Hanekawa opened his eyes to pale morning light filtering through the window.
Tsunade slept soundly beside him, her head resting on his arm, her body curled against his. Even in sleep, she looked perfect—every curve, every line of skin flawless. He found himself staring, unable to look away.
Then four lines of text appeared before his eyes.
Hanekawa froze.
A new entry? But Samui hadn't triggered anything last night. He suppressed his confusion and read the notification.
```
[S-Rank Talent Entry: Rebellious Disciple of the Master]
[Trigger Condition: Obtain both body and mind of Tsunade Senju]
[Effect: Body evolves to Six Paths level, grants immortal body]
[Note: Can be synthesized with S-Rank entries "Invincible Shadow," "Six Magatama Rinnegan," and "Yin-Yang Release" to create "Six Paths Sage"]
```
His heart stopped.
The impact of this entry was staggering. He'd wondered before why "Invincible Shadow" couldn't be upgraded. Now he understood—it needed the immortal body as a foundation. And the path to that immortal body was... this.
Hanekawa took a slow breath, processing the implications.
The Sage Body, in essence, was the vitality and physical constitution of a Six Paths Sage. In the original timeline, Indra inherited the Sage's eyes—the Sharingan—while Ashura inherited the Sage's body. Madara and Hashirama were the perfect examples: one with godlike eyes, the other with nearly infinite chakra.
Does this mean I now have chakra reserves comparable to Hashirama Senju?
He almost laughed. He'd spent months trying to expand his chakra capacity, and now he'd achieved it in a single night.
All thanks to Tsunade.
Another notification appeared.
```
[S-Rank Talent Entry: Regeneration]
[Trigger Condition: Possess chakra at tailed beast level]
[Effect: Increase body's self-healing ability by 200% of original baseline]
```
As expected. With Sage-level chakra, he'd automatically qualified for this entry too.
Now he was only one A-Rank entry away from mastering Hashirama's true Wood Style—the "Seal Jonin" entry.
Hanekawa stroked his chin thoughtfully.
The real problem was the S-Rank "Six Paths Sage" entry. It required three S-Rank entries to synthesize, and he was missing two: "Six Magatama Rinnegan" and "Yin-Yang Release."
The Six Magatama Rinnegan was theoretically possible—Sasuke had achieved it in the original timeline by combining Hashirama's cells with the Sage's chakra. But the Ability System didn't list trigger conditions for it, which was suspicious. It probably connected to his "Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan" somehow. The Rinnegan was the natural evolution of the Mangekyō, after all.
As for "Yin-Yang Release," the system had provided clear conditions:
```
[S-Rank Talent Entry: Yin-Yang Release (Not Obtained)]
[Trigger Condition: Seven-attribute Release technique power bonus reaches 300%]
[Current Progress: 73%]
```
Yin-Yang Release was the technique of creating matter from nothing and granting it life. The most iconic application was the Truth-Seeking Jade. He currently had 150% bonuses on all seven attributes from his Jonin entries. Only Water and Fire had reached 300%.
Too far away for now, he decided. One step at a time.
His immediate priority was the A-Rank "Seal Jonin" entry to unlock Hashirama's Wood Style. After that, he'd be roughly equivalent to Hashirama plus half of Madara—invincible by current standards.
Hanekawa glanced at the window. They'd gone to bed very late and only slept five or six hours, but thanks to his various entries, he recovered quickly. Tsunade, however, would need more rest.
He carefully sat up.
Tsunade's hand immediately caught his wrist, though her eyes remained closed.
"Teacher," he said softly, leaning close to kiss her cheek. "I'm going out for a while. You keep sleeping."
"Mm," she murmured lazily. "Check on the Hokage's office."
Even half-asleep, she was thinking about her duties. That was Tsunade—lazy until it mattered, then absolutely reliable.
"Understood, Lady Hokage," he said with a smile. "I'll be waiting when you get back."
Her lips curved slightly. She released his wrist and drifted back to sleep, her breathing evening out.
---
After a quick bath and change into his New Year's kimono, Hanekawa felt refreshed.
Flying Thunder God.
He vanished from the spot, but not toward the Hokage Building. First, he needed to see Kurenai. He'd been gone all day and night—she was probably furious.
He was right.
Kurenai sat at her desk, chin propped on her crossed hands, muttering to herself. "Why hasn't he come back yet? Why hasn't he come back yet?"
"Are you angry?" Hanekawa asked from behind her.
She spun around, and a smile lit her face before she caught herself, forcing her expression stern. "You look good even when you're upset," he said, winking.
"Do you know why I'm angry?" she demanded, crossing her arms.
"I spent some time at Teacher's house," he admitted. "We were doing in-depth research on Yin Seal modifications."
