The next day.
Hanekawa arrived at Tsunade's house early in the morning.
Kurenai Yuhi didn't come along; she stayed home to prepare bento boxes.
To his surprise, someone had arrived even earlier than he had—it was Rin Nohara.
"Why are you here so early?" Hanekawa walked up to her and asked.
"Hanekawa?" Rin turned at the sound of his voice, her face lighting up with a delighted smile.
Hanekawa's eyes swept over her dark red over-the-knee socks. Though her legs were slender and elegant, he couldn't help but wonder, Aren't you cold?
"I didn't have much to do at home, so I decided to come early," Rin said as she tucked a strand of hair behind her ear.
"It's cold outside. Let's go inside," Hanekawa said, taking out a key and opening the door.
As he entered the living room, he glanced back and saw Rin at the entrance, taking off her shoes.
She steadied herself against the wall and bent slightly, revealing the top of her dark red socks. With his sharp vision, Hanekawa noticed how they lightly pressed against her thighs.
After removing her shoes, Rin placed her bare feet on the floor. She looked up and caught Hanekawa's gaze, momentarily startled.
"Have you had breakfast?" Hanekawa asked, his expression neutral.
"No," Rin admitted, a bit embarrassed.
Because Hanekawa's cooking was delicious, she had grown accustomed to coming to Tsunade's house for breakfast.
"Take a seat," Hanekawa said with a nod. "I'll make breakfast."
"Do you need help?" Rin asked eagerly.
"How about this: go wake Sensei up," Hanekawa said after a moment's thought, noticing her hopeful expression.
"Huh?" Rin exclaimed in surprise, clearly not expecting the task.
"Good luck!" Hanekawa encouraged her with a smile, clenching his fist in a playful gesture before heading to the kitchen.
Rin watched him walk away, momentarily lost in thought.
He's so handsome... and gentle too.
"What are you thinking, Rin?" she muttered to herself, snapping out of it and shaking her head.
Taking a deep breath, she walked to Tsunade's bedroom door.
"Tsunade-sensei!" Rin called out, knocking on the door.
The door soon opened.
"Why are you here? Where's that brat?" Tsunade frowned, her tone irritable.
"He… he's in the kitchen…" Rin stammered nervously.
"I see." Tsunade's expression softened as she noticed Rin's reaction. "I'll go freshen up."
Tsunade was used to her relaxed interactions with Hanekawa, but Rin's cautious demeanor amused her.
That brat is definitely more interesting, Tsunade thought as she headed to the bathroom.
She smiled as she saw her toothbrush already set up. After washing up, she returned to the living room.
Rin sat across from her, looking uneasy.
Tsunade wanted to say something but couldn't think of a topic to discuss. In her eyes, Rin was too well-behaved—nowhere near as entertaining as Hanekawa.
"Breakfast is ready!" Hanekawa announced as he walked out of the kitchen. "Sensei, your favorite chicken ramen."
"Mm." Tsunade picked up her chopsticks, and the previously awkward atmosphere vanished instantly.
"Thank you," Rin said softly, her tone gentle. Compared to Tsunade's unrestrained slurping, Rin ate with refined elegance.
"Where's Kurenai?" Tsunade asked, glancing at Hanekawa.
"She's at home making bento," Hanekawa replied after a pause. "We'll meet her at the village gate later."
"Speaking of bento, we'll likely be gone for quite a while this time. Pack plenty of food," Tsunade said after sipping some ramen broth. "I don't want to be stuck eating dry rations or rice balls the whole way."
"Got it," Hanekawa nodded.
Initially, Tsunade had tried to teach him to follow the ninja code, but now she didn't follow it at all, ignoring it entirely.
Hanekawa didn't mind—this suited him perfectly.
Rin, on the other hand, had mixed feelings.
Ever since becoming Tsunade's student, the idealized image she had of her had completely shattered.
Aside from her immense strength, Tsunade didn't resemble a ninja at all.
After breakfast, there was still half an hour until nine o'clock. Tsunade began reviewing Rin's progress in her studies.
Hanekawa didn't interrupt them. Instead, he sat on the sofa and studied the Yamanaka clan's sensory technique, Mind's Eye.
He quickly discovered the usefulness of the C-rank perk "Chunin Exam Champion."
With a 100% boost to comprehension, the A-rank difficulty felt more like a B-rank technique to him.
Normally, it would take him about a month to learn an A-rank technique—a speed already considered exceptional among ninjas.
But now, he estimated he could cut that time in half.
At nine o'clock, the three locked the house and headed to the Hidden Leaf Village gate.
As they approached, Hanekawa noticed a well-organized convoy waiting there.
He estimated there were about 20 people, making it a fairly large caravan.
Are these ninja tools being sold to the Hidden Rain Village? Hanekawa suppressed his curiosity and walked forward.
Sakumo Hatake and his Team 2 members were already present.
"Lady Tsunade, it's a pleasure to meet you," said a middle-aged man who stepped forward. "I am Mokuto Ei, the leader of this caravan."
"Mm," Tsunade responded with a slight nod.
"I've prepared two carriages for you. Please get on," Mokuto Ei said, his tone ingratiating despite Tsunade's indifferent attitude.
