321. Affair Exposed

The change in the Fire Daimyō went unnoticed by most shinobi.

The relationship between the daimyō and ninjas was purely transactional—money in exchange for missions.

As for who the daimyō was, the shinobi couldn’t care less.

Hanekawa closed the title system and opened his eyes.

The [S-Rank Title: Lord of the Land of Fire] had pleasantly surprised him.

But the title was only part of the equation—the real prize was control over the Land of Fire itself.

Things that were once inconvenient could now be executed without restraint.

Hanekawa picked up his pen, deep in thought.

First order of business: Replace a batch of officials, just as he had done in the Land of Lightning.

This would streamline the country’s efficiency while also allowing the Hidden Leaf’s plans to unfold smoothly.

Fortunately, Uchiha Fugaku was already by the new daimyō, Enshi's side—making him the perfect candidate for the job.

Second order of business: Eliminate all bounty exchange stations within the Land of Fire.

Hanekawa had kept them around, thinking they might be useful in influencing the daimyō’s position.

Now that the Hidden Leaf controlled the Fire Daimyō, they had outlived their purpose.

Well, not entirely.

There was still one last use for them.

The Sand and Stone Villages had formed an alliance.

Hanekawa could use the bounty stations to frame them—accusing the Land of Wind and Earth of placing bounties on Hidden Leaf ninjas, seizing the moral high ground.

Third order of business: The crucial development of a transportation network.

Hanekawa planned for the Transportation Division to establish a comprehensive system—land, sea, and air—centered around the Hidden Leaf and the Fire Capital.

Of course, haste made waste.

Step one: Roads.
Step two: Railways.
Step three: Airships and sea routes.

The Hidden Leaf had plenty of time.

The Ōtsutsuki Clan—the greatest threat to the shinobi world—wouldn’t arrive for another twenty to thirty years.

Time passed slowly.

Outside the window, the sun dipped below the horizon, painting the sky in twilight hues.

Hanekawa’s brow suddenly twitched.

He set down his pen and turned toward the office door.

Three seconds later—

BANG!

The door was kicked open.

A voluptuous figure stood in the doorway.

"Sensei, what’s got you so fired up?"

Hanekawa smirked. "Need me to help you cool down?"

"Always with the nonsense!"

Tsunade rolled her eyes. "I’m here on business!"

She clearly understood his implication—after all, they knew each other far too well.

"Come here."

Hanekawa stood and gestured to his seat. "Sit."

Tsunade didn’t hesitate.

Though no longer Hokage, she had been once—and that authority still lingered.

Not to mention, Hanekawa was her student.

"I—"

Before she could continue, Tsunade sighed in exasperation.

Hanekawa had already buried his face in her chest.

"Sensei, did you just take a bath?"

His voice was muffled.

"No."

Tsunade’s body tensed slightly. "Why?"

His breath against her skin sent tingling waves radiating from her core.

After a few seconds, she closed her eyes and gently ran her fingers through his hair.

"You smell nice."

Hanekawa tried to look up, but his vision was still pure white.

"That’s the Yin Seal’s effect."

Tsunade’s lips curled. "And you’re the only one who’d notice."

No one else would dare get this close to her.

"I can taste it too."

Hanekawa said matter-of-factly.

"..."

Tsunade’s face flushed. She knocked him on the head—hard.

"Ow!"

Hanekawa winced but refused to back down.

He never yielded to force.

"Stop messing around!"

Tsunade stiffened as a sharp pain shot through her chest. "I came here to talk!"

"Mmm… go ahead."

Hanekawa replied between distractions.

"What’s going on with the Fire Daimyō?"

Tsunade redirected her focus.

"What do you mean?"

Hanekawa licked his lips.

"Enshi is only in his teens. Why would he suddenly stage a coup?"

Tsunade’s fingers traced his jawline.

"Daimyō power struggles have always been brutal."

Hanekawa shrugged. "There have been cases where children as young as five took the throne. A teenager isn’t surprising."

"...Fair point."

Tsunade sighed.

After Enshi's rebellion, he hadn’t hesitated to kill his own father.

Tsunade had been on decent terms with the former daimyō—or rather, very close with his wife, almost like sisters.

Thankfully, Enshi had spared his mother—but their relationship was irreparably shattered.

"Sensei, it’s past work hours."

Hanekawa wrapped his arms around her waist, pressing his face deeper into her softness.

"Did you finish your work?"

Tsunade glanced at the documents on the desk.

"Nothing urgent. It can wait until tomorrow."

Hanekawa adjusted his position, seeking a more comfortable spot.

"Then let’s go home."

Tsunade paused, amused. "How do you plan to do that if you won’t let go?"

At times like this, Hanekawa seemed more like a clingy child than the Hokage.

(Though she knew exactly what he was after.)

"Flying Thunder God."

Hanekawa grinned—and in a flash, they vanished.

The next moment, they reappeared in his bedroom, tumbling onto the bed.

"Aren’t you going to make dinner first?"

Tsunade raised an eyebrow.

"Sensei, have you heard the phrase ‘feasting with the eyes’?"

Hanekawa’s fingers loosened her belt.

Freed from its confines, her full figure was laid bare before him.

His gaze lingered.

Traces of his earlier handiwork were still visible—glistening against her fair skin.

"You’re… incorrigible."

Tsunade couldn’t help but laugh.

"That’s your fault."

Hanekawa’s eyes flickered as he watched her chest rise and fall.

"Mine?"

Tsunade scoffed. "How?"

"Because you’re too beautiful."

Hanekawa said with absolute seriousness.

"..."

Tsunade was stunned speechless.

"Sensei."

