Hanekawa had a dream.
He felt as if he were resting his head on a massive piece of cloud.
The cloud was flawless, warm, and smooth, with a texture like congealed fat, and faint veins-like patterns could be seen within it.
In his daze, Hanekawa thought the cloud should be hemispherical.
He didn't know how much time had passed when he suddenly felt short of breath because the air was thick with a rich, intoxicating fragrance.
The next second, his body rolled over twice on the spot.
Hanekawa instinctively opened his eyes and saw Tsunade standing not far away.
"Your chakra hasn't fully recovered yet. Rest well," Tsunade said with her arms crossed over her chest, her expression as usual. "I'll continue to deal with the matters concerning the Hidden Cloud Village."
Without waiting for Hanekawa's response, she turned and left the tent.
"Why did I end up by the bed?" Hanekawa scratched his head subconsciously.
He thought back carefully and finally realized what the previous dream was about.
Hanekawa couldn't help but show a regretful expression.
Arrghh!
Why didn't I wake up earlier?
Hanekawa stretched languidly, took a deep breath, and it seemed he could still catch a hint of that faint fragrance in his nostrils.
He closed his eyes and immediately sensed the emptiness of the Yin Seal on his forehead.
The chakra within his body was easy to recover, but the chakra inside the Yin Seal required some time.
Of course, Hanekawa didn't feel the slightest bit of regret.
Trading a Yin Seal for the Two-Tails, Eight-Tails, and the Fourth Raikage was more than worth it.
"Hanekawa, are you awake?" came the voice of Kurenai Yūhi from outside the tent.
"Come in," Hanekawa sat up and said.
"How are you feeling now, Hanekawa? Are you uncomfortable anywhere?" Kurenai quickly entered, squatted in front of him, and asked with a worried look on her face.
She was supposed to come yesterday, but she was told that Hanekawa was sleeping and resting, so she had been holding back until now.
"Do I look like I'm in trouble?" Hanekawa reached out and pinched her cheek, asking.
"No, you don't," Kurenai immediately relaxed upon seeing this.
"Let's sit and talk," Hanekawa patted the carpet and said.
"Okay!" Kurenai's face lit up with a smile.
After sitting down next to him, she shifted her position, wrapped her arms around his arm, and happily rested her face against his shoulder.
Hanekawa felt the softness transmitted from his arm.
He glanced down and caught a glimpse.
The young girl was already showing potential.
"Why are you here alone? Where's Rin?" Hanekawa reached out and held her right hand.
"As a medical ninja, she's extremely busy right now," Kurenai paused and said, "But she's helping to treat the Hidden Cloud Village ninja today."
Hanekawa recalled the battle from yesterday.
Because of his extremely wide-range Wood Release: Advent of Tree World technique, the vast majority of the Hidden Cloud Village ninja were injured.
Not to mention the subsequent Tailed Beast battles and the eight Tailed Beast Balls combined by the Two-Tails and Eight-Tails.
It was no exaggeration to say that the surviving Hidden Cloud Village ninja could brag about it for the rest of their lives.
"I really don't understand why we're saving them," Kurenai humphed.
"To sell them at a higher price," Hanekawa looked at her pouting lips and couldn't help but smile.
"Sell them?"
Kurenai was taken aback for a moment, then she understood.
He was referring to the upcoming peace talks between the Hidden Cloud Village and the Hidden Leaf Village.
With the Two-Tails, Eight-Tails, and the Fourth Raikage in their possession, the Hidden Leaf Village was going to make a fortune.
"So after the peace talks are over, we're going to let them go?" Kurenai tilted her head and asked.
"Do you know what sustainability means?" Hanekawa didn't answer her question directly but countered with another question.
"Not really," Kurenai thought for a moment, then shook her head.
"To put it simply, it means letting them go and then capturing them again repeatedly to maximize profit," Hanekawa said with a smile.
"Huh?" Kurenai's eyes widened.
Her first reaction was that it was impossible.
But if it were Hanekawa, he could indeed do that.
After all, his strength was overwhelmingly powerful, and his progress was incredibly rapid.
Capturing the Two-Tails, Eight-Tails, and the Fourth Raikage this time was quite a risky endeavor.
But in a few years, Hanekawa might be able to defeat them effortlessly.
"That sounds so mean!" Kurenai said with a beaming smile, "But I like it!"
Hanekawa chuckled and patted her head.
He had another reason he hadn't mentioned.
That was the unification of the ninja world, something he planned to do after becoming the Hokage.
If he wiped out the Hidden Cloud Village now, he would be giving away his prestige to Hiruzen Sarutobi for nothing.
The priority was to get Tsunade into the position of Hokage.
After she had served for a few years, he could take over.
Hanekawa also thought about the Flying Thunder God Technique and Sage Mode.
Once he learned them, he could truly become invincible in the ninja world.
No, that wasn't quite right.
It was too early to say invincible.
