"It's almost time," Tsunade said, glancing at the darkening sky. "We'll take turns keeping watch tonight, just like last night. For safety."

  She gestured toward the tents. "Hanekawa and Kurenai take the first half. Rin and I will take the second."

  "Understood," the three of them answered in unison.

  Tsunade stood and stretched. "Come on, Rin. Let's get some rest."

  Nohara Rin followed her toward the larger tent, leaving Hanekawa and Kurenai alone by the dying fire.

  Interesting, Hanekawa thought. Last time with Tsunade, we never had watch rotations. Then again, we weren't protecting civilians before.

  "You should sleep," he said, patting the ground beside him. "I can handle the watch alone."

  Kurenai tilted her head, her ruby eyes reflecting the firelight. "You're not tired?"

  "Not particularly." Hanekawa tapped his forehead. "Besides, I need to practice the Yin Seal anyway. Might as well be productive."

  The first stage of the Yin Seal required constant chakra accumulation—a slow, meditative process of refining chakra and channeling it into the seal marked on his forehead. It would take hours.

  Kurenai hesitated, then nodded. She watched as Hanekawa spread out a carpet and settled into a comfortable meditation posture.

  She lay down, resting her head on his thigh, and immediately her face flushed crimson. Even after last night, the intimacy still made her shy.

  Hanekawa smiled and gently stroked her hair as he began his practice. While his chakra flowed through the seal, he kept one part of his awareness on the perimeter traps. A useful habit—meditation and vigilance weren't mutually exclusive.

  Hours passed in comfortable silence.

  When Tsunade and Rin emerged from their tent, Hanekawa opened his eyes and carefully woke Kurenai, who'd drifted off against his leg.

  "You're quite the gentleman," Tsunade said with an amused chuckle, watching Kurenai's embarrassed scramble to her feet.

  "Just practical," Hanekawa replied smoothly, pulling Kurenai toward their tent before she could combust from embarrassment. "Come on, Kurenai. We should get some sleep."

  "G-good night," Kurenai stammered, practically diving into her sleeping bag and refusing to look at him.

  Hanekawa settled into his own bag, fighting a grin. She's adorable when she's flustered.

  The night passed without incident.

  ---

  After breakfast, the group resumed their journey. The transition into the Land of Grass came gradually—the forest thinning, the terrain flattening, until they emerged onto an endless prairie that stretched to every horizon.

  Kurenai gasped, her eyes wide with wonder. "It's so... big."

  Rin nodded enthusiastically beside her, equally captivated by the vast expanse of swaying grass.

  But wonder faded quickly into monotony. After three hours of walking through nothing but grass and sky, even Kurenai's excitement had dimmed considerably.

  This is what boredom looks like, Hanekawa thought, watching her stare blankly ahead.

  The abandoned village appeared suddenly—weathered buildings rising from the grassland like the bones of some long-dead creature.

  "There are ninjas," Tsunade said quietly, stepping closer to Hanekawa. "Eight of them. Two Chunin, six Genin."

  Hanekawa's eyes narrowed. Eight ninjas on a C-rank escort mission? He clapped his hands together, extending his perception with the Sensory Diffusion Technique. The chakra signatures confirmed Tsunade's count.

  "Did my luck just get worse?" he muttered. Or did Tsunade's bad luck finally catch up with us?

  "Kusagakure Village ninjas probably don't recognize you," Hanekawa said, thinking aloud. "They wouldn't believe the Legendary Sannin would bother with a C-rank mission."

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  Tsunade shrugged with characteristic indifference. "Handle it. They're beneath my notice."

  Great. No pressure.

  "Kurenai," Hanekawa called out. "Come with me. We'll scout the village."

  She moved to his side immediately, her hand already drifting toward her kunai pouch. Nervous energy radiated from her—this was her first real combat situation, and despite the fear, he could sense her excitement too.

  "Four ninjas on each side," he whispered as they approached the village entrance. "Stay sharp."

  Kurenai nodded, her expression focused.

  Hanekawa activated the Body Flicker Technique, his form blurring as he accelerated toward the right side of the village. Kurenai moved left, her hands already forming seals.

  Water Style: Water Dragon Bullet Technique!

  A torrent of water erupted from her mouth, coalescing into a roaring dragon that crashed down on the hidden ninjas. Two Genin screamed as they were caught in the deluge, sent tumbling across the ground in a spray of water and debris.

