The moment the puppet collapsed, the endless tide of undead stopped advancing. Everyone dropped where they stood, gasping for breath like they'd run a marathon.

  Hanekawa and Mei Terumi's battle had been brutal, but the real toll showed on the support team. Gonbee, Aoi, and the others had burned through massive amounts of chakra maintaining large-scale jutsu just to keep the puppet army at bay. If the fight had lasted much longer, they would've hit their limit before the two combatants did.

  Perks of not being a genetic freak, Hanekawa thought, watching them collapse. The Senju and Uzumaki clans had chakra reserves that made normal ninjas look like they were running on fumes.

  "I need to change," Mei Terumi announced, standing up and brushing dirt from her soaked vest. The water had made her standard-issue outfit cling uncomfortably.

  "I can—" Hanekawa started.

  Mei Terumi stepped directly on his foot and walked past him toward the shrine.

  "Only kids step on people," he called after her.

  "Shut up!" She didn't even look back.

  Hanekawa sighed and followed anyway. What am I doing?

  "Why are you following me?" Mei Terumi spun around, eyes narrowing. "Are you actually a pervert?"

  "Please." Hanekawa snorted. "I'm going to rest. And what's so special about you anyway?"

  Mei Terumi's face flushed—whether from anger or embarrassment, he couldn't tell. Sure, she'd grow into her looks eventually, but right now? She was just... average. Compared to Tsunade, there was no competition.

  "Asshole!" she spat.

  "So do you want me watching or not?" Hanekawa asked tiredly.

  Mei Terumi opened her mouth, closed it, then simply turned away without another word. She disappeared into the shrine.

  Hanekawa returned to his room and collapsed on the bed. When are Tsunade and the others getting back?

  It shouldn't take long. The Land of Swamp was practically next door to the Land of Demons, and the smaller nations were all clustered together. Three or four days to Hidden Sand, maybe half a day to Land of Swamp on foot.

  He closed his eyes. The fight with Yomi had drained him—not just chakra, but mental energy too. Still, that post-victory high was incredible. Like beating a Souls boss, he thought with a slight smile before sleep claimed him.

  ---

  A knock woke him the next morning.

  Hanekawa's eyes snapped open. Sunlight streamed through the window. He dressed quickly and opened the door to find Minato Namikaze standing there.

  "Minato-senpai." Hanekawa's pulse quickened. "What happened? Did you catch up?"

  "Let's head to the shrine," Minato said as they walked. "I arrived too late. Miroku had already sealed the monster's body by the time I got there, but the soul was still loose. I used the Flying Thunder God Technique to take her back to the Land of Demons to complete the sealing."

  Hanekawa raised an eyebrow. So Miroku survives. Better than the original timeline.

  "Your Highness, the situation is delicate," Minato continued. "Lady Tsunade is still in the Land of Swamp. I need you to assess Miroku's condition. My chakra is depleted from the sealing technique, and traveling back and forth would take too long."

  They arrived at the shrine to find Miroku half-reclined on her chair, pale as death.

  Hanekawa stepped forward and placed his hands on her, green chakra flowing through her body as he assessed the damage.

  "It's not critical," he said after a moment. "Just significant life force depletion."

  Minato blinked. "That's... not serious?"

  "Thank you," Miroku said softly, a genuine smile crossing her face. "I didn't expect to survive at all. Even if my lifespan is shortened, I'm fortunate."

  Hanekawa continued treating her. "A ninja accepts their missions and sees them through."

  "I'll increase your reward," Miroku said.

  Hanekawa paused. I wasn't asking for more money. But since she offered... "That's very generous."

  An S-Rank mission already paid well. With the bonus, he might clear a million ryō.

  ---

  That afternoon, Tsunade and the others returned.

  "Teacher," Hanekawa greeted her immediately.

  Love what you're reading? Discover and support the author on the platform they originally published on.

  Tsunade looked him over, relief flooding her features. "Nothing happened?"

  "The undead stopped attacking once you sealed the monster," he explained.

  "Good." She ruffled his hair—a gesture he was learning to tolerate. "Everyone, get some rest."

  Minato nodded and dismissed them.

  Hanekawa grabbed Tsunade's hand and led her to her room. She collapsed onto the bed without ceremony, and he helped remove her shoes, lifting her legs under the quilt. By the time he finished, she was already asleep.

  At least she's resting, he thought, covering her properly before slipping out.

  "What are you doing lurking outside?"

  Hanekawa turned to find Mei Terumi in the hallway, now dressed in fresh clothes.

  "Saying goodbye," she said after a pause.

  "Can't bear to leave me?" Hanekawa smirked.

  "Shut up!" Her face darkened. "I just came to remind you—"

  "My wallet, right?" he interrupted. "Don't worry. Come find me when you want it back."

  "Next time I'll beat you senseless!" she snapped.

  "Maybe get a new wallet style while you're at it," Hanekawa suggested. "Something I could actually use."