After all, there was still Uchiha Madara with the Rinnegan and the alien-like Otsutsuki clan.
"Almost forgot something," Kurenai magically produced a bento box and said, "It's time for breakfast!"
"Did you make this?" Hanekawa opened the bento box and found that it was still warm.
"Yes," Kurenai blinked and said, "But it definitely can't compare to what you make."
"This peace talk is likely to strip the Hidden Cloud Village bare," Hanekawa picked up his chopsticks and asked with a smile, "Is there anything you want?"
"Let me think," Kurenai looked at him and fell into contemplation.
"There's no rush, we have plenty of time," Hanekawa took a bite of chicken and said, "Not bad, you've made a lot of progress."
"Of course!" Kurenai's face lit up with a smile upon hearing this.
...
In the Land of Grass.
An endless expanse of lush green grass suddenly surged with an extremely gloomy and malevolent aura.
With a loud bang!
A huge skeletal upper body burst into the sky amidst rolling waves of energy.
Unlike the skeletal upper body of Uchiha Shisui, this one was covered with veins and flesh.
This was the second form of Susanoo.
And the ninja protected beneath it was Uchiha Obito.
His Susanoo was one form ahead of Uchiha Shisui's because he had transplanted Hashirama's cells.
Hashirama's cells greatly enhanced the power of the Mangekyo Sharingan.
Both the eye techniques and Susanoo were affected.
"Very good," Uchiha Madara, or rather, a shadow clone of Uchiha Madara, nodded with satisfaction from a distance.
To master the second form of Susanoo in such a short time from the moment of awakening was truly worthy of the ninja he had valued.
Moreover, during this period, Uchiha Obito had been bedridden for several months due to severe injuries inflicted by Hanekawa.
"Can I go after Hanekawa now?" Uchiha Obito dispelled his Susanoo, revealing a deep-seated hatred on his face as he asked.
"I'm afraid not," Uchiha Madara shook his head and said.
"Why not?" Uchiha Obito said coldly, "With my current strength, crushing Hanekawa would be like crushing an ant."
When he had lost to Hanekawa before, he had been utterly desperate.
But after becoming familiar with the Mangekyo Sharingan and mastering Susanoo, he had regained his confidence.
As Uchiha Madara had said, he hadn't even unleashed the true power of the Mangekyo Sharingan back then.
Most importantly, he had figured out all of Hanekawa's abilities.
"I just received intelligence from White Zetsu, and it says the war in the Land of Frost has ended," Uchiha Madara suddenly changed the subject.
"The war between the Hidden Leaf Village and the Hidden Cloud Village?" Uchiha Obito frowned slightly and asked, "What does that have to do with us?"
"Do you know how it ended?" Uchiha Madara asked calmly.
"Did it have something to do with Hanekawa again?" Uchiha Obito's face darkened, and he asked irritably.
"It seems you've become smarter," Uchiha Madara smiled faintly and said, "Hanekawa consecutively defeated the Two-Tails, Eight-Tails, and the Fourth Raikage."
"How could that be possible?" Uchiha Obito's first reaction was disbelief.
Hanekawa had previously struggled greatly even against the Four-Tails, and now he had defeated the Two-Tails, Eight-Tails, and the Fourth Raikage all at once. It was simply beyond belief!
"White Zetsu witnessed it with its own eyes; there's no mistake," Uchiha Madara's face took on a nostalgic hue. "Moreover, Hanekawa has learned Wood Release."
"What?" Uchiha Obito was once again struck with a shock.
That was the legendary Wood Release of the God of the Shinobi World, Hashirama Senju!
And most importantly, he knew that Uchiha Madara had been defeated by Hashirama Senju's hands.
"If it weren't for the fact that my life is nearing its end, I would really like to meet him," Uchiha Madara said with a hint of regret.
Although Uchiha Obito had Wood Release, it was derived from Hashirama's cells.
But according to White Zetsu, Hanekawa did not have Hashirama's cells in his body.
In other words, this was a pure, natural Wood Release user.
Unfortunately.
Uchiha Madara could not afford to waste his remaining life.
Hanekawa was Uchiha Obito's arch-nemesis.
Uchiha Madara could still hold him back now.
But after his death, Uchiha Obito would likely not be able to restrain himself.
To prevent the executor of his painstakingly devised plan from dying prematurely, he had to strengthen his power as much as possible during this time.
"Drat!" Uchiha Obito said resentfully, "What's going on with this guy?!"
He believed that his strength had skyrocketed with his series of lucky encounters, only to find that Hanekawa's progress had outpaced his own.
"Your eye technique has already been exposed to Hanekawa," Uchiha Madara said calmly, "Do not seek him out until you are absolutely certain."
"..."
Uchiha Obito subconsciously clenched his fist.
"Do not forget the Eye of the Moon Plan," Uchiha Madara reminded him, "If you obtain the Rinnegan, killing Hanekawa will be a piece of cake."
