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  A new day dawned at the Yuhi household, and Kurenai was sulking.

  The reason was simple: Hanekawa had a mission today. Not just any mission—one that would keep him away for a week, maybe two, possibly longer.

  That was the problem.

  "Kurenai," her father began carefully, forcing a smile as he gestured to her cup. "Would you like some milk? I'll pour it for you."

  "No!" Kurenai turned away without a second glance, her ruby eyes deliberately avoiding his.

  Yuhi Shinku's expression froze. He seemed to be searching for words that would never come.

  Hanekawa, meanwhile, calmly poured a glass of milk and set it in front of her. "This happened suddenly. I only found out last night."

  "Really?" Kurenai's head snapped around so fast her hair whipped with the motion. "You're really going?"

  "I promise I'll take you on the next mission I can," Hanekawa said, meeting her eyes. "Once you graduate from the Academy, we'll be teammates anyway."

  It was already decided—Tsunade would pull strings behind the scenes to ensure Kurenai ended up on his squad. As for the third member, he hadn't settled on anyone yet.

  "You mean it?" Kurenai's entire demeanor shifted. She grabbed the milk and drank it eagerly, as if sealing the promise.

  Yuhi Shinku, now completely ignored, felt his hands clench involuntarily. Damn that Hanekawa, he thought bitterly. At least take care of Kurenai while you're gone.

  He sighed. What else could he do? He was helpless against this.

  "When you go to the Land of Water, can you see the ocean?" Kurenai asked between bites of her breakfast.

  "Probably," Hanekawa said, taking a bite of his egg roll. "Do you want to see it?"

  "Not really. I just... wanted to know what it looks like."

  Kurenai pushed the milk toward him. "You should drink this."

  "I don't need it."

  "I can't finish it," she admitted, a little embarrassed.

  Yuhi Shinku perked up hopefully. "Then I could—"

  "Dad, you're already an adult. Why would you drink milk?" Kurenai shot him down instantly.

  Well, Shinku thought, watching his daughter fuss over Hanekawa instead of him, I suppose my usefulness has expired.

  After breakfast, Hanekawa and Kurenai left together. At the door, she looked up at him with barely concealed reluctance.

  "Remember to come back early," she said quietly.

  "I will." Hanekawa patted her head. "Tell Kakashi and the others I can't train with them while I'm gone, okay?"

  Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

  Kurenai nodded, then hesitated for more than ten seconds before finally saying goodbye. She watched him wave and turn toward the village gates, her small frame silhouetted against the morning light.

  At the gates, the sentries checked his documents before allowing him through. Ninja didn't simply wander out of the village—not without the Hokage's explicit permission.

  Hanekawa waited by the entrance, using the time to observe the gate guards. They weren't the same ones from the original timeline. Interesting.

  "Teacher, you're late," he called out when Tsunade finally appeared fifteen minutes later.

  "Being late is a teacher's privilege," she said, flicking his forehead with a grin. "Don't mind your own business, brat."

  "You're a ninja, so shouldn't—" Hanekawa started, but Tsunade covered his mouth with her hand.

  A faint fragrance filled his senses. Don't bite. Don't bite. Don't bite, he reminded himself firmly.

  "During missions, you follow my orders. Understood?" Tsunade asked, releasing him.

  "Understood." You're older and you're right. Always.

  "Bring out the map," she commanded, her expression turning serious. "First, we plan our route."

  Hanekawa produced the map he'd purchased the day before. The Land of Water lay southeast of the Land of Fire, accessible by boat. A normal ninja could cover the distance in three or four days if they moved efficiently.

  He traced a line across the map with practiced precision, avoiding populated areas without taking unnecessary detours.

  Tsunade glanced at it and nodded approvingly. "Good. Avoids crowds without wasting time."

  "I was top of my class," Hanekawa said with a slight smile. "I can handle basic route planning."

  "Top of the class means nothing out here," Tsunade said sharply, pulling him close. "One overlooked detail, one mistake, and you're dead. Remember that."

  She was stricter than he'd anticipated. Hanekawa found himself pressed against her as she drove the point home, her words firm and uncompromising.

  "Yes, Teacher," he replied seriously.

  "Good." She released him and leaped into a running start. "Let's move."

  Hanekawa followed, matching her pace as she deliberately kept her speed manageable for him. As they ran, Tsunade began teaching—pointing out potential traps, signs of human and animal activity, terrain advantages and disadvantages. It was more detailed than anything covered in the Academy, delivered with the intensity of someone who'd survived countless missions.

  Time passed quickly under her instruction.

  By nightfall, they'd reached the southeastern edge of the Land of Fire, close enough to smell the salt air from the distant coast.

  "Find a place to set up camp," Tsunade instructed. "We'll head to the port tomorrow."

  "Yes, Teacher."

  Hanekawa activated the sensory enhancement from his D-Rank Ninja Tool Mastery entry and quickly located an ideal spot—a small wooded area near a river, dense with vegetation and well-hidden from the main roads.

  He set up the tent with efficient movements, then arranged simple traps around the perimeter. One layer for wild animals. Another as an early warning system.

  Tsunade watched in silence, observing every action. To her credit, she found no significant flaws. His ranking as top of the Academy class wasn't undeserved.

  "Just the tent," she said, walking inside. "Come in. We'll sleep together."

  Hanekawa froze. Wait, what?

  "I won't eat you," Tsunade said with amusement at his expression.

  That's not the point, Hanekawa thought, but he followed her inside anyway.

  "In the field, noise is your enemy," Tsunade explained, settling into her sleeping bag fully clothed. "Always sleep with your clothes on. You never know when you'll need to move fast."

  "Right." What a shame, he thought to himself.

  It was clear Tsunade meant business. Every moment of this mission was a teaching opportunity—detailed, thorough, leaving nothing to chance. She was determined to turn him into a proper ninja, not just a talented kid.

  "Eat, then sleep," she said, producing two portions of prepared food—rice balls and sushi.

  Hanekawa sighed. Not nearly as good as hot food, but it would have to do.

  After dinner, darkness fell completely. Without a candle, the tent became pitch black.

  Tsunade lay in her sleeping bag, only her head visible. She looked at him expectantly.

  "Come here," she said.