---
Hanekawa's expression didn't change when he heard the news about Tsunade supposedly killing someone. That was... unexpected.
In the original timeline, Raiga Kurosuki had been fairly unremarkable. The real difference came after his defection from the Mist Village, when he'd picked up a boy named Ranmaru as his eyes. Ranmaru's red eyes could pierce through and interfere with the Byakugan—a natural counter. Even with that advantage, Raiga and Ranmaru had fallen to Neji Hyuga.
Without Ranmaru, facing Tsunade? He'd be torn apart.
Raiga had an arrogant streak and ruled the Hidden Mist like a tyrant. Meeting Tsunade for the first time, his cockiness was inevitable.
Thunder roared across the water.
"Lightning Style: Thunder Fang!"
Raiga raised his twin swords, and two brilliant bolts of lightning streaked toward Tsunade at impossible speed—a body flicker technique wrapped in electricity.
Tsunade sidestepped without effort and closed the distance in three strides. Her fist clenched.
"You picked the wrong opponent."
Raiga brought both swords down to meet her punch, a cruel smile spreading across his face. He'd already imagined her bisected.
The next second, his expression shattered.
A terrible force erupted from the collision. His body lost all control, launching backward like a cannonball. He crashed through the thick mist and hit the water hard enough to send up a spray.
"Two o'clock," Hyuga Cee reported, tracking the movement with his Byakugan.
The whistling of displaced air came from behind him.
He spun and raised his fists, meeting the massive Kubikiribōchō head-on. The impact sent him sliding backward, feet carving furrows through the sand.
"First time someone's ignored me?" Biwa Juzo advanced with his sword, each step deliberate and heavy.
Hyuga Cee had no choice but to retreat, dodging desperately. The Hyuga clan's reputation rested on the Byakugan and Gentle Fist—perception and finesse. Against Biwa Juzo, who outmatched him in raw power and wielded a legendary blade, he was completely outclassed.
Raiga's situation was worse.
Realizing he couldn't match Tsunade, he activated his Lightning Style Armor. Lightning wrapped around his body in a protective shell. Combined with the thick mist, he ran while fighting, but it was clear he was losing ground with every exchange.
Mei Terumi ignored both of them, searching the mist for hidden water-style users. When her search came up empty, she formed seals and activated her perception jutsu.
The result made her freeze.
Hanekawa was directly beneath her.
She moved to jump, but hands grabbed her boots. Without hesitation, she yanked her feet free, leaving the footwear behind, and launched herself upward.
"Water Style: Water Dragon Bullet Technique!"
She leaned back mid-air and spat a stream of water that transformed into a roaring dragon, smashing into the sea and creating waves several meters high.
"Mei Terumi. Long time."
Hanekawa emerged from the spray, moving with an ease that made her pause. His face was more mature now, more handsome. It was... annoying.
"Give me back my shoes, you pervert!"
She glared at him, furious at both his actions and her own reaction to his appearance.
"I took them by force. Why would I return them?"
He casually sealed the boots into a storage scroll, then let his eyes drift down to her legs. Without the shoes, her feet were covered in black silk stockings that extended to her thighs, adding an undeniable appeal to her youthful frame.
"Go to hell!"
Mei Terumi's fury boiled over. She opened her mouth and expelled orange-red mucus—her Dissolution Technique.
Hanekawa's eyes sharpened. A wall of water rose before him.
The acid touched it and began eating through immediately. Within two seconds, the wall was shredded.
This was the Dissolution Technique—powerful enough to melt even Susanoo in the future. For now, it was far weaker, but still devastating.
The orange-red slime continued its advance.
"Water Style: Water Flash Technique!"
Hanekawa transformed into water and merged with the sea.
"What—?"
Mei Terumi's pupils dilated.
"You've gotten stronger," Hanekawa's voice came from behind her.
She spun and kicked without hesitation.
"But your temper hasn't improved."
He caught her black silk-covered foot, and the collision of forces sent a shockwave skyward. Yet Hanekawa didn't budge.
"Pervert! Die!"
Using her captured leg as leverage, Mei Terumi launched herself upward, spinning to bring her other leg down at his head.
"Chidori Flow!"
Hanekawa released her and formed seals. Lightning erupted across his body in a dazzling display.
Mei Terumi's eyes went wide. She was caught mid-air, her old momentum spent and new strength not yet generated. The lightning caught her full-on.
Her body seized. Every muscle locked.
But her willpower was exceptional. Even paralyzed, she forced her hands through the seals, pushing chakra through sheer determination. She retreated several meters at high speed, her body still tingling.
She steadied herself and looked at Hanekawa, saying nothing.
If he'd pressed the attack, she'd be dead or crippled. He hadn't.
"Don't think mercy means I'll go easy on you!" she snapped. "Pervert!"
"Water Style: Water Dragon Bullet Technique!"
The sea beneath her feet responded to her will, forming another dragon that roared toward him.
"Is that so?"
Hanekawa smiled and formed seals. The water around him surged upward, transforming into its own dragon.
The collision was decisive.
Mei Terumi's expression went blank as her own water dragon was overwhelmed and turned against her.
How is this possible?
She was the water-style specialist. She was from the Hidden Mist. How was a medical ninja—Tsunade's student—stronger with water techniques than she was?
