"It's so delicious!"
Tsunade couldn't help but praise.
"I'm glad you like it, sensei."
Hanekawa sat across from her, smiling as he watched her.
"How did you make this?"
Tsunade asked, puzzled. "How does a simple bowl of ramen taste like a gourmet feast?"
"Made with heart."
Hanekawa thought for a moment and replied.
"Fine, keep your secrets."
Tsunade rolled her eyes at him and continued slurping her ramen.
She ate with no regard for her image, thoroughly enjoying herself.
"Ah, this is really good!"
Tsunade finished the ramen broth, placed the bowl on the table, and it made a slight clinking sound.
"Sensei, would you like more?"
Hanekawa stood up, casually pulling out a tissue to wipe the corner of her mouth.
Tsunade, who had just raised her hand, froze in surprise.
She thought Hanekawa was going to hand her the tissue, but instead, he wiped her mouth directly.
"No, I'm full."
Tsunade shook her head and asked, "Are you going to the negotiations today?"
"Nope."
Hanekawa replied casually. "I'm going to learn Lava Release."
"How are you learning Lava Release?"
Tsunade asked, confused.
"Terumi Mei is teaching me."
Hanekawa realized he had let it slip and decided to be honest. "I made a bet with her."
"Oh? What kind of bet?"
Tsunade's interest was piqued at the mention of gambling.
"You really do love gambling, don't you?"
Hanekawa couldn't help but tease.
"You're my student."
Tsunade crossed her arms and said, "If you lose the bet, it's my face that gets embarrassed!"
'Big breasts, big logic.'
Hanekawa instinctively glanced at her chest and said, "Win or lose, I've already gotten a Lava Release jutsu out of it."
"You really are something."
Tsunade was momentarily stunned, then laughed. "Seems like you never come out at a loss."
"The only time I've lost is with you, sensei."
Hanekawa raised an eyebrow and said.
"What did you say?"
Tsunade glared at him, displeased. "When have I ever made you lose?"
"The casino."
Hanekawa looked at her beautiful face and replied.
"Winning and losing at the casino is normal, that doesn't count as a loss!"
Tsunade retorted confidently.
"It's fine. Losing for my sensei is something a student should do."
Hanekawa casually pulled out a bankbook and said, "Here's a New Year's red envelope for you."
"Not bad!"
Tsunade glanced at the bankbook and immediately smiled. "Sensei is very pleased."
"Then... does sensei have anything in return?"
Hanekawa stared at her and asked.
"Nope."
Tsunade put away the bankbook.
"Give the bankbook back!"
Hanekawa said, exasperated.
"Sorry."
Tsunade said smugly, "Once money is in my hands, it's mine."
Hanekawa twitched his lips.
He felt like he had heard that line somewhere before.
Wasn't that what he often said to Terumi Mei?
"I'm leaving!"
Tsunade stood up and said.
But as she passed by Hanekawa, she reached out and ruffled his hair.
Before he could react, she had already teleported to the door.
Hanekawa couldn't help but chuckle, "You used the Body Flicker Technique just to ruffle my hair? That's ridiculous."
He shook his head, picked up the bowls and chopsticks, and headed to the kitchen.
After washing the dishes, Hanekawa went to the courtyard where the Kirigakure envoy was staying.
"Come in."
Terumi Mei opened the door, saw it was him, and spoke with a neutral tone.
"No stockings today?"
Hanekawa noticed her bare feet.
"Pervert!"
Terumi Mei didn't answer his question and instead scolded him with disdain.
"What are you thinking?"
Hanekawa said seriously, "I'm just concerned about you. Do you know what 'illness starts from the feet' means?"
"I only know that 'illness enters through the mouth.'"
Terumi Mei rolled her eyes at him and asked, "Are you even a medical ninja?"
"Of course I am."
Hanekawa blinked and said.
For some reason, when he mentioned illness entering through the mouth, he thought of lung infections.
Terumi Mei's mouth twitched.
Which village's medical ninja is as strong as you?
After some friendly banter, Terumi Mei resumed teaching him Lava Release.
Before they knew it, it was noon.
"I won't be coming in the afternoons from now on."
Hanekawa thought for a moment and said.
While learning Lava Release was good, the Flying Thunder God Technique and Wood Release were more important.
"What?"
Terumi Mei sneered, "Are you admitting defeat because you think you can't learn it?"
"I just think learning Lava Release doesn't require that much time. Mornings are enough."
Hanekawa smiled as he spoke.
"Impossible!"
Terumi Mei's expression stiffened.
"Whether you believe it or not, you'll soon see."
Hanekawa stood up and said, "I'm leaving. See you tomorrow."
