312. Control

Mount Myoboku

A black spatial portal appeared.

Hanekawa and Ōtsutsuki Kaguya walked out.

Not far away stood the lush and towering Divine Tree.

It was rooted in the ground, and the surrounding natural energy was drawn towards it, gradually being absorbed.

Hanekawa pondered and extended his senses.

There were no longer any toads around.

Only the temple deep within Myoboku Mountain, along with a few toads, remained.

Most of the toads had gone to Konoha Village to begin their diligent working journey.

Ōtsutsuki Kaguya raised her hand, and the Divine Tree of Takigakure and the Seven Tails transformed into a mass of chakra that flew out.

As it neared the Divine Tree, it was enveloped by its branches and soon disappeared from sight.

At the same time, the aura of the Divine Tree became denser, and several branches quietly sprouted.

Ōtsutsuki Kaguya nodded slightly upon seeing this.

Once all nine Tailed Beasts were collected, along with the chakra accumulated in the Pure Land, a new Divine Tree fruit could be cultivated.

And there would be no need for members of the Ōtsutsuki clan to offer sacrifices.

Because over these thousand years, the chakra collected in the Pure Land had been far too much.

Ōtsutsuki Kaguya hadn’t expected that a mere ninja world could contribute so much chakra.

The greatest contributor was none other than Hanekawa.

It was thanks to him promoting chakra and establishing the Shinobi Sect that she had such a bountiful harvest today.

"What's wrong? Is there a problem?"

Hanekawa noticed Ōtsutsuki Kaguya staring at him for several seconds and couldn't help but ask.

"Do you want to continue from earlier?"

Ōtsutsuki Kaguya tilted her head and asked.

Her beautiful face had no expression, and her tone was emotionless, but the words she spoke were quite problematic.

Hanekawa subconsciously swallowed.

Ōtsutsuki Kaguya noticed the desire in his eyes and immediately grabbed his wrist, disappearing from their original location.

The surroundings shifted.

They returned home.

Hanekawa's body trembled, and he collapsed onto the bed.

Soon, his vision was blocked by Ōtsutsuki Kaguya.

She stood above him, completely unclothed, gazing down at him.

A few seconds later, the goddess had fallen into the mortal world.

Both of them exhaled deeply.

Time passed slowly.

Night fell.

Hanekawa changed his clothes, used the Flying Thunder God technique, and left the room.

Ōtsutsuki Kaguya, with her snow-white eyes, watched him disappear.

She instinctively licked her lips, placed her hands on her abdomen, and wore an expression of lingering satisfaction.

But she couldn’t be greedy.

Because she had to listen to Hanekawa's words.

A full meal was enough for her, and she knew how to restrain herself.

Hanekawa returned to the home of Kurenai.

The living room lights were off, with only the faint moonlight outside.

He glanced around and noticed that only his room was still lit.

Hanekawa raised an eyebrow and quietly walked over.

The door was not closed.

He peeked inside.

Kurenai was lying on his bed, her bare feet swinging in the air.

From Hanekawa’s perspective, he could clearly see her fair, delicate feet.

Ten toes, white with a hint of red, elegant and beautiful.

Hanekawa entered the room.

Only then did he notice that Kurenai was wearing a white, vacuum-style nightgown.

The nightgown ended at her thighs, and now, because of her swinging legs, it had slipped down to her waist.

Hanekawa could easily see a glimpse of red.

Fortunately, he had just come back from Ōtsutsuki Kaguya’s place and was calm, viewing everything with an appreciative eye.

"You... why didn’t you knock on the door?!"

Kurenai finally noticed him, sat up, covered her nightgown with her hands, and asked with a flushed face.

"This is my room."

Hanekawa smiled and said.

"That... that’s not a reason not to knock!"

Kurenai closed her white legs, her shyness slightly subsiding.

"Should I knock now?"

Hanekawa pointed to the door and asked.

"You’ve already come in, so why knock?"

Kurenai snorted and asked.

"What are you doing in my room?"

Hanekawa surveyed her white nightgown and asked.

It was May, not cold, and her nightgown looked very thin, perfectly accentuating her figure.

