After the treaty was signed, it began to be implemented.
The Hidden Rock Village quickly sent over the ninjas from the Hidden Leaf Village they had captured.
Unfortunately, Uchiha Obito was not among them.
As for whether the Hidden Rock Village would deceive them, they dared not, nor was it necessary.
Because the Hidden Leaf Village had captured Roshi, the Four-Tails Jinchūriki, and among the returned ninjas were several from the Uchiha clan.
Uchiha Obito had indeed sacrificed himself on the battlefield.
Sarutobi Hiruzen declared the fallen ninjas as heroes of the Hidden Leaf and held a collective funeral on February 15th.
This memorial was for the ninjas who had died in the battles against the Hidden Rock and Hidden Mist Villages.
As for the battlefield against the Hidden Cloud Village, a memorial would be held after the war ended.
Early morning.
As soon as the sky brightened, Hanekawa woke up because he heard knocking at the door.
Hanekawa changed his clothes, left his room, and went to the door.
He opened it to find Nohara Rin standing outside.
She was wearing a black kimono, holding four white chrysanthemums, looking quite somber.
"Hanekawa."
Nohara Rin greeted him first.
"Come in."
Hanekawa reached out, patted her head, and said, "Thank you for buying the white chrysanthemums for us."
"No problem."
Nohara Rin was already used to his head pats.
She stepped inside, took off her wooden sandals, revealing her feet clad in short socks.
"Rin, you're here so early?"
Yuhi Kurenai walked out of her room, yawning.
She hadn't even changed out of her pajamas.
Nohara Rin was momentarily stunned.
She felt as if Yuhi Kurenai and Hanekawa were already living like a married couple.
Her already heavy heart grew even heavier.
"We're going to our teacher's house for breakfast, then heading to the Hidden Leaf Memorial Stone together."
Hanekawa reminded her, "Kurenai, go change into a black kimono."
"Okay."
Yuhi Kurenai turned and went back to her room.
After changing, the three of them headed to Tsunade's house.
As soon as Hanekawa opened the door, he saw her sitting on the sofa.
Like Nohara Rin and Yuhi Kurenai, Tsunade was also wearing a black kimono.
But compared to their youthful appearance, she exuded a more mature aura, like a legendary widow.
Hanekawa quickly shook his head.
Thinking of Tsunade as a widow felt like he was cursing himself to an early death.
After breakfast, the four of them left the house.
As they walked down the street, a familiar voice called out.
"Lady Tsunade."
Uzumaki Kushina appeared in front of them, "And Hanekawa, Kurenai, and Rin."
"Kushina-nee."
Hanekawa and the other two greeted her in unison.
"Lady Tsunade."
Behind her stood Namikaze Minato.
Along with them were Hatake Kakashi and Might Guy.
Since they were all attending the funeral, there wasn't much conversation.
After a brief exchange, they continued toward the Hidden Leaf Memorial Stone.
As they got closer to their destination, more and more people gathered.
Not just ninjas, but also ordinary villagers.
By the time they reached the Hidden Leaf Memorial Stone, it was surrounded by layers of people.
Hanekawa looked at the massive stone monument in front of him.
Most of the names were unfamiliar, until he saw Uchiha Obito's name.
Hanekawa instinctively glanced at Hatake Kakashi.
The Nine-Tails incident was triggered by Uzumaki Kushina's childbirth.
The reason Uchiha Obito knew about her delivery time was because he overheard Hatake Kakashi talking to himself at the memorial stone.
But this couldn't be blamed on Hatake Kakashi.
After all, he didn't know Uchiha Obito was still alive, let alone that he would commit such an act as killing his teacher.
Not long after, Sarutobi Hiruzen, along with Homura Mitokado and Koharu Utatane, the three high-ranking officials of the Hidden Leaf, made their appearance.
Hanekawa suddenly had a bad feeling.
Sure enough, Sarutobi Hiruzen began his speech, centered on the Will of Fire, praising the heroes of the Hidden Leaf.
Two hours later, the speech finally ended, and it was time for everyone to line up and offer flowers.
Hanekawa placed his white chrysanthemum in front of the memorial stone, then stepped aside.
He looked at Nohara Rin.
Her face showed sadness, but since she had already grieved before, she didn't cry this time.
After the flower offering, the funeral came to an end.
"Lady Tsunade."
Uzumaki Kushina extended an invitation, "How about you all come to my place for lunch?"
"Sure."
Tsunade didn't refuse.
It had been a while since she last visited Uzumaki Kushina's home.
"Then let's go!"
Uzumaki Kushina waved her hand and led the way.
