Konan's question caught Hanekawa off guard. "Do you know Uchiha Madara?"
He considered it carefully. "The legendary Uchiha who died at the Valley of the End, defeated by the First Hokage. Why?"
"Because he's not dead."
Konan's expression grew grave. "About a year ago, a ninja claiming to be Uchiha Madara found us."
Hanekawa's eyes narrowed. A year ago—right around when the Akatsuki dissolved their alliance with Konoha. The timing wasn't coincidental. "So that's why you ended things with us."
"Yahiko and I don't believe him," Konan continued, her worry evident. "But Nagato... the Rinnegan has made him susceptible to Madara's philosophy. If this continues, Nagato might start a war on his own."
"You want me to stop him?" Hanekawa kept his tone neutral, though his mind was already working through the implications.
Konan nodded. "You're the only one with the power to oppose Nagato now."
Hanekawa smiled slightly. "Then why should I? If Madara is real, he's Konoha's enemy. Why not let you both exhaust each other?"
The question hung in the air. Konan's mouth opened and closed, no answer forthcoming. She understood his logic perfectly—and hated it.
"Three years," Hanekawa said finally. "Have the Akatsuki work for Konoha for three years. That's my price for handling both Nagato and Madara."
Konan's pupils contracted. It was a steep price. But the alternative was watching Nagato fall under Madara's complete control, or worse, die in their conflict.
After a long silence, she agreed.
Hanekawa handed her a kunai marked with his seal. "Use this when Nagato masters the Rinnegan. That's when Madara will move."
---
Back at the ANBU base, Hanekawa sat at his desk, mind already shifting to his next moves. Kakuzu was handling the Takumi Village operation. But he needed more—more resources, more reach, more infrastructure.
Orochimaru.
The Snake Sannin had built Otogakure from nothing. His recruitment capabilities were unmatched. Why not redirect that genius toward Hanekawa's own enterprises?
He found Orochimaru in his basement laboratory, surrounded by the usual unsettling experiments.
"How would you like to establish a village in the Land of Rice?" Hanekawa asked without preamble. "Full autonomy. Unlimited research budget. No restrictions."
Orochimaru's eyes gleamed with interest. "Human experimentation?"
"Find the worst criminals in the world. They're fair game."
The deal was struck within minutes.
---
As evening fell, Hanekawa remained at his desk, now sketching out his first legitimate novel. Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba. A story from his previous life, one he'd loved deeply. It would be published under his real name—a perfect cover for the fortune he'd already made under the pen name Rai Kaen.
The window behind him opened without warning.
"When did you learn to break into offices?" Hanekawa asked, not looking up.
"I'm the Hokage. I do what I want." Tsunade moved to his desk, her curiosity piqued by the manuscript. She began reading, her expression shifting from skeptical to genuinely intrigued.
Hanekawa watched her instead of his work. The afternoon light caught the curve of her neck, the soft rise and fall of her breathing beneath her sleeveless top. The Yin Seal kept her skin impossibly young—softer than it had any right to be.
He wrapped his arms around her waist, resting his chin on her shoulder.
Tsunade glanced back, a slight smile playing at her lips. She turned just enough to kiss his cheek, then returned to the novel.
But Hanekawa wasn't done. His hand slid lower, and Tsunade's breath caught.
"Don't cause trouble," she warned, though her voice lacked conviction.
He obeyed—for approximately thirty seconds. Then his fingers found sensitive skin again, and Tsunade bit her lip to stifle a sound.
"Teacher," he murmured against her ear.
She turned, and he kissed her properly. The novel fell from her hands. Her body went rigid, then pliant, responding to him with an intensity that made his pulse race.
When he finally pulled back, Tsunade's eyes were glazed, her lips flushed.
"My heart hurts," she said breathlessly, her hand pressed to her chest.
"Should I rub it better?" he asked with shameless innocence.
"Do you want to die?" She pushed him away and vanished through the window before he could respond.
Hanekawa shook his head, grinning. Almost there.
---
Tsunade sat on her couch at home, hand still over her heart, trying to steady her breathing. Since they'd become official, her carefully maintained composure had crumbled. She'd let her guard down completely—something she never did.
The New Year was coming next month. A significant date. A night to remember.
She took a deep breath, but her heart began racing again at the thought of what might happen.
When Hanekawa arrived home, she forced herself to appear calm.
"What would you like for dinner?" he asked casually.
"What are your plans for New Year's Eve?" she countered.
Normally, he alternated between her home and Kurenai's family. But Tsunade needed to know.
"I'll stay with you," he said without hesitation. "Just us."
Something warm bloomed in her chest. "Good."
---
Two days later, Hanekawa stood before Takigakure Village, hidden behind its namesake waterfall. Beside him stood Suien, the rebel ninja, along with thirty-six mercenaries they'd recruited.
Normally, such a force would be insufficient to take a village. But Hanekawa wasn't here to conquer—he was here to fight the Seven-Tails jinchuriki and claim the Hero's Water.
Suien's ambitions were irrelevant. This was a transaction: the traitor's life in exchange for what Hanekawa wanted.
He stepped forward, ready to begin.
---
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