The Grass Country riverbank was peaceful in the November chill, but Hanekawa's focus remained absolute as he completed his hand seals. His body liquefied, dissolving into the water with practiced ease before reforming moments later.
Perfect. Water Transformation is definitely underrated.
Not only did it nullify physical attacks, but it made for excellent reconnaissance. Two months of interrogating Mangetsu Hozuki had proven worthwhile—the Seven Ninja Swordsmen's secrets were now his to exploit. The ninja swords themselves were already catalogued and priced. Mangetsu would fetch a decent sum from the Mist Village eventually. Short-lived people had their uses.
But the real prize sat dormant in his chakra network.
Hanekawa closed his eyes, confirming no one was watching, and formed fresh seals. Chakra surged through his body, followed by crackling lightning that wrapped around him like armor. Unlike the Chidori's piercing current, this formed a complete defensive layer.
Lightning Chakra Mode.
The notification appeared in his mind:
[S-Rank Ninjutsu Entry: Lightning Chakra Mode]
[Trigger Condition: Upgrade B-Rank "Lightning Chakra Body" + Learn Fourth Raikage's technique]
[Effect: Physical attributes increase 200% (Attack, Speed, Defense)]
[Note: Cannot be synthesized]
S-Rank? Not A?
Hanekawa blinked. The Fourth Raikage's ultimate form—the Strongest Lightning Armor—existed above this, yet the system rated it S-Rank anyway. Not that he'd complain.
He tested the enhancement, moving so fast the world blurred. One second to circle the entire area and return. The power was intoxicating.
If I combine this with Flying Thunder God...
The thought was tempting but premature. He'd only scratched the surface of that technique. Patience had served him well so far.
The lightning faded. Hanekawa took a measured breath, letting the discomfort of power withdrawal pass.
His next objectives crystallized:
First, Might Guy's Konoha Dragon God—perfect for masking Lightning Chakra Mode's noise.
Second, Minato's Flying Thunder God. Already started. Just needed practice.
Third, Water and Earth Style jonin entries to synthesize Wood Style. The Yamato version would cement his status in Konoha.
Fourth, Sarutobi Hiruzen's Five Elements Seal. A devastating range technique no Hokage should lack.
Master all the previous Kages' techniques. Become the strongest Hokage.
But that was future thinking. The immediate priority was getting Tsunade into the Hokage's seat.
Footsteps interrupted his planning.
Nohara Rin approached, practically glowing with excitement. "Hanekawa! I finally mastered the Mystical Palm Technique!"
"Congratulations." He wasn't being polite—he meant it. "So the Chakra Scalpel is all that's left?"
"Yes!" She beamed. "But Hanekawa, you haven't even become a jonin yet, and I—"
"You're already jonin-level." He reached out and ruffled her hair gently. "Medical ninjas have advantages. You're scarce, your techniques are difficult, and you don't need combat prowess. You've earned it."
Rin's face flushed. She grabbed his arm, her breathing suddenly shallow. What is she doing?
The ground erupted.
A massive toad—easily thirty feet tall—crashed down from the sky, shaking the entire base camp. Rin stumbled, and Hanekawa caught her waist instinctively.
Jiraiya.
"What's happening?" Rin gasped, still clinging to his arm.
"Probably Tsunade's idea." Hanekawa steadied her. "Show of force. The Mist Village's been stalling for months. Time to remind them why that's a bad idea."
Rin seemed to regain her composure, though her face remained flushed. "Should we... go back?"
"Yeah. Let's see what's going on."
---
The toad's sheer size was even more impressive up close. Hanekawa had seen tailed beasts, so he only spared it two seconds of awe before heading toward the command tent.
Kurenai intercepted him. "Sensei said no one—"
"That doesn't include me." He patted her head and kept walking.
Inside, the atmosphere was suffocating.
Tsunade held a document, her expression carved from stone. Jiraiya stood nearby, equally grim. Both looked like they'd swallowed poison.
Hanekawa glanced at the papers. Wood Style experiments. Danzo and Orochimaru's collaboration.
Ah. That.
"Tsunade, what will you do?" Jiraiya asked quietly.
She didn't answer immediately. Orochimaru was her teammate, Nawaki's teacher. But Danzo was a different matter entirely.
"They're at the Hidden Cloud front," Tsunade finally said. "We don't alarm them yet."
"After the war?"
"They'll be punished." Her voice was ice. "They violated Konoha's laws."
"But they can't die," Jiraiya said carefully.
"No." Tsunade's jaw tightened. "The old man won't allow it."
Hanekawa understood. Sarutobi Hiruzen would offset their crimes against their contributions. Typical.
"I have one condition," Tsunade continued. "They withdraw from power. Completely. No more authority."
Jiraiya's eyes widened as understanding dawned. "That's... actually brilliant."
Without power, neither could conduct further experiments. And with such a scandal exposed, Sarutobi would likely step down voluntarily to save face.
Tsunade would become the Fourth Hokage unopposed.
"Even if he refuses, I'll make him agree," Tsunade said quietly. "By becoming Hokage myself."
Jiraiya looked at her like he was seeing a stranger. The woman had changed—hardened into something sharper, colder.
"There's no mention of surviving Wood Style users," Tsunade noted, frowning at the documents.
"Probably with Danzo," Jiraiya replied. "We'll find out when we capture them."
"Stay in the Grass Country for a few days," Tsunade instructed. "Make your presence known. Let the Mist Village sweat."
"Understood."
Hanekawa watched the exchange silently. Everything was falling into place. Danzo and Orochimaru would be neutralized. Tsunade's path to Hokage was clear.
And I'll be right beside her the whole way.
He smiled to himself.
The game was progressing perfectly.
---
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