Hanekawa opened Mei Terumi's wallet.

  What caught his eye was a stack of bills. He counted them carefully—two thousand seven hundred ryō in total. Besides the money, there were two hot spring coupons and a bottle of blue nail polish.

  Future Mizukage's a bit broke, he thought with an internal smirk.

  "Lady Tsunade."

  He handed over the intelligence documents he'd lifted from the Hidden Mist. Tsunade nodded slightly, accepting them without ceremony, and settled into the chair across from him.

  "Most newly graduated ninja would be shaken after their first real combat," she said, glancing at the wallet in his hands. "You, on the other hand, were busy flirting with a little girl."

  "I wasn't flirting," Hanekawa said seriously. "I was educating a defeated opponent."

  "That 'little girl' happens to be the Hidden Mist's latest genius." Tsunade's lips curved into an amused smile. "Next time you meet her, you might be the one getting a lesson."

  "That won't happen."

  Hanekawa tucked the wallet away. "I have a good teacher."

  Tsunade blinked, caught off guard. Then she laughed—a genuine, warm sound that made her whole face light up. She reached out and flicked his forehead with enough force to make him wince.

  "Did I say something wrong?" he asked, rubbing the spot.

  "No. But don't let it go to your head." She crossed her arms, a gesture that made her already impressive presence feel even more commanding. "You did handle that battle well, though."

  Hanekawa seized the opening immediately. "So what's my reward?"

  "I'm treating you to barbecue."

  "That's not a reward—that's just dinner," he complained.

  "You don't want it?" Her fists clenched meaningfully.

  "I want it," he said very quickly. "I want it very much."

  "Good." Tsunade's expression softened. "Don't move."

  Before he could ask why, she placed her palm against his forehead. Warm chakra flowed from her hands, scanning through his body with practiced precision.

  "No hidden injuries," she announced after a moment, withdrawing her hand. "But listen carefully—it's easy to sustain internal damage during combat. If you don't treat it immediately, it'll stunt your growth."

  Well, that's one way to motivate a kid, Hanekawa thought. "With you here, that'll never happen."

  Tsunade studied him for a moment, something soft flickering across her features. "Hmph. I don't know how many girls you're going to break hearts with, looking like that."

  "I'm not breaking anyone's heart," he protested. "You're slandering me, Teacher."

  They talked as the sun began to set, and Hanekawa realized something: Tsunade had picked him up not out of duty, but because she genuinely wanted to. The young man from their mission—the one who'd been ignored the entire time—finally understood this truth. He watched from his own tent as Hanekawa and Tsunade disappeared into theirs, and apparently the realization hit him hard enough to bring tears.

  ---

  The next afternoon, sunlight painted the gates of Konoha gold.

  "I'm finally home!" the young man shouted the moment they passed through, his voice cracking with emotion. Six years as a spy in the Hidden Mist. He'd thought he had another three years minimum before rotation. This was early.

  "Let's get this report filed," Tsunade said, already thinking about the casino. "I'm feeling lucky today."

  You're never lucky, Hanekawa thought, but he kept that observation to himself.

  Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel.

  After checking in at the gate, the three made their way into the village. Hanekawa's mind drifted to Kurenai and the others. A week was a long time when you were six years old.

  ---

  Tsunade kicked open the Hokage's office door without bothering to knock.

  The young man flinched. Hanekawa didn't even blink—he'd stopped being surprised by her entrances weeks ago. He did, however, find himself wondering: if Tsunade became Hokage someday, would she kick down her own office door? And if he tried the same thing, would she beat him senseless?

  Probably. The most likely scenario is I become Danzo, and we spend decades playing "you regret, I'm the shadow" together.

  "Tsunade!" Lord Hokage set down his pipe, clearly startled. "What's the meaning of—"

  "Mission complete. Pay up." Tsunade stepped forward without ceremony. "Also, check if there are any recent geniuses in the Hidden Mist."

  Sarutobi Hiruzen tossed her a passbook. "B-rank mission. One hundred sixty thousand ryō."

  Tsunade glanced at it and shook her head. "Not enough. We encountered Biwa Juzo."

