Anbu Training Ground.
Two Jonin were sparring.
One was a shinobi from the Aburame clan.
The other was from the Uchiha clan.
Anbu members rarely sparred or interacted with each other under normal circumstances, but this was due to Hanekawa's so-called internal exam.
Coupled with the generous rewards and future prospects, they were all fighting with great enthusiasm, pulling out their best techniques.
Hanekawa stood on a nearby building, activating his Three-Tomoe Sharingan and furiously copying techniques.
The secret techniques of the Aburame clan were beyond his reach.
But the fire-style jutsu of the Uchiha clan had long been something he coveted, and now he finally had the chance to learn them.
Half an hour later, the spar ended, with the Uchiha shinobi emerging victorious.
After a short break, another spar began.
Hanekawa was not picky; he copied any jutsu he could.
After a week, his gains were substantial, with dozens of new jutsu entries added to his repertoire.
The Jonin-level entries for Lightning Release, Wind Release, and Fire Release were now just one step away—mastery.
No wonder Hatake Kakashi was able to learn over a thousand jutsu and earn the title of Konoha's top technician.
But now, that title would undoubtedly have to be transferred to Hanekawa.
A knock sounded at the door.
"Come in."
Hanekawa looked up toward the entrance.
After a few seconds, the door slowly opened, revealing a graceful figure behind it.
"Lord Hanekawa."
Samui closed the door and stepped forward, speaking in a serious tone.
"You seem to be in a bad mood."
Hanekawa took her soft hands in his and gently scratched her palms. "What's wrong?"
Since their heart-to-heart talk at the Hokage Rock, their relationship had grown much closer.
Samui's body trembled as if an electric current had passed through her, sending a tingling sensation throughout her body.
She bit her lip and said, "Mabui and the others have returned to Kumogakure."
After the Fourth Raikage and Yugito Nii were released, they returned to Kumogakure.
Mabui had stayed an extra two weeks to accompany her close friend, Samui.
But as the Raikage's secretary, she couldn't stay indefinitely.
Hanekawa thought for a moment, then pulled her into his arms, embracing her soft, voluptuous body.
Samui let out an involuntary gasp.
She sat on Hanekawa's lap, her hands fidgeting nervously, unsure where to place them.
The warmth radiating from him made her heart race uncontrollably.
"Although it's a three-month rotation, if you want to return to Kumogakure, no one will stop you."
Hanekawa stroked her smooth golden hair as he spoke.
"Mhm."
Samui relaxed as she listened to his voice.
The melancholy of parting earlier vanished, replaced by an indescribable emotion.
"The mission hall is right next to the Anbu headquarters. Come find me whenever you have time."
Hanekawa's hand moved downward, resting over her heart.
Beneath the thick layer of fat, he could feel her heartbeat.
Samui's face flushed red, and she turned her head, burying it in his chest.
After a few seconds, she softly acknowledged.
A moment later, Samui suddenly noticed something and, startled, let go of his hand, stepping back a few paces.
"You can't blame me for this."
Hanekawa coughed lightly.
"I... I should go!"
Samui turned and fled in a panic.
She rushed back to her room, dove into her bed, and covered her face, her expression dazed.
---
Hokage's Office.
As soon as Hanekawa arrived, he noticed Tsunade slacking off.
She had somehow made her way to the sofa and was sleeping soundly.
Hanekawa glanced at the door, which was indeed locked.
Only someone with the Flying Thunder God Technique could enter so quietly.
Hanekawa walked over to the sofa.
Tsunade's head was tilted slightly to the side, giving her a somewhat adorable appearance.
But if you looked a little lower, it wasn't just adorable—it was downright dangerous.
Hanekawa crouched down and reached out to pinch her cheek.
"I finally manage to get some sleep, and you have to disturb me."
Tsunade opened her eyes and spoke.
"Sorry."
Hanekawa stroked her face. "I have something to report."
"What is it?"
Tsunade didn't seem to mind his actions.
Since her change in attitude, she had tacitly accepted Hanekawa's affectionate gestures.
"The Anbu has discovered that Kazuma is secretly collecting Nine-Tails chakra."
Hanekawa said directly.
"Kazuma, one of the Twelve Guardian Ninja of the Land of Fire?"
Tsunade thought for a moment. "What does he want with Nine-Tails chakra?"
"He wants to create a pseudo-Nine-Tails jinchūriki."
Hanekawa paused. "And I suspect it's to use against Konoha."
"How bold!"
Tsunade snorted coldly. "Send someone to retrieve the Nine-Tails chakra. Even if the Daimyō asks, I have a reason to respond."
Hanekawa thought to himself, 'Of course.'
Retrieving the Nine-Tails chakra was a justified move.
He wouldn't have to go himself; he could leave it to Shisui Uchiha's team to handle.