Kurenai's eyes widened in confusion. Why would they need to modify the Yin Seal if they'd already mastered it?
"Do you want to learn the Yin Seal?" he asked, bending close to her ear.
Her body trembled at his proximity. "Can I?"
"It preserves eternal youth," he explained. "The modification isn't complete yet, but—"
"I want to learn!" Her eyes lit up immediately.
No woman could resist eternal youth.
"Soon," he promised, and kissed her.
He cupped her head, starting at her face, moving to her neck, finally claiming her lips. She melted against him, her previous anger dissolving into happiness.
When they finally parted, she buried herself in his arms, too embarrassed to meet his eyes. Her skin was flushed and hot.
"Kurenai," he said gently, stroking her head.
"Mm," she responded.
"Are you going to the shrine to pray today?"
"Only if you go," she said obediently, like a cat enjoying his touch.
"I need to visit the Hokage's office," he said. "You can go to the shrine this afternoon."
"Okay. I'll wait for you."
Same thing Tsunade said, he thought, feeling a twinge of guilt.
He pinched Kurenai's cheeks and performed the Flying Thunder God Technique.
---
The Hokage's office was exactly as expected—a neat stack of unimportant documents that only needed a glance. After reviewing them, Hanekawa headed to the ANBU base.
"Lord Hanekawa," Samui greeted him, hurrying forward. "You finally came."
He raised an eyebrow. She wasn't wearing her ANBU vest today—instead, a secretary uniform with a slightly open collar revealing her white shirt. Black silk stockings covered her legs, and her heels clicked sharply against the floor as she walked.
"When did you arrive?" he asked.
"This morning," she said truthfully. "Why are you wearing a secretary uniform?"
He reached out, placing his hand on her black silk thigh. Through the stockings, he could feel her soft skin. "You didn't come see me last night. Have you... lost interest in me?"
Hanekawa laughed. Ah. So that's why she changed outfits. She's trying to seduce me.
And it was working.
"I was busy last night," he said, his hand sliding along her thigh to the cuff of her stockings. No pantyhose this time? He felt her soft skin and smiled. "I'm very interested in you."
Samui groaned, instinctively closing her legs before straightening again.
"I think you have a talent for Water Style practice," he teased.
Her face flushed. She opened her mouth but couldn't find words.
Hanekawa withdrew his hand, wiped it on her suit, and casually unbuttoned her jacket. Without its restraints, her white shirt strained against her curves, looking ready to burst.
From beginning to end, she remained silent, letting him do as he pleased.
Hanekawa didn't hesitate. He continued unbuttoning.
Samui's breathing quickened.
"Time to work, my secretary," he said, stepping back to sit in the office chair.
"Yes, Lord Hanekawa," she said, her red lips parting slightly as heat flooded through her.
She'd waited for him all last night, her heart growing cold with worry. But now the misunderstanding was resolved, and her heart was beating again.
Hanekawa felt this most deeply. Because he was the man closest to her heart.
He let out a breath and reached out to touch her trembling head, then turned his attention to the desk.
His dual-core processors activated simultaneously.
He picked up a document—intelligence about Nagato from Konan. He'd nearly mastered the Six Paths and was beginning to study Outer Path ninjutsu. With his talent, he'd master it in a month, maybe less.
Then Black Zetsu won't be able to hold back much longer.
Hanekawa suddenly let out a light exclamation. Is Samui working this hard today?
He glanced down. Her eyes were rolled back, her face flushed, breathing ragged.
He still didn't quite understand what she was thinking, but he was definitely the biggest beneficiary, so there was no need to correct anything.
After some thought, Hanekawa decided to join Akatsuki in half a month. That would give him time to obtain the "Seal Jonin" entry and unlock Hashirama's true Wood Style. After that, whatever Black Zetsu and Nagato threw at him would be useless.
"Get up," he said eventually. "The ground is cold."
Samui shook her head, looking at him with a confused, flushed face.
But she soon understood. Hanekawa reached out, grabbed her waist, and lifted her effortlessly.
Samui's head shot up, her body trembled, her short golden hair fluttering in the air. She paused for a few seconds, then hugged his head contentedly.
Hanekawa buried himself in her embrace and didn't hold back. His principle had always been simple: if you bite me, I bite back.
With a wave of his hand, he set up a soundproof barrier.
After an unknown amount of time, Samui's movements slowed. She was sweating all over, her fair skin turned pink, looking extremely sexy.
"Are you happy?" he asked with a smile.
"Mm," she said, embarrassed.
She'd misunderstood him last night, but the misunderstanding had only enriched her heart.
"Don't let your imagination run wild in the future," he said, patting her hip. "I won't let go of a woman like you."
