Adopted by Tsunade [49-54] (Patreon)

Chapter 49: The Changed Fates of Four

Summoning Jutsu!

Tsunade, Uzuki Yugao, and Uchiha Itachi all bit their thumbs at the same time.

Thick smoke suddenly billowed forth.

Three giant creatures from the Shikkotsu Forest and Ryūchi Cave appeared.

Their massive bodies shattered the ground in layers.

The slug was a split body of the Slug Sage.

But the two snakes were not.

After signing a contract with Ryūchi Cave, in theory, you could summon any snake.

But some snakes have nasty tempers.

For example, Manda always asks for a live sacrifice.

Itachi and Yugao both avoided summoning it.

Itachi's snake was white, Yugao's was purple.

Regardless of their combat power, their size alone was impressive.

Natsume estimated they were at least fifty meters long.

With such commotion, even a blind person would notice. The Hidden Cloud ninja were quickly roused.

Many gaped at the three summoned beasts, almost thinking they were still dreaming.

"Slug and snakes?"

Dodai looked shocked. "Could it be Orochimaru and Tsunade attacking together?"

"That direction is where the Thunder Expansion Device is."

Lightning crackled all over the Fourth Raikage, dazzling in the night. "Dodai, organize the forces. I’ll go first. You all follow."

With a boom of thunder and lightning, the Fourth Raikage landed in front of Tsunade and her group.

His landing left a crater in the ground, swirling smoke around him.

The entrance was pure spectacle—visually stunning.

He glanced around—good, only Tsunade, no Orochimaru.

The only trouble was the three summoned beasts.

He regretted not bringing Killer Bee or Yugito Nii.

But if they joined the battle, Konoha would notice.

Then Konoha’s Jinchuriki would likely show up.

That would escalate into all-out war.

The other villages were watching closely.

Without more words, the Fourth Raikage attacked ferociously.

His target: Tsunade.

He ignored Shisui, Itachi, and Yugao for being too young.

Tsunade stood still, not moving at all.

The Raikage hesitated for a split second, but his fist didn’t stop—he punched right through her body.

No blood, no scream.

He looked around in shock, immediately realizing something was wrong.

"Genjutsu? When did this happen? And I didn’t even notice?"

This was the work of a top-tier Genjutsu master.

"Genjutsu Dissipation!"

Blue lightning erupted from his body.

The illusion vanished instantly.

Tsunade was gone.

Only Uchiha Shisui stood before him.

"Uchiha brat."

Raikage narrowed his eyes, noticing the three-tomoe Sharingan. He remembered who this was.

Over the last two years, Shisui had made a name for himself.

As they squared off, Dodai arrived with hundreds of Cloud ninja.

They were met by the massive serpents controlled by Itachi and Yugao.

The two snakes, tail to head, formed a giant ring.

They completely encircled the Thunder Expansion Device.

To get in, Dodai’s team would have to break through like Raikage—or kill the two beasts.

But how many in the whole village could rival the Raikage?

Their only real option: take down the summoned beasts.

Battle broke out.

Raikage soon realized he had underestimated Shisui.

He thought Shisui was just a rising rookie—but after a few exchanges, realized he was even trickier than Tsunade.

Countless Genjutsu attacks.

A single misstep would spell disaster.

On top of Genjutsu, his Fire Style and swordsmanship were top-notch.

And thanks to the Sharingan’s dynamic vision, the Raikage’s famed speed was suddenly much less effective.

…

A kilometer away, at the riverside, Natsume was fighting too.

But for him, it was easy and enjoyable.

Maybe the enemy didn’t expect anyone to attack the riverbank, or maybe they just thought the main camp could reinforce in seconds—so only a single ninja squad was left here.

"Water Style: Great Waterfall Jutsu!"

As soon as Natsume arrived, he formed hand seals.

Chakra gathered in his throat, and he spat out a massive torrent of water.

At the same time, the river nearby surged up, joining the attack to form a super-sized water ball.

This is the advantage of fighting near water.

With this river, Natsume’s Water Style was at least 10% stronger.

The water ball burst apart, a waterfall crashing down from above.

"Look out!"