  Mei Terumi's eyes widened as she caught his meaning. She raised her leg to kick him, but he dodged easily—though he did notice the mesh stockings.

  "I'll find you again!" she called after him, her voice sharp with frustration.

  "Is that a promise?" he called back.

  "No!"

  Minato appeared moments later, smiling knowingly. "You're quite popular with the girls, Hanekawa."

  "Minato-senpai, shouldn't you be resting?"

  "I'm heading back now," Minato said, his expression turning serious. "The Hidden Cloud's younger generation is formidable. I can't gain any advantage against them."

  The future Fourth Raikage and Killer B, Hanekawa realized. And he's still underselling himself. One against two and he's complaining?

  "I'm leaving. Tell Lady Tsunade." Minato vanished in a flash of yellow light, leaving behind the faint shimmer of his Flying Thunder God marks.

  ---

  Five days later, they arrived back in Konoha.

  "Home sweet home," Hanekawa sighed, looking at the familiar streets. The journey had been brutal—deserts, rainstorms, the works. Only Konoha had proper seasons.

  "I'll submit the mission report," Hatake Sakumo said. "We'll split the rewards after."

  Tsunade immediately pulled Hanekawa toward the casino without waiting for a response.

  He didn't bother resisting. She'd been patient for two weeks. She deserved this.

  At the gambling table, Tsunade settled in with Hanekawa beside her. The old days, he thought. Before I got too tall to be her pillow.

  ---

  In the Hokage's office, Hatake Sakumo presented the mission report to Hiruzen.

  "Excellent work," Hiruzen said, reviewing the ANBU's detailed account. "Miroku was quite satisfied. She's even proposed establishing formal friendship with Konoha."

  "Friendship?" Sakumo looked surprised. "The Land of Demons is neutral."

  "Neutrality doesn't matter when it comes to survival," Hiruzen replied. "The miko tradition was always self-sacrifice. Minato's intervention changed that. Losing half your lifespan beats dying outright."

  He paused, taking a long drag from his pipe. "The reward has been doubled to three million ryō. Konoha takes no cut this time—you split it equally."

  Sakumo bowed. "Thank you, Lord Hokage."

  "You've earned it." Hiruzen exhaled smoke thoughtfully. "Do you think we should let Hanekawa graduate early?"

  Sakumo considered it. "That's a question for Hanekawa himself."

  "Fair point." Hiruzen tapped his pipe. The Hidden Cloud grows restless. And Hanekawa's strength is already beyond genin level.

  ---

  That evening, Tsunade finally dragged Hanekawa away from the gambling table.

  "One more hand!" she insisted for the hundredth time.

  "You've said that all day," Hanekawa complained, yawning.

  "The last one!"

  "I've heard that before."

  He reached out and pinched her thigh.

  Tsunade yelped and glared at him. "What are you doing?"

  "Going home," he said firmly.

  "This really is the last one!" She pulled him into her arms to prevent further interference.

  Hanekawa's face was suddenly pressed against her chest. The world spun slightly as the scent of sake and perfume overwhelmed his senses.

  "Won!" Tsunade cheered, hugging him tighter and patting his head happily.

  He broke free and gasped for air. I almost died. Again.

  "Can we go now?"

  "Let's get barbecue," Tsunade said, collecting her winnings. "Just don't drink," Hanekawa pleaded.

  "Impossible!" She suddenly fixed him with a stare. "Did you pinch me earlier?"

  "No," he said quickly. "You imagined it."

  Tsunade cracked her knuckles meaningfully.

  "Okay, I was reminding you," he admitted at record speed.

  "That's not how reminders work," she said, but she was smiling. She reached out and pinched his cheek, then ruffled his hair again.

  "That's too much!" he protested.

  "What's wrong with your teacher touching your head?" she asked, clearly enjoying herself.

  Everything, Hanekawa thought, but he just said, "I'm hungry. Let's eat."

  ---

  At the barbecue shop, Tsunade ordered beef, pork belly, and sake while Hanekawa handled the grilling.

  "Excellent," Tsunade said, savoring a piece. "Your skills are improving."

  "You're just lazy."

  "That's what students are for," she said with a wink, licking her lips.

  Hanekawa focused intently on his own meat.

  "I heard about your performance from the ANBU," Tsunade said after a sip of wine. "Very impressive."

  "All thanks to you, Teacher."

  "Drop the act." She waved her hand. "I know how hard you work."

  "So what's my reward?" he asked hopefully.

  "Nothing." She spread her hands. "I've already given you the greatest gift."

  Hanekawa's confusion must have shown because she gestured to the First Hokage's necklace around his neck.

  "Take good care of it," she said softly.

  He nodded, shaking his head slightly. Tsunade really is broke. Nothing but IOUs at home.

  But as he looked at her—genuinely happy, genuinely proud of him—he realized the necklace wasn't really the point.