The group left the Hidden Leaf Memorial Stone.
Once they arrived at her home, Uzumaki Kushina pulled Namikaze Minato into the kitchen to prepare lunch.
"How have you all been lately?"
Hanekawa looked at Hatake Kakashi and Might Guy, asking.
"Minato-sensei was in charge of the negotiations, so Guy and I went on two missions."
Hatake Kakashi replied.
"Just the two of you?"
Hanekawa raised an eyebrow, somewhat surprised.
Normally, after Uchiha Obito's death, their team should have been assigned a new member.
"The village did find us a teammate, but Kakashi drove them away, saying they weren't strong enough."
Might Guy glanced at Hatake Kakashi, explaining.
"They really weren't that strong."
Hatake Kakashi said calmly.
"Not many can meet your standards for a teammate."
Hanekawa suddenly thought of someone.
That was Yamato, the sole survivor of the Wood Style experiments.
Jiraiya had previously said he couldn't find any trace of him, so he was likely with Shimura Danzō.
Once the war with the Hidden Cloud Village ended, they could find him.
Although Yamato's Wood Style was often criticized as weak, aside from a few exceptions, his strength was undoubtedly elite among jonin.
What he lacked was chakra.
During the Fourth Great Ninja War, after being possessed by White Zetsu, Yamato was even able to use powerful Wood Style techniques like Wood Human Technique.
And most importantly, he got along well with Hatake Kakashi.
At least that was the case in the original story.
"But there's no rush."
Hanekawa shook his head, "We'll find a suitable teammate eventually."
"It's ready!"
About an hour later, Uzumaki Kushina and Namikaze Minato started serving the food.
Hanekawa and the others also got up to help, setting the table.
"Let's eat!"
After the pre-meal ritual of clapping their hands together, everyone began eating.
"Minato."
Tsunade casually asked, "Are you heading to the Hidden Cloud battlefield next?"
Namikaze Minato had been in charge of the negotiations with the Hidden Rock Village.
Now that the negotiations were over, he had no other tasks.
With his abilities, it would be a waste to stay in the Hidden Leaf Village for too long.
"The Hokage hasn't said anything to me."
Namikaze Minato smiled his trademark smile, "But I do hope to stay in the village a bit longer."
"With Lord Orochimaru on the Hidden Cloud battlefield, there shouldn't be any problems!"
Uzumaki Kushina waved her fist, saying.
Tsunade suddenly remembered Orochimaru's involvement in the Wood Style experiments and sighed inwardly.
He could have been a hero.
It was the death of Nawaki that led him down a different path.
Just then, Tsunade felt someone pat her thigh.
She instinctively looked down and saw Hanekawa's hand.
Meeting his gaze, she could clearly sense his concern.
Tsunade felt a warmth in her heart.
This kid was always looking out for her.
After lunch, Hanekawa and the others returned to their daily routine of training and practicing ninjutsu.
Of course, there was also the ongoing, headache-inducing negotiations with the Hidden Mist Village.
Half a month passed in the blink of an eye.
By March, the grass was growing, the birds were singing, and the weather had warmed up.
Hanekawa received a rather unexpected invitation.
It was from Tenmura, the ninja who had helped him forge the Thunderfire sword.
His daughter was born on March 9th, named Tenten.
Tenmura invited him to Tenten's hundred-day celebration.
Hanekawa found it quite intriguing.
The members of the original "Konoha 12" were starting to appear one by one.
After Tenten, it would be Hyūga Neji.
Hyūga Hiashi's wife was already six months pregnant and expected to give birth in July.
Tenten's hundred-day celebration was still a ways off, but for now, Hanekawa had more important matters to attend to—his bet with Mei Terumi.
After two months of study, he had finally mastered the Lava Release: Melting Apparition Technique.
Fortunately, the three-way negotiations had dragged on, delaying the peace talks with the Hidden Mist Village and giving Hanekawa enough time.
But two months was already quite long, and the negotiations were finally nearing their end.
Hanekawa estimated that within half a month, the three villages would reach a final agreement.
At the Hidden Mist Village ninja delegation's residence.
Hanekawa greeted the young ninja guarding the door and walked in.
He had been coming here every day for two months and was now quite familiar with the guard.
At one point, rumors had even spread that he and Mei Terumi were dating.
But Mei Terumi quickly debunked them.
Hanekawa raised his hand and knocked on the door.
Soon, the door opened.
"Come in."
Mei Terumi's attitude hadn't changed—still neither cold nor warm.
"No, you come out with me."
Hanekawa shook his head.
