Adopted by Tsunade [19-24] (Patreon)

Chapter 19 - Orochimaru's New Disciple

Ninja Academy Training Ground.

All the students of First Year, Class A, formed a large circle.

Naoto Yamanaka stood inside, holding a class roster, rallying the group.

"This test is both for Lord Orochimaru to select a disciple and a school evaluation. I hope everyone gives it their all. Understood?"

"Understood!"

 Natsume and the others responded in unison.

"Good, I like your spirit."

Naoto Yamanaka flipped open the roster. "If I call your name, step forward for a match. The winner advances to the next round."

Natsume sat cross-legged.

The graduation standard at the Ninja Academy was mastering the Three Basic Jutsu.

So, you can imagine how weak first-years were.

Natsume had already learned five jutsu. Besides the Three Basic Jutsu, he'd mastered the Body Flicker Technique and Water Style: Wild Water Wave.

He could totally point at the others and say: "Itachi Uchiha, stand up. The rest of you are trash."

Natsume watched for a while and noticed a pattern.

The winners were mostly from ninja clans.

Not surprising—civilian students lacked the background to access advanced ninja knowledge early.

Take Sakura Haruno, for example. Early on, she didn't stand out, always calling for Sasuke or Naruto, basically a burden.

But even so, she was top among civilian students—a real model student.

The others were even worse.

"Natsume versus Kenji Kutoryu."

Naoto Yamanaka glanced at the roster and called out.

Hearing his name, Natsume got up and casually walked into the ring.

"Go, Natsume!"

 A group of girls cheered him on.

"Tch! So what if you're good-looking?"

 Kenji Kutoryu scowled. "I'll defeat you for sure!"

"Do you play shogi?" Natsume asked.

"Wha…what?" Kenji froze.

Come on, be serious!

I'm trash-talking you, and you ask if I play shogi?

Show some respect, will you?

"Do you play shogi?"

 Natsume repeated. "I have a friend with the same last name—Kutoryu—who's great at shogi, called the Dragon King."

"I don't!"

 Kenji said stiffly. "Trying to name-drop won't help you."

Alright then.

Natsume stopped talking.

Body Flicker!

Chakra surged around his legs. Suddenly, he appeared in front of Kenji and delivered a kick. Kenji had no time to react and crashed to the ground.

"Natsume wins."

Seeing Kenji unable to get up, Naoto Yamanaka declared the result.

Not far off, Itachi Uchiha nodded.

The Body Flicker was decent.

But nowhere near Shisui's level.

"Itachi Uchiha versus Nekoma Uchiyama."

Natsume sat down and looked at Itachi.

He watched Itachi step up and, almost instantly, finish the match, leaving Nekoma unconscious on the field.

So fast that most couldn't even see what happened.

Natsume figured Itachi was already at near-chunin level.

The battles went on, one after another.

In the end, only two students remained in Class A: Natsume and Itachi Uchiha.

Naoto Yamanaka wasn't surprised.

The former was Tsunade's apprentice, the latter, Fugaku Uchiha's son.

Both had clear advantages.

While their peers were still playing in the dirt, they were already learning ninjutsu.

"You two will face off. The winner will represent our class against the other classes. The final ten will have a chance to become Lord Orochimaru's disciples, so do your best."

With those words, Naoto stepped aside, giving them the stage.

On the viewing platform:

"Lord Orochimaru, the one on the left is Itachi Uchiha," said Vice-Principal Yoshiyuki Nara respectfully. "He's top of his class—perfect scores in both theory and practice."

Orochimaru licked his lips.

He wasn't sure he believed Natsume's claim that Itachi could awaken the Mangekyō Sharingan.

But whether true or not, he wanted to test Itachi himself—so he had to recruit him.

"What about the other one?" Orochimaru asked offhandedly.

"Natsume, Lady Tsunade's apprentice," replied Nara.

Orochimaru's interest was piqued, "Does he have a kekkei genkai?"

"No, but he's talented with Water Style."

Hearing this, Orochimaru lost interest.

No kekkei genkai, nothing useful to him.

 And since Natsume was Tsunade's disciple, Orochimaru couldn't be bothered.

While they spoke, the match started.

Itachi stood still and flung six shuriken.

Natsume immediately retaliated.

Clang, clang.

Shuriken collided in midair.

But next, Itachi lifted his hands slightly—the six shuriken, which should have fallen, spun back and rained down.

Natsume's eyes narrowed.

He just noticed Itachi had thin wires tied to his fingers.

This was theManipulated Shuriken Technique.

Most genin couldn't do this.

Body Flicker!

 Natsume accelerated, dodging the attack.

But Itachi anticipated this. As Natsume sped up, so did the shuriken, homing in like tracking missiles.