  The Hokage's expression shifted immediately. "The Seven Ninja Swordsmen? What happened?"

  Tsunade gave him the abbreviated version. Hanekawa watched the old man's face grow more serious with each detail.

  "The girl you mentioned is likely Mei Terumi," Hiruzen said finally. He opened a drawer and withdrew two files. "And the other rising star is Zabuza Momochi. Both are exceptional for their age."

  Tsunade handed the files to Hanekawa without looking at them. He skimmed the contents—mostly information he already knew, though these versions were more detailed than the historical records.

  "I'll upgrade your mission to A-rank," Hiruzen decided. "An additional three hundred thousand ryō."

  "That works." Tsunade turned toward the door. "Hanekawa, let's go."

  Hanekawa bowed respectfully to the Hokage before hurrying after her.

  "At least Hanekawa didn't pick up his teacher's manners," Hiruzen muttered to the young man, who was trying very hard to look invisible.

  ---

  "Teacher!" Hanekawa caught up with Tsunade in the hallway. "Where's my cut?"

  "You're too young to handle money. I'll keep it safe for you."

  "No." He held firm. That's exactly what my mother used to say.

  "Tsk. Little devil." Tsunade gave him two hundred thousand ryō with obvious reluctance. "Don't waste it."

  "I could say the same thing to you," he pointed out.

  The temperature around them dropped about twenty degrees.

  Hanekawa felt the murderous intent before he saw it—Tsunade walking toward him with a dark expression that promised pain. He opened his mouth to apologize, but it was too late. She scooped him up and unleashed her "iron fist of love," her knuckles ravaging his head while he squirmed helplessly in her grip.

  "Teacher!" he protested, but there was no escape. She was too strong, and she was enjoying this far too much.

  "Next time, think before you speak," she said once she'd satisfied herself, setting him down.

  "Yes, ma'am," he said, still wincing.

  "Go home and rest. You've been traveling for two days." She hesitated, then added, "I was going to take you to the casino, but you need sleep more."

  "Thank you, Teacher. Goodbye."

  He waved and headed toward the ninja academy. School would be letting out soon, and he'd missed seeing everyone. A week was a long time.

  ---

  The bell rang. Students poured out like water through a broken dam.

  "Rin," Obito asked with his usual bright smile, "want to get ramen?"

  "I need to study," Rin said gently, though she hesitated.

  "Isn't that Hanekawa?" Kakashi's voice held surprise.

  Rin's head snapped up. Her face lit up immediately.

  But someone beat her to it.

  "Hanekawa!" Kurenai burst through the crowd, her ruby eyes shining.

  Asuma pouted. "Where does he keep going on all these missions?"

  "Probably just D-rank stuff," Obito said, though his tone suggested he didn't believe it. "Lucky bastard."

  Kakashi's eyes held a flicker of envy. He wanted to go on missions too, but his father was too busy. The only way forward was to graduate early—and he'd promised to wait for Hanekawa.

  "When did you get back?" Kurenai asked, slightly breathless.

  "Just now." Hanekawa reached out and smoothed down her windswept hair, his fingers gentle. "How have you been?"

  Kurenai's face turned red.

  Rin and the others approached. "We heard you went to the Land of Water," Kakashi said, studying him carefully. "Did you encounter any Hidden Mist ninja?"

  "One of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen, actually. Biwa Juzo."

  Everyone's eyes widened.

  "That's impossible," Obito said, disbelief written across his face. "How are you even alive?"

  "My teacher's stronger than he is." Hanekawa shrugged. That's the understatement of the century.

  Obito's expression darkened with something that looked suspiciously like jealousy.

  "Lady Tsunade is incredible," Rin said softly, admiration clear in her voice.

  "Come on," Hanekawa said, pulling out his passbook. "I made good money on this mission. Barbecue's on me."

  "Then I'm eating until you're broke!" Asuma declared.

  Hanekawa made a mental note: Wait until you meet Choji. Then you'll understand what "broke" really means.

  Obito's face turned an interesting shade of green as he watched Rin follow Hanekawa without hesitation.