"Water Style: Water Formation Wall!"
She threw up a defensive barrier, but lightning flashed.
Hanekawa appeared directly in front of her. The Thunderfire Sword emerged, cutting through the wall and driving toward her heart.
"Dissolution Technique: Dissolution Monster!"
Mei Terumi opened her mouth and spat acid at point-blank range.
"Lightning Style Body!"
Hanekawa vanished using the Body Flicker, reappearing to her side. He pivoted and kicked.
Mei Terumi flew backward, crashing into the sea. She struggled to her feet, dizzy and disoriented.
Hanekawa stood waiting, completely unharmed.
She opened her mouth, then closed it. For the first time, she understood true defeat.
The water techniques she'd mastered weren't as strong as his. The Dissolution Technique that should have been unstoppable couldn't even touch his clothes. In three minutes, he'd shown her mercy twice.
Her pride as the Hidden Mist's number one genius lay shattered.
A scream cut through the air.
Mei Terumi looked up to see Raiga falling into the sea, blood trailing behind him. The water turned red.
Tsunade descended from the sky, her tea-green coat billowing in the wind. She landed with such force that waves dozens of meters high erupted around her.
Mei Terumi's pupils shook.
Raiga Kurosuki—one of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen—dead in less than three minutes.
"Go," Hanekawa said quietly. "Leave now, or you won't get another chance."
"Why would you—"
"You talk too much."
He walked forward and swatted her rear, then kicked her toward the mist.
Mei Terumi flew backward, equal parts humiliated and furious. She spun and spat acid one last time.
"Water Style: Great Explosion Water Wave!"
Hanekawa tilted back and released a massive torrent. The sea erupted, waves towering skyward, drowning out her acid and surging toward her.
She turned and ran.
The waves actually helped her escape—clearly intentional on his part. She made it to the island where her reinforcements were arriving.
Hyuga Cee was covered in blood, knife wounds across his body. Biwa Juzo had been so focused on him that he hadn't noticed Raiga's death.
Tsunade appeared beside them instantly.
"What—?"
Biwa Juzo barely had time to react before Tsunade threw a simple, devastating punch.
He spun his Kubikiribōchō to block, but the force was overwhelming. His legs buckled and he flew backward, the sword with him.
Something's wrong. Am I going to die here?
Then he felt a surge of chakra from below.
"Rasengan!"
Hanekawa erupted from the water, the spiraling sphere connecting directly with Juzo's waist. Flesh tore. Blood sprayed.
Lightning flashed.
The Thunderfire Sword pierced his heart.
"No!" "Lord Juzo!" "Avenge him!"
The Mist ninjas screamed in rage as they charged forward.
Hanekawa grabbed both swords and ran, Tsunade right behind him, supporting the injured Hyuga Cee. With numbers against them and Ce wounded, retreat was the only option.
Hanekawa's eyes caught Raiga's body in the water. He scooped up the twin swords without breaking stride.
"Stop!" Mei Terumi called out. "We can't catch them. Check on the others!"
The medical ninjas rushed to Biwa Juzo and Raiga. After a moment, they looked up, their faces grim.
"They're gone," one said quietly.
Mei Terumi's lips pressed thin.
She'd just witnessed Tsunade's terrifying power firsthand. Add Hanekawa to that equation, and the gap became incomprehensible. Were these really medical ninjas?
"Take them back," she ordered, her voice steady despite the turmoil inside.
Two of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen, dead before they'd even left the village. This would be a disaster for the Hidden Mist's reputation.
---
By the shore:
Yuhi Kurenai, Nohara Rin, and the others waited anxiously.
"They're coming!" Hyuga Kamon announced, his Byakugan tracking their approach.
"Where?" Kurenai stood immediately, scanning the water.
Three figures emerged from the mist.
"Teacher's hurt!" Kamon's expression shifted.
"They fought the Mist ninjas," Kurenai said, relief flooding through her when she confirmed Hanekawa was unharmed.
"Everyone, keep watch," Tsunade instructed, lowering Hyuga Cee carefully. "I need to operate."
"Yes!"
Hanekawa turned back toward the sea, and two notifications appeared:
[C-Rank Talent Entry: "Vast Waters" effect upgraded.]
[Water Style talent increased by 150% from baseline.]
An unexpected bonus from defeating Mei Terumi. As his water-style talent improved, his proficiency with water techniques would accelerate dramatically.
He retrieved the Kubikiribōchō and Thunderfire Sword, then formed seals and pressed them against the blades. The Seven Ninja Swordsmen's weapons shared a summoning scroll—he needed to seal these before they could be recalled.
Fortunately, he'd learned sealing techniques from Kushina Uzumaki.
"Is that a Kubikiribōchō?" Hyuga Kamon's eyes widened.
"You fought the Seven Swordsmen?" Kurenai's heart skipped. "No wonder Ce was so badly hurt."
"Biwa Juzo and Raiga Kurosuki," Hanekawa said, storing the weapons. "Both dead."
Shock rippled through the group.
"Two of the Seven Swordsmen... just like that?" Kamon stared at him.
Kurenai, Rin, and the others exchanged glances, processing the impossible.
The legendary Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist. Dead.
And somehow, it didn't feel real.