Water Style: Wild Water Wave!

 Natsume emerged, hands forming seals, chakra gathering in his mouth. Instantly, a jet of water shot out.

The onlooking students gasped.

Anyone who could use an elemental jutsu at the Academy was the coolest around.

But Itachi remained calm, breaking the wire connection and forming seals of his own.

Fire Style: Fireball Jutsu!

 A massive fireball rushed towards the water.

Normally, Water Style beats Fire.

But Itachi's chakra far outclassed Natsume's, evaporating the water instead.

"I forfeit."

Natsume used Body Flicker again, appearing at the edge of the ring.

He couldn't beat Itachi right now—totally normal.

Plus, he couldn't use Wood Style here.

"Natsume did very well,"

 Naoto Yamanaka said cheerfully. "Let's congratulate Itachi Uchiha, who will proceed to the next round."

As Class A's winner was decided, other classes finished too.

Since Orochimaru was recruiting, all grades 1–6 participated.

Normally, lower grades can't beat upper grades.

But with a monster like Itachi around, he kept winning all the way.

By evening, ten students were selected.

They stood on the platform, all eyes excitedly on Orochimaru—except Itachi, who stayed calm.

Shisui hadn't told him about Orochimaru's attack, so Itachi still respected him.

He thought being Orochimaru's disciple was fine—a chance to further learn the Will of Fire.

As the Third Hokage's apprentice, Orochimaru's Will of Fire should be powerful, right?

Orochimaru glanced over the ten and casually pointed, "You two."

At the same time, Natsume got a prompt from the Sacred Ring of Fate:

[Because of your actions, Itachi Uchiha's destiny has changed. You gain 18 Fate Points.]

[Because of your actions, Yugao Uzuki's destiny has changed. You gain 49 Fate Points.]

Chapter 20 - The Start of the Hug Pillow Life

Yugao Uzuki.

In the original story, after graduation, she joined the ANBU with her Konoha-Style swordsmanship and became a special jōnin.

Now, with Orochimaru taking her as a disciple—even as a tagalong—she'd gone from ordinary to extraordinary.

But sadly, she was just a minor side character in the source material.

If not for her looks, probably nobody would remember her.

The number of Fate Points gained depends on two factors:

The character's importance in the original.

The degree to which their fate changes.

A single character can yield at most 100 Fate Points per fate node.

Each factor roughly splits 50 points.

Yugao gave 49 points—meaning her fate changed dramatically, diverging hugely from canon.

Itachi only gave 18, meaning that even as Orochimaru's disciple, his core motives weren't altered.

For Konoha's sake, he'd still make extreme choices.

Orochimaru took Itachi and Yugao with him, ending the day's Academy tests.

Everyone headed home.

Natsume, reaching the school gate, spotted his guardian—Tsunade.

"Why are you half an hour late?"

"Lord Orochimaru was recruiting disciples, so the school held a test."

Natsume slipped his small hand into hers.

Tsunade was silent for two seconds.

She thought of Nawaki, her brother—Orochimaru's last disciple.

Noticing her silence, Natsume looked up to see her face, but his line of sight was blocked by 106 mountain size.

There's a saying:

 "A woman who can't see her toes when she looks down is a peerless beauty."

He never thought he'd experience that—reversed.

Natsume realized his words might have upset her and was about to comfort her when Tsunade picked him up and hugged him tight—soft everywhere.

He could finally see her expression.

There was a faint sadness.

Sure enough, his words reminded her of Nawaki.

Yet that longing seemed to transfer to him.

"Don't move. Let me hold you for a bit."

Hearing this, Natsume quieted down, becoming a well-behaved hug pillow.

After a while, Tsunade let go, but didn't put him down, carrying him all the way home.

Natsume said nothing, idly watching her elegant jaw move up and down.

"You stared at me the whole way. Any thoughts?"

Tsunade bent down, gazing into his eyes.

Natsume was caught off guard by her sudden question.

Tsunade found his flustered look adorable, hugged him tighter, and rubbed her face against his. "Thank you. I feel much better now."

Her breath tickled him, making him shiver.

"I'll check if Shizune's finished cooking."

Tsunade set him down and patted his head.

Natsume breathed a sigh of relief, sat on the sofa, and turned on the TV.

How to put it? The shows were pretty mediocre, but good for killing time.

Soon after, Tsunade and Shizune brought out dinner.

"I'm digging in!"

Natsume clapped his hands together.

He'd had the cafeteria's bland food for lunch and Tsunade's rice balls for breakfast.

Only dinner was truly satisfying.

So he ate heartily, big bites of rice and meat.

After dinner, it was time for Wood Style ninjutsu training.

Shizune went to her room to study medicine.

Tsunade stayed in the living room, watching TV while keeping an eye on Natsume outside—to make sure his training went safely.

