The transition of the Land of Fire's daimyo barely registered among the ninja villages. The relationship between daimyo and shinobi was purely transactional—money exchanged for completed missions. The identity of whoever sat on the throne mattered little.
Hanekawa opened his eyes, exiting the Ability System.
The S-Rank entry "Lord of the Fire Nation" had delivered more than he'd anticipated. Mastering an entire Land opened doors previously locked behind inconvenience and caution. Now, he could act without restraint.
He picked up his pen, mind already racing through priorities.
First: replace key officials, just as he'd done in the Land of Lightning. Efficiency would skyrocket, and Konoha's plans could finally take root. Fortunately, Fugaku Uchiha already stood beside the new daimyo, Ikkyu Madoka. Perfect positioning for the work ahead.
Second: dismantle the gold exchange offices throughout the Fire Nation. They'd served their purpose when the daimyo remained uncertain. Now that Konoha controlled him, they were obsolete—except for one final use. The Hidden Sand and Hidden Stone's alliance had issued bounties through those exchanges. Shutting them down would give Konoha the moral high ground.
Third: establish a comprehensive transportation network. Roads first, then railways, eventually airships and sea routes, all radiating from Konoha and the Fire Nation's capital. No rush. They had time—twenty, maybe thirty years before the Ōtsutsuki clan arrived.
The sun dipped below the window, leaving only amber light in its wake.
Hanekawa's eyebrows rose. He set down his pen and turned toward the office door.
Three seconds later, it burst open.
A familiar silhouette filled the frame—curves, confidence, and barely contained irritation.
"Teacher," Hanekawa greeted with a smile. "Angry enough to kick down doors? Need help cooling off?"
Tsunade rolled her eyes. "You're impossible. I need to talk to you."
"By all means." He stood, gesturing to the Hokage's chair. "Please, sit."
She didn't hesitate, settling into the seat with the ease of someone who'd occupied it before. Former Hokage or not, she had the right. More importantly, he was her student.
"I—" Tsunade began, then her expression softened as Hanekawa bent down and buried his face against her chest.
"Did you just shower?" His voice came muffled.
"No." She tensed slightly. "Why?"
His breath tickled her skin, sending warmth spreading from her core outward. After a few seconds, she relaxed, raising her hand to gently stroke his head.
"You smell incredible."
"That's the Yin Seal," Tsunade said, lips curving upward. "Only you get close enough to notice."
"I can taste it too," he said seriously.
She blushed, raising her hand to smack him—not hard, but enough to make him wince.
"Don't mess around!" Her voice carried no real anger, only exasperation. "I came here to discuss something important."
"Mm-hmm. Go ahead." He didn't move.
"What's happening with the Land of Fire's daimyo?" Tsunade asked, fingers still threading through his hair. "Why would a teenager suddenly rebel against his own father?"
"Daimyo succession has always been brutal," Hanekawa replied casually. "Children have ruled before. Teenagers aren't unusual."
"I suppose." Tsunade sighed. Ikkyu Madoka had shown no mercy—his father was dead. She'd been close to the old daimyo's wife, almost like sisters. At least the boy had spared his mother.
"It's getting late," Hanekawa murmured, wrapping his arms around her waist. "Time to leave?"
Tsunade glanced at the scattered papers on her desk. "How will you get home if you don't let me go?"
"Flying Thunder God Technique," he said with a grin.
They vanished.
When they reappeared, they were already in her bedroom, both on the bed. Tsunade noticed the transition immediately. "Shouldn't we eat first?"
"Beauty is a feast for the eyes," Hanekawa replied, reaching for her belt.
As her clothing fell away, she caught sight of herself in the mirror—skin flushed and glistening, marked by recent passion. She couldn't help but laugh at his expression.
"You're so... slippery," he said, eyes tracking her breathing.
"Your fault," she countered.
"Because you're too beautiful," he answered with complete seriousness.
Tsunade didn't know how to respond to that. After a moment, she lay back on the bed. Two seconds later, she couldn't resist—she raised her legs, placing them in his hands.
The anklet around her ankle chimed softly as he gripped her.
---
Time dissolved into darkness.