The squad’s lone jonin reacted fastest.

But it was too late—the waterfall was too vast.

Only he managed to escape.

"Dammit!"

The Cloud jonin roared, drawing a long sword from his back.

He leaped toward Natsume, lightning crackling along his blade, slicing straight through Natsume’s body.

He paused, confused.

The sliced body turned into vines, wrapping him up.

"Water Style: Water Fang Blade!"

Natsume appeared behind him, chakra forming a water blade in his right hand, which he drove through the Cloud ninja.

Withdrawing the vines, Natsume checked the riverbank.

If the dam was broken, the water would flow downstream.

And the Hidden Cloud’s camp was to the left of the riverbank—safe from the flood.

Natsume needed to carve a channel.

"Earth Style: Earth Flow Rampart!"

Pouring vast chakra into the ground, he raised a massive earthen wall over twenty meters high.

Natsume’s face went pale.

He clutched the First Hokage’s necklace, regained chakra, and cast the jutsu seven more times, finally creating a huge canal.

Afterward, he cut the nearby cables.

Now, the lightning amplifier couldn’t spread far, but would concentrate at the main camp.

He just had to wait for his shadow clone by Tsunade’s side to relay the news.

A few seconds later, Natsume perked up, turning back to the riverbank.

"Water Style: Severing Wave!"

A high-pressure stream of water, sharp as a blade, sliced the riverbank in half.

The pent-up river water surged forth.

Guided by Natsume’s canal, it rushed toward the Hidden Cloud’s main camp.

"What’s going on?"

The deafening water made the Cloud ninja fighting nearby uneasy.

"Everyone, get out of the way!"

The Fourth Raikage leaped up, shouting, "Don’t touch the water!"

But the next moment, countless lightning bolts burst from Tsunade’s location.

Without the cables, the attack was indiscriminate.

Many Cloud ninja were paralyzed before they could dodge.

Then the floodwaters rushed in, leaving them completely immobilized.

Only the jonin and some chunin escaped in time.

"Dammit!"

Raikage was livid.

Lightning plus water—over a hundred losses in a single blow.

"Don’t let them escape!"

Seeing Tsunade and the others retreat, he ordered pursuit.

The remaining jonin and chunin went berserk.

A hard fight began.

Even with Tsunade, one of the Sannin, and geniuses like Shisui and Itachi, they were outnumbered.

Just then, Yugao’s face twisted in pain.

The curse mark on her neck spread, black spots covering her body.

"Don’t resist."

Orochimaru’s voice echoed.

Yugao’s heart trembled, but she dared not speak.

A moment later, she lost control of her body.

Now Orochimaru was in control.

But her target wasn’t the Cloud ninja—it was Shisui.

Powered by the curse mark, she moved as fast as a jonin.

Shisui, locked in fierce battle, never saw the attack coming from his teammate.

Hearing a rush of wind, he turned—just in time to see her hands reaching for his eyes.

"No!"

Itachi saw this, his Sharingan evolving from two tomoe to three in a burst of red light.

"Water Style: Water Prison!"

At the last instant, a stream of water bound Yugao’s right arm.

Shisui seized the chance to retreat, escaping the danger.

Natsume, having followed the water, noticed Yugao’s curse mark and kept a close eye on her.

As expected, trouble struck.

He didn’t want the Mangekyo Sharingan to fall into Orochimaru’s hands.

That would spell disaster.

By saving Shisui, he gained his trust.

That would make things easier later if he needed to betray or manipulate him.

And maybe, just maybe, he could one day obtain Kotoamatsukami.

"Yugao, what are you doing?!"

Itachi used a Body Flicker to appear, blade instinctively swinging at her.

"Wait! Something’s wrong—she’s not herself. If you kill her, we’ll never know the truth."

Natsume shouted urgently.

Itachi stopped, noticing Yugao had collapsed, unconscious.

Orochimaru’s consciousness had withdrawn just in time.

"Let’s go!"

Tsunade shouted.

She too had noticed the strange scene, but now wasn’t the time to investigate.

"Fire Style: Great Dragon Fire!"

Shisui reacted quickest.

