Looking at Tsunade's smooth back, Hanekawa couldn't resist pulling her close from behind. He wrapped his arms around her waist, their bodies pressed together, warmth spreading between them.
"You're a pervert," Tsunade said flatly, not bothering to turn around.
"You said yes, so I am." Hanekawa lowered his head to her neck, smiling against her skin.
Since he'd already won this round, there was no point in backing down now.
Tsunade felt like she was punching cotton. She raised her leg to kick him, but the moment she did, pain shot through her thigh. She quickly pulled back, tensing.
"Did you strain something?" Hanekawa asked, already reaching for her leg. "Let me help."
Tsunade opened her mouth, then closed it. She had felt something pull, but... his hands were genuinely skilled. Waves of numbness spread through her thigh as her whole body relaxed slightly.
"When does the war with Stone and Sand start?" she asked, clearly trying to distract herself.
"Tomorrow."
"Tomorrow?" Tsunade's eyes widened. "That's fast."
"Not really." Hanekawa's hand drifted higher along her inner thigh. "ANBU's been watching them for weeks."
Tsunade's breath caught. After a few seconds, she managed to compose herself.
"Then I'm coming with you," she said, rolling her eyes at him.
"They're not worth your effort yet." Hanekawa squeezed her hip. "Just be careful while I'm gone."
"Mm." Tsunade hesitated, then nodded. "Stay safe out there."
The two fell silent, focused on the moment. Tsunade's blush deepened as tension gave way to something else entirely. Her body tensed, then relaxed in waves. Eventually, she let out a long sigh, closed her eyes, and drifted off to sleep.
She was exhausted.
Hanekawa kissed her forehead gently, then changed clothes and slipped out of the room.
---
The night was dark, the moon high in the sky.
Hanekawa appeared silently outside Kurenai's window. He could tell from her breathing that she wasn't actually asleep—or was doing a terrible job pretending.
He climbed into bed beside her and pulled her close, kissing her cheek softly.
"Kurenai."
Kurenai's eyes snapped open, and she made a small, involuntary sound before she could stop herself.
"Bad guy!" She grabbed his wrist, glaring at him.
"Sorry. My fault." Hanekawa said it seriously enough that she actually paused.
Kurenai bit her lip, unsure how to respond to that.
Before she could decide, Hanekawa kissed her, and she forgot everything else entirely.
---
Morning came too soon.
When Kurenai woke, she couldn't help but pinch herself. Last night had been... well, she'd meant to ask him about Tsunade, but instead she'd been completely overwhelmed in about thirty seconds flat.
She sighed, changed clothes, and headed to the living room.
The smell of cooking hit her immediately. On the dining table sat a full breakfast and a small note in Hanekawa's handwriting: Gone to Otogakure. Eat.
Kurenai sat down slowly, staring at the meal. She still felt resentful about... everything. But somehow, without quite realizing it, she'd already made her peace with it.
---
The Hokage's office.
Kaguya Ōtsutsuki sat in the Hokage's chair without her ANBU mask, her expression blank but her Byakugan betraying her irritation. Hanekawa hadn't come home last night, leaving her with nothing to do but wait.
But after spending so much time together, she'd learned patience. She didn't go looking for him.
"Kaguya." Hanekawa understood immediately. He walked over, cupped her face, and kissed her.
She pulled him into her lap without hesitation.
When she tried to deepen it, he pulled back.
"Work first," he said.
"What?" Her tone was cold.
"Stone and Sand sent a joint force. Ten thousand strong." Hanekawa picked up the intelligence report. "You didn't read this?"
"No." Kaguya said it like it was obvious. "I'll kill them. It won't take long."
"If you kill them all, what do I do with them?" Hanekawa tapped her forehead twice. "That's a waste of resources."
"You could kill them yourself." Kaguya licked the corner of her mouth. "Or I could use Infinite Tsukuyomi."
Hanekawa's eyes lit up. "Actually, that's perfect. We don't need to turn them into White Zetsu, but we could modify their memories with genjutsu. Make them loyal to Konoha instead."
"I'll handle it—" Kaguya started, but Hanekawa pinched her thigh hard.
"You come with me, but you have to behave. Understand?"
Kaguya clamped her legs around his hand and stared at him, thinking. Then she spread out all ten fingers.
"Ten days?" Hanekawa raised an eyebrow, amused. "That's negotiating?"
Kaguya nodded with absolute seriousness. She hadn't had a proper battle in far too long.
"Five days," Hanekawa countered.
Kaguya frowned, confusion flickering across her face. Finally, she nodded. Five days was better than nothing—and better than him changing his mind later.
"Greedy," Hanekawa said, withdrawing his hand to review the files.
The intelligence was exactly what he'd expected. Both Stone and Sand had mobilized completely, bringing their jinchuriki: Roshi and Han from Stone, and young Gaara from Sand.
"Time to go to Otogakure," Hanekawa said, standing up.
Kaguya took his hand, and they vanished through a black portal.
---
Sound Village.
Tsukihime sensed their arrival and ran out of the office just as they emerged from the portal.
