The Hidden Leaf buzzed with activity the next morning.
Preparations for the weekend victory celebration were underway. Simultaneously, the Hokage's office processed compensation for fallen ninja and distributed mission rewards. Negotiations with the Hidden Cloud required scheduling and preliminary terms.
None of this concerned Hanekawa.
At his strength and status, he didn't need to involve himself in administrative details—only the outcomes mattered. After breakfast, he headed to the Uchiha compound.
"Lord Hanekawa!"
The Uchiha guards at the gate bowed immediately. The clan's legendary pride meant little when facing someone demonstrably superior. Hanekawa's display on the Frost Country battlefield—Wood Style, defeating the Two-Tails and Eight-Tails—had convinced them thoroughly.
"Thank you," Hanekawa said with a practiced smile. "Is Shisui home?"
"He is, sir. Should we notify the clan leader?"
"No need."
Hanekawa walked past them into the compound. The Uchiha "garrison" functioned as a village unto itself—small but complete. He'd visited Shisui's residence before and navigated easily.
"Hanekawa!"
Shisui greeted him warmly, a young boy trailing behind.
"Brother Hanekawa," the child said.
Itachi. Four years old. Hanekawa smiled. "Teaching swordsmanship?"
"He's very talented," Shisui confirmed. "Extremely dedicated."
"I see."
The boy bowed and excused himself with surprising maturity. Once he'd left, Hanekawa got to business.
"I need a favor."
Shisui's eyebrows rose. "You? There's something you can't handle?"
"I'm not omnipotent," Hanekawa replied dryly. "This involves Shimura Danzo. It's dangerous."
"Danzo?" Shisui's expression hardened. "Isn't he imprisoned?"
"For colluding with the Hidden Cloud—technically a capital offense. But the Hokage won't execute him due to their history." Hanekawa's tone remained calm. "Leaving him alive is too dangerous for Konoha."
"You want me to kill him?"
"Not directly." Hanekawa smiled slightly. "I want you to suggest he contact the Fire Country Daimyo. Tell him only the Daimyo can support his bid for Hokage."
Shisui's confusion was evident. "Why would—"
"The Fire Country Daimyo arrives tomorrow," Hanekawa continued. "He won't support Danzo's ambitions. Danzo will lose control and attack the Daimyo. That's treason. We'll have legal grounds to execute him on the spot."
Understanding dawned on Shisui's face. "He can't escape even if he had wings."
Exactly.
"Let's go," Hanekawa said, turning toward the door.
He stopped after two steps.
Three figures blocked the path: Fugaku, Mikoto, and Itachi. The boy looked guilty—he'd apparently mentioned Hanekawa's visit, prompting his parents to investigate.
"Clan Leader," Shisui bowed respectfully. "Lady Mikoto."
"Why didn't you tell us you were here?" Mikoto asked gently.
"I didn't want to impose," Hanekawa replied smoothly.
"Nonsense," Fugaku said in his deep voice. "The Uchiha clan welcomes you anytime."
Strength commands respect. Hanekawa understood the calculus. His power mattered, certainly—but so did being Tsunade's student, especially now that she'd been nominated Fourth Hokage.
"Please stay for dinner," Mikoto offered.
"Another time," Hanekawa declined. "Shisui and I have urgent matters."
Fugaku exchanged a glance with Mikoto. "Perhaps we can assist?"
"Shisui is sufficient."
An awkward pause followed. Fugaku clearly wanted to say something.
"Is there something you'd like to tell me?" Hanekawa asked directly.
Mikoto hesitated. "We heard you accepted a student?"
Ah. Hinata. Hanekawa understood immediately. The Uchiha wanted the same opportunity.
"Would you like to recommend someone?" he asked with amusement.
"Itachi adores you," Mikoto said, smiling sheepishly as she patted the boy's head.
Itachi bowed deeply. "Please accept me as your disciple, Brother Hanekawa."
Hanekawa considered carefully. Itachi's already fully developed. No need for him to wait years for me to become jonin. The real reason was different—he couldn't accept Itachi as a student. The genocide night might not happen due to his butterfly effect, but he couldn't be certain. And there was Sasuke to consider.
"Itachi's talent is already fully revealed," Hanekawa said gently. "He doesn't need to wait years for me to reach jonin rank. Better to train under someone immediately available."
Mikoto's expression darkened. Fugaku's jaw tightened. Even Itachi fell silent.
They think I'm refusing the Uchiha.
