The gates of Konoha stood open as Hanekawa and Shikaku Nara waited side by side.
Though Shikaku now served as the Hokage's advisor—a position that differed little from his predecessor's role—Hanekawa had brought him along to oversee the relocation of Hidden Mist refugees. They didn't have to wait long before footsteps echoed across the courtyard.
Hanekawa looked up.
Mei Terumi led the procession, her presence commanding despite the circumstances. Zabuza Momochi and Kisame Hoshigaki flanked her, along with several members of the new generation of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen. The group numbered only a few hundred—a fraction of what Hidden Mist had once been.
Hanekawa wasn't surprised. Moving an entire village in a week was impossible. It would take at least another month or two.
Still, Mei's arrival alone sent the message: the Hidden Mist had submitted.
"Welcome," Hanekawa said, stepping forward with practiced formality.
Mei bowed slightly. "Lord Hokage."
The others followed suit, their voices unified: "Lord Hokage."
Hanekawa nodded, satisfied. The shift in titles meant everything. No longer equals. No longer rivals. A hierarchy had been established.
He caught the reluctance in many eyes. Expected. Irrelevant.
"Follow me. I've prepared accommodations."
Mei moved to his side as they walked, her presence both graceful and measured. Hanekawa glanced back at Shikaku, who immediately understood—he slowed his pace, maintaining distance.
"The remaining Mist Village personnel should arrive within a month," Mei said after a moment's thought.
"Thank you for your efforts," Hanekawa replied softly.
"There are too many people here," Mei said quickly, glancing around. "You could have warned me first."
"They can't hear us." Hanekawa snapped his fingers. With his current power, isolating their conversation from even Shikaku and Kisame was trivial. "Don't worry."
"That's not the point," Mei said, her eyes narrowing. "You could have been considerate."
"My apologies," Hanekawa said smoothly. "I'll make it up to you."
Mei blinked, momentarily caught off guard by how readily he'd conceded. She didn't yet understand that his apologies meant nothing.
"Never mind that," she said, shifting to business. "I need assurance that Hidden Mist ninjas and civilians will be treated fairly."
"Naturally," Hanekawa assured her.
"Thank you—"
"I won't be managing Hidden Mist directly," he continued.
Mei's expression shifted to confusion. "Then who will?"
Hanekawa simply looked at her.
Understanding dawned. "You mean... me?"
"Exactly."
"But what about the other villages?" Mei asked carefully. "The Cloud, Stone, and Hidden Sands—they follow the same arrangement?"
"They do."
"Aren't you concerned they'll rebel?" The question carried weight. In her mind, this wasn't true unification—it was merely the temporary peace enforced by his strength. Once that strength faded...
"My little maid worries about me," Hanekawa said with a slight smile.
Mei rolled her eyes. Pervert.
"They lack the strength to rebel," he continued calmly. "And they always will. The ninja world doesn't produce bloodlines like the Ōtsutsuki clan. No matter how many centuries pass, that won't change."
Mei wanted to press further, but his tone suggested the conversation was over. She let it drop.
"We're here," Hanekawa said, stopping before a cluster of newly constructed buildings. "Your new home."
Mei looked up, her eyes widening. "You built all this in a week?"
"Ninjutsu," Hanekawa said casually.
"You used jutsu to construct buildings?"
"Ninjutsu can do far more than that," he replied, his tone suggesting she'd asked something obvious.
Mei decided not to pursue it further. She was already beginning to feel foolish.
She turned to Kisame. "Assign housing to the others."
"Yes, ma'am," he responded immediately.
Hanekawa nodded to Shikaku, who moved to follow Kisame's lead.
---
The office building Hanekawa led Mei to was larger than the Mizukage's tower had been. When they entered her new office, she froze.
It was identical to her old one. Down to the smallest detail.
"I thought you might appreciate familiarity," Hanekawa said, settling into a chair as if the gesture were nothing.
Mei's chest tightened. Despite his perverse nature, he'd gone to considerable trouble for her sake. A Hokage of his stature didn't need to.
"About my position," she said carefully. "Am I still the Mizukage?"
"No," Hanekawa said. "You're the Mizukage's secretary."
"Secretary?" Mei blinked. "So you're the Mizukage?"
"I am. Though I won't be doing any actual work."
Of course not, Mei thought bitterly. She'd been groomed her entire life for the Mizukage position, only to be demoted to secretary. The irony wasn't lost on her.
"Secretary or maid?" Hanekawa mused, pulling her down onto his lap before she could react. "Which do you prefer?"
"Let go!" Mei struggled, but his grip was firm. "You're still a pervert, Hokage or not!"
His hand came down against her thigh with a sharp crack, the sound muffled by her mesh stockings. Her body stiffened.
"Respect your Mizukage," he said casually.
Mei's face flushed crimson. She wanted to protest, to fight back, but her body had other ideas. The strength drained from her limbs as she leaned against him, her breathing shallow.
"That's better," Hanekawa said, his hand moving to adjust her dress. "Your job is simple—manage Hidden Mist as you always have. Report anything significant to me. That's all."
Mei stood quickly, her face burning. She noticed him sniffing his hand and her blush deepened. Abnormal.
"I understand, Lord Hokage," she managed.
In truth, this arrangement suited her. Hidden Mist would remain intact, its traditions preserved. She could live with that.
---
As Hanekawa was about to speak, three lines of text materialized before his eyes:
[S-Rank Talent Entry: Master of the Hidden Mist]
[Trigger Condition: Become Mizukage]
[Effect: Water Style power increased by 200%. Gain ability to control the sea.]
The increased Water Style power was expected—similar to his previous village entries. But the second effect intrigued him. Not just water control, but dominion over the sea itself. As long as he remained in the ocean, he could sense everything within it, command its currents, harvest its resources.
Useful. Very useful.
---
A month passed.
The entire Mist Village relocated to Konoha's vicinity. Mei, using methods Hanekawa preferred not to examine too closely, brought the Land of Water under their control.
The ninja world was unified.
Two new entries appeared:
[S-Rank Talent Entry: Lord of the Land of Water]
[Trigger Condition: Master the Land of Water]
[Effect: Within the waters of the Land of Water, you cannot die unless the sea itself evaporates.]
[S-Rank Talent Entry: Lord of the Ninja Realm]
[Trigger Condition: Unify the ninja world]
[Effect: Control any disturbance within the Ninja Realm. Manipulate the energy within it.]
Hanekawa's eyes lit up.
The first entry had limitations—at Kaguya's level, evaporating an ocean wasn't difficult. But for most ninjas, it was effectively immortality in their domain.
The second entry, however... The Ninja Realm itself had become his power source. More importantly, it would accelerate the sacred tree's cultivation.
He'd done it. True unification. Not through conquest alone, but through the systematic absorption of every village, every Land, every source of power.
The ninja world was his now.
And it was only the beginning.