Hanekawa gazed out the Hokage's office window at the first snow of the season. Snowflakes drifted lazily across Konoha's rooftops, painting the village white.
Another year gone, he thought. Time really does fly.
His mind drifted to Hinata Hyuga. She'd be turning three soon. In the original timeline, that birthday had been... complicated. The Hidden Cloud delegation incident. Hizashi's death. Neji's hatred. A whole cascade of tragedy that could have been prevented.
Not this time.
The caged bird seal was supposed to protect the Byakugan. Instead, it had become a tool of control—a way for the main family to keep the branch family subservient. As long as that seal existed, the branch family would never fully integrate into Konoha. They'd never be truly loyal to the Hokage.
That needed to change.
A knock interrupted his thoughts.
"Come in."
The door opened to the sharp click of heels on polished floor. Samui entered in her usual black secretary's suit, the collar of her white shirt deliberately unbuttoned just enough to be distracting. Her figure was... well, there was a reason the Hidden Cloud had assigned her here.
"Why are your buttons undone?" Hanekawa asked with a slight smile.
"Can you help me fasten them?" She approached with her typical serious expression.
"No," he said smoothly. "My hands are cold. You can warm them up instead."
Samui nodded without hesitation and grasped his wrist, pressing his hand against her warm chest beneath the white shirt.
She's becoming more like Kaguya every day, Hanekawa mused. Cold personality, but her body tells a different story.
"What did you need?" he asked, absently rubbing his fingers.
"Two things," Samui replied, her voice slightly strained. "First, the proficient in computers search you requested a week ago. The ANBU found sixty-seven people proficient in computers across the ninja world."
"Excellent work."
Samui's body went slightly limp at the praise. Unlike Kaguya, she couldn't hide her reactions.
"And the second thing?"
"Lord Orochimaru has returned from Otogakure with everyone. The curse seal experiments were successful."
Hanekawa's interest sharpened. The curse seal—a low-grade Sage Mode that could dramatically boost a ninja's power. The only problem was that most ninjas couldn't handle it. But if Kaguya or the three great sage toads could help refine the technique...
Actually, that's someone else's problem to solve. I'll just be lazy about it.
"Where is Orochimaru now?"
"At the izakaya with Master Jiraiya. Lady Tsunade went too, along with their students."
"You can go," Hanekawa said, withdrawing his hand.
Samui hesitated, a flicker of disappointment crossing her face before she turned and left.
---
The izakaya was loud with celebration.
"The three of us together again!" Jiraiya raised his glass with characteristic enthusiasm. "We drink until we can't stand!"
"Perhaps the children should leave early," Minato suggested diplomatically, glancing at Kabuto, Anko, and Itachi.
"Let them go after dinner," Jiraiya waved him off. "The adults have catching up to do."
"I'm staying," Tsunade announced, swirling her drink. "When have I ever missed a chance to drink?"
"Fair point," Jiraiya conceded.
Hanekawa arrived to find them already several rounds in. He greeted each of them in turn—Minato with his characteristic sunny smile, Kushina with her protective insistence that young Naruto remain home, Orochimaru with his calm demeanor.
"Finished with work?" Tsunade asked, handing him her glass.
He took a sip from the rim where her lips had touched it. "Mostly. The advisors are handling the rest."
"You're managing too many villages now," she said, pouring herself a fresh drink. "Don't overwork yourself."
"I won't."
Jiraiya watched the exchange with poorly concealed envy. The ease between them, the casual intimacy—it was exactly what he'd wanted to achieve with his own students, but he'd always held back. The Child of Prophecy had been his focus, his obsession. Now that he'd found Nagato, he realized what he'd missed.
"Orochimaru," Jiraiya said, changing the subject, "will you leave again?"
"No," Orochimaru replied calmly. "With the ninja world unified, I can conduct my research in peace."
"That's wonderful!" Anko exclaimed, then quickly added, "I mean, Otogakure doesn't have the authentic three-color dango that Konoha does."
Everyone smiled at that.
"Actually," Hanekawa said casually, "I'm planning to station you in the Hidden Sand, Uncle Jiraiya."
Jiraiya blinked. "But hasn't the Hidden Sand relocated to Konoha?"
"It has," Hanekawa confirmed. He briefly outlined his new vision—dividing ninjas into two categories. Living ninjas would use their chakra in civilian professions across all industries. Combat ninjas would be stationed in the five major villages, elite forces dedicated to maintaining peace.
"Fewer ninjas, but stronger ones," Minato said thoughtfully. "And they'd have peaceful lives outside of conflict."
"Exactly."
Jiraiya set down his glass slowly, his expression shifting from jovial to reverent. This was the change the prophecy had spoken of. This was the world the Child of Prophecy was building.
"I'll do it," he said firmly. "Leave it to me."
"We can help as well," Minato offered.
"I won't be shy about asking," Hanekawa smiled.
"Enough talk!" Tsunade raised her glass. "We're eating and drinking, not working!"
She was right. The evening dissolved into laughter, stories, and the comfortable camaraderie of old friends. Tsunade, predictably, drank the most. By the end, her face was flushed and she could barely stand.
"I'll take the teacher back," Hanekawa said, slipping an arm around her waist.
"Little devil..." Tsunade mumbled, burying her face against his chest.
The others exchanged knowing glances but said nothing. Given their positions and her obvious intoxication, it seemed unremarkable.
Only Jiraiya felt the sharp sting of envy.
---
Hanekawa helped Tsunade to her room and settled her onto the bed. She collapsed backward immediately, her body settling into the mattress with a soft bounce.
"Rest well, Teacher," he said, removing her coat and pulling the blanket over her.
He didn't leave. Instead, he sat at her desk and pulled out paper and pen.
Tsunade needed a job. Something that would keep her occupied, give her purpose beyond gambling and drinking. Something that would actually interest her.
He began to write.
The position: Head of the Cyber Department. The mission: develop the internet and internet-based applications. Communications. Gaming platforms.
And most importantly—online gambling.
She'll love it, Hanekawa thought with a slight smile. Chess games, card games, mahjong. All playable online. All involving stakes.
Tsunade would finally have something to do. And the ninja world would get its internet infrastructure.
Everyone wins.
He set down his pen and looked at the sleeping woman on the bed. Even drunk and disheveled, she commanded respect. The legendary Sannin. The Hokage.
And now, the future head of Konoha's cyber division.
This should be interesting.