"I didn't say no," Hanekawa clarified with a smile. "I'm reserving a student position for you."
Mikoto's surprise was immediate. "Really?"
"Of course." Hanekawa's tone carried meaning. "Ideally, the child would be born this year or next."
Understanding bloomed across Mikoto's face. "I see. We'll... make arrangements."
"Excellent. Until next time, then."
Hanekawa left with Shisui, leaving the Uchiha clan processing this unexpected development.
---
The Konoha Heavy Punishment Room was deliberately remote—two tower-like structures surrounded by emptiness. Serious criminals like murderers and traitors were held in individual sealed cells.
Hanekawa surveyed the area. Best to avoid alerting Hiruzen.
"Use illusion to blend in," he instructed. "Minimal visibility."
Shisui vanished in a flash of red light.
The gate guard collapsed before he could react, caught by the Mangekyō Sharingan's control. Hanekawa raised an eyebrow. That dōjutsu is genuinely broken.
They descended into the facility. Serious criminals occupied airtight individual cells surrounded by protective barriers. Shisui returned with a middle-aged ninja in tow, the man's eyes glazed.
"Take us to Shimura Danzo's cell," Hanekawa commanded.
The ninja obeyed mechanically.
Danzo's cell lay deepest within the complex, guarded by four ANBU jonin and reinforced with additional barriers. Shisui transformed into the middle-aged ninja while Hanekawa became a prison guard. They approached the guards casually.
The Mangekyō Sharingan activated before anyone could react.
The middle-aged ninja dispelled the barrier and provided the key. Shisui opened the door.
Danzo looked up, startled to see Shisui. Before he could speak, his body convulsed. The Mangekyō Sharingan spun hypnotically before him.
His sealed chakra meant he was defenseless.
"Ask him where A is," Hanekawa instructed from the doorway.
Shisui repeated the question.
"A stronghold outside the village," Danzo answered mechanically, providing exact coordinates.
So that's where Yamato is. No wonder Jiraiya couldn't locate him.
"Done," Hanekawa said once they'd exited. "We're finished here."
"How will he escape tomorrow?" Shisui asked curiously.
"I'll handle it," Hanekawa replied casually.
"Anything else?"
"Come with me to Root's base."
Shisui's eyes widened. "To see A? Who is he? Why does he matter?"
"Why was Danzo imprisoned?" Hanekawa countered.
"Colluding with the Hidden Cloud."
"There's more. The Wood Style experiment."
Shisui's pupils dilated. "What experiment?"
Hanekawa explained briefly—Danzo's obsession with obtaining Wood Style, the human experimentation, the murdered infants.
Shisui's expression became horrified. "This is... monstrous."
"A is the only survivor," Hanekawa said quietly.
Understanding replaced shock on Shisui's face.
---
Thirty minutes later, they reached a forest outside the village.
"Five signatures below us," Hanekawa said, closing his eyes to extend his senses. "There's a barrier."
Shisui opened his Mangekyō Sharingan. "Confirmed."
Hanekawa pressed his right hand to the ground.
Molten Release: Rasengan!
The barrier shattered. The earth cracked and collapsed, revealing a deep pit below.
"They've detected us," Hanekawa noted as four figures leaped upward. "Moving toward the entrance."
Shisui's gaze froze them mid-motion.
Suddenly, branches erupted from the ground, wrapping around both of them.
"Wood Style!" Shisui exclaimed.
Wood Style: Tree World Advent!
Hanekawa clapped his hands. Massive chakra surged outward as the earth rose and trees sprouted explosively. Under his control, countless branches and vines ensnared the hidden figure.
He flicked his wrist casually.
Yamato was dragged before them, bound in wooden restraints.
"How do you know Wood Style?" the ninja demanded, staring blankly.
"Shimura Danzo has been arrested for colluding with the Hidden Cloud," Hanekawa said calmly. "Will you continue following him, or return to Konoha with me?"
Confusion flooded Yamato's face. He'd followed Danzo his entire life—knew nothing but obedience. Loyalty and the Will of Fire were foreign concepts. Now his master was imprisoned.
He should rescue him.
But Hanekawa's Wood Style felt... familiar. Like meeting someone of his own kind.
"I... I don't know," Yamato admitted truthfully.
Hanekawa wasn't surprised. Root training created hollow shells, not people. In the original timeline, Kakashi had saved Yamato from that darkness.
Perhaps Hanekawa could do the same.
"Follow me," he said, snapping his fingers.
The wooden restraints dissolved.