  On Hanekawa's side, a young ninja barely had time to register his presence before the Thunder and Fire Sword pierced through his chest. He fell without even seeing his killer's face.

  One down.

  The middle-aged Chunin reacted faster, his hands moving through seals with practiced speed.

  Fire Style: Ghost Lantern!

  Will-o'-the-wisps materialized around him, dozens of ghostly flames converging on Hanekawa's position. Two Genin flanked him, hurling kunai in rapid succession.

  Hanekawa created two shadow clones. They moved with perfect synchronization, their swords deflecting the kunai in a shower of sparks while Hanekawa himself gathered lightning in his palm.

  Lightning Style: Piercing Arrows!

  Multiple arrow-shaped bolts of white lightning shot from his hand, each one striking a will-o'-the-wisp with precision. The flames extinguished in bursts of steam.

  The Body Flicker Technique again—Hanekawa appeared directly above the Chunin, sword raised.

  The man's eyes widened in horror as he realized he couldn't move. Some kind of paralysis jutsu?

  Leaf Style: Ryanoo!

  Hanekawa's blade became a blur of motion, a dance of steel and lightning that filled the Chunin's vision. When it ended, the sword had found its mark. The man fell, blood pouring from his neck.

  The shadow clones finished their opponents with brutal efficiency.

  Hanekawa turned toward Kurenai just in time to see her opponent—the female Chunin—drop a smoke bomb and bolt.

  Running, not fighting. Smart.

  He flickered forward, cutting off her escape route. The female Chunin snarled at him, desperation in her eyes.

  "Get out of my way!"

  Hanekawa clapped his hands.

  Magical Tree Binding Killing!

  Vines erupted from the ground, entangling her legs. She stumbled, and more branches wrapped around her body, lifting her into the air and slamming her against a nearby tree. The vines cocooned her completely, leaving only her head visible.

  "Let me go! Let me go!" she screamed, thrashing uselessly.

  She doesn't even realize she's caught in an illusion, Hanekawa noted. The Magical Tree Binding was one of Kurenai's signature techniques—it allowed victims to remain conscious while trapped, making it perfect for interrogation.

  Kurenai jogged over, slightly breathless. "I wanted to fight her properly," she complained, eyeing the trapped Chunin with disappointment.

  Hanekawa patted her head. "Most ninja don't fight fair. If you can win, fight. If you can't, run. That's survival."

  "I know!" Kurenai stuck her tongue out playfully.

  "Go explain the situation to Tsunade," Hanekawa said. "I'll handle the interrogation."

  Kurenai nodded and headed back toward the others, leaving Hanekawa alone with his prisoner.

  He approached slowly, letting lightning gather in his palm. The crackling energy cast dancing shadows across his face.

  "Why did you attack us?" he asked calmly.

  "The Hidden Grass Village will kill you!" the female Chunin spat, her voice defiant despite her predicament.

  Hanekawa almost laughed. "The Hidden Grass Village? You really don't understand the situation."

  He flicked his wrist. Lightning shot out, striking her directly.

  The scream that followed was primal. Her body convulsed, hair standing on end, skin charring slightly. Tears and saliva streamed down her face as she rolled her eyes back.

  When the electricity faded, she was gasping, broken.

  "Ready to talk?" Hanekawa asked.

  "Yes! Yes, I'll tell you everything!" she sobbed.

  The story was pathetic—they'd simply seen three young ninja and decided to rob them. No grand conspiracy, no hidden agenda. Just opportunistic bandits in ninja clothing.

  "There's a red-haired woman in your village," Hanekawa continued. "One bite can heal injuries and restore chakra. Where is she?"

  The female Chunin's eyes widened in shock. "How do you—"

  "Where?" Hanekawa raised his hand again, and she flinched.

  "She went to Land of Waterfalls with Lord Shin! A mission, I swear!"

  Hanekawa asked a few more questions, extracting every useful detail. When he was satisfied, he raised his sword.

  The blade fell.

  He'd killed before on B-rank missions with Tsunade. The weight of it had faded quickly—in the ninja world, hesitation meant death. Either you killed or you died. There was no middle ground, no mercy, no room for sentiment.

  Just another mission, he thought, wiping his blade clean.

  Behind him, Tsunade watched from a distance, her expression unreadable. She'd seen him kill before, but something about the efficiency of it—the complete absence of hesitation—made her study him more carefully.

  What exactly are you, Hanekawa? she wondered.

  ---