Nobody noticed his eyes spinning, forming four black, connected blades.

The fire lit up everything.

The charging Cloud ninja felt a chill and momentarily lost focus.

Tsunade and the others escaped.

[Because of your actions, Uchiha Itachi’s fate has changed. You gain 49 Fate Points.]

[Because of your actions, Uchiha Shisui’s fate has changed. You gain 68 Fate Points.]

[Because of your actions, Uchiha Sasuke’s fate has changed. You gain 49 Fate Points.]

[Because of your actions, Orochimaru’s fate has changed. You gain 89 Fate Points.]

[Because of your actions, the Fourth Raikage’s fate has changed. You gain 19 Fate Points.]

[Because of your actions, Dodai’s fate has changed. You gain 8 Fate Points.]

[Because of your actions, Uzuki Yugao’s fate has changed. You gain 7 Fate Points.]

Natsume was stunned by the sudden flood of notifications.

So many?

Setting aside Yugao, the Raikage, and Dodai, the Fate Points from the other four were quite impressive—clearly, the changes were significant.

And Natsume didn’t even know the specifics.

In other words, events had already deviated from the original plot.

Chapter 50: The Lure of Going Home

Although the Fourth Raikage was furious, he did not pursue.

One, he feared an ambush.

Two, over a hundred ninja were being electrocuted—there was still a chance to save them.

Natsume and the others ran for an hour before stopping.

"Lady Tsunade," Shisui looked grim. He had almost lost his Mangekyo Sharingan.

If Kotoamatsukami fell into the wrong hands, it would be a disaster.

"My squad has some issues to resolve. Please give us some time, Lady Tsunade."

"Alright."

She was curious, but Shisui made it clear he wanted her to stay out of their team’s business.

Natsume wanted to eavesdrop, but wasn’t invited.

He could only watch as Shisui and Itachi carried the unconscious Yugao into a tent.

Jealous? No, just sympathetic.

Two Sharingan users—no one could withstand their combo of hypnosis and interrogation.

But knowing Orochimaru, he would probably erase any traces.

Natsume didn’t want trouble for now—he just wanted to focus on his experiments.

…

"Wake her up," Shisui said coolly. He had grown cold toward Yugao.

Itachi knelt beside her, worked for a few minutes, and Yugao woke up.

"What happened?"

She looked confused.

"Do you remember what just happened?"

Shisui frowned.

"I remember fighting Cloud ninja with you—and then I used the curse mark jutsu my teacher gave me, and blacked out."

She held her head, shaking it, but remembered nothing else.

Orochimaru.

Both Shisui and Itachi thought of that name.

He had planted the curse mark. Its loss of control must be connected to him.

"Look into my eyes," Itachi said, his three-tomoe Sharingan spinning.

Yugao looked up blankly, her eyes losing focus.

"Who was it?"

He asked.

Hypnosis could push her into her subconscious and overcome some jutsu.

"I don’t know," she shook her head.

Clearly, Orochimaru had covered his tracks well.

"Shisui, what do we do?" Itachi said heavily. "We have no proof. We can’t accuse Orochimaru."

He’d lost the last bit of respect for his former teacher.

Orochimaru had treated him well, but now he saw his true colors.

"Even if we had proof, just Yugao alone wouldn’t be enough to bring him down," Shisui mused.

Orochimaru’s position in Konoha was too high. Unless the Third Hokage ordered it, no one would dare touch him.

"Should we tell the Hokage?" Shisui hesitated.

If Sarutobi Hiruzen knew, he would surely investigate, and the Mangekyo Sharingan would be exposed.

"Let’s wait. The Uchiha clan hasn’t reached the breaking point yet," Shisui thought.

If the Uchiha did rebel, he would reveal Kotoamatsukami to Hiruzen, control Fugaku, and prevent a pointless fight.

"For now, we put this aside," Shisui said worriedly. "Now that I’m on guard, he won’t get me. But you’re in danger."

Itachi fell silent.

Now, it was clear—Orochimaru had taken him as a student with ill intent.

If he stayed, he’d likely be betrayed.

"Shisui, now that I’ve awakened the three-tomoe Sharingan, can you tell me how to get the Mangekyo?"