Natsume flipped through his jutsu scrolls and decided his next would be Wood Release: Wood Locking Wall.

A defensive technique—summoning a row of wooden pillars that curve into a dome for all-around protection.

"Natsume, want an apple?"

 Seeing he'd trained for a while, Tsunade called out, "I'll peel one for you."

"Okay," Natsume replied.

But after a few minutes, Tsunade still hadn't come out.

He wiped his sweat, ran to the window, and peeked in—then froze and rushed inside.

Tsunade was hugging herself, trembling.

Natsume saw bloodstains on the knife.

He quickly cleaned it.

Ninjas are typically all offense, little defense.

Tsunade was no exception—unless she activated her own jutsu.

Right now, she'd accidentally seen blood and triggered her hemophobia.

Natsume didn't know what to do, so he gently patted her back. "Don't be afraid."

Tsunade slowly looked up and, seeing him, suddenly hugged him tightly.

Natsume was overwhelmed by softness, speechless.

But he couldn't move at all.

No idea how long it lasted, but finally, the trembling stopped.

Natsume, numb, said, "Sis, you should rest."

But Tsunade didn't let go—she clung even tighter.

She must not have fully recovered yet.

Natsume sighed inwardly. What else could he do but endure?

Then Tsunade stood up, carried him to her room, and tucked him into her bed.

"Huh?"

Natsume was confused.

What's going on?

Tsunade turned off the light and, without a word, used Natsume as a hug pillow.

In minutes, her breathing slowed—she was asleep.

So hard for me…

Natsume felt like he'd become medicine.

Oh well, the sick come first.

He'd just have to put up with it for one night.

…

…

Morning.

Natsume woke up sore all over.

Tsunade was a restless sleeper—arm around him, leg over him, face buried in his neck.

Short term, it felt like being surrounded by soft slime.

But holding one position so long was exhausting!

"Sis."

Natsume watched her beautiful sleeping face and called.

She responded by hugging him tighter.

Then, like a kitten, rubbed her face against him.

"Let me sleep a bit longer."

"…"

Natsume, unable to bear the pressure, used his trump card—hugged her neck and pitifully said, "Sis, I'm hungry."

Tsunade opened her eyes at once. "I'll make you rice balls."

Natsume finally escaped.

He changed clothes, washed up, and felt alive again.

Last night was torture.

After breakfast, Natsume went to school.

His desk-mate, Itachi, never missed class—but he wasn't there today.

The others were jealous.

Not because he skipped class, but because he was getting personal training from Orochimaru.

Natsume, knowing the truth, wasn't envious.

Training? More like being experimented on.

Soon, it was Saturday.

Natsume put all his chakra into his Wood Clone and spent a Fate Points to send it to meet the infamous Akatsuki.

The plan to save Karin and her mom officially began.

PS: If you think Tsunade getting cut by a fruit knife is unrealistic—don't ask. It's just for fan service.

Chapter 21 - Lost in the Pursuit of Payment

Fubuki Casino.

At the edge of Tanzaku Quarters.

Not many customers on a usual day.

Natsume chose this location to avoid being spotted by the wrong people—like Konoha ninja.

After all, every Akatsuki member was a big deal; might scare the kids.

At 7:00 sharp, Natsume arrived on time. Two people who were clearly not normal were already waiting.

Kakuzu and Sasori.

Both wore the iconic black cloaks with red clouds.

Kakuzu looked almost human, just a mask covering his face and those eerie green eyes exposed.

Sasori was more abstract—wearing the puppet Hiruko, like a dwarf with a scorpion's tail.

In fact, both were no longer human.

Sasori: the Sand's genius puppet master, Chiyo's grandson. He not only controlled puppets, he'd turned himself into one.

Kakuzu: a rogue from Takigakure, with five hearts and hence five lives, thanks to the forbidden Earth Grudge Fear technique—practically immortal.

Famous for throwing shuriken at Hashirama Senju from 800 miles away.

In the original, Sasori's partner was Deidara, and Kakuzu's was Hidan.

But at this time, neither had joined Akatsuki, so Kakuzu and Sasori were a team.

Natsume was a bit worried he'd run into Obito Uchiha.

But thinking it over, Obito didn't join Akatsuki as Tobi until much later.

Before that, he was in Kirigakure, creating carnage to avenge Rin Nohara.

During the Third Great Ninja War, Kirigakure attacked Konoha after its battles with Kumogakure.

Two main events:

The Seven Ninja Swordsmen attacked Konoha's rear, ran into Might Duy, and only three escaped after facing the Eight Gates.

They captured Rin Nohara, forcibly made her the Three Tails' jinchuriki, and sent her back to Konoha as a suicide bomb.

