---

  "Hold on," Sarah interrupted, her voice cutting through the tense conversation. "I still don't understand what's happening. Why are you trying to protect me?"

  Hanekawa turned to face her directly. "Your Majesty, have you considered why you fell down those stairs in the first place?"

  Sarah's expression shifted. The memory surfaced—someone had pushed her. At the time, she'd only had puppets nearby, and there was only one person who could control them.

  "Impossible!" she exclaimed, her voice rising. "Uncle Mukade would never lie to me!"

  Right, Hanekawa thought dryly. Because wealthy uncles are always trustworthy. Definitely not scheming to take over the world or anything.

  Before he could respond, footsteps echoed through the corridor—heavy, deliberate, and multiplying.

  "We've been spotted," Kurenai said sharply, her eyes narrowing.

  The puppets emerged from the shadows like a swarm of insects, their joints clicking and whirring as they advanced.

  Kurenai didn't hesitate. She formed hand seals, chakra surging through her body with visible intensity. "Water Style: Water Rush Wave!"

  A massive torrent erupted before her, a churning wall of water that crashed through the puppet formation like a tidal wave. The impact sent metal bodies flying backward, limbs scattering across the stone floor.

  "Move!" Kurenai grabbed Sarah's arm and bolted.

  Hanekawa activated his Body Flicker Technique, appearing at their side in an instant.

  Behind them, the surviving puppets—roughly a third of the original force—raised their arms in unison. Purple chakra crystallized at their fingertips, forming needle-like projectiles that screamed through the air.

  Kurenai spun, slamming her palm against the ground. "Water Style: Water Formation Wall!"

  A barrier of water materialized, intercepting the chakra needles. But the delay cost them precious seconds. More puppets surged forward, their mechanical movements eerily coordinated.

  Then Tsunade appeared.

  She didn't announce herself or call out a technique name. She simply stepped in front of them, raised her leg, and—

  The ground exploded.

  Her foot came down with such force that the entire chamber cracked like an eggshell. Rubble erupted outward in a devastating radius. The nearest puppet was pulverized into scrap metal. The distant ones lost their footing and tumbled into the newly formed crater, their joints sparking uselessly.

  Kurenai's eyes went wide. "The Hokage?!"

  Of course she thinks that, Hanekawa realized. Future Kurenai, meeting present-day Tsunade. This is going to be complicated.

  "Who is this girl?" Tsunade demanded, glancing at Sarah while already moving toward the exit. "And where did all these metal things come from?"

  "No time for questions!" Hanekawa grabbed her hand. "Run!"

  They bolted through the corridors, the sound of pursuing puppets fading behind them. Within minutes, they'd reached a small, abandoned house on the outskirts of the city. The puppets didn't follow.

  Once inside, Kurenai straightened and approached Tsunade with a formal bow. "Lady Hokage."

  Tsunade blinked. Twice. "...What?"

  Hanekawa sighed and pulled Tsunade into the next room, leaving Kurenai looking confused.

  "What's going on?" Tsunade demanded the moment they were alone. "Who is that girl? And why does she keep calling me Hokage?"

  "Okay, so... don't freak out," Hanekawa began.

  "That's never a good start," Tsunade muttered.

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  "She's Kurenai Yuhi."

  Tsunade stared at him. "Which Kurenai Yuhi?"

  "The only one that matters. Uncle Shinku's daughter. Except she's... older. Because she traveled back in time using the dragon vein."

  Silence.

  "I'm checking you for a concussion," Tsunade finally said, reaching for his head.

  Hanekawa dodged. "I'm serious. Look at her. Really look at her. She's just an older version of the Kurenai we know."

  Tsunade glanced through the doorway at the young woman, then back at Hanekawa. Her expression cycled through confusion, skepticism, and something that might have been acceptance. "So you're telling me I become Hokage?"

  "Apparently."

  "I didn't want to be Hokage."

  "I know."

  "Then why—" Tsunade stopped, her eyes narrowing. "This is because of what you said on my birthday, isn't it? About me being Fourth Hokage and you being Fifth?"

  Ah. She remembered that.