"Dad! Mom!" she shouted, grinning widely as she ran to them.
"How are things?" Hanekawa asked, ruffling her hair.
"The combined force arrived in the Land of Iron thirty minutes ago. They're regrouping, but they've sent scouts ahead."
Hanekawa chuckled. Neither Sound nor Leaf had mobilized in response. He imagined Ōnoki and the Fourth Kazekage were very confused right now.
"Stay here," he told Tsukihime. "Your mother and I will handle this."
He and Kaguya vanished again.
---
The northwest border of the Land of Iron.
Ten thousand ninjas stood in perfect formation—a truly impressive sight.
"Spectacular," Hanekawa murmured.
Kaguya glanced at him, not understanding the word. To her, they were just chakra containers. If not for his orders, she'd already be harvesting them for the sacred tree.
She opened her Rinnegan and raised her hand, fingers moving slightly.
The cloudless sky shook. A massive moon appeared overhead.
"I said Infinite Tsukuyomi, not another moon," Hanekawa reminded her.
Kaguya paused. Right. He'd warned her about that.
The sudden celestial phenomenon drew immediate attention. Within minutes, the Sand and Stone leadership gathered in the main tent.
"What is this?" Ōnoki stared at the sky, deeply unsettled.
"First time I've seen it too," Pakura admitted.
"This isn't natural," Rasa said grimly. "But it could be coincidence."
Rasa had never fully accepted Pakura as Kazekage. This alliance with Stone was his chance to change that—and to deal with the growing threat of Konoha and Sound.
"Unless the Sage of Six Paths has returned," Ōnoki said darkly.
The camp erupted in nervous murmurs.
"Hanekawa!" Rasa suddenly pointed.
Two figures walked toward them across the desert. Just two.
"Only two people?" Pakura looked shocked.
"They're underestimating us," Ōnoki said coldly. "Though I suppose Hanekawa has earned that right."
"I'm going to kill him!" Roshi snarled, remembering his previous defeat.
"Not yet," Ōnoki said, raising a hand. "Yellow Earth, scout the perimeter. Check for other Leaf ninja."
"No need," Hanekawa called out as he approached. "Just us two. That's all you need."
The assembled ninja stared at him in disbelief. Two people against ten thousand?
"Arrogant!" Ōnoki spat.
"No time to waste," Hanekawa said, clapping his hands together. "I need to get back to Konoha."
He entered Sage Mode.
The air itself seemed to vibrate as chakra erupted from his body. Wind howled outward, nearly knocking ninjas off their feet.
"Defense!" Ōnoki shouted, already forming seals for Dust Release.
But he froze mid-seal.
In the sky above them, a colossal statue materialized—the True Several Thousand Hands. It dwarfed Hashirama's version by three times, blocking out the sun entirely. The assembled ten thousand ninjas were cast into shadow.
"What... what is that?!" Ōnoki's voice cracked.
"Why is it so massive?" Pakura whispered.
"It's an illusion," Rasa insisted, though his voice wavered. "It has to be."
He raised his hands. "Magnetic Release: Gold Dust Burial!"
The earth trembled. Golden sand erupted from the ground, forming a tidal wave that rushed toward the statue.
The True Several Thousand Hands extended one hand and caught it effortlessly.
Rasa's face went white. His Magnetic Release could suppress the One-Tail. It should have been able to—
"Together!" Ōnoki roared. "Now!"
The ninja villages unleashed everything at once.
Dust Release. Scorch Release. Magnetic Release. Five-style ninjutsu in every color imaginable.
The two jinchuriki transformed fully, firing tailed beast bombs.
The True Several Thousand Hands extended twenty arms, palms open.
Every attack hit at once.
The explosion was like fireworks detonating simultaneously—white light that twisted the air itself, creating storms that shot skyward.
When the light faded, the statue's palms were completely unmarked.
The tailed beast bombs had done nothing.
"We shouldn't have come," Pakura muttered.
"We haven't lost yet!" Rasa insisted desperately. "It has to be consuming massive chakra. We have ten thousand ninjas—"
"They only have two people," Ōnoki said, trying to convince himself. "We can still win."
The True Several Thousand Hands began to move.
True Several Thousand Hands technique.
A thousand arms swung down in a devastating arc, creating a storm of fists.
"Earth Style: Ten Thousand Miles of Earth Flowing Wall!" Ōnoki screamed.
A massive earthen barrier rose up.
It shattered like glass.
The fists descended.
Screams filled the air. Cracks like chasms opened in the earth. Stone turned to dust.
Ten thousand ninjas fell, broken but alive. Hanekawa had held back.
They lay gasping, unable to move, staring at the devastation around them.
"Kaguya," Hanekawa said calmly. "Infinite Tsukuyomi."
Kaguya looked at the moon.
Invisible pupil power flowed into it.
Moonlight washed over the battlefield.
Every ninja looked up involuntarily, their eyes fixed on the moon.
The Infinite Tsukuyomi took hold.
Hanekawa felt his mind expand as new entries materialized.
Three entries from a single battle.
Not bad, he thought. Definitely worth the trip.
---