Konoha Hospital.
Hanekawa's old office had been repurposed. Now it belonged to Nohara Rin, the newly appointed head of the medical department. As Hokage, he rarely returned to the hospital for routine work—his schedule was consumed by administrative duties at the tower instead.
Rin had claimed the space herself, insisting it would be wasteful to leave it empty. Only she knew the real reason.
The operating room door swung open.
After an hour of surgery, Rin emerged, exchanging pleasantries with the patient's family before retreating to her office. The moment she stepped inside, she froze.
Hanekawa sat at her desk, waiting.
They hadn't seen each other in weeks. The last time they'd met, she'd lost her first kiss—a memory that still made her heart race whenever she thought about it.
"Just finished surgery?" Hanekawa looked up, noting the thin sheen of sweat on her forehead and the depleted chakra signature visible to his enhanced perception.
"Yes," Rin replied softly.
He stood and approached her, raising a hand to brush the moisture from her brow. "You're sweating."
Rin tilted her head reflexively, and as she moved, her fair neck and collarbone became visible above her medical coat.
"It's fragrant," Hanekawa murmured, lowering his head to breathe in the scent of her skin.
Rin's entire body went rigid. She'd never expected such boldness. Her face flushed crimson—not just her cheeks, but her neck and shoulders as well, a wave of color spreading across her pale skin.
"Cute," he said with a smile.
"I—" She clutched her pink skirt, her over-the-knee socks rubbing together nervously as her eyes widened with embarrassment.
Hanekawa's expression made it clear he was enjoying her flustered state. There was something irresistible about making her squirm.
He tilted her chin up, forcing her to meet his gaze. Rin's heart hammered in her chest. Feeling the intensity of his eyes, she squeezed her eyes shut instinctively.
That was all the invitation he needed.
Their lips met. Rin's mind went blank. Her body stiffened, unsure what to do with her hands. Her breathing quickened, her chest rising and falling rapidly beneath her coat—though not as noticeably as it would have on Tsunade or Samui.
Then Rin's eyes widened in surprise. Mid-kiss, she realized something unexpected had happened.
The verbal sparring that followed left her dizzy. She hadn't anticipated their second kiss would escalate like this.
When they finally parted, Rin gasped for air, her breathing ragged. The pale skin at her collar had turned a delicate shade of pink.
"You smell wonderful," Hanekawa whispered, lowering his head to kiss the soft skin of her neck.
Rin's body tensed, then gradually relaxed. Her expression grew distant, unfocused. In that moment, Hanekawa sensed she would refuse him nothing.
But not here. Not like this. The office was too exposed, too public. Their first time deserved better than a stolen moment at work.
He bit gently, leaving a faint mark on her skin before pulling back to study her face.
Rin was completely dazed, taking several seconds to return to reality. When their eyes met, she looked away like a startled rabbit, her face burning with embarrassment. She felt like she might faint at any moment.
This wasn't how she'd imagined their reunion. What was the difference between them now and a married couple?
"Rin," Hanekawa said, his smile warm. "I brought you something."
"W-what?" She was still half-dazed.
"A scroll. Something that will benefit Konoha Hospital." He paused meaningfully. "You'll understand when you read it."
With trembling hands, Rin unrolled the scroll and began reading. Her eyes widened with each line.
The scroll detailed a method for neutralizing White Zetsu cells to regenerate severed limbs.
"Is such a thing even possible?" she breathed, shock written across her face.
She could already imagine the impact. Medical ninjutsu had dramatically improved ninja survival rates, but there was one limitation it couldn't overcome: regenerating lost limbs. In the brutal world of shinobi combat, severed arms and legs were tragically common.
"I heard it's connected to the legendary Sage of Six Paths," Hanekawa said smoothly.
Not entirely a lie, he thought. These White Zetsu were indeed created by the Six Paths—just not Hagoromo. Tsukihime had created them by feeding criminals and outcasts to the sacred tree centuries ago. Hanekawa's butterfly effect had prevented Kaguya from creating her own army, but Tsukihime's specimens were more than sufficient.
"I see," Rin said, accepting the explanation without hesitation. Of course such power would come from the Sage. What else could explain it?
Hanekawa produced another scroll. "These contain White Zetsu cells. I want every medical ninja in Konoha Hospital to learn this technique."
"Understood!" Rin's expression turned serious. As department head, this was her responsibility—and what an incredible responsibility it was.
"Make sure word spreads," Hanekawa added.
"I will!" Rin nodded firmly. "I'll let all of Konoha know you developed this method."
Hanekawa smiled and flicked her forehead gently. "You're thinking about consolidating my reputation."
Rin blinked in surprise. He saw right through me.