In short, it was quite curvaceous.

"I... I’m not doing anything."

Kurenai noticed his gaze and stammered in reply.

"Did you just take a bath?"

Hanekawa sat on the edge of the bed, smelling a strong scent of body wash mixed with her fragrance.

"Mm."

Kurenai nodded, then seemed to remember something, asking in slight dissatisfaction, "Why did you come back so late today?"

"It’s my fault."

Hanekawa reached out and grabbed her ankle, saying, "As compensation, I’ll give you a foot massage."

"Wait... mm... ah..."

Before Kurenai could finish speaking, she let out a soft moan.

Because Hanekawa’s thumb had suddenly pressed on the soft arch of her foot, causing her to moan unintentionally.

"Bad guy!"

Kurenai's face turned slightly red.

"Is this bad?"

Hanekawa’s gaze traveled up her thighs to her nightgown, smiling as he asked, "I can be worse, do you want to try?"

"No!"

Kurenai was frightened, her petite body stiffening.

She was no longer a little girl, and in that instant, many bad thoughts came to mind.

"Why is your face so red?"

Hanekawa teased, "Did you think of something bad?"

"I didn’t... I didn’t think of anything!"

Kurenai's face went from slightly red to fully crimson.

But she was still very stubborn and didn’t admit it.

"Next month is your birthday, do you want any special gifts?"

Hanekawa smiled and stopped teasing her, changing the subject.

"No."

Kurenai's face softened as she replied, "I like all the gifts you give me every year."

"That’s good."

Hanekawa massaged her foot, thinking about what to give her.

Since he gave gifts every year, it had become harder with each passing year.


After all, everything he wanted to give had already been given.

Hanekawa looked at her nightdress and suddenly had an idea.

Good-looking and sexy clothing wouldn’t be a bad choice.

With Kurenai's personality, she definitely wouldn't buy or wear that kind of clothing on her own.

But she was softhearted.

If Hanekawa bought it and added a bit of verbal persuasion, he could probably convince her.

"Where did you go this afternoon?"
Kurenai asked casually.

She was now the Hokage's secretary, so she could keep up with Hanekawa’s whereabouts as Hokage.

That morning, she had gone to the Hokage's office to hand over some work, so she knew he had been there.

But after that, he disappeared, and even by the time office hours were over, he hadn't returned.

"I went to Kumogakure."
Hanekawa said calmly.

"Negotiated a big deal with them."

"What kind of big deal?"
Kurenai asked curiously.

"Something related to the Mining Department,"
Hanekawa explained. "From now on, Konoha and Kumogakure will work together to mine in the Land of Lightning."

"Will the daimyo of the Land of Lightning agree?"
Kurenai was slightly stunned and asked with doubt.

Ever since becoming the Hokage's secretary, she had been working hard to improve herself and was no longer just a mission-focused ninja.

"He will agree,"
Hanekawa looked up at her and said. "Just need to use a little... persuasion."

Kurenai was taken aback.

She wasn't stupid—she could hear the hidden meaning in Hanekawa's words.

But that sort of thing... wasn't what a ninja was supposed to do.

It clashed with the principles she'd always believed in.

"As the Hokage's secretary, you should learn to use unconventional methods."

Hanekawa said seriously.

"Okay."

Kurenai nodded firmly.

Though she wasn't used to doing such things, she would do her best—for Hanekawa.

"Good girl."

Hanekawa glanced out the window and asked, "Are you staying here to sleep tonight?"

Kurenai’s expression instantly froze.

Like a startled bird, she suddenly stood up and took a few steps back.

"I… I’ll go sleep at home!"

Without waiting for Hanekawa’s reply, she bolted from the room in a panic.

Hanekawa couldn’t help but laugh.

Though Kurenai was a bit braver than Rin Nohara, the difference wasn’t much.

Hanekawa casually turned off the light and vanished from the room.

He had gotten used to sleeping with someone beside him—there was no reason to stay alone.

Hanekawa appeared in Tsunade's room.

Though the lights were off, it didn’t affect his vision.

He took off his clothes and slipped under the blanket.