As for the retrieved Nine-Tails chakra, it would naturally be his to deal with.
At that moment, Hanekawa suddenly frowned.
He looked down to see Tsunade open her red lips and bite his finger hard.
"This is your punishment for waking me up."
Tsunade licked her lips. "And for your impudent cheek-pinching."
Hanekawa watched her actions and couldn't help but swallow.
Tsunade's heart skipped a beat, her eyes darting away as she quickly sat up.
She walked over to the Hokage's desk, trying to appear composed. "Go deal with Kazuma's matter now."
"Understood, sensei."
Hanekawa smiled and left the Hokage's office.
---
Shinobi missions were divided into two types.
One type was commissions issued by the Land of Fire's Daimyō, nobles, and merchants.
The other type was orders or missions issued by Konoha.
The former could earn money, while the latter did not, requiring Konoha to pay the mission fees.
After returning to the Anbu headquarters, Hanekawa drafted a mission request.
Considering it involved the Land of Fire's Daimyō and the Twelve Guardian Ninja, he classified it as an S-rank mission.
"Haru."
Hanekawa tossed the mission scroll to Haru. "Assign this mission to Hatake Sakumo's team."
Although Hatake Sakumo was now a Hokage advisor, he couldn't sit still and often went out on missions.
He was a far cry from the likes of Koharu Utatane and Homura Mitokado.
Hatake Sakumo's team included Shisui Uchiha, whose Mangekyō Sharingan was perfect for dealing with a pseudo-Nine-Tails jinchūriki.
Next was the Box of Ultimate Bliss.
The Box of Ultimate Bliss was located in Hozuki Castle, an isolated island in the sea.
The only way to enter Hozuki Castle was to become a prisoner.
Hanekawa naturally didn't need to be captured like Naruto in the original story.
After all, someone would do it for him.
"Haru, find an Anbu shinobi to pose as a prisoner and send them to Hozuki Castle."
Hanekawa paused. "Before they go, have them come see me."
He would place a Flying Thunder God mark on the Anbu shinobi.
Once they arrived at Hozuki Castle, Hanekawa could use the Flying Thunder God Technique to infiltrate.
"Make sure it's someone absolutely loyal."
Hanekawa reminded.
He suddenly realized he might need to cultivate a few fiercely loyal subordinates.
Like Orochimaru in the original story, who trained the Sound Five.
"Understood."
Haru took the scroll and left.
---
June.
Shino Aburame was born.
Before him, Sakura Haruno and Chōji Akimichi had also been born.
The Aburame and Akimichi clans had specifically invited Hanekawa to their hundred-day celebrations.
As for Sakura's father, Kizashi Haruno, a civilian shinobi, there was no such relationship, and he wouldn't invite Hanekawa.
Hanekawa had deliberately kept an eye on him to know about Sakura's birth.
Although he wasn't particularly fond of Sakura's personality, she was, after all, a medical ninjutsu prodigy.
As the Hokage's assistant, Hanekawa had to think about Konoha's future.
He could just hand her over to Nonō Yakushi as a student.
---
Seaside in the Land of Grass.
Hanekawa closed his eyes and quickly sensed his Flying Thunder God mark.
Without a doubt, it marked the location of Hozuki Castle.
The reason Hanekawa had waited until now was that Hatake Sakumo's team had taken a long time to retrieve the Nine-Tails chakra.
First, there was interference from the Land of Fire's Daimyō.
Second, Kazuma had hidden his son, Sora.
As for the Nine-Tails chakra, Kazuma did indeed have some.
It had been collected from the Valley of the End and various places across the shinobi world.
It was the remnants of the Nine-Tails' chakra left behind when Madara Uchiha controlled it.
Hanekawa's body vanished and reappeared inside a prison cell.
"Lord Hanekawa."
The Anbu shinobi immediately saluted upon seeing him.
"Do you have the Fire Release: Heavenly Prison seal on you?"
Hanekawa nodded slightly.
Fire Release: Heavenly Prison was a unique fire-style jutsu of Hozuki Castle's warden, Mui.
Its effect was to seal a prisoner's chakra, and if the prisoner strayed too far from Mui, they would spontaneously combust.
"Yes."
The Anbu shinobi replied.
"You've worked hard. I'll come back to rescue you soon."
Hanekawa had initially planned to send him out first, but the Fire Release: Heavenly Prison seal made that impossible.
"Understood."
The Anbu shinobi's expression remained calm.
Hanekawa left the cell and headed to the warden's hall.
He soon encountered Mui.
Compared to his appearance in the original story, he looked much younger now.
But that was good—youth meant he wasn't as strong, making him easier to control.
Hanekawa used a transformation jutsu to disguise himself as one of Hozuki Castle's guards, then knocked on the door.
"Enter."
Mui looked up toward the door.
Hanekawa pushed the door open and walked in.