"As Hokage, I don't need that," he continued. "But you do. This achievement will establish your credibility as department head."
"But—" Rin started to protest.
A finger pressed against her lips, silencing her. Her face flushed again.
"I'm the Hokage," he said with amusement. "You just follow orders."
"Yes," she agreed quietly, her heart warming at his consideration.
Hanekawa leaned forward and kissed her again—a gentler kiss this time, but no less meaningful. This time, Rin responded, though her technique was still uncertain and clumsy.
"If you have any questions about the technique, come find me," he said, pulling back.
"Mm," she answered automatically, still floating in the aftermath of the kiss.
After ruffling her hair one last time, Hanekawa vanished in a shimmer of space-time distortion.
Rin stood alone in her office, touching her lips with trembling fingers, her mind replaying every second of their encounter.
---
The Raikage's Office, Hidden Cloud
Samui reviewed documents at the Raikage's desk, occasionally rubbing her temples in frustration. With Hanekawa absent, she and Mabui had divided the administrative duties. Mabui handled the village's day-to-day operations while Samui managed the office itself—work that proved far more challenging than she'd anticipated.
The sudden weight on her shoulders made her gasp.
That familiar touch could only belong to one person.
"Reviewing what?" Hanekawa's voice was warm against her ear.
Samui's body immediately went limp. He'd learned exactly where to touch her to make her completely helpless. Within seconds, she was leaning back against the chair, defenseless and trembling.
"The ANBU roster," she managed to say.
"Stand up," he commanded, withdrawing his hands.
"Yes," she breathed, forcing herself to move away from the chair. Her long, pale legs trembled slightly as she rose, her curves becoming more pronounced with each movement.
"Find somewhere else to sit," Hanekawa said, picking up the roster.
Samui misunderstood his meaning entirely.
By the time Hanekawa looked up, her light gray uniform and black skirt lay abandoned on the floor.
He let out a long sigh. Well, Rin did make me angry earlier.
Without further protest, he continued reading the roster, using her smooth back as a makeshift desk. Her rounded buttocks provided a surprisingly effective surface—though admittedly, it was more of a visual distraction than anything practical.
Not that it mattered. With his Rinnegan and enhanced perception, reading was effortless regardless.
The roster contained names he didn't recognize. That was fine. He could modify their memories later if needed. Loyalty could be manufactured; he'd learned that long ago.
"Just approve them all for ANBU tomorrow," he said, closing the document. "Don't bother with individual selections."
"O-okay," Samui stammered, her entire body flushed.
"Where's Mabui?" he asked, leaning back to admire the view.
"She's been... calming everyone down," Samui managed between shaky breaths. "The village was in chaos after you became Raikage. She's been trying to prevent any assassination attempts."
"She's competent," Hanekawa observed. "I expected more resistance."
A sudden presence materialized in the room.
Samui yelped in surprise.
Kaguya Ōtsutsuki stood in the office, her expression cold—though Hanekawa detected something else beneath it. Resentment, perhaps? Like someone who'd had their favorite toy taken away.
"Hanekawa," she said coolly.
He grinned and pulled Samui close by the waist.
Kaguya Ōtsutsuki's snow-Byakugan flickered with emotion. She stepped forward and wrapped her arms around him from behind, her scent—so different from Samui's—filling his senses.
Samui looked up with dull eyes, feeling a pang of inadequacy. Compared to Kaguya Ōtsutsuki's power, her own strength was negligible. But she didn't resent it. Even a brief moment of brilliance was worth savoring.
She gathered her strength and stood, wrapping her arms around his neck and pressing his head into her embrace.
Kaguya Ōtsutsuki glanced at the gesture but said nothing. She'd already claimed the most important position. She could afford to be generous.
Time passed in comfortable silence.
A knock at the door interrupted them.
"That's enough for today," Hanekawa said, glancing at the sky. Nearly noon. Three hours in the Raikage's office—exhausting work indeed.
"That's probably Mabui," Samui said nervously, scrambling to retrieve her clothes.
"Handle her. Kaguya and I have business elsewhere." Hanekawa patted Kaguya Ōtsutsuki's hip. "Nanabi."
The next instant, his entire body felt weightless—a side effect of her gravity manipulation.
The two of them vanished before Samui could finish dressing.
She exhaled in relief as the door opened.
"Samui? I thought you weren't—" Mabui stopped mid-sentence, taking in the scene. The unusual air. Samui's flushed skin. The way her body seemed to glow with a certain... satisfaction.
Even as a woman, Mabui could recognize that particular aura.
"Has Hanekawa been here?" she asked carefully.
"No! He wasn't here!" Samui's denial came too quickly.