To foil this, Rin ran into Kakashi's Chidori and died.

Obito's hatred for Kirigakure began there.

But he didn't know Uchiha Madara and Black Zetsu were manipulating things all along.

Rin's death was destined—to push Obito to awaken his Mangekyō and become the executor of the Eye of the Moon Plan (Black Zetsu's mother-saving plot).

"You're the client?"

 Kakuzu sized up Natsume, clearly unfamiliar.

"Yes."

Natsume didn't hide it. "I'm a clone, so I'll need you both to protect me on the way."

A clone, as long as it's not damaged and has enough chakra, can last a long time.

"Protect you?"

 Kakuzu said coldly. "That wasn't in the mission description. And with a clone, it's even harder."

"I'll pay more."

Natsume held up two fingers. "There are two of you, so I'll add 200,000 ryo as a protection fee."

"Fine."

Kakuzu's eyes lit up—a 2.2 million ryo mission to Kusagakure, a great deal.

High bounties, especially over 10 million, are rare.

Most Akatsuki funding comes from missions—but S-rank jobs are uncommon.

2.2 million was pretty good.

Protecting a clone wasn't a big deal.

"There's one more thing."

Natsume spoke up to avoid future disputes.

"One more?"

 Kakuzu frowned.

 Do clients have no manners these days? Ever heard of rules?

"I'll pay more."

Natsume smiled. "I have a deal to make with Orochimaru. I need you two to meet him and bring me something."

Kakuzu looked at Natsume with new respect.

The Sannin's reputation was impressive.

Anyone dealing with Orochimaru wasn't ordinary.

But he wasn't too concerned. To him, money mattered most.

"How much?"

"Two million ryo," said Natsume, holding up two fingers.

"A simple deal is fine,"

 Kakuzu said, "but if you're not going yourself, it means Orochimaru might act against us. That'll cost extra. As a Sannin, he's strong. You'll need to pay more."

Natsume wanted to save money, but since he'd been found out, he held up another finger. "An extra ten million ryo."

Asuma Sarutobi's bounty was 35 million ryo. Orochimaru's wouldn't be less.

But this was just a deal, not a hit—a ten million bonus was enough.

Kakuzu's eyes sparkled.

Now that's a generous boss!

With a ten million bonus, it was a windfall.

And if they later killed Orochimaru and cashed in his head, even better.

 It was a win-win.

Kakuzu glanced at Sasori.

No response, as if he really was just a puppet.

Kakuzu knew Sasori's temperament, so answered for him, "We accept your commissions."

"Pleasure doing business. Let's head out," Natsume smiled. "But I move slowly."

Sasori finally reacted, tossing a puppet at his feet.

A real oddball.

Natsume could only think of the word "weirdo."

Wearing tattered clothes, ant-like in shape, with demonic red horns, six arms, and two legs.

Was Sasori seriously expecting him to ride this thing?

Natsume looked at Sasori, who just said, "Get on."

Damn! That thing could kill someone!

Was my payment not enough? Why this treatment for your client?

Couldn't you bring out your Third Kazekage puppet and let me ride shoulder-to-shoulder, soaring into the sun?

….

The three set out.

Kakuzu and Sasori ran like standard ninjas.

Natsume rode the ugly puppet—a bit bumpy but otherwise fine.

Plus, it was strong.

Kusagakure was in the Land of Grass.

According to the original, Kusagakure ninjas are skilled at studying and deciphering foreign jutsu—a high EQ way of saying they're thieves.

Small and ignorant, small and rude—pretty much sums them up.

There's little plot involving Kusagakure.

Aside from the movies, there's just Karin and her mother.

After the Uzumaki clan was wiped out, they fled to Kusagakure—used as portable blood banks.

Because of their unique chakra, they could heal others by being bitten.

The Uzumaki had great potential as jinchuriki, seal experts, or medics.

But Kusagakure chose the stupidest option.

In the end, Karin's mother was sucked dry and died.

If not for Orochimaru, Karin would've shared the same fate.

She might even have been used for breeding, generation after generation—a tragic end.

But even with Orochimaru, Karin met Sasuke Uchiha and still became a tool.

At least her situation improved.

The Land of Grass borders the Land of Fire to the northwest.

With their speed, the three reached their destination in under two days.

Chapter 22: We're Pretty Awesome, Aren't We?

Hidden Grass Village.

Natsume had no idea where Karin and her mother were, or even what they looked like.

There was no way to find them through normal means.

But since Karin and her mother were essentially walking blood bags, any injured ninja would definitely seek them out.

So the solution was simple:

Block the way.

The main road into the Hidden Grass Village.

Natsume, Kakuzu, and Sasori stood smack in the middle, looking as arrogant as could be.

