"Did you get any useful information?"

  Tsunade asked as Hanekawa approached, her sharp eyes studying him.

  "The purpose of their ambush was to capture us, torture us for Konoha's ninjutsu secrets, then destroy the bodies and eliminate all evidence," Hanekawa said quietly. "They just didn't account for our strength."

  Tsunade nodded, her expression serious. "There are many such ninjas in the world. You must be more careful in the future."

  "Yes, Teacher," Kurenai and Rin answered in unison.

  "There's something else you might find interesting," Hanekawa continued, pausing deliberately. "Something I think you'll want to know about."

  Tsunade's lips curved into a slight smile. "It's not easy to get my attention. What is it?"

  "Kusagakure Village recently captured a female ninja with a very unusual physique. Apparently, biting her can restore injuries and chakra."

  Tsunade's expression shifted immediately. "What color is her hair?"

  "Red."

  The color drained from Tsunade's face. She stood abruptly, her chair scraping backward. "Red hair? Are you certain?"

  And there it is, Hanekawa thought. Tsunade's connection to the Uzumaki clan.

  In the ninja world, only one clan possessed that combination of traits—the Uzumaki. And Tsunade's relationship with both Uzumaki Mito and Uzumaki Kushina meant she wouldn't hesitate to act. The Uzumaki had given Konoha their sealing techniques and their strength. The village owed them a debt that transcended time.

  "Where is she?" Tsunade's voice had turned cold, dangerous.

  Hanekawa recounted what he'd extracted from the female chunin through interrogation. Shin was a jonin from Kusagakure, and the chunin had only known approximate locations, but for Tsunade, it was enough.

  She bit her thumb sharply and pressed it to the ground. Chakra flared.

  With a heavy thump, a massive slug materialized in a cloud of smoke.

  "Go back to Konoha immediately," Tsunade commanded, her voice brooking no argument. "Tell the old man to send the ANBU to the Land of Waterfalls. Find Shin from Kusagakure Village. Report his location to me the moment you have it."

  "At once, Lady Tsunade."

  Another puff of smoke, and the slug vanished.

  Tsunade turned to face them, her expression set like stone. "We're heading to the Land of Waterfalls. Now."

  She glanced at Kurenai. "Come here. I'll analyze your performance from the last battle."

  "Yes, Teacher," Kurenai said, though Hanekawa caught the slight nervousness in her voice as she hurried over.

  "What about me?" Hanekawa asked.

  "You stay put," Tsunade said flatly, not even looking at him.

  Hanekawa exchanged a helpless glance with Kurenai as she and Tsunade moved ahead, deep in conversation.

  "I wasn't much help," Rin said quietly, stepping closer to Hanekawa. She looked genuinely troubled. "I just watched while you two fought."

  "You're a medical ninja. Staying safe is your priority," Hanekawa replied. "And if you want to improve your combat skills, there's no rush. Our teacher isn't just any medical ninja."

  Rin's eyes brightened at that. She'd heard the rumors about Tsunade—not just her medical expertise, but her combat prowess.

  "Will Kurenai get scolded?" Rin asked, glancing at the red-haired girl ahead.

  "No," Hanekawa said with certainty. "Teacher has an eccentric personality, but she's got a soft heart underneath."

  Among other soft things, he added mentally, then immediately regretted the thought.

  Rin relaxed visibly. "That's good. We've been training together for so long. I'd hate to see her discouraged."

  A few minutes later, Kurenai jogged back to them, her expression bright. "Teacher Tsunade is amazing! I learned so much from just a few pointers."

  "Of course," Hanekawa said, ruffling her hair. "Our teacher is one of the best jonin in the village."

  "Alright, kid," Tsunade called from ahead. "Get moving. We need to make time."

  You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.

  "Yes, Teacher."

  Hanekawa took point as their sensing ninja, with the others following behind.

  ---

  By noon, they'd reached the Grass Village Metropolis. The journey had been smooth aside from the initial ambush—a stark contrast to what they'd face next.

  The merchant group's leader bowed deeply. "Thank you for your escort. I'll ensure Konoha receives proper compensation. We're upgrading this to a B-rank mission."

  Tsunade nodded curtly, watching them depart.

  "Where to now, Teacher?" Hanekawa asked.

  "The Land of Waterfalls," Tsunade said. She paused, then smiled—a dangerous smile. "This rescue mission is A-rank. Are you interested?"

  "Absolutely," Kurenai said eagerly, her confidence visibly boosted from the earlier battle.

  "I've done A-rank missions before," Hanekawa said calmly.

  Only Rin looked uncertain, worried she might slow them down.

  "Nothing will go wrong," Hanekawa assured her. "Teacher's here."

  "Why don't you have that much faith in me normally?" Tsunade asked dryly, giving him a sidelong glance.

  Because you gamble away your salary and drink like a fish? Hanekawa thought wisely, keeping his expression neutral. Survival was important.

  After restocking supplies in the village, they pressed onward.