"How strange," Shizune murmured from a short distance away. "Why isn't he this enthusiastic with Sakumo-sensei?"
In her view—and in the eyes of most ninja from the Hidden Leaf Village—Sakumo Hatake's status was comparable to that of the Legendary Sannin.
"Lady Tsunade is a medical ninja," Asuma Sarutobi explained. "Plus, she has close ties to the Daimyo of the Land of Fire. He wouldn't dare offend her."
"So he dares to offend Sakumo-sensei?" Shizune asked, puzzled.
"He does," Asuma said hesitantly, glancing at Sakumo. "Because there's nothing we can do about it."
In the ninja world, there's an unspoken rule: ninjas must not harm their employers—even rogue ninjas follow this code.
For instance, Zabuza Momochi.
During the Wave Country mission in the original story, no matter how poorly Gato treated him, Zabuza didn't retaliate until he was already disillusioned and decided to drag Gato down with him.
Even the Akatsuki, a group of infamously brutal criminals, refrained from looting Daimyo and nobles, instead earning money through bounty missions in the black market.
"No wonder Lady Tsunade commands such respect," Shizune remarked with newfound understanding.
"Let's go," Sakumo said as he approached one of the carriages.
Asuma and his team quickly followed.
After some discussion, the two ninja teams decided to position themselves at the front and back for protection. Tsunade's team took the lead, while Sakumo's team covered the rear.
"This is my first time riding in a carriage," Hanekawa said, glancing around. The vehicle reminded him of those from historical dramas in his past life, though cruder in design.
"Same here," Kurenai said, sitting beside him and opening the window to take in the view outside, her expression full of curiosity.
Rin Nohara, on the other hand, was much quieter, sitting across from Hanekawa.
"Hanekawa, stay alert," Tsunade reminded him.
"Yes, Sensei," Hanekawa replied, closing his eyes.
He was attempting to use the Yamanaka clan's secret technique, Mind's Eye.
Although he was still a beginner and hadn't mastered it, even its incomplete effects outperformed his previous sensory ninjutsu.
He could even sense the physiques, heartbeats, and breathing rhythms of Tsunade, Kurenai, and Rin.
Two days passed in the blink of an eye. On the third day, they finally left the Land of Fire and arrived in the Land of Rain.
"Once we enter the Land of Rain, it won't be as safe as the Land of Fire," Tsunade warned. "Everyone, get off the carriages and protect the convoy."
"Yes," everyone responded in unison.
Sakumo Hatake gave the same order to his team.
The eight ninja donned raincoats and positioned themselves on either side of the convoy, moving forward in the rain.
"What peculiar architecture," Shisui Uchiha remarked as he looked around.
For the first time, he saw the towering structures gleaming with metallic luster, partially obscured by the rain.
"It's because it rains constantly here," Hanekawa replied casually.
Standing atop a carriage with his eyes closed, Hanekawa focused on his sensory technique, while Shisui remained by his side for protection.
"The Land of Rain is completely different from the Land of Fire," Shisui said, gazing into the distance.
"There are people ahead, but they're not ninja," Hanekawa said after a moment. Then he paused. "No, they're corpses."
"Corpses?" Shisui was startled. Following Hanekawa's direction, he saw the bodies and felt a chill. "What happened?"
"Starving refugees," Hanekawa explained.
"Doesn't the Land of Rain care for them?" Shisui frowned.
"How could a nation in constant turmoil manage such things?" Hanekawa countered.
"What about Hanzo the Salamander?" Shisui thought of the legendary figure who had once overpowered the young Sannin of the Hidden Leaf.
"He's a ninja who only looks out for himself," Hanekawa said after a moment's thought.
In the original story, Hanzo initiated the Second Great Ninja War to elevate the Hidden Rain Village to the level of the Five Great Nations. After his defeat, he retreated to the village and attacked the Akatsuki when they threatened his power, ultimately leading to Nagato's transformation and Hanzo's demise.
"With such great power, shouldn't he bring peace to the Land of Rain?" Shisui asked, unable to contain himself.
"Shisui, not every ninja thinks the way you do," Hanekawa said, shaking his head.
"…" Shisui fell silent, his aura momentarily unstable.
Hanekawa raised an eyebrow.
What's going on? Are you about to awaken your Mangekyo Sharingan right in front of me?
"The title of 'Demi-God' isn't worth much," Shisui eventually said, regaining his composure.
"He earned that title thanks to his summoning beast," Hanekawa said with a chuckle. "Shisui, with your talent, you'll surpass him in no time."
"Hanekawa-senpai, your talent is even greater than mine. What do you think?" Shisui asked after a moment of reflection.
"First, I'll focus on becoming strong enough," Hanekawa said honestly. "That's the practical approach."
Shouting about peace for the ninja world wasn't something he could see himself doing.
In this world, strength reigned supreme. True peace could only be achieved through overwhelming power.
"Agreed," Shisui said after a brief pause.
[C-rank talent 'Kotoamatsukami' upgraded.]
[Hand seal speed increased by an additional 150%.]
Hanekawa glanced at the text in front of him and thought to himself, That's possible too?
__
New entry: This Danzo Is Weird
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New. 390 adv ch of This Danzo Is Weird
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