It didn't take long before a squad of Grass ninjas appeared.

"Hey!"

The chunin in front shouted with a cocky look, "This is the Hidden Grass Village! Are you blind? How dare you block my way?"

Natsume and Kakuzu ignored him.

Sasori raised his left arm, revealing a hidden cannon.

"???"

All four Grass ninjas wore confused expressions.

Has the world changed?

The next second, the cannon fired a cylinder.

It exploded overhead, turning into a rain of needles.

Cold, icy rain lashed their faces.

All four screamed and fell, blood pouring from every exposed patch of skin.

"Get lost!"

Natsume barked, "Don't ruin our mood."

The four scrambled away, fleeing for their lives.

"We just need to follow them now," Natsume said, watching their retreating figures.

Kakuzu and Sasori found it a hassle, but if you pay them, they'll do the job.

The Grass ninja squad rushed back to the village, heading straight for a wooden hut.

"Hurry, let me bite!"

The chunin said anxiously.

He'd realized Sasori's needles were poisoned. In just a few minutes, half his body was numb.

He lunged at a pale, beautiful woman—but skidded to a halt, freezing.

He'd spotted Natsume and his companions again.

This time, Sasori didn't hold back. His scorpion tail flashed, impaling the chunin and spraying blood everywhere.

The three remaining ninjas tried to run, but couldn't escape, and were swiftly taken out.

The beautiful woman turned white as a sheet, trembling in the corner.

But she didn't run.

Her newborn daughter lay on the bed nearby.

Besides, after seeing Sasori's strength, she knew escape was impossible.

All she could do was pray they'd spare her.

After all, they had no grudge against her.

Natsume turned around and his eyes lit up.

She was quite pretty.

You could tell by looking at Karin.

Of course, pretty wasn't the important thing.

After living with Tsunade for so long, Natsume was mostly immune to beautiful women.

What impressed him most was Karin's mother's aura.

Two words: delicate and pitiable.

With her pale face and teary, terrified eyes, it was even more obvious.

Given her tragic background, pitiful didn't even begin to cover it.

"Where's your husband?"

Natsume glanced at the baby and asked.

"He's dead," the woman replied shakily.

She didn't sound sad—her trembling was fear of Sasori and the others.

Which made sense. In the Hidden Grass Village, where would she find true love?

"Take your daughter and come with me."

Natsume didn't ask her name—he worried if she said "Uzumaki," Kakuzu and Sasori would get suspicious.

The woman froze, not knowing what to do.

"What? Are you that attached to the Grass Village?"

Natsume saw her hesitation and distrust. "You don't want your daughter to end up like you, do you?"

Her heart clenched.

Her life was already miserable.

If she stayed, her daughter would suffer the same fate.

Things couldn't get worse. She might as well go with these mysterious strangers—maybe there was hope.

"Someone's coming," Kakuzu said, glancing at the door. "Quite a few. All ninja."

Karin and her mother were valuable—like medical-nin. Of course there'd be people watching.

And since this was the village core, any trouble would be noticed fast.

"I'll leave it to you two," Natsume said calmly.

After all, it was Kakuzu and Sasori.

The three of us are just that awesome.

Unless we run into someone with plot armor, we can walk all over the ninja world.

Hidden Grass Village, you're really weak.

But the woman looked terrified and pitiful.

The next moment, her eyes went wide.

Kakuzu kicked the door open, formed hand seals, and black tendrils sprouted from his shoulders.

A mask appeared among the tendrils—then a blast of fire.

In an instant, everything outside the hut was engulfed in fierce flames—except for the building where Natsume's group stood.

Ninjas she knew turned into roast corpses.

She froze for a few seconds, then grabbed Karin and followed.

Smart people know when to yield.

Hesitating now would only be insulting these three's strength.

Who knew what they'd do to a defenseless woman and her baby?

Obedience was the safest bet.

Natsume walked ahead.

Kakuzu and Sasori flanked him, and any Grass ninja who got close died within seconds.

The woman clutched Karin, shivering and praying.

The four of them and the baby left the Hidden Grass Village without a hitch.

No one chased them—everyone had been slaughtered or scared off by Kakuzu and Sasori.

After a few rounds, the Grass ninjas realized the three were invincible.

"Got any smoother puppets?" Natsume glanced at baby Karin. "I'll pay extra—200,000 ryo."

Sasori's soulless eyes flicked, and he casually tossed out a puppet.

It looked like some kind of reptile.

At least it was rideable.

Sasori wasn't as obsessed with money as Kakuzu, but since he'd joined Akatsuki, he had to do his part.

Besides, making puppets cost money.

They were like figurines or Gundam models—expensive.

How could he refuse free cash?

The woman was surprised.

200,000 ryo wasn't a small sum.