  "We can figure out the timeline later," Hanekawa said quickly. "Right now, we need to focus on the mission. And we should probably avoid asking her too many questions about the future. Time paradoxes and all that."

  Tsunade nodded slowly, still processing. "If this is real, we should seal her memories before she leaves. Just like Minato did with the Nine-Tailed Fox."

  "Good idea."

  They returned to find Kurenai studying Sarah with obvious concern. "Lady Hokage, what should we do?"

  "First, we need to talk to Mukade directly," Hanekawa said. "Sarah can take us to him."

  "You think he'll just confess?" Kurenai asked skeptically.

  "He might not have a choice," Tsunade said, cracking her knuckles. "Depends on how cooperative he wants to be."

  Kurenai's eyes widened slightly at the threat implicit in that statement.

  "We're still waiting for one more person," Hanekawa added. "Minato should be here soon."

  As if summoned by his words, space itself seemed to ripple. Minato appeared in a flash of yellow light, his expression alert and ready for combat. He took in the scene—Tsunade, Hanekawa, Sarah, and an unfamiliar young woman with striking red eyes—in a single glance.

  "Minato-senpai," Hanekawa called, gesturing him over.

  Hanekawa pulled him aside and quickly explained the situation. To his credit, Minato's shock lasted only a few seconds before he accepted the explanation with the calm rationality that made him such a formidable ninja.

  "Have you located the dragon vein?" Hanekawa asked.

  "Beneath the city," Minato confirmed. "But there's a central seal component missing. Without it, I can't properly contain the dragon vein's power."

  "Sarah should know where it is," Hanekawa said. "She's the queen, after all."

  "Then we confront Mukade now," Minato agreed. "The sooner we secure the dragon vein, the sooner we can complete this mission."

  Hanekawa nodded. And the sooner we can get future Kurenai back to her own time before the timeline implodes.

  While they prepared to move out, Kurenai approached Hanekawa with obvious curiosity. "What's your name, Brother?"

  "Tachibana Taki," Hanekawa said smoothly, pulling the name from thin air.

  Kurenai tilted her head, studying him. Something flickered in her expression—recognition, maybe, or just the uncanny similarity between his mannerisms and someone she knew. She didn't press the issue, though. Instead, she smiled and said, "Your water jutsu could use work. Want me to teach you?"

  Perfect.

  "Actually, I'd love to spar with you," Hanekawa said. "See what you can do."

  They moved to an open courtyard. Kurenai took a relaxed stance, clearly not taking a child seriously as an opponent. "Ready?"

  "Go ahead," Hanekawa said.

  "Water Style: Water Chaos!"

  Water erupted from her mouth in a devastating torrent. Hanekawa flickered away, reappearing behind her. She spun, kunai in hand, and the blade suddenly wrapped in flowing water.

  "Water Style: Water Blade Slash!"

  Their weapons met. The impact sent a jolt through Hanekawa's arm—she was stronger than she looked. He slid backward, reassessing. Kurenai was holding back, but not by much.

  She pressed forward with a series of water-based techniques, each one more refined than the last. Hanekawa recognized the style immediately—these were the Second Hokage's techniques, passed down through generations.

  After several exchanges, Hanekawa pulled back. "That's enough."

  Two notifications appeared:

  [D-Rank Talent Entry: Abundant Water - Effect Upgraded]

  [Water Style Talent increased by 100% on original basis]

  Yes. His third C-Rank talent. The progression was accelerating.

  "You're impressive for your age," Kurenai said, a strange expression crossing her face. "There's someone I knew who fought almost exactly like you."

  Hanekawa didn't answer. He was too busy processing the implications of that statement.

  Before Kurenai could elaborate, Minato reappeared, his expression grave. "We need to move. Now."

  "Did you find something?" Tsunade asked.

  "The dragon vein's power is destabilizing," Minato said. "Mukade must be accelerating the process. If we don't act within the hour, the entire city could be at risk."

  Hanekawa exchanged a glance with Tsunade. So much for a relaxed mission.

  "Let's go," he said, already moving toward the exit.

  Behind them, Kurenai followed, her hand resting on her kunai pouch. Whatever happened next, at least they had the Hokage on their side.

  Even if she didn't know she was supposed to be.