To handle Orochimaru and the Uchiha, he needed more power.

He believed, as in the original story, that with enough power, he could save everyone.

In the end, this thinking led to the Uchiha massacre.

He thought his way was right.

He endured disgrace, became a criminal, and bore all the village’s and Sasuke’s hatred and darkness.

Natsume could only think: Stay away from the Uchiha, cherish your life, and read more books.

"Mangekyo Sharingan?" Shisui fell silent.

Itachi was gifted, and likely to awaken it.

But that pain was not for everyone.

To gain it meant to gain and lose love—awakening could happen because of his parents, brother, or his best friend—Shisui himself.

"You’ve just awakened three-tomoe, and you’re still young. It’ll be hard to get Mangekyo soon," Shisui smiled gently. "And the method won’t work if I say it out loud. You’ll know when the time comes."

…

Natsume calculated his Fate Points.

After the windfall just now, he had about 900 points total.

Not a lot, but not little.

In the Fate Shop, a Sage Body cost 3,900 points.

Even more than Wood Release.

But it made sense.

This wasn’t Hashirama’s Sage Body, but the Sage of Six Paths’ body.

With it and Wood Release, Natsume would be nearly invincible.

Well, except for the Otsutsuki—aliens from space.

Sage Mode was much cheaper—1,500 points.

If Natsume hadn’t learned Sage Mode in Shikkotsu Forest, he’d consider redeeming it.

As for other things, there were too many.

His real favorite was the Flying Thunder God Jutsu.

It cost 1,000 points.

Very tempting.

After redeeming, he’d be fully proficient.

It was handy, but he could try learning it first.

Before long, as Natsume was mulling it over, the three came out, Yugao still dazed.

"Lady Tsunade, it’s resolved," Shisui reported.

"Let’s head back," Tsunade said.

She didn’t ask for details—everyone had secrets, and she wasn’t that nosy.

If it were Natsume’s secret, though, she might peek.

When the group returned, they were greeted like heroes.

Konoha’s spies had already sent word.

The war had lasted nearly three years, but this was the biggest victory.

They’d wiped out dozens of Cloud ninja in one go.

Even if most were genin, it was a huge blow to the Hidden Cloud.

Now, they had two choices: reinforce and escalate the war, or accept defeat and sue for peace.

The latter was more likely.

Better to cut their losses.

Uchiha Fugaku was thrilled—two Uchiha geniuses were key contributors, and Itachi was his own son.

His son’s glory was his own.

Proof of his excellent parenting.

Hyuga Hiashi, on the other hand, was upset—he’d only gained minor credit.

If the Uchiha had done as poorly as he had, it’d be fine. But both Shisui and Itachi had outperformed everyone.

Seeing the Uchiha thriving was harder to bear than death.

"Fugaku, tell our spies in Iwagakure to stir up some trouble," Tsunade said. The war’s goal was met; it was time to pressure Hidden Cloud into suing for peace.

"No problem," Fugaku replied. He didn’t want to keep fighting either.

He’d been away for two years—his younger son, Sasuke, might not even recognize him.

Itachi had grown so much—it was Sasuke’s turn now.

…

…

Three days later, the Fourth Raikage formally requested peace.

Cloud’s envoys would soon arrive in Konoha to negotiate.

With the war over, Tsunade and company could finally go home.

Honestly, after half a month away, Natsume missed home.

Maybe that’s the lure of returning home.

PS: Some readers felt the Fate Shop was too vague. This chapter lists some things the MC wants to redeem:

Sage Body: 3,900 Fate Points

Six Paths Sage Body, not just Hashirama’s.

Sage Mode: 1,500 points.

Flying Thunder God: 1,000 points, instantly mastered after exchange.

Other items omitted.

Chapter 51: The Village’s Best Sword

The news reached Konoha and caused quite a stir among the upper ranks.

But reactions varied.

Sarutobi Hiruzen was pleased.

Tsunade was his student, so he was glad to see her shine.

The other seven involved, except for Shisui, were all his students’ students.

In other words, all from the Hokage’s line.

But some were closer than others.