Before he could speak, Tsunade had already wrapped around him like an octopus.

She hadn’t been sleeping—she’d been waiting for him.

"Sensei,"
Hanekawa found a comfortable position and said.

"Hmm,"
Tsunade responded softly before getting flustered in the heat of the moment.

And so began another warm, tangled night.

The next morning, after breakfast, Hanekawa arrived at the Hokage’s office.

"Lord Hokage,"
Konan stood and bowed.

"When did you get here?"
Hanekawa asked in slight surprise.

He hadn’t heard in advance that Konan would return to Konoha.

"Just arrived,"
Konan replied calmly.

"Did something happen with the Thousand Sunny Company?"
Hanekawa sat down at the Hokage's desk and asked.

"Following your instructions, the Takumi Village has produced the first batch of ninja tool prototypes,"
Konan took out a scroll. "Please review them."

Hanekawa's face showed realization.

No wonder Konan had come to see him.

He opened the scroll, and seven ninja tools appeared.

Three were standard tools; four were chakra-enhanced.

The former were nothing special—just the regular equipment ninjas used.


The latter—being new types of ninja tools—were undoubtedly the main focus.

Hanekawa casually picked up a kunai.

He could sense a considerable amount of chakra stored within it, enough to release two moderately powerful jutsus.

“There’s a button on the grip of the kunai,”
Konan reminded him.

Hanekawa glanced at it and noticed the button.

He pressed it lightly, and Wind Release chakra surged out, wrapping around the kunai.

This was the Vacuum Blade Wind Release.

By infusing Wind Release into the kunai, its sharpness was enhanced.

“If a ninja uses up the chakra inside the kunai, they can recharge it themselves,”
Konan explained. “But for nobles or ordinary villagers, they’d need a ninja’s help.”

“For a ninja, it saves chakra,”
Hanekawa said with a smile, “but for ordinary people, this could be a life-saving tool.”

Konan nodded at his words.

She could already imagine what it would be like for thousands of regular people to be equipped with chakra tools.

Would ninjas still be necessary?

Well, yes.

After all, no matter how powerful chakra tools got, they wouldn't reach the level of a jōnin.

They mainly affected genin.

“Proceed with mass production based on this prototype,”
Hanekawa said as he set the kunai down.

What Konan could think of, he naturally could too.

His vision for the future of ninjas was the elite route.

Jōnin would handle combat, while chūnin and genin would provide support.

Of course, not support in battle—but in everyday life.

Chakra could absolutely be used for production.

“Yes,"

Konan replied. Then she asked, “Should chakra tools be prioritized for Konoha and the Land of Fire?”

In her opinion, the emergence of chakra tools could give Konoha’s ninjas a huge advantage.

“No,”

Hanekawa shook his head with a smile.

“Sell them first to Iwagakure and Sunagakure.”

“...?”
Konan was stunned.

What was this about?
As Hokage, shouldn’t Konoha be his first priority?

“Also, the Thousand Sunny Company can’t be publicly linked to Konoha,”
Hanekawa added after thinking briefly. “Say you're remnants of the Sky Village seeking revenge against Konoha.”

Konan opened her mouth.

She wanted to question him, but a sudden flash of insight hit her—she understood.

Hanekawa wanted to provoke Iwagakure and Sunagakure into rebellion.

With chakra tools, their strength would certainly skyrocket.

But... was that enough?

Konoha’s biggest advantage wasn’t the number of ninjas or terrains—it was the unrivalled Hanekawa himself.

Numbers meant nothing in front of him.

Even if Sunagakure and Iwagakure joined forces and had chakra tools, they still wouldn’t stand a chance.

“This is for you,”
Hanekawa said, taking out a scroll.

Konan snapped back to attention, stepped forward, and accepted the scroll.

She instinctively opened it—and her eyes widened instantly.

It was the blueprint for Kumogakure’s chakra cannon.

“Once it’s built, sell it to Iwagakure and Sunagakure at a high price,”
Hanekawa said with a smile.

This had been part of his plan all along.

Use weapons and money to push Iwagakure and Sunagakure into starting a war.