When silence finally returned, Tsunade lay curled against him, sweat beading her forehead, her body weak and satisfied. She hesitated, then spoke.
"You—"
"What's wrong, Teacher?" He wiped sweat from her face gently. "Hungry?"
"No." She bit her lip, feeling the weight of something unspoken. A thought she'd been avoiding surfaced: Do I want to have his child?
Her heart accelerated. The question terrified her—the age difference, their positions, the impossibility of it all. Yet the desire remained.
"What are you thinking about?" Hanekawa asked casually.
"Nothing," she lied, moving closer. "I'm tired. I want to sleep."
"Sleep then." He held her gently.
A knock interrupted them.
Both froze. Five o'clock was quitting time. It was already seven.
"It's Kurenai," Hanekawa said, extending his senses.
Tsunade's eyes narrowed. "Your girlfriend came looking for you?"
"Why do I smell jealousy?" he teased.
She kicked him off the bed. "You just said you had no strength, yet here you are, quite energetic."
"Shut up!" Her glare was fierce but utterly charming—flushed cheeks, messy hair, eyes blazing.
"Wait for me," he said, suppressing his racing pulse.
"Mm," she agreed softly.
Hanekawa dressed quickly and opened the door.
"Kurenai. What's wrong?"
Normally, he waited until Tsunade slept before heading home. For her to come here meant something serious. He noticed immediately—a faint mark on his neck, visible in the evening light.
"ANBU just reported," Kurenai said, her voice steady despite the slight contraction of her pupils. "The Hidden Sand and Hidden Stone each deployed five thousand ninja. They left overnight."
"Only ten thousand total?" Hanekawa raised an eyebrow. "They're underestimating us."
"Their target isn't Konoha. It's the Sound Village."
Understanding dawned. After the Sound Village absorbed the Iron Kingdom and seized the Land of Hot Springs, the other villages had grown restless. Konoha's non-interference had given them an opening.
"Smart move," Hanekawa mused. "They're counting on us not defending the Sound Village."
"Should we send support?" Kurenai asked. "Though it would expose our connection."
"At this point, exposure doesn't matter." He paused. "When do they arrive?"
"Tomorrow morning, probably. They're being cautious—dawn attacks are most effective."
"They're worried about us joining the fight," Hanekawa realized. "They're preparing for a two-front war."
"What should we do?" Kurenai waited.
"Leave it to me," he said, reaching out to ruffle her hair. "Go home. I'll be back soon."
"How about you?" She looked at him, and her pupils suddenly contracted.
A kiss mark was visible on his neck.
"I'll say goodbye to Teacher and come back," he said smoothly.
"Tsunade-sensei?" Kurenai's voice was carefully neutral. "I understand. I'll go."
She turned and left.
Hanekawa watched her go, frowning slightly. Something felt different about her reaction—too calm, too controlled.
He formed a hand seal, creating a crystal mirror with chakra. Glancing at his reflection, he winced. The marks were obvious.
Did she figure it out?
He considered the possibilities, then decided to observe her behavior first. For now, he had more pressing matters.
Hanekawa returned to Tsunade's room.
"Did something happen in Konoha?" she asked from beneath the quilt, only her head visible.
"Hidden Sand and Hidden Stone are moving against the Sound Village," he explained, sliding back into bed and stroking her belly. "They're finally making their move."
"Can you finally bear it?" Tsunade's eyes narrowed with satisfaction.
"Don't worry about it," he assured her. "What do you think about my plan?"
"Your plan?" She tilted her head.
"To unify the ninja world," he said simply.
Tsunade felt a pang in her chest. Hashirama's methods had failed to bring lasting peace. Hanekawa's approach was far more ambitious—and far more dangerous.
She said nothing, unwilling to voice her doubts. He was the Hokage, after all.
"Wait," Tsunade suddenly said, her senses sharpening. "You should go."
"Teacher, we're not finished—"
"Go," she insisted, fear flickering across her face. "Go back to your girlfriend."
Hanekawa leaned close, whispering something in her ear.
Tsunade's eyes widened. "How could we possibly—"
"Just think about it," he said with a smile.
She hesitated, struggling internally for several seconds. Then, slowly, she reached out and grabbed his wrist, turning away from him.
---
---
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.