Hanekawa’s hands slid to her plush thighs.

Tsunade glared but ultimately gave in, lying back on the bed.

Two seconds later, she relented further, lifting her legs and placing them in his grasp.

Hanekawa froze.

Meeting her gaze, he instinctively tightened his grip on her ankles.

The delicate chain around her foot jangled softly.

Night deepened.

Time blurred.

Eventually, the room settled into silence.

"You…"

Tsunade hesitated, her voice trailing off.


Tsunade curled up in Hanekawa's arms, her forehead glistening with sweat, cheeks flushed, and body utterly drained.

Yet she knew this little demon wasn't satisfied.

"What's wrong, sensei?"

Hanekawa gently wiped the sweat from her face. "Hungry?"

"No."

Tsunade bit her lip, feeling far too full to even think about food.

Then, a sudden thought struck her.

Should I give Hanekawa a child?

Her heart pounded wildly.

She had always avoided this question.

Their age gap, their positions—none of it was ideal.

But the desire was there.

"What are you thinking about?"

Hanekawa noticed her daze.

"Nothing."

Tsunade shifted closer, pressing against him. "I'm tired. Let me sleep."

"Sleep, then."

Hanekawa gazed at her tenderly.

Knock. Knock. Knock.

Both froze.

They had left work at five. It was now past seven.

Who would come at this hour?

"It's Kurenai."

Hanekawa's senses identified the visitor instantly.

"Your little girlfriend missed you, so she came looking?"

Tsunade's lips curled in a half-sneer.

"Is that vinegar I smell?"

Hanekawa leaned in, sniffing playfully.

"Hmph!"

Tsunade's expression darkened—then her foot slammed into his stomach, sending him tumbling off the bed.

"Thought you said you were exhausted?"

Hanekawa chuckled, standing smoothly. "Seems pretty energetic to me."

"Shut up!"

Tsunade glared—but with her flushed face, the look was more alluring than threatening.

"Wait for me."

Hanekawa suppressed his stirring desires.

"Mm."

Tsunade’s voice softened.

Hanekawa dressed and headed to the door.

"Kurenai."

He opened it, meeting her gaze. "Something urgent?"

Normally, he’d return to her after Tsunade fell asleep.

Her visit meant trouble.

"Intel from the Anbu."

Kurenai’s tone was grave. "The Sand and Stone Villages each dispatched five thousand shinobi—moving under cover of night."

"Oh?"

Hanekawa raised a brow. "Only ten thousand total? Underestimating us?"

Even combined, that force wasn’t enough to threaten the Leaf.

"Their target isn’t us."

Kurenai shook her head. "It’s the Sound Village."

"The Sound?"

Hanekawa’s lips curved.

After the Sound’s conquest of the Land of Iron, the Great Villages had protested.

The Leaf’s response? "No relation."

Then the Sound seized the Land of Hot Springs.

Now, the Sand and Stone had had enough.

Their logic was simple:

If the Leaf denies ties to the Sound, attacking them won’t provoke retaliation.

"Clever. But naive."

Hanekawa smirked.

"Do we send reinforcements?"

Kurenai asked. "But that would expose our connection."

"At this point, secrecy doesn’t matter."

Hanekawa paused. "When will they arrive?"

"By dawn."

Kurenai calculated.

"Playing it safe, huh?"

Dawn assaults exploited human fatigue—overkill for a minor village like the Sound.

Their real concern?

The Leaf’s intervention.

They were prepared for war.

"Leave it to me."

Hanekawa ruffled Kurenai’s hair. "Go home first."

"And you?"

Kurenai’s eyes flickered—then widened.

A faint love mark peeked above Hanekawa’s collar.

"I’ll just say goodbye to sensei."

Hanekawa smiled.

"...Tsunade-sensei?"

Kurenai’s voice wavered. "I... I’ll head back."

She turned abruptly and left.

Hanekawa’s brow arched.

That reaction…

He summoned a chakra mirror, inspecting his neck.

"Ah."

Tsunade’s passion had left evidence.

"Did she notice?"

Hanekawa scratched his head.

But Kurenai’s calm was unexpected.

Maybe there’s hope?

For now, he’d observe her reaction.

Returning to Tsunade’s room, he found her burrowed under blankets, only her head visible.

The sheets clung to her voluptuous curves.

"Not the Leaf. The Sand and Stone."

Hanekawa slid back into bed, pulling her close.

"Finally making their move?"

Tsunade’s eyes narrowed.

She’d anticipated this ever since their alliance formed.

"Nothing to worry about."

Hanekawa’s hand traced her abdomen.

"How will you handle them?"

Tsunade hesitated. "Like the First Hokage did?"

"His method failed to bring lasting peace."

Hanekawa’s fingers drifted upward. "I’ll unify the shinobi world."

"Mmm…"

Tsunade winced as his grip tightened.

The First's approach had proven flawed.

But Hanekawa’s was ruthless.

She bit back her objections.

He’s the Hokage now.

"Wait—"

Tsunade suddenly stiffened. "You should go!"

"Sensei, we can’t stop mid-way."

Hanekawa grinned. "You’ve rested enough."

"I haven’t!"

A flicker of fear crossed her eyes. "Go to your girlfriend!"

Pride gave way to self-preservation.

"I have an idea."

Hanekawa whispered in her ear.

"Wha—? That’s… impossible!"

Tsunade recoiled.

Her Yin Seal kept her immaculate, but that place?

Psychologically unacceptable.

"Fine."

Hanekawa shrugged.

Tsunade watched his expression, conflicted—then grabbed his wrist.

To his shock, she rolled over, presenting her back.