"Wait!"
Terumi Mei crossed her arms and asked, "I've been teaching you for so long. Aren't you going to show some gratitude?"
"Gratitude?"
Hanekawa's gaze unconsciously drifted toward her hips.
"Not that kind of gratitude! Pervert!"
Terumi Mei noticed his gaze and immediately became flustered and angry.
"Then what kind of gratitude?"
Hanekawa asked, confused.
"I'm hungry!"
Terumi Mei said matter-of-factly.
"Oh."
Hanekawa roughly understood the reason.
This was the power of a master chef.
"Oh what?"
Terumi Mei snorted and explained, "Don't get the wrong idea. I don't like your cooking, I just can't cook myself!"
"I'll take your word for it."
Hanekawa couldn't help but laugh.
"It's true!"
Terumi Mei's face turned slightly red, but she refused to back down. "Stop laughing!"
"You're quite cute like this."
Hanekawa said as he walked toward the kitchen.
"Of course I'm cute!"
Terumi Mei stomped her foot and said.
As before, Hanekawa prepared a single serving of lunch and then left.
He returned to Tsunade's house.
"Hanekawa!"
Kurenai was practicing Water Release in the open space outside the house and immediately stopped when she saw him.
As for Nohara Rin, she was interning at the Konoha Hospital.
"Are you hungry?"
Hanekawa reached out and pinched her cheek, asking.
"I'm hungry just seeing you."
Kurenai smiled.
"I'm not exactly a delicacy."
Hanekawa took her hand and walked to the door.
"But you can make delicious food."
After Hanekawa became a 'master chef,' Kurenai only wanted to eat his cooking. Nothing else would do.
The most heartbroken was Kurenai's father, whose culinary skills were now useless.
"Your foot."
Hanekawa opened the door and knelt in front of Kurenai.
Kurenai immediately lifted her leg.
Unlike Terumi Mei, she wasn't wearing any socks, only a white bandage around her thigh.
"Is sensei back?"
Hanekawa took off her shoe and tickled the sole of her foot.
"That tickles!"
Kurenai instinctively pulled her foot back.
"The other one."
Hanekawa didn't tease her further and reminded her.
"Sensei isn't back yet."
Yuuhi Kurenai lifted her left foot.
"Seems like the negotiations aren't going well today."
Hanekawa took off her shoe and gently held her delicate foot.
Kurenai pursed her lips, feeling a bit embarrassed, but she didn't stop him.
"Then I'll cook later."
Hanekawa stood up and walked to the couch, asking, "What jutsu have you been learning recently?"
"Water Release: Water Severing Wave."
Kurenai sat beside him, naturally leaning against him, and complained, "This Water Release jutsu is so hard."
"It's one of the Second Hokage's signature Water Release jutsu, after all."
Hanekawa paused and reminded her, "Be careful not to cut your mouth while practicing."
Water Release: Water Severing Wave involved condensing a highly compressed water jet in the mouth and then spitting it out. It was extremely dangerous.
A slight mistake could result in cuts, and in severe cases, it could even be life-threatening.
"Mm, I know."
Kurenai nodded obediently.
"I'll practice with you this afternoon."
Hanekawa smiled.
He planned to practice the Flying Thunder God Technique in the afternoon.
"Really?"
Kurenai's face lit up with a smile. "That's great!"
The two chatted for a while longer until they heard the sound of the door opening.
"Sensei is back."
Hanekawa quickly stood up and walked to the door.
Tsunade took off her teal-green coat and casually tossed it to him.
"Good afternoon, Tsunade-sensei."
Kurenai peeked out from behind Hanekawa.
"Good afternoon."
Tsunade nodded slightly.
"I'll go cook."
Hanekawa placed her coat in her room and then headed to the kitchen.
After lunch, Tsunade sighed and went back to the Hokage Building's meeting room.
As the head of the negotiations, she couldn't skip it.
She could have used a Shadow Clone to slack off, but since the negotiations involved high-ranking ninjas from other villages, it wouldn't be good if she got caught.
"Let's start training!"
Kurenai said with enthusiasm.
Training was usually monotonous, but with Hanekawa around, it wasn't so boring.
Hanekawa glanced at her and began practicing the Flying Thunder God Technique nearby.
Time passed slowly.
Two hours later, Hanekawa suddenly heard Kurenai cry out in pain.
He quickly stopped channeling chakra and rushed to her side.
"Ouch... it hurts!"
Kurenai looked at him with a pitiful expression.
Just as Hanekawa had warned, she had accidentally cut her mouth while practicing Water Release: Water Severing Wave.
"Open your mouth."
