The medical tent fell silent except for the steady drip of IV fluids.
"He'll be fine," Tsunade said, peeling off her latex gloves. "Just lost too much blood. The Kubikiribōchō has a nasty habit of draining its victims."
Hyuga Saku exhaled in relief. "Thank you, Lady Tsunade."
Hanekawa watched from the tent entrance, already running calculations. Two of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen dead. That was... significant. The kind of significant that made enemy commanders nervous.
"Do we continue the mission?" he asked once Tsunade finished.
"No point." Tsunade stretched, her shoulders popping audibly. "They'll relocate their camp now that we've found it. Besides—" she grinned, "—killing two of the Seven Swordsmen is worth more than any supply depot."
Hanekawa nodded, understanding immediately. The Seven Swordsmen weren't just elite jonin. They were legendary elite jonin. Losing two was like losing an entire battalion's worth of morale.
Though honestly, they weren't that impressive, he thought. Biwa Juzo relied too much on that sword's ability, and Raiga was just fast. No real strategy.
"Hyuga Cee, get your people to carry Saku back to camp," Tsunade ordered. "The rest of you, move out."
---
Two hours later, they were back at the main encampment.
Nara Suzaku rushed over the moment he spotted them, his expression shifting from curiosity to shock when he saw the unconscious Hyuga clan member being carried in.
"What happened?" he demanded.
"We met Biwa Juzo and Raiga Kurosuki," Tsunade said simply. "They're dead."
Suzaku's eyes widened. For a moment, he just stared. Then: "I'll spread the word immediately."
He was gone before Tsunade finished nodding.
Smart move, Hanekawa thought. Morale matters more than accuracy in war. Everyone will know within the hour.
Tsunade dismissed the others to rest, but when Hanekawa turned to leave, she caught his wrist.
"The swords," she said without preamble.
"Mine," he replied, equally direct.
"Fair enough." Tsunade released him, her expression turning serious. "But don't use them in combat. They'll slow you down more than help. The Kubikiribōchō especially—it's a liability for someone like you."
Hanekawa blinked. He'd expected a fight. Instead, she was... concerned?
"The Kubikiribōchō is yours," he said, pulling out a scroll. "As for the Thunderswords, I'm planning to reforge it with my—" he caught himself, "—with a special technique I have."
Tsunade took the scroll, examining it thoughtfully. "That's smart. A sword that conducts lightning could be useful. When we get back, I'll have the old man handle the reforging. No cost to you."
She's going to make Hiruzen do it for free. That's... actually kind of brilliant.
"Teacher, you're amazing," he said with a grin.
She flicked his forehead. "Flattery won't work."
"The teacher is wise!" he corrected immediately.
Tsunade pulled him closer, and suddenly he was very aware of her proximity—the faint scent of sake and something floral, the warmth radiating from her.
"I'm hungry," she murmured against his ear. "Cook for me?"
Hanekawa's lips quirked. "Let's go."
They slipped into her tent, and he locked the flap behind them.
At least someone appreciates my cooking.
---
Meanwhile, in the Hidden Mist Village's camp, the atmosphere was considerably less pleasant.
The bodies of Biwa Juzo and Raiga Kurosuki lay on a table, and the silence that followed their discovery was the kind that made people hold their breath.
"Who?" Watermelon Mountain Pufferfish Ghost's voice was quiet. Dangerous.
"Tsunade," Mei Terumi said flatly.
The commander-in-chief of the Mist forces went very still. "How?"
Mei explained the situation—the trap, the chase, the encounter. It was a simple story with a devastating conclusion.
"Idiots," Pufferfish Ghost spat. "They got comfortable. Thought they were invincible."
He was right. The Seven Swordsmen were legendary in the Mist Village, but they'd never faced someone like Tsunade. They'd never faced a Sannin.
"Move the camp," he ordered. "Now."
"Already arranged," Mei confirmed.
"The swords?"
"Tsunade took them."
Pufferfish Ghost's jaw clenched. The swords were irreplaceable. People could be trained, but crafting a new blade of that caliber would take years.
"We'll get them back," he said coldly. "First, gather the jonin. We're changing strategy."
---
The meeting tent filled quickly. Five of the Seven Swordsmen stood at attention—two chairs conspicuously empty.
"Tsunade is stronger than we anticipated," Pufferfish Ghost announced. "If you encounter her, do not engage alone. Is that understood?"
A messenger entered. "Sir, all five outposts in the Land of River have been destroyed."
Pufferfish Ghost nodded as if he'd expected this. "Then we accelerate the plan. Harassment tactics. Small teams, hit-and-run operations. Use the mist and the sea. Strike fast, retreat faster."
It was their original strategy, actually. The Mist Village couldn't win a direct war—they didn't have the numbers. But they could bleed Konoha and the Hidden Sand slowly.
"One more thing," Pufferfish Ghost added. "The Hyuga clan is here. Their Byakugan sees through our mist. Avoid them."
The meeting dispersed.
Later, Mei Terumi stood alone on the cliff overlooking the ocean, staring at the boots she'd retrieved from the water. She gritted her teeth, thinking of a certain pervert who'd left her in the sea.
Next time, she thought fiercely.
Then she remembered how that "next time" had gone in her head—with her losing—and her expression went blank.
---
Back at The Hidden Leaf camp, the next morning brought grim news.
"Nine dead, twenty-three wounded," Nara Suzaku reported, his face grave. "They lost four."
The math was brutal. The Mist Village was winning the exchange rate.
"This can't continue," Maki said angrily. "Their mist technique is impossible to fight."
Tsunade leaned back, thinking. "Build outposts. Staff them with Hyuga clan members and wind-style users. The Byakugan sees through mist, and wind can disperse it."
She paused, then: "Form a special search team. Find their main camp. That's the only way to stop this."
Hyuga Cee nodded sharply. He'd recovered enough to move, and this was his chance to redeem the failed reconnaissance mission.
---
In the Hokage's office, Sarutobi Hiruzen was sharing the news with Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu when the door opened without a knock.
Danzo Shimura walked in.
"Why wasn't I informed?" he asked, his tone sharp.
Hiruzen's smile froze. He'd suspected this—that Danzo had Root members embedded in the ANBU, still reporting to him. But suspicion and confirmation were different things.
"How did you know we were meeting?" he asked carefully.
"I saw them enter," Danzo replied smoothly, though his eyes flickered. "Naturally, I assumed something important was happening."
Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu exchanged glances but said nothing. The balance between the four of them was delicate. Remove one piece, and everything collapsed.
"Tsunade and the Hyuga team killed two of the Seven Swordsmen," Hiruzen said, moving past the tension. "Biwa Juzo and Raiga Kurosuki."
"Impressive," Mitokado Homura said warmly. "Our village's strength is on full display."
Danzo's expression didn't change, but internally, he was calculating. Tsunade's reputation would rise significantly from this. That was... problematic. He needed to inform Orochimaru. The snake sannin needed to achieve results soon, or Tsunade's growing influence would overshadow everything.
The situation is accelerating, he thought grimly. We need to move faster.
---