Now that they had weapons, the only thing missing was money.

That would fall to Konoha’s Finance and Marketing Department.

They’d economically exploit Sunagakure and Iwagakure—or rather, the countries backing them: the Wind and Earth Nations.

Over time, they’d eventually be forced to declare war.

Hearing this, Konan knew her guess had been correct.

Hanekawa did indeed plan to make a move against Sunagakure and Iwagakure.

What she didn’t understand was why he was using such a roundabout method.

Unable to figure it out, she chose not to dwell on it.

One thing she was certain of: the unification of the ninja world might be coming soon.

And with it, true peace.

Konan suddenly felt a bit lost.

If Hanekawa really brought peace to the ninja world…
What would happen to the Akatsuki?

Do nothing?

But if they acted, wouldn’t they be destroying that very peace?

“I’ll go inform Kakuzu and Nagato right away,”
Konan said, bowing and leaving.

The door closed behind her.


Hanekawa picked up the documents on the desk and began reading.

The first file was about Jiraiya’s Summoning Beast Force.

Thanks to the unconditional cooperation of Mount Myōboku and Ryūchi Cave, the force had taken shape in less than two days.

Jiraiya had structured it following the ANBU’s organizational format: eight squads, each with four teams, and each team made up of two people.

Altogether, the Summoning Beast Force comprised 128 ninjas and 128 summoning beasts.

As expected from Mount Myōboku and Ryūchi Cave—there were just that many toads and snakes.

The second file was from Hiashi Hyuga, who was in charge of the Mining Division.

He had already organized over twenty ninja teams to search across the Land of Fire for high-quality mineral resources.

The third file concerned the implementation of a salary system.

This initiative was being handled by the newly established Finance and Market Department.

Hanekawa had left the head position for Kakuzu, but since Kakuzu was still at the Takumi Village and wouldn't return soon, Shikaku Nara was temporarily filling in.

The Nara clan was full of talent, and promoting a salary system wasn’t much of a challenge.

Especially since the ANBU had already laid a solid foundation—they just needed to follow the blueprint.

Hanekawa nodded in satisfaction.

From the current situation, it was clear that the reformation of Konoha was well underway.

The obedience and loyalty of the ninja went without saying.

Even if they didn’t fully understand, they still carried out their duties thoroughly.

“Kaguya,”

Hanekawa said, setting the files aside. “We’re going to Kumogakure.”

The two of them vanished on the spot.


---

“Lord Raikage,”
Samui quickly stood up to greet him.

“There’s no one else around. Just call me by name,”
Hanekawa replied casually with a smile.

“Mm.”
Samui glanced at Ōtsutsuki Kaguya and responded quietly.

The two of them weren’t exactly close, but with Hanekawa serving as a bridge, they had become inseparable teammates.

Though calling them teammates might be a bit much.

Samui recalled their previous two encounters.

Not only did Kaguya not help her during battle, but she also severely cut short the time Samui had to fight.

“Hanekawa,”
Samui snapped out of her thoughts.

“The seventeen Kumogakure ninjas on yesterday’s list have joined the ANBU.”

“Call them in,”
Hanekawa said, settling into the Raikage’s chair.

“Understood.”

Samui turned and left the office.

Before long, the seventeen Kumogakure ninjas stood before Hanekawa.

“Lord Raikage!”
After a few seconds of stunned silence, they greeted him in unison.

They had already heard from Samui the day before that the Raikage had been replaced.

But learning that the Fifth Raikage was also the Fifth Hokage was still an overwhelming shock for them.

Hanekawa glanced over them all, sensing the varied intentions in their hearts—loyalty was clearly not yet present.

He smiled faintly and directly activated his Rinnegan.

Invisible ocular power spread outwards.

The group fell into a daze.

Samui instinctively paused.

Was this a genjutsu?

She wasn’t affected by Hanekawa’s Rinnegan—not because of her strength, but because he had intentionally excluded her.



But she finally understood why Hanekawa had seemed so careless when choosing members for the ANBU earlier.

When you have power, you can do whatever you want.

Samui sighed inwardly.