Hanekawa immediately reached out and held his hand above her lips.
Kurenai opened her mouth, revealing her white teeth and pink tongue.
Hanekawa quickly identified the wounds.
There were cuts on her tongue, lips, and inside her mouth—three places in total.
"Mystical Palm Technique!"
A faint green chakra emerged, covering the wounds.
Soon, the wounds began to heal.
"Ptooey! Ptooey!"
Kurenai spat out the blood in her mouth.
"How is it?"
Hanekawa asked with concern.
"It's fine now, it doesn't hurt anymore."
Kurenai licked her lips and said, "There's no scarring either."
"Good, go rinse your mouth."
Hanekawa patted her head and said, "Be more careful during your training from now on."
"It's fine, you're here anyway."
Kurenai said nonchalantly.
"Go."
Hanekawa pinched her cheek and said.
"Mm."
Kurenai happily hurried into the house.
"She's still so happy even after getting hurt?"
Hanekawa chuckled and continued practicing the Flying Thunder God Technique.
The month passed by in endless arguments between Konoha, Sunagakure, Kirigakure, and Iwagakure.
By February, Iwagakure was the first to cave under the pressure.
After all, they had lost their Four-Tails Jinchūriki, Rōshi.
In the Hokage Building's meeting room.
At Sarutobi Hiruzen's command, all the Jonin currently in the village gathered to attend the signing ceremony of the peace treaty between Konoha and Iwagakure.
Tsunade sat in the front row, in the first seat.
Hanekawa sat beside her.
Normally, he wouldn't have been qualified to sit in the front row.
After all, the front row was reserved for the heads of major clans, the Sannin, and renowned Jonin like the White Fang of Konoha.
Although Hanekawa was a Chunin, he had already met the requirements, so no one objected.
On each Jonin's desk was a document.
This was the final agreement, or treaty, that Konoha and Iwagakure had negotiated for a month.
"What a shame."
Tsunade shook her head after reading the treaty.
"What's a shame?"
Hanekawa asked casually.
"Ōnoki is too stingy. He didn't give you Dust Release."
Tsunade clicked her tongue and said.
"Is that stingy? It's normal for him not to give it."
Hanekawa couldn't help but laugh. "But at least he gave some powerful Earth Release jutsu as compensation."
The only ones missing were the Earth Release: Light-Weight Rock Technique and Earth Release: Ultra Light-Weight Rock Technique.
These two Earth Release jutsu belonged to the same series, both reducing the weight of objects or the user, with the latter being more effective.
Most importantly, the Earth Release: Ultra Light-Weight Rock Technique allowed the user to fly.
Flight was an incredibly powerful advantage.
Flying high enough could place the user out of range of most jutsu, making them nearly invincible.
In the ninja world, most ninjas couldn't fly, including Wind Release users.
The number of ninjas who could fly was extremely limited.
Perhaps that was why Ōnoki excluded these two Earth Release jutsu.
"At least it's a Jinchūriki."
Tsunade still felt it was a pity.
"It's fine."
Hanekawa didn't mind. "We'll just steal it later."
"What are you talking about?"
Tsunade rolled her eyes at him. "Ōnoki isn't the Third Mizukage. He's terrifyingly strong."
"I know."
Hanekawa smiled. "But who knows what will happen in the future?"
"Alright, stop with these dangerous thoughts."
Tsunade paused and then comforted him, "At least besides Dust Release, you got Explosion Release, Lava Release, and Boil Release."
"Yeah."
Hanekawa sighed. "Suddenly, I feel like I have too much to learn."
"Now you realize it!"
Tsunade rolled her eyes, "Who told you to learn so many?"
"It's fine. I'm still young. I can learn them all."
Hanekawa said confidently.
"Whatever."
Tsunade shook her head, deciding not to bother with him.
At that moment, Sarutobi Hiruzen and Namikaze Minato entered the meeting room.
The representative of the Iwagakure envoy, Ōnoki's son Kitsuchi, stepped forward.
Under everyone's watchful eyes, he and Sarutobi Hiruzen signed their names on the treaty.
Applause broke out.
Everyone was happy and clapped enthusiastically.
After all, Konoha had gained a lot from this treaty.
"I wonder when the negotiations with Kirigakure will end."
Tsunade slumped on the table and sighed. "I really want to go to the casino!"
"Then let's go today."
Hanekawa blinked and said.
"Really?"
Tsunade immediately perked up.
"Why would I lie?"
Hanekawa smiled. "I'm not training today, so it's a good time to take a break."
And since the signing ceremony with Iwagakure was happening today, there were no negotiations with Kirigakure either.
_
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