"We grew up together. You can't fool me," Mabui said, frowning. "Did he force you?"
"No," Samui said seriously. "I volunteered."
Mabui studied her friend's face and realized she was telling the truth.
"What's gotten into you?" she asked, bewildered.
"It's... complicated," Samui replied quietly.
Mabui fell silent, her sharp mind working through the implications. Then understanding dawned. If Samui was willing—if she was choosing this—then perhaps Hanekawa's tolerance toward the Hidden Cloud wasn't merely restraint. Perhaps it was something more.
With Samui as a buffer between Hanekawa and the village, the Hidden Cloud could survive. The key was not provoking him.
Mabui sighed. Sometimes fortune wore unexpected faces.
"Samui, I—" She glanced toward the Raikage's chair and her dark skin flushed slightly.
The implications were obvious.
"I... I have other work," Mabui said hastily, turning to leave. She was intelligent, yes, but still young. Some things were beyond her comfort zone.
---
Takigakure Village
Hanekawa had visited this waterfall village once before with a rebel ninja named Suien. He knew the layout well enough to skip the formal entrance entirely, using the Flying Thunder God Technique to appear directly in the village center.
"Kaguya," he said, gesturing toward the massive tree in the distance. "That one."
The giant tree that produced the Hero's Water stood like a monument to ancient power.
Kaguya Ōtsutsuki examined it, her Rinnegan activating. "This tree is identical to the one in the Pure Land. It's a branch of the sacred tree—thousands of years old."
Hanekawa nodded. Of course. Many inexplicable phenomena in the ninja world traced back to the Ōtsutsuki clan or the sacred tree. The Hero's Water's properties—converting life force into chakra—perfectly matched the sacred tree's function.
"It must be a branch that fell when Tsukihime separated the sacred tree," he theorized.
"Ah," Kaguya Ōtsutsuki tilted her head slightly. "There's considerable accumulated energy. We should take it."
Hanekawa smiled. Typical. To Kaguya Ōtsutsuki, any chakra source—no matter how insignificant—was worth claiming. She was like a completionist gamer who couldn't leave a single resource uncollected.
"Then we'll be thieves today," he said, retrieving the mask he'd worn during his previous visit.
Kaguya Ōtsutsuki accepted it and placed it over her face.
"Your horns," Hanekawa said, gently touching the protrusions on her head. He enjoyed playing with them at night—it was a pleasant way to spend energy.
Without complaint, she retracted them.
"First time seeing you like this," he observed.
"You can see it whenever you wish," she replied expressionlessly.
"Generous," he said with a laugh. "Well, let's not waste time. Once we retrieve Nanabi, we'll head home."
"Mm."
Kaguya Ōtsutsuki raised her hand toward the distant tree. Gravity surged outward with terrifying force. The ground trembled. The massive tree uprooted itself, its ancient wood groaning in protest.
"What's happening?!" The disturbance immediately alarmed Takigakure's ninja.
A middle-aged man landed before them—the village leader Hanekawa had met before. Beside him stood Fu, the Seven-Tails jinchuriki.
"You!" the leader shouted, his face twisted with anger. "You already took the Hero's Water! Why are you destroying our sacred tree?!"
"Surrender and you'll live," Hanekawa said flatly.
The leader hesitated, remembering Hanekawa's overwhelming power from their last encounter. Even with Fu's strength, they'd be outmatched.
Before he could decide, Kaguya Ōtsutsuki moved.
Fu screamed.
"Keep her alive," Hanekawa instructed casually.
"Stop!" the leader and his companions rushed forward.
Hanekawa snapped his fingers.
Time froze.
Every ninja in the village became a statue—conscious but immobilized, trapped in a moment they couldn't escape.
"Time manipulation?" Kaguya Ōtsutsuki turned to him, genuine surprise crossing her features. This was an ability even she didn't possess. In a sense, it could counter her own powers.
Pride bloomed in her chest. This is my husband.
The stronger he became, the more satisfied she felt. Beyond their physical connection, what truly mattered was his growing power—power that would help her face the Ōtsutsuki clan.
While the village leader and his people remained frozen, Kaguya Ōtsutsuki sealed away the Seven-Tails. She took Hanekawa's hand.
"Let's go home," she said.
Together, they vanished into the space between moments.
---
---
Finally, the second book is live—many of you asked for it, and it's here.
Naruto: Don't Count Me In
Do check it out, you'll definitely enjoy it.
I've learned a lot from the first book—improving translations, fixing errors, and reducing inconsistencies to make this one much better overall. That said, I'm still growing, so if you notice minor mistakes, just let them pass and enjoy the story.
Most importantly, don't stay silent—comment on the moments you like. I'd love to know how it felt for you.