance, not combat," Tsunade decided. "I'll notify Hyuga Tsuru."
She formed seals, creating a shadow clone that shot toward shore at impressive speed.
Smart. The barrier blocked perception ninjutsu but couldn't stop the Byakugan. That eye technique really was broken in the right situations.
Hyuga Tsuru appeared moments later, walking across the water's surface.
"Determine the number of ninja on that island," Tsunade instructed, pointing. "Be careful."
"Yes, ma'am!"
Hyuga Tsuru approached the island cautiously.
Hanekawa and Tsunade waited.
Ten minutes passed.
Suddenly, fog erupted from the island, spreading across the water in seconds.
"The Hidden Mist Technique!" Tsunade's expression hardened. "Hyuga Tsuru's been discovered!"
"Three jonin pursuing him," Hanekawa said, closing his eyes to sense through the water. "Southeast direction."
"Prepare to intercept!" Tsunade's voice turned sharp.
Hanekawa submerged completely.
A figure burst from the mist—Hyuga Tsuru, moving fast.
A roar followed.
The sea itself rose, transforming into a massive water dragon that surged skyward. Simultaneously, a sphere of crackling electricity materialized and shot toward Hyuga Tsuru at lethal speed.
Hyuga Tsuru spun and punched, shattering the thunder sphere.
The water dragon descended.
Tsunade appeared and struck it with a casual punch. The entire construct exploded into spray.
"Princess Tsunade herself!" A massive sword whistled through the air—the Executioner's Blade.
Water Style: Water Formation Wall!
A barrier of water rose, deflecting the blade.
"Another water user?" Biwa Juzo looked around, searching. "Where is he?"
"He's mine," Mei Terumi said, her voice carrying absolute certainty.
She knows.
"Excellent," Raiga Kurosuki grinned, his twin swords gleaming. "Kill Tsunade and we've accomplished something great!"