  The Land of Waterfalls bordered the Land of Grass—close enough that they'd arrive by evening. Both were small nations with correspondingly modest ninja villages. Takigakure was known primarily for housing the Seven-Tailed Beast and for producing Kakuzu, a ninja with near-infinite lifespan thanks to forbidden techniques.

  When they reached the Land of Waterfalls, Tsunade called a halt.

  "We wait for the slug's report on Shin's exact location," she explained. "No point rushing in blind."

  As the sun began to set, Tsunade stretched. "I've been traveling for days. There's a river nearby. Kurenai, Rin—let's go wash up."

  Both girls' eyes lit up. "Yes, Teacher!"

  Tsunade glanced back at Hanekawa. "Don't even think about it. I'm creating shadow clones, and they won't be gentle."

  "Why would I peek?" Hanekawa protested indignantly. "You're insulting my character!"

  Kurenai and Rin giggled as Tsunade waved dismissively and led them away.

  Definitely not worth dying over, Hanekawa thought, watching them disappear into the trees.

  When they returned, their hair was still damp. Kurenai and Rin seemed unusually quiet—a fact Hanekawa understood immediately upon seeing Tsunade's clothes stretched to their absolute limit.

  "Your turn," Tsunade said casually, settling by the fire.

  "I'll dry your hair afterward," Hanekawa offered, standing.

  Rin blinked. "You brought a hair dryer?"

  "Better," Hanekawa said, moving behind Tsunade. He channeled Fire Style chakra, creating controlled heat that transformed into warm air currents.

  Rin's jaw dropped. "You can do that?"

  "He's always full of surprises," Kurenai said with obvious pride.

  Hanekawa worked through Tsunade's hair, genuinely enjoying this rare moment where he could touch her head without complaint. Even Tsunade seemed to relax under his hands.

  "My turn!" Kurenai announced eagerly, practically bouncing into position.

  As Hanekawa dried her hair, he caught the soft, almost dreamy expression on her face. Oh no. She's definitely thinking something dangerous.

  Rin received the same treatment, though she seemed more grateful than anything else.

  "I'm going to scout for game before dark," Hanekawa announced, standing. "We could use fresh meat."

  "I'm coming with you!" Kurenai said immediately, grabbing his hand.

  "Don't go far," Tsunade warned. "And be careful."

  "We will."

  As they disappeared into the forest, Tsunade watched them go, her expression thoughtful. They grew up together. If nothing changes, they'll probably end up married. She frowned slightly, surprised by her own reluctance at the thought. Am I getting sentimental about that brat?

  She shook her head and turned to Rin. "You want to fight more, don't you?"

  Rin hesitated, then nodded. "I don't want to be a burden."

  "Medical ninjas are rarely taught combat," Tsunade said, her tone gentler. "But I can teach you taijutsu when we have time. It'll help you survive."

  Rin's face brightened. "Really? Thank you, Teacher Tsunade!"

  "Don't thank me yet. I'm a harsh teacher."

  ---

  Hanekawa and Kurenai returned with two rabbits, which Kurenai proudly displayed. Rin cooed over them until Hanekawa's kunai made quick work of the task.

  Soon, the aroma of roasted meat filled the camp. Rin's stomach growled audibly—Hanekawa's cooking had spoiled her for anything else.

  He distributed the portions with obvious priority: Tsunade first, then Kurenai, then Rin. The order was clear to everyone.

  As they ate, Tsunade shared accumulated knowledge from her years of experience—lessons that couldn't be learned in any academy. The girls listened intently, absorbing everything.

  An hour later, Tsunade pressed her hand to the ground. The slug appeared, delivering news of Shin's location.

  "Sleep now," Tsunade ordered. "We move at dawn."

  ---

  The next morning, after a quick breakfast, they jogged toward their destination. A small slug rode on Tsunade's shoulder, providing directions.

  "Four ninjas ahead," Hanekawa reported suddenly, his senses extending outward. "One has an enormous chakra reserve."

  "An Uzumaki survivor," Tsunade confirmed grimly. "The jonin is mine. Hanekawa, Kurenai—handle the others. Rin, focus on rescue."

  "Yes, Teacher!" they chorused.

  As the enemy came into view, Hanekawa spotted her immediately: a red-haired woman bearing bite marks across her skin. The evidence of her abuse made his jaw clench.

  Tsunade's expression turned absolutely murderous.

  "Move," she said coldly.

  Before anyone could react, she was gone—a blur of motion.

  "Enemy attack!" Shin shouted, sensing the disturbance.

  Earth Style: Earth Flow Wall!

  A wall of earth erupted from the ground. For a moment, Shin seemed to relax.

  Then the wall exploded into fragments.

  His eyes widened in shock just as Tsunade's fist connected with his face. Blood sprayed.

  His head didn't just break—it exploded.

  The three remaining Kusagakure ninjas froze in absolute horror.

  Their jonin had been erased in a single punch.