"But I can't wait that long!" Uchiha Obito ground out, "The thought of Hanekawa still being alive makes it hard for me to sleep or eat!"
"Then let's begin the Eye of the Moon Plan," Uchiha Madara thought for a moment and said.
"Where do we start?" Uchiha Obito was taken aback and asked.
"By joining the Akatsuki organization," Uchiha Madara said in a flat tone.
...
Hidden Leaf Village Base Camp.
A week had passed since the end of the war, and all the injured had been treated and urgently sent back to the Hidden Leaf Hospital.
Today was the day the remaining ninja were to set off for the Hidden Leaf Village.
However, it was not the Hidden Leaf Village ninja who left first, but the Hidden Sand Village ninja.
At the entrance of the Hidden Leaf Village base camp, the Hidden Sand Village ninja stood in an orderly fashion.
Standing at the forefront were Pakura and Rasa.
"Once the date for the peace talks with the Hidden Cloud Village is confirmed, the Hidden Leaf Village will send someone to inform you," Tsunade said to them.
With the war having just ended, there was an overwhelming amount of follow-up work to be done.
Moreover, the terms of the peace talks needed to be carefully considered, so it wouldn't be quick, and it would likely be much slower than the previous peace talks with the Hidden Stone Village and the Hidden Mist Village.
After all, this time the Hidden Cloud Village had been virtually annihilated, and it wouldn't be easy to exchange two Tailed Beasts and the Fourth Raikage.
"Understood," Pakura bowed slightly and said, "Lady Tsunade, the Hidden Sand Village awaits good news."
Her attitude was more respectful than ever before.
The Hidden Leaf Village's current strength was overwhelming, and the Hidden Sand Village dared not provoke them.
If they offended the Hidden Leaf Village due to a poor attitude, it would be a costly mistake.
"Hmm," Tsunade nodded.
Pakura, Rasa, and the other Hidden Sand Village ninja turned and left.
Tsunade withdrew her gaze and looked at Mabui and Samui, among others.
"Lady Tsunade," Mabui stepped forward reluctantly.
"You will follow us back to the Hidden Leaf Village," Tsunade said in a calm, unyielding tone.
"Yes," Mabui sighed inwardly.
This was an expected outcome.
After all, the Hidden Leaf Village had already released many Hidden Cloud Village ninja.
But as the high-ranking officials of the Hidden Cloud Village, they naturally couldn't escape.
"Lady Tsunade," Mabui hesitated and asked, "What are the Hidden Leaf Village's conditions?"
"Do not worry," Tsunade glanced at her and said with a smile, "You will know in due time."
"Yes," Mabui nodded, her heart filled with confusion and despair.
No matter how intelligent she was, she could only be at the mercy of others at this moment.
She wondered about the situation of Yugitu Nii, the Two-Tails jinchuriki.
The Two-Tails, Eight-Tails, and the Fourth Raikage were being held separately, out of sight of everyone.
They, on the other hand, had relatively more freedom and were not imprisoned.
But Mabui knew their cage was the Two-Tails, Eight-Tails, and the Fourth Raikage.
No matter how free they felt, they dared not cause trouble or attempt to escape.
"Everyone, back to the Hidden Leaf Village!" Tsunade shouted.
"Yes!" the Hidden Leaf Village ninja chorused in response.
Their voices were filled with excitement.
Only the Hidden Cloud Village ninja, surrounded by them, looked ashen-faced, feeling that the future was bleak.
Tsunade glanced at Orochimaru.
Ever since Danzo Shimura was arrested, he had become very quiet.
Not only did he voluntarily relinquish his position as commander, but he also became completely unobtrusive, almost like a nonentity.
But knowing Orochimaru as she did, Tsunade felt this was more like the calm before the storm; he wouldn't just do nothing.
The group set off in a grand procession towards the Hidden Leaf Village.
Two days later, they arrived at their destination.
As soon as they entered the village, they were warmly welcomed by the ninja and villagers.
Everyone was cheering the names of Tsunade and Hanekawa.
Hanekawa was slightly taken aback.
He realized that the cheers for him and Tsunade were almost equal in volume.
This meant that their popularity was now on par.
Indeed, war was the fastest way to gain popularity.
If it weren't for Tsunade, Hanekawa could have gone to compete for the position of the Fourth Hokage.
At that moment, a path was cleared through the crowd, and the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, walked out with a beaming smile on his face.
In addition to him were Koharu Utatane, Homura Mitokado, Jiraiya, Minato Namikaze, and a host of other jōnin.
Seeing Jiraiya, Hanekawa was somewhat surprised.
But then he realized the reason for his presence here was the Wood Release experiment.
"Lord Hokage," everyone shouted in unison.
Hiruzen Sarutobi walked up to them and spoke some polite words.
They were nothing more than the usual "You all have worked hard" kind of phrases.
"Let's head to the Hokage Building," Hiruzen Sarutobi said, looking at Tsunade, Hanekawa, and the others.
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