Especially in the poor Grass Village, it was a fortune.

But Natsume handed it over without blinking, showing how rich he was.

"Come on up," Natsume said, climbing onto the puppet and waving.

She didn't hesitate and climbed up, too.

Panels rose around them, blocking all wind and sand.

Natsume's eyes sparkled.

Now this was a 200,000 ryo ride.

"What's your name?"

"Uzumaki Hinae," she replied, then nervously asked, "Sir, what do you plan to do with us?"

"Relax. I won't treat you like the Grass Village did."

Natsume waved it off. "You'll find out in a couple of days."

Uzumaki Hinae didn't dare ask more—she just waited anxiously for her fate.

She could only hope he was telling the truth.

If she could escape the Grass Village, it would be a blessing.

A moment later, Karin started to cry.

Uzumaki Hinae quickly said, "Sir, please don't blame her. My daughter was just born and must be hungry."

She blushed, turned away, and began to feed Karin.

Soon, the crying stopped—and a faint sweet scent drifted through the cramped compartment.

Chapter 23: Three Heroes vs. Orochimaru

The group returned safely to Tanzaku Quarters.

Natsume glanced at Kakuzu and Sasori in the distance, then whispered to Hinae, "Follow this road in, stop when you reach the Gunma casino. My clone will meet you."

Uzumaki Hinae trembled, nodded, and left carrying Karin.

Perhaps it'd been so long since she'd seen a crowd, she moved like a frightened fawn.

"Let's go meet Orochimaru."

Natsume pointed north. "About a kilometer ahead."

He'd chosen a deserted plain for the meeting, knowing a fight might break out—not Tanzaku Quarters.

"Let's go."

Kakuzu grinned darkly, "I can't wait to see one of the legendary Sannin."

You just want to cash in Orochimaru's bounty, don't you?

Natsume saw through him immediately.

Kakuzu had even sold out teammates for money before.

Now Orochimaru, worth hundreds of millions of ryo, was right in front of him—no way he'd pass up the chance.

Natsume wasn't worried.

Orochimaru, though lacking the cursed seal and Living Corpse Reincarnation, was a master at survival and wouldn't be easy to kill.

Plus, Kakuzu and Sasori's abilities weren't as specialized or absolute as the Mangekyo Sharingan.

Worst case, even if Orochimaru died, it wouldn't really affect Natsume.

He already had Hashirama cells.

He wasn't interested in the cursed seal or Living Corpse Reincarnation.

Improved Edo Tensei would be nice, but not essential—Kabuto could study it if necessary.

"One more thing—no matter what Orochimaru asks, don't answer. Just get the goods."

Natsume paused, raising two fingers. "Another 200,000 ryo as hush money."

Kakuzu swallowed his words and nodded. "No problem."

You're rich, so you're always right.

He was completely lost in Natsume's generous payments.

A few minutes later, Orochimaru appeared in the distance.

"I'm just a clone, so I won't join the fun."

Natsume stopped, watching Kakuzu and Sasori approach and pulling out binoculars.

Time for popcorn.

Kakuzu, Sasori, and himself versus one of the legendary Sannin.

How could he miss it?

He'd only seen it on a screen before—now it was up close and personal.

Natsume wanted to see what ninja world's top-tier combat really looked like.

Of course, he'd cheer for his own side.

Orochimaru immediately noticed Kakuzu and Sasori.

He licked his lips, excited.

It was the thrill before a secret was revealed.

If, after the exchange, he could either keep one alive or force out some unique jutsu or bloodline, he'd learn a lot.

As they got closer, Orochimaru narrowed his eyes.

Definitely an organization.

They even had matching uniforms.

"Where's the stuff?" Kakuzu asked, glancing at Orochimaru. He'd seen his picture in the underworld and recognized him instantly.

He'd even considered taking his bounty.

But since Orochimaru was always in Konoha, breaking in was impossible.

Now that Orochimaru was alone, it was time to throw a master ball.

But first, complete the job.

Thanks to Natsume's big payments, Kakuzu now saw him as a VIP client for long-term cooperation.

"Here."

Orochimaru took out a storage scroll—he had no intention of cheating.

Mainly, Natsume hadn't asked for much.

And if things went south, he'd still have backup plans.

Kakuzu took it without looking, putting it away.

The next second, the calm was shattered—killing intent exploded from both sides.

In Naruto, killing intent is a real thing.

For example, during the chunin exams, Orochimaru used it on Sasuke to freeze him.

Sasuke had to injure himself to snap out of it.

Now, Orochimaru was surprised—Kakuzu's killing intent was just as strong as his.

Killing intent is forged in countless battles.

You can judge a ninja's past by their killing aura.

Orochimaru got serious.

Ten Thousand Snake Formation!