Their eyes met, and a flash of crimson instantly erupted.
Mui's expression went blank as he fell under control.
"Take me to the Box of Ultimate Bliss."
Hanekawa ordered.
"Yes."
Mui stood up.
He led Hanekawa to an underground hall, where the so-called Box of Ultimate Bliss was located.
It was entirely black, seemingly made of iron, with four faces carved into its sides.
Each face displayed a different emotion: joy, anger, sorrow, and pleasure.
"How do I open it?"
Hanekawa examined the Box of Ultimate Bliss.
"It requires five people to perform the activation seal."
Mui replied. "Besides me, the four elders of the Hidden Grass Village are needed."
"Give me the activation seal."
Hanekawa placed his hand on the Box of Ultimate Bliss, feeling its strange texture. "Oh, and the Fire Release: Heavenly Prison too."
The Fire Release: Heavenly Prison was a useful jutsu, and since he had the chance, he might as well take it.
"The activation seal for the Box of Ultimate Bliss is in the hands of the Hidden Grass Village's four elders."
Mui handed him a jutsu scroll.
It seemed he would have to visit the Hidden Grass Village.
Hanekawa raised an eyebrow.
Although it was a bit time-consuming, it wasn't too troublesome.
After all, he had the Three-Tomoe Sharingan.
Hanekawa stored the jutsu scroll and, with Mui, removed the Fire Release: Heavenly Prison seal from the Anbu shinobi.
After sending the Anbu shinobi away, he returned to the underground hall with Mui.
"You will forget everything that happened today."
Hanekawa implanted a suggestion in Mui's mind, then took the Box of Ultimate Bliss and left.
"No!"
A moment later, Mui's anguished cry echoed through the underground hall. "Who did this?!"
But in a way, Hanekawa had saved him.
In the original story, Mui and his son Muku both died because of the Box of Ultimate Bliss.
Now, without the box, they wouldn't have to die.
---
An Underground Hall in Konoha's Anbu Headquarters.
Hanekawa placed the Box of Ultimate Bliss.
He stood still, and three lines of text appeared in his vision.
[S-rank Tool Entry: Box of Ultimate Bliss (Not Acquired).]
[Activation Condition: Defeat Satori.]
[Current Progress: 0%.]
To defeat Satori, he first had to release it.
What wish should he make?
Hanekawa fell into deep thought.
In the original story, Mui wished for his son Muku to be resurrected.
Muku was resurrected but turned into the monster Satori.
From Satori's performance, it was clear that it was incredibly powerful, comparable to some of the weaker tailed beasts.
It also had two special abilities.
First, it could sense emotions.
If its opponent's emotions fluctuated too much during battle, Satori could predict their moves and dodge attacks.
Second, it had incredible regenerative abilities and near-immortality.
Any injuries it sustained would heal quickly.
As long as the Box of Ultimate Bliss remained intact, Satori would not die.
In the original story, Naruto and his team eventually sealed both the Box of Ultimate Bliss and Satori at the bottom of the sea.
Hanekawa's mind stirred, and he had an idea.
He snapped out of his thoughts and opened the scroll he had obtained from the Hidden Grass Village.
It contained the activation seal for the Box of Ultimate Bliss.
It looked like a sealing jutsu.
It was a bit complicated, but for Hanekawa, it was nothing.
---
Three Days Later, the Empty Desert of the Land of Wind.
Hanekawa stood before the Box of Ultimate Bliss, forming hand seals.
*Bang!*
Four clones of Hanekawa appeared nearby.
The five Hanekawas simultaneously formed seals and activated the Box of Ultimate Bliss.
In an instant, the air churned, and a dark cloud enveloped the box.
The four faces on the box opened their mouths, releasing a chilling, malevolent aura.
The dark cloud spread like thick smoke, rising into the sky.
A moment later, the malevolent aura turned into a suction force, enveloping the five Hanekawas.
Hanekawa took out a scroll.
The scroll unfurled.
Thick, evil Nine-Tails chakra began to escape but was quickly drawn into the Box of Ultimate Bliss.
Once it had absorbed enough chakra, the box's faces slowly closed their mouths.
"Born from desire, moved by desire, ended by desire."
A seductive voice echoed in Hanekawa's mind.
He dispelled the shadow clones and looked at the Box of Ultimate Bliss.
This was clearly the moment to make a wish.
"I wish for the Nine-Tails."
Hanekawa didn't hesitate and spoke directly.
Defeating a tailed beast would grant him an entry.
Would defeating a fake Nine-Tails also grant him one?
Hanekawa didn't know, but it was worth a try.
"Your wish is granted!"
The four faces on the Box of Ultimate Bliss opened their mouths once more.
Endless chakra, intertwined with emotions of joy, anger, sorrow, and pleasure, poured out.
They coalesced into a massive figure.
It was the Black Nine-Tails.
___
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