The Raikage Building in the Hidden Cloud was quiet except for the scratch of a pen across paper. Dodai sat at his desk, reviewing documents with the practiced efficiency of someone who'd held his position for years. As the Third Raikage's right hand and examiner of the village's elite—including the legendary A and B—his status rivaled even Danzo's in the Leaf Village.
His eyes widened as he read the latest intelligence report.
Damn it.
Spy 9527 had become Tsunade's student.
Dodai read the line again, certain he'd misunderstood. But the report was clear, detailed, and came from a reliable source. One of the Legendary Sannin—a student of the Third Hokage himself—had taken a Hidden Cloud spy as her personal disciple.
The audacity. The sheer, unbelievable audacity.
It was like the Third Raikage himself accepting a Leaf Village spy as an apprentice. The implications were staggering.
Dodai stood abruptly and headed for the Raikage's office. After receiving permission to enter, he pushed through the heavy doors.
"Lord Raikage."
The Third Raikage looked up from his paperwork, his expression already impatient. Dodai had learned long ago to be direct with his leader.
"Tsunade of the Leaf Village has accepted a new student," Dodai said carefully. "A ninja from our village."
The Raikage's frown deepened. "Explain."
Dodai presented the intelligence report. The Third Raikage read it in silence, his knuckles tapping against the desk—a sign of deep thought.
"How was such a person selected as a spy in the first place?" the Raikage finally asked.
"His talent wasn't apparent initially," Dodai replied. "They misjudged. I will ensure those responsible face consequences upon my return."
"But?" The Raikage's sharp eyes fixed on him.
"But this is undeniably fortunate for the Hidden Cloud," Dodai continued. "An asset embedded with one of the Sannin is invaluable."
"Is he loyal?"
The question was direct. Dodai answered with equal directness. "All our spies have mental safeguards, Lord Raikage. Betrayal would be... impossible."
What Dodai didn't know was that Hanekawa's system had already eliminated those safeguards. But it didn't matter. The A-Rank Lurker ability made exposure virtually impossible anyway.
The Third Raikage leaned back in his chair, a slight smile crossing his face. "Fortune smiles on us. What reward should we grant him?"
Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
Dodai had already considered this. "The Lightning Style activation technique, Lord Raikage."
"Explain."
"Lightning Style activation strengthens the body's cells through lightning chakra stimulation. It's the foundation of our village's strength and a prerequisite for advanced Lightning Style jutsu. Once he learns it, he'll need to earn additional techniques through merit—keeping him motivated and dependent on us."
Dodai paused, letting a thin smile appear. "Additionally, if he ever betrays us, we can force him to use Lightning Style techniques and expose him to the Leaf Village. It's insurance."
The Third Raikage nodded slowly. "Well reasoned. See that it's arranged."
---
Hanekawa left the Leaf Village bookstore and made his way toward the ninja tool district. Money was useful, but strength was survival. The first thing he'd done with his earnings was locate a master craftsman.
He found what he was looking for: a shop with a simple wooden sign reading "Tenten's Ninja Tools."
Interesting. The shop's style reminded him of martial arts halls from his previous life. He stepped inside.
A young man emerged from the back, his eyes brightening at the sight of a customer. Tenten herself hadn't been born yet, so this was likely her father.
"Welcome, young man. What brings you in?"
"I need a samurai sword crafted," Hanekawa said. "With chakra metal reinforcement."
The man's eyebrows rose. "That's not a cheap request. Who's your master?"
"Tsunade."
The man's casual expression froze. He opened his mouth, closed it, then nodded slowly. "You're Hanekawa."
It wasn't a question. Hanekawa had become something of a local celebrity overnight.
"Ten million ryō," the man said, raising a finger. "Plus a one million ryō deposit upfront."
"Acceptable."
Hanekawa had already researched market prices. He paid the deposit without hesitation. A man who ran a legitimate business in Konoha wouldn't disappear, especially not when his customer had Tsunade's backing.
"Two months," the man said, introducing himself as Tsuchihashi. "You can pick it up then."
---
The jog to Tsunade's house took less than ten minutes. Hanekawa found her sprawled on the sofa, one leg raised lazily, her toes wiggling slightly as she gestured toward the coffee table.
"You're here. Sign this."
An open scroll lay on the table before him. Hanekawa recognized it immediately: the Shikkotsu Forest Contract.
One of the three sacred summoning sites, alongside Ryuchi Cave and Myoboku Mountain. The psychic beasts there were extraordinarily powerful, and the forest itself taught Sage Mode to those qualified.
He was too young to learn it now, but being qualified to learn was different from being able to learn. His signature would change that.
Hanekawa picked up the brush and signed his name.
Tsunade sat up, her expression shifting to something more serious. "Today, I'll teach you the basics of summoning jutsu."
As she began explaining the mechanics—the hand seals, the chakra control, the contract's binding nature—Hanekawa listened carefully. He'd read about this in his previous life, but hearing it from one of the Sannin herself was different.
"So that's how it works," he thought, filing away every detail.
Tsunade watched him absorb the information with that slight smile she got when she was pleased with his progress. She reached over and ruffled his hair—a gesture he'd learned to tolerate, even if he still pretended to hate it.
"You're going to be something special," she said quietly. "I can feel it."
If only you knew, Hanekawa thought, but he just nodded respectfully.
"Thank you, Teacher."