Her body trembled. Her eyes widened with joy, and she regained some strength.
Hanekawa grabbed both her hands—partly to prevent her from falling backward, partly to admire them. In the sunlight, they looked smooth and shiny, glistening with sweat. A light fragrance clung to her skin, either from her chakra or her natural scent.
"Do you want to go back to the Hidden Cloud today?" he asked. "It's New Year's."
"No... I don't want to," Samui said, shaking her head.
She only had one relative here—Atsui—and her two best friends, Yumujin and Mabui. There was nothing for her in the Hidden Cloud anymore.
"If you change your mind, I can take you," he offered. "I can reach anywhere in the ninja world in three seconds now."
He hadn't tested the maximum distance of his Flying Thunder God since gaining the Sage Body, but he was confident.
"Mm," Samui said, though it was unclear if she was answering or expressing contentment.
Hanekawa wiped the sweat from her forehead, then moved his hand down along her skin to cover her heart. Her body froze, and after various attempts, she finally lost all strength and fell into his arms.
"Thank you for your hard work, Samui," he said, touching her head.
"I'm sorry," she whispered.
She'd tried so hard for so long, but achieved nothing in the end.
"It's not your fault," he said. "Before, you could still fight with all your strength. Now you can't. Because I already have an immortal body."
"I... I can still..." Samui gritted her teeth, leaned close to his ear, and whispered two words.
Hanekawa's expression shifted to surprise. She's not going through the main door—she's trying to bribe me this way.
"Next time," he said.
Samui was stunned, then touched.
"It can't end like this!" she said suddenly, getting excited.
Hanekawa couldn't help but laugh at her sudden energy. It's good to have a proper beginning and end.
With his help, Samui finally got what she wanted. But the price was high.
Fortunately, Hanekawa was the best medical ninja in the ninja world. He helped her promote blood circulation, remove stagnation, reduce swelling, and relieve pain.
"I'll take you back," he said, picking her up.
They vanished from the spot.
When they reappeared, they were in her room. "Have a good rest," he said, laying her on the bed.
But Samui didn't respond. Her eyes were dazed, her face confused, as if her soul had been swept away by the sea.
Hanekawa thought for a moment, picked her up, and carried her to the bathroom. After bathing her, he tucked her into bed—and took a bath himself. After all, he'd met an excellent Water Style ninja. If he didn't shower, Tsunade would definitely notice when he returned.
"Hanekawa," Samui said as he was leaving, her voice soft.
"See you tomorrow," he said, leaning close to her ear. "Remember to wash your secretary uniform and stockings."
Samui's face turned bright red as she remembered her previous masterpiece.
So cute, he thought, leaving with a satisfied smile.
---
Flying Thunder God.
Hanekawa's feet found purchase, and he was already standing in Tsunade's room.
He paused. She wasn't here.
He turned and left, finding her on the sofa in the living room, taking a bite of an apple.
"You're back," she said. "What's happening in the village?"
"Nothing. Another peaceful day," he said, noting the scent of shower gel on her. She'd just bathed. "I'm hungry. Go cook something."
It made sense. From last night through this afternoon, she'd consumed a lot without taking anything in.
"It'll be ready soon," he said, heading to the kitchen.
In less than three minutes, he returned.
"So fast?" Tsunade asked, surprised.
"I used Fire Style," he explained casually. "Anyway, with more chakra, there's no need to worry about wasting it."
"Thank you," she said, picking up her chopsticks.
"Wait," he said, grabbing her wrist. His eyes fell on her soft lips. "Shouldn't you give me a reward?"
"I think you're becoming less and less respectful of your teacher," Tsunade said, pulling her hand free and lifting his chin with her finger.
"Please advise me, Teacher," he said, leaning forward to kiss her.
After a long moment, they parted.
Tsunade took a breath, rolled her eyes at him, and returned to eating.
"What are you doing this afternoon?" he asked.
"Going to the Hokage's office," she said after a moment. "There are afternoon matters to handle."
If she stayed home, Hanekawa would probably start another round, she thought. And I need time to recover.
She'd also been wondering—they both had the Yin Seal, so why was he so capable?
"Alright," he said. "I'm going to the shrine to pray this afternoon."
"Shrine?" Tsunade glanced at him calmly. "With Kurenai?"
Hanekawa froze, feeling a little restless. But he answered truthfully. "Yes."
"Mm," Tsunade responded, her tone perfectly neutral.
Hanekawa felt confused. Logically, she should know about his relationship with Kurenai. But now it seemed more like a display of queenly magnanimity, which was... incredible.
"I'm full. See you tonight," Tsunade said, setting down her chopsticks.
"I'll take you there," he said, grabbing her hand.
They appeared in the Hokage's office together. After saying goodbye, he returned home.