Countless venomous snakes poured from his mouth, covering the area and surrounding Kakuzu and Sasori.

"Not bad."

Kakuzu shed his Akatsuki cloak, and a humanoid figure made of black tendrils appeared behind him, like a stand.

Earth Grudge Fear mode.

A sign of respect for Orochimaru.

He also wanted to end things quickly.

The fire mask on his right shoulder opened its mouth.

Fire Style: Searing Migraine!

Flames swept out, burning all the venomous snakes to ash.

Orochimaru's eyes narrowed.

That fire jutsu was ridiculously powerful.

And Kakuzu's shadowy puppet—he'd never seen such ninjutsu.

Interesting.

Orochimaru was still confident.

He opened his mouth, spat out a little snake, which then spat out a sword.

The Kusanagi Sword shot out at blinding speed.

Kakuzu sent out black tendrils to block it.

But they were sliced clean in half.

"Nice sword!"

Kakuzu's eyes lit up. A sword that could cut his Earth Grudge Fear threads was top-tier—definitely worth a fortune.

Earth Style: Earth Spear!

Both arms turned black, and to Orochimaru's shock, he caught the Kusanagi Sword between his hands.

"Impressive fire and earth jutsu," Orochimaru thought, shifting tactics.

Kusanagi Sword: Sky Blade!

The sword extended infinitely.

Kakuzu's face changed; he let go and leapt back, then used Body Flicker to dodge.

As soon as he landed, the lightning mask opened.

Lightning Style: False Darkness!

A massive lightning spear blasted through Orochimaru, triggering an explosion.

"Is he dead?"

Kakuzu watched the smoke.

Suddenly, he looked down—venomous snakes had wrapped around his waist.

Orochimaru stood behind him, swinging the forty-meter-long Kusanagi Sword.

Kakuzu's body turned to water.

His real body reappeared nearby, and the wind mask shot out a wind sphere.

Wind Style: Pressure Damage!

An unremarkable sphere suddenly spun, grew, and exploded, engulfing Orochimaru.

"Did he dodge again?"

Kakuzu frowned—this guy was tough.

His jutsu were almost forbidden-level.

Most people would be dead by now.

Orochimaru exhaled—after several near misses, he wasn't having an easy time either.

This was his toughest fight since Hanzo the Salamander.

And Sasori hadn't even joined in yet.

He eyed Kakuzu, desperately trying to guess his identity but drawing blanks.

A ninja skilled in earth, water, lightning, fire, and wind… Where did he come from?

"Too slow," Sasori suddenly said, raising his arm and firing his cannon.

Last time, he'd only fired one cylinder at the Grass ninja. This time, it was more than a dozen.

Kakuzu quickly backed off.

"A puppet master?" Orochimaru paused, eyeing Sasori's right arm.

The cylinders exploded, filling the air with poison needles.

The area was too wide.

Normal substitution or teleportation wouldn't work.

Great Snake Substitution!

The needles pierced Orochimaru's body.

But the next second, he shed his skin and emerged unscathed.

"Such deadly poison," he muttered, glancing at his now-liquefied skin.

Orochimaru himself was a poison expert, but Sasori was just as skilled.

He looked grimly at the pair, having given up on victory.

Now, he wondered: how many members did this organization have? Was every member this terrifying? And what about their leader, the Wood Style user?

Chapter 24: Hashirama Cells Acquired

"Huh? He's running? Not fighting anymore?"

Watching the show, Natsume saw Kakuzu and Sasori chase the fleeing Orochimaru until they disappeared from sight.

He put away his binoculars—not surprised.

Orochimaru and Kakuzu were evenly matched, but with Sasori joining in, Orochimaru was at a clear disadvantage.

With his personality, he'd never risk his life—he wanted immortality, after all.

He couldn't win, so escape was the only option.

Natsume waited about half an hour before Kakuzu and Sasori returned.

No corpse or head of Orochimaru.

Just as expected—not so easy to kill.

But Orochimaru was probably badly hurt.

"Here's your stuff," Kakuzu said, handing over the scroll.

He didn't mention Orochimaru—probably embarrassed.

"All tasks complete. Please collect your payment at the underground market," Natsume said with a smile, taking the scroll.

Kakuzu and Sasori turned and left.

They were professional mercenaries now.

During a mission, they never asked about the employer's business.

Natsume breathed a sigh of relief.

He returned to Konoha and handed the scroll to his real body.

…

In his room:

Natsume opened the scroll—inside were nine vials.

He'd never seen Hashirama cells before and wasn't sure if they were real.

But he could test them.

Hashirama cells were like cancer—capable of endless proliferation.

If the host couldn't handle them, they'd turn into a tree.

Natsume took a vial to the orphanage and found Kabuto.