As a ninja of Kumogakure, she should have opposed this, but by now, she had already been shaped into Hanekawa’s mold.

Besides, Hanekawa hadn’t broken any rules of Kumogakure—
He was the Fifth Raikage.

He had the authority to do as he pleased.

In less than a second, the will of all seventeen Kumogakure ninjas was silently rewritten.

The effect was very similar to Uchiha Shisui’s Kotoamatsukami.

With Hanekawa’s current strength, casting a large-scale version of Kotoamatsukami was effortless.

“Lord Raikage!”

The group saluted again—
But this time, their voices were full of fanaticism.

Samui thought to herself how terrifying this was.

She suddenly realized how merciful Hanekawa had been to them before.

If he had truly wanted to, he could’ve easily used genjutsu to turn them all into puppets who only obeyed orders—
instead of letting them remain as free as they were now.


---

“Let’s go to the Capital City of the Land of Lightning.”

Hanekawa wasted no time and used the Flying Thunder God Technique.

In an instant, the group appeared in the Land of Lightning’s daimyo residence.

What followed was simple.

Hanekawa used his Rinnegan to take control of the daimyo, thus seizing control of the entire Land of Lightning.

At that moment, three lines of text appeared before his eyes:

> [S-Rank Talent Entry: Ruler of the Land of Lightning]

Trigger Condition: Take control of the Land of Lightning.

Effect: You can perceive every movement within the Land of Lightning.



Hanekawa raised an eyebrow slightly.

This S-Rank entry, "Ruler of the Land of Lightning", had a similar effect to "Hidden Mastermind of Konoha", just with a different range.

How to put it...
It felt a bit underwhelming.

Because it didn’t directly boost his strength.

Hanekawa now hoped the entries for the other four great nations wouldn’t have the same effect.

He pondered silently.

The trigger for talent entries was related to his actions.

Probably because he had used the Rinnegan to seize control so crudely and directly, that was why the system gave him such a plain entry.

Fortunately, he wasn’t planning to use such force with the remaining great nations.

So the next entries should be different.


---

“You all stay here and follow the instructions on this scroll.”

Hanekawa handed a scroll to the nearest Kumogakure ANBU ninja.

Now that the daimyo was under control, there would be no resistance to anything he wanted to do.

So there was no need for him to remain personally.

These seventeen ANBU ninjas could temporarily take charge of the Land of Lightning.

Of course, not for long.

Once the Shinobi World was unified, their roles would no longer be necessary.

Hanekawa returned to the Raikage’s office.


---

“Hanekawa.”

Samui called out to him.

“Take me to see Yugito Nii.”

Hanekawa looked at her and said.

Yugito Nii had been imprisoned for several days now.

Undoubtedly, both Mabui and Samui had tried persuading her.

Hanekawa wanted to see if she had repented.

If not, he could help her along.

“Understood.”

Samui’s heart trembled. She wanted to say something but ultimately stayed silent.

Led by her, Hanekawa arrived at a solitary prison cell.

“Yugito.”

As Samui stepped into the cell, she reminded her, “Lord Raikage is here. Show some respect.”

“...Lord Raikage.”

Yugito Nii stood up reluctantly and muttered.

“You don’t look very convinced.”

Hanekawa smiled faintly.

“…”

Yugito glanced at Samui and fell into silence.

Hanekawa had his answer.

As expected, mere words couldn’t change her personality.

He activated the Rinnegan.

Even though Yugito had her guard up, she still fell into the genjutsu.

No one knew how much time passed.

The illusion ended.

Yugito opened her eyes, and the moment she saw Hanekawa, her face was full of intense fear.

“Come here.”

In reality, Hanekawa hadn’t done much—
Just subjected her to a round of torture within the illusion,
and amplified her five senses by more than tenfold.

“Lo-Lord Raikage…!”

Yugito trembled and rushed to his side.

“I thought you’d last a little longer.”

Hanekawa gently patted her head and chuckled.

Yugito only bowed her head, not daring to look at him.

“Samui, take her out.”

Hanekawa lost interest, took Ōtsutsuki Kaguya, and returned to Konoha.


___

Worth 2 chapters