---
"Hanekawa!" Kurenai was already prepared, dressed in a black and red kimono.
"Let's go," he said, extending his hand.
"Mm," she said, taking it.
Since it was still early, he didn't use Flying Thunder God, just walked slowly through the snowy streets. Many people were out shopping or heading to shrines and temples to pray.
"Lord Hanekawa," people greeted him along the way.
He'd grown used to it. But Kurenai felt embarrassed—many people clearly mistook them for a couple. Which, technically, they were.
"What's wrong?" he asked, unable to help laughing.
"Don't laugh!" she said, stamping her foot.
"What's the problem?" he asked back. "Aren't we a couple?"
She felt shy again under his gaze but said firmly, "Yes."
Hanekawa stopped and pulled her into his arms.
"You... what are you doing?" she asked, confused.
"You'll be rewarded," he said, lowering his head to kiss her forehead.
She was stunned. Realizing they were on the street, her face turned red. She quickly took two steps back, turned around, and hurried toward the shrine not far away.
Hanekawa smiled and followed.
The shrine visit was simple—prayers, drawing lots, buying amulets.
"This is for you," Kurenai said, handing him a pink amulet for praying for peace.
"Why pink?" he asked.
"Don't you think pink looks good?" she tilted her head.
"Pink suits a pretty girl like you better," he said, putting it away.
"Take out the word 'girl!'" she puffed out her chest. "I'm not a little girl anymore!"
"Is that so?" he said, pretending to reach out. "Let me see."
"Pervert!" she yelped, backing away quickly.
Pervert. The last person to call him that was Mei Terumi. He suddenly realized he hadn't seen her in some time. She'd been promoted from acting Mizukage to official Fifth Mizukage just days ago.
Maybe I should test the maximum distance of Flying Thunder God by visiting the Hidden Mist.
"So are you going home with the pervert?" he asked, extending his hand with a smile.
"Who says you're a pervert?" Kurenai snorted, walking forward to take his hand.
"You did, first," he pointed out.
"I can say that!" she said confidently.
"In that case, can I do something a little perverted?" he asked, blinking.
"You absolutely cannot do perverted things!" Her face turned red.
"What are you thinking?" he asked, stopping in front of her.
"Nothing!" She didn't dare look at him, lowering her head. "I'm hungry. Let's go eat!"
"Okay," he said, releasing her hand. Then he bent down and picked her up.
She screamed and instinctively hugged his neck.
"It's faster this way," he said, patting her bottom.
"Pervert!" she cried.
But the next second, her face turned even redder. Because his hand had moved further down, grasping her white thigh.
"You... don't..." she said weakly, her body softening.
"Is this considered perverted?" he asked, glancing at her.
"You're really cute," he said, unable to help himself.
"You... put me down," she said weakly.
"Mm," he said, bending slightly and loosening his grip.
Kurenai couldn't handle teasing well, and they'd be home soon. If Yuhi Shinku saw them like this, he'd probably be kicked out tonight.
"Bad guy!" she glared at him.
"Yes," he admitted.
She was stunned, unsure how to be angry. She held his hand and said fiercely, "Stop making trouble!"
But she felt a tingling sensation in her buttocks and thighs from his touch.
---
After dinner at Kurenai's house, Hanekawa went to Tsunade's.
Time passed slowly.
Apart from Tsunade, Hanekawa spent his remaining time training. To speed up progress, he visited the Sealing Class and used his Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan to secretly copy and study sealing techniques.
By the 15th of the first month, Hanekawa had completed all proficiency requirements.
The A-Rank talent entry "Seal Jonin" was successfully obtained.
```
[A-Rank Talent Entry: Seal Jonin]
[Effect: Increase sealing technique power by 150%]
```
Combined with his S-Rank "Darkness of the Ninja World" (100% bonus), he now had a 250% power boost to sealing techniques.
But that wasn't the highlight.
Hanekawa meditated on synthesis, and the text before him changed.
```
[S-Rank Talent Entry: Wood Style (Senju Hashirama Version)]
[Trigger Condition: Synthesized from A-Rank Medical Jonin, A-Rank Seal Jonin, and S-Rank Regeneration]
[Effect: Automatically comprehend Wood Style]
```
Hanekawa let out a long sigh of relief.
He finally had true Wood Style.
The question was whether he'd have time to master the Thousand Hands Buddha before joining Akatsuki. But regardless, he had to go soon. Black Zetsu could act at any moment.
His plan was simple: use a transformation technique and, with Konan's help, infiltrate Akatsuki. When Black Zetsu revealed itself, he'd seal it. If Nagato tried to stop him, he'd simply defeat him.
But before that, Hanekawa decided to visit the Hidden Mist.