"Can you extract a sample for me?"

He held out the vial.

"That's easy," Kabuto said, glancing at the cells. "Come with me."

He led Natsume into Nonou's little lab, full of medical equipment.

After some operations Natsume didn't understand, Kabuto handed him a syringe.

"Do you have a white rabbit?"

"No, but I have a white mouse."

"That'll work."

Natsume took the mouse to a secluded spot where he and Kabuto often hung out.

"Kabuto, what I'm about to tell you—don't be scared."

"…?"

Kabuto tilted his head, confused. "What exactly are you holding?"

"It's not a thing. It's… something rare. A form of life."

Natsume injected the Hashirama cells into the mouse.

Within moments, it shrieked in pain.

In Kabuto's stunned gaze, branches burst from its body, turning it into a small tree.

It was a mind-blowing scene.

An animal turning into a plant—how was that possible?

"Natsume!" Kabuto couldn't wait. "You'd better explain."

Natsume raised an eyebrow.

That expression reminded him of Orochimaru.

No wonder you went into research later.

"You can't tell anyone about this," Natsume said sternly. "It's our secret. If it leaks, we're both dead."

Kabuto froze, then nodded quickly.

After all, whether during the war or at the orphanage these three years, Natsume had always looked after him.

Trust didn't need to be said.

That's also why he agreed to hide his medical talent.

"This is the First Hokage Hashirama Senju's cells. If you transplant them, you can get Wood Release."

Natsume decided to come clean.

Kabuto might be a villain in the original, but he was loyal to Orochimaru.

Now, he hadn't suffered at Danzo's hands, so he was even more trustworthy.

And another thing—

Wood Release was a huge secret. If Kabuto ever blabbed, he'd be doomed.

As Natsume said, both their lives would be at risk.

Kabuto was too smart to do something stupid.

And by sharing this secret, Natsume had won himself a valuable ally.

Kabuto stared, dumbfounded.

So much information in one sentence, his brain almost fried.

Wood Release could be acquired this way?

No, wait, that's not the point.

How did you get Hashirama's cells?

From Lady Tsunade?

No way. She'd never do something so disrespectful.

"I know what you want to ask. I'll tell you later."

Natsume handed him the vials. "I want you to research Hashirama cell transplantation."

"Me? Research it?" Kabuto blinked. "Aren't you overestimating me?"

"You're underestimating yourself," Natsume said, patting his shoulder. "Come on, let's go see Tsunade-sensei. Then you'll see how talented you really are."

Kabuto didn't really believe him, but was happy for a chance to meet Tsunade.

….

The two went to the Senju residence.

But Tsunade wasn't home.

"Shizune-nee, where's sensei?" Natsume asked, using "sensei" in front of outsiders. If he called her "Tsunade-nee," Kabuto's brain might crash again.

"She went to the Konoha hospital," Shizune replied, looking rattled. "Lord Orochimaru was badly wounded and showed up at the village gate. It scared everyone. Not just Lady Tsunade, but even the Hokage went to the hospital."

Natsume quickly pieced it together.

Orochimaru couldn't shake off Kakuzu and Sasori quickly enough.

Since Tanzaku Quarters was close to Konoha, his best choice was to flee there.

As for what secrets he might reveal—when your life is on the line, nothing else matters.

And with Orochimaru's smarts, he could easily make excuses.

…

Tsunade didn't return until nighttime.

She opened the door and saw Kabuto, remembering that he'd been present when she adopted Natsume.

They seemed to get along.

"Natsume, is your friend visiting today?" Tsunade asked, changing her shoes.

"Lady Tsunade," Kabuto greeted respectfully.

Natsume ran up, glanced at her bare feet, then took her hand and said in a childish voice, "Sis, my friend just learned a medical jutsu. I think he's really talented—could you take him as a student?"

Tsunade suppressed the urge to hug him. She looked at Kabuto. "Show me the medical jutsu you learned."

She could give him a chance since Natsume asked.

Kabuto took a deep breath, held out his hands, and green chakra glowed.

"The Mystical Palm Technique—already?" Tsunade was surprised.

Shizune was even more shocked.

The Mystical Palm Technique was difficult, requiring immense chakra control and knowledge.

[Because of your actions, Kabuto's fate has changed. You gain 48 fate points.]

[Because of your actions, Karin's fate has changed. You gain 69 fate points.]

With the system prompts, Natsume knew Tsunade had decided to take Kabuto as a student.

Kabuto's destiny had shifted again.

But not as much as last time.

Even without Tsunade, Kabuto would've been an excellent medical ninja.

Now, the process was just faster.

So in terms of fate, the change wasn't as big as before.

Karin's points were lower simply because she had fewer scenes.

Either way, Natsume had profited handsomely.