"Where to? What are you planning?"
Mei Terumi's eyes narrowed, her face showing caution.
"To demonstrate a jutsu."
Hanekawa smiled.
"What jutsu... You learned Lava Release: Melting Apparition Technique?"
Mei Terumi suddenly realized, freezing in place, "Impossible!"
"Whether it's possible or not, you'll see for yourself."
Hanekawa turned and walked out.
Mei Terumi hurriedly followed.
But the usually calm Mei Terumi was now filled with panic.
Hanekawa had learned her Lava Release: Melting Apparition Technique in just two months, shattering her confidence.
And the thought of losing the bet made her pride unbearable.
As she thought about it, beads of cold sweat formed on her forehead.
Hanekawa arrived at a nearby training ground.
He glanced at Mei Terumi, then formed hand signs.
Chakra gathered in his throat, transforming into orange-red acid.
The acid sprayed out like water, landing on the ground and immediately causing it to melt.
The ground was eroded, forming deep pits.
"It's... it's real?"
Mei Terumi staggered back half a step.
She wished she was under a genjutsu, but she wasn't.
This absurd reality was happening right before her eyes.
How could there be such a genius? Even a Kekkei Genkai could be learned so easily.
"Hey."
Hanekawa walked up to her, "Did I win?"
"You... you won..."
Mei Terumi forced out the words.
"Let's go to my place."
Hanekawa smiled.
"What do you want?"
Mei Terumi's heart skipped a beat, asking quickly.
"To fulfill the bet."
Hanekawa looked at her, "You're not thinking of backing out, are you?"
"Of course not!"
Mei Terumi gritted her teeth.
Hanekawa took her back to Yuhi Kurenai's house.
Yuhi Kurenai was at Tsunade's place practicing water release jutsu, so she wasn't home.
"Here."
Hanekawa took out the maid dress he had bought earlier.
"Why is there something like this?"
Mei Terumi glanced at it, her expression stiffening as she pointed at the collar and cat ears on the maid dress, "What's with this?"
"Cat-ear maid, a classic outfit."
Hanekawa explained.
"You pervert!"
Mei Terumi's voice trembled, furious, "What classic outfit? I've never heard of a cat-ear maid!"
"A bet's a bet."
Hanekawa said calmly.
"You... you..."
Mei Terumi pointed at him, but couldn't find the words.
"There's a room over there, you can change."
Hanekawa reminded her.
"Bastard!"
Mei Terumi clenched her fists, then grabbed the maid dress and ran into the room.
Hanekawa leisurely sat on the sofa and waited.
Half an hour passed, and Mei Terumi still hadn't come out.
"Hey!"
Hanekawa couldn't help but call out, "If you don't come out, I'm coming in!"
The door opened.
Mei Terumi stormed out, furious.
Hanekawa looked at her, his eyes lighting up.
She was wearing a black-and-white maid dress, with white lace sleeves at the wrists and a black collar around her neck.
On her head was a pair of black cat ears, and her auburn crisscrossed long curls had been let down and tied together, falling over her shoulders.
Mei Terumi's previous black mesh stockings had been replaced with black thigh-highs.
The stockings covered her toes, running up her long legs and disappearing under the hem of the maid dress.
Below the skirt, her thighs were adorned with black-and-white garters.
"Amazing."
Hanekawa couldn't help but say.
"Done looking?"
Mei Terumi ignored his compliment, glaring as she asked.
"You forgot? The bet was for you to wear the maid dress for a day."
Hanekawa admired her outfit, smiling.
"No! Not a whole day!"
Mei Terumi's face changed, quickly refusing.
She could handle Hanekawa seeing her like this, but if it lasted a whole day, others might see her too.
Unless she spent the entire day with Hanekawa.
But then Yuhi Kurenai or Tsunade might find out.
She, Mei Terumi, was a genius of the Hidden Mist Village.
If word got out that she wore a maid dress, she might as well die on the spot.
"But you agreed to a day."
Hanekawa smirked, "Are you going back on your word?"
"I..."
Mei Terumi hesitated, frozen in place.
"I do have a solution."
Hanekawa snapped his fingers, "Installments."
"...?"
Mei Terumi looked confused.
"A day is twenty-four hours."
Hanekawa smiled, "You can spread those twenty-four hours out, like twenty-four days, one hour each day."
"You... you're shameless!"
Mei Terumi's eyes widened.
With her intelligence, she immediately understood Hanekawa's plan.
Wearing the maid dress once was bad enough, but twenty-four times? That was just too much.
"The choice is yours."
Hanekawa said indifferently.
_
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