No matter how well Shisui and Itachi did, Tsunade was his true successor.

Natsume’s performance also pleased him.

Finally, a genius not named Uchiha.

Some were happy. Others, not so much.

Like Orochimaru and Shimura Danzo.

Orochimaru was just one step from his goal—enraged.

Danzo thought Tsunade’s reputation was rising too fast; she might become the next Hokage soon.

On the way back, Fugaku received a message from the ANBU.

The Third Hokage would hold a welcome parade for them in Konoha.

Sarutobi understood public opinion.

After all, the White Fang died because of it.

The parade would boost Tsunade’s prestige and dispel the Uchiha clan’s doubts.

…

Two days later, morning at Konoha’s gate.

It was a huge event.

But Natsume didn’t want to join the fun.

"You all go ahead," Tsunade said after the parade. She still had to report their mission.

"You did great. The old man will reward you—just ask for anything you want."

"Okay."

The three left the group.

"I’m off to Tanzaku Quarters," Natsume said.

Kabuto and Shizune already knew about the Gunma Company, so they weren’t surprised.

Natsume waved goodbye and left.

Soon, he arrived at the Gunma Casino.

"I’m back!"

He opened the door.

Inside, Karin and Uzumaki Hinaee froze, then broke into smiles and ran to him.

"Big brother!"

Karin was first, or maybe Hinae hung back to let her daughter go first.

"Have you been studying hard?" Natsume picked her up.

He smiled reassuringly at Hinae.

"What’s with that?" Karin pouted, hands on hips. "You ask about studying as soon as you get back—do you not like me?"

She was so cute, Natsume couldn’t help but laugh.

Hinae chuckled too.

She patted Karin’s head. "Nonsense—your brother loves you most."

"Yes, and I got you a present," Natsume said, handing her a small shuriken.

Most girls her age preferred toys or dolls.

But Karin was different—hot-tempered and loved martial arts.

She examined the shuriken, noticed the intricate carvings, and smiled in satisfaction.

"Alright, you’re forgiven," she said, tilting her head. "Now put me down and hug Mom."

Hinae looked at her in surprise.

"Mom, you wanted to hug brother, but I beat you to it—now it’s your turn," Karin said, acting proud.

Natsume couldn’t help but laugh.

Kids are so smart.

He didn’t refuse.

He put Karin down and opened his arms.

Hinae hesitated, looked at Karin, then shyly stepped forward to hug him.

She’d been worried sick lately, afraid of bad news.

Now, surrounded by his familiar scent, she felt all her emptiness fill, pure joy and contentment.

Because of their height difference, it was more like Natsume hugging her.

Not that she minded.

Natsume nuzzled her smooth cheek, making her dizzy.

But she didn’t push him away.

Until Karin huffed, "That’s longer than me!"

Hinae snapped out of it, embarrassed, and let go.

She felt like she’d stolen something precious from her daughter.

"Have you eaten?" Hinae asked, checking the time.

"Nope," Natsume grinned. "I’ve been eating pig food out there—please cook something nice for me."

"Just a moment," Hinae smiled warmly and headed to the kitchen.

Natsume sat with Karin in his lap, picked up a book.

"Time for a quiz. What does 'Is it not a joy to have friends come from afar?' mean?"

"It means it’s great when kindred spirits come from far away!" Karin recited.

"Not bad."

"Next: 'A gentleman loves wealth but gets it by proper means.' How do you translate that?"

"I like money, so I’ll just take yours. That’s perfectly reasonable!" Karin said, totally serious.

Kakuzu would approve.

Natsume couldn’t refute her logic.

"Dinner’s ready!" Hinae called, carrying the dishes.

Karin jumped up and ran to the table.

If you don’t eat well, your thinking is problematic.

But really, she was just happy to avoid more studying.

…

After dinner, Natsume headed home.

He’d have liked to stay, but there was business in the afternoon—the team had to see the Hokage.

He didn’t know what kind of reward to ask for.

Thanks to Tsunade, he lacked for nothing.

Even the Scroll of Seals was accessible.

What he truly wanted, Sarutobi couldn’t give.

Hokage’s Office.

Tsunade barged in and sprawled on the couch, showing no respect.

The rest bowed politely to Hiruzen.

He nodded, then beamed at Tsunade.

"Well done. If not for you, the war wouldn’t have ended so soon. Compared to Orochimaru and Jiraiya, you give me much less to worry about."

"It wasn’t just me," Tsunade waved it off. "Enough with the flattery—let’s talk real rewards."

She didn’t care for herself, but wanted to get something for her students.

The old man had plenty of goodies—it was time to hand them out.

"Alright," Hiruzen tapped his pipe. "You infiltrated enemy lines and flooded the Cloud ninja—an S-rank achievement. You’ll be rewarded as for four S-rank missions."

"And?" Tsunade asked.

Four S-rank missions meant at least a million ryo per person.

But money was the least important thing.

"What do you want? Jutsu or ninja tools—name it," Hiruzen said generously.

Not just for Tsunade—anyone with great merit got lavish rewards.

Usually, it was jutsu.

"Hokage-sama," Kabuto had prepared his request. "I hope you’ll increase support for the Konoha Orphanage."

Hiruzen was taken aback.

But it left a good impression—Kabuto was sentimental and soft-hearted.

Rare among ninja.

Hiruzen liked ninja like that.

Because the soft-hearted cared about others.

That was the Will of Fire.

"No problem," Hiruzen said with regret. "The orphanage should have been repaired long ago, but due to the recent chaos and war, it’s been delayed. Thank you for reminding me."

Now that’s the art of conversation!

Natsume couldn’t help but admire it.

Come to think of it, Naruto had probably been talked into coming back by now.

"Hokage-sama, I’d like a set of custom medical ninja tools," Shizune requested.

She could have used Natsume’s money, but wasn’t that type.

"Of course," Hiruzen nodded, then turned to Natsume. "And you, Natsume? Your performance was outstanding—feel free to make a special request."

He was hinting that Natsume could ask for more.

And honestly, Natsume deserved it.

He was the one who blew up the riverbank; Shizune and Kabuto just played messenger.

Natsume hesitated, unsure what to ask for.

"The Sword of the Thunder God," Tsunade suddenly said. "Natsume, you need a good weapon. The Sword of the Thunder God is Konoha’s best sword."

Chapter 52: Completely Irresistible

The Sword of the Thunder God?

That sounds familiar.

Natsume instinctively glanced at Tsunade.

“The Sword of the Thunder God is a ninja tool once used by my grand-uncle, Tobirama Senju,” Tsunade explained, thinking Natsume was confused. “It has two properties: first, it possesses lightning attributes; second, the more chakra you input, the stronger it becomes.”

Natsume nodded in realization.

No wonder it felt familiar.

There’s a plotline about the Sword of the Thunder God: Aoi Rokushō instigated Idate Morino to steal it, after which he defected to the Village Hidden in the Rain. He eventually ran into the protagonists, was defeated by Team 7, and turned into their leveling fodder.

The sword suffered consecutive hits from Sasuke’s Chidori and Naruto’s Rasengan, and it cracked.

A great village sword—snap, broken.

But it wasn’t the sword’s fault, it was Aoi Rokushō’s.

He didn’t input enough chakra, so the sword wasn’t hard enough to withstand the combined attacks of Sasuke and Naruto.

“This sword is a relic of my teacher and has always been kept by the Konoha. I don’t mind giving it to you, but based on your current achievements, you haven’t earned it yet,” Hiruzen Sarutobi interjected. “Natsume, you know that as Hokage, the most important thing is fairness. I can’t reward you just because you’re my grand-disciple.”

How do you define fairness?

Natsume was impressed by Hiruzen’s straight-faced delivery.

No wonder he could be Hokage for so many years and earn the title of the strongest.

“Old man, give him my share of the reward as well,” Tsunade spoke up. “I don’t need any rewards anyway.”

At her current level, she was already at the pinnacle of medical ninjutsu.

Ninjutsu or ninja tools meant nothing to her now.

“You really do dote on your student,” Hiruzen sighed, glancing at her. “If you insist, then take the sword.”

Technically, all Senju clan heirlooms should go to Tsunade, including the Sword of the Thunder God. But after she left the village due to her hemophobia, she stopped caring, so the village kept everything in trust.

So many years have passed, it’s all tangled and unclear now.

But putting that aside, Tsunade’s contributions are more than enough for any reward.

Now that she’d given her share to Natsume, Hiruzen was quite happy.

If he kept rewarding her, she’d eventually become the Hokage.

“Thank you, Grandpa Hokage!”

Natsume quickly thanked him, then shot Tsunade a look, meaning he’d thank her properly later.

“Shisui, go fetch the Sword of the Thunder God,” Hiruzen instructed.

“Yes.”

A voice replied—no one visible.

“Shisui’s joined the Anbu now?” Tsunade asked.

“Yes,” Hiruzen said with a satisfied smile. “He’s inherited Kagami’s will. He’s strong and well-known, and is now an Anbu squad leader.”

“He’s very impressive,” Tsunade recalled his fight with the Fourth Raikage; few jonin could fight to a standstill like that.

A few minutes later, Uchiha Shisui flashed into the Hokage’s office and handed a sword hilt to Natsume, quietly saying, “I’ll find you tomorrow.”

Natsume looked at him in confusion, but Shisui didn’t explain and quickly disappeared.

Natsume focused on the sword, channeled chakra into it, and the blade materialized.

Seeing it for himself, Natsume thought it looked even more like a lightsaber.

Perfect. From today on, he was a Jedi.

[Because of your actions, Aoi Rokushō’s fate has changed. You gain 39 Fate Points.]

[Because of your actions, Idate Morino’s fate has changed. You gain 28 Fate Points.]

Not bad.

After all, they were just minor side characters.

“Tsunade, soon the Cloud Village will send envoys for peace talks. Why don’t you represent the Konoha and negotiate with them?”

“No.”

Tsunade flatly rejected Hiruzen’s suggestion.

“Let’s go.”

She got up, waved her hand, and left with Natsume and the others, not leaving a trace behind.

Hiruzen sighed.

He had already intended Tsunade to be the Fifth Hokage.

But she clearly wasn’t interested.

Apart from her student, she couldn’t care less about anything else.

How could someone like that govern the Konoha well?

“Looks like this old man will have to hold on for a while longer,” Hiruzen mused.

As for Jiraiya—not even worth mentioning.

Fooled by an old toad, wandering the world looking for the Child of Prophecy.

Hiruzen had long realized that while Jiraiya listened to him, he always put Mount Myoboku first.

This annoyed him.

Are you a Konoha ninja, or a Mount Myoboku ninja?

…

Kabuto, on the way, detoured to the Konoha Orphanage to see Nonou.

Tsunade, Shizune, and Natsume returned to Senju’s old house.

“I’m going to train. I’ll cook dinner later,” Shizune said, feeling inadequate after going out and determined to work harder.

“Thank you, sis,” Natsume said, now that only the two of them were left.

“You’re welcome.”

Tsunade rubbed his head, her pleasant voice sounding, “If you keep being good, I’ll give you more rewards.”

Details, please.

What kind of rewards?

Anything… adult?

Natsume hugged her right arm, resting his head on her side, and said, “I’ll do my best!”

Tsunade smiled with satisfaction, pinched his cheek, and enjoyed how soft it felt.

She couldn’t help squeezing it again.

“Sis, I have a present for you,” Natsume released her arm and, under her curious gaze, took out a necklace.

Compared to the First Hokage’s necklace, this one looked much fancier.

Tsunade, being a woman, was immediately drawn to its beauty.

“Sis, you’re a great beauty—how can you be without a necklace?” Natsume said with a smile. “Consider it our exchange of necklaces.”

If any other man said that, Tsunade would think he was up to something.

But this nine-year-old, with sincere eyes, just looked at her.

She felt like she couldn’t resist.

After a moment, Tsunade happily patted his head, smiling as warmly as spring.

“Help me put it on.”

She turned around and crouched in front of him.

Natsume lifted her twin tails, fastened the necklace around her delicate neck, and clasped it.

“How does it look?”

Tsunade examined the necklace.

So big—no, so white.

Natsume nodded, “It’s beautiful.”

“You’ve got a sweet mouth,” Tsunade poked his forehead, but her smile gave her away.

How do you know it’s sweet?

You have to test it to know.

Natsume criticized her lack of rigor in his mind but said, “I’m speaking the truth.”

“I believe you,” Tsunade yawned. “Unsealing the Yin Seal used up a lot of chakra, so I’ve been kind of tired lately.”

“I’ll give you a massage,” Natsume said, patting his lap as he sat on the sofa. “Sis, lie down.”

Tsunade hesitated for a few seconds.

She didn’t want to give in, but in this situation, it was impossible to refuse.

It’s just a massage.

After fighting for so long, can’t she enjoy herself a little?

Chapter 53: Tsunade’s Weakness

Tsunade rested her head on Natsume’s lap and closed her eyes.

“I’ll start,” Natsume said, brushing her bangs aside and beginning the massage.

He didn’t really know how to massage, but kneading and rubbing couldn’t go wrong.

He pressed her forehead in a steady rhythm.

After a few minutes, Tsunade’s body relaxed.

She was already a bit tired, and with someone gently massaging her, she quickly drifted off.

Natsume soon moved to her face.

Very soft, but not chubby.

Just the right build—a woman like this didn’t feel bony at all.

Suddenly, Tsunade turned, facing him.

Natsume found it awkward to continue.

After a moment’s thought, he looked at her delicate ear and blew gently.

In his previous life, this was called ASMR.

Natsume sometimes listened to it, but it never cured his insomnia—if anything, it made him more excited.

Still, it was quite pleasant.

He just lacked the right tools, like cotton swabs.

“Don’t!”

Tsunade shivered, waking up to see Natsume’s bewildered face.

“My ears don’t need a massage,” she said softly, cheeks a little red.

Natsume was startled.

So soft-spoken… wait, that’s not Tsunade’s usual style.

Oh, so that’s it.

Sensitive spot.

If this were a game—like Sekiro—there’d be a red dot on her ear.

Natsume made a mental note and nodded, “Got it.”

Tsunade closed her eyes again.

Soon, her breathing became slow and regular.

Natsume enjoyed the smooth softness until his hands got tired and he stopped.

“I—”

Shizune had just walked in and saw Tsunade sleeping.

A teacher and her student should act like teacher and student.

But looking at them, you’d never guess they had that relationship.

Still, thinking about how Tsunade and Natsume normally interacted, it made sense.

Shizune quietly slipped into the kitchen.

Natsume continued gently stroking Tsunade’s hair.

A little revenge—after being patted on the head so many times, he finally got to return the favor.

When mealtime came, Tsunade woke up.

She'd slept well.

Ever since being cured of her hemophobia and returning to sleeping alone, she'd suffered occasional insomnia from the change.

Natsume stood up, but his legs were numb after sitting still all afternoon and he fell backward.

Tsunade quickly reached out to steady him.

But something embarrassing happened—Natsume instinctively grabbed for something as he fell and ended up grabbing her chest.

Tsunade gasped as she felt Natsume's hand close around her ample breast. The thin fabric of her shirt did little to dull the sensation of his fingers pressing into her soft flesh. A jolt of electricity shot through her body, making her nipple harden instantly against his palm.

Natsume's eyes went wide as he realized what he was gripping. He could feel the warmth of her skin, the pliable give of her breast, the stiff peak of her nipple. For a moment, he was frozen, unable to let go.

Tsunade’s face turned bright red. She let go, letting him fall onto the sofa.

“Come eat,” she muttered, vanishing.

Natsume looked at his left hand.

I swear, it was an accident.

Then it was time for dinner, training, and sleep.

Natsume fell asleep easily.

But Tsunade didn’t—her mind was too clear, and she couldn’t sleep at all.

After a long while, she got up and quietly went to Natsume’s door.

The door was closed, but not locked.

Using her excellent stealth skills, Tsunade made it to his bedside without waking him.

Natsume slept soundly, his face peaceful.

With his looks, he seemed as fragile as porcelain to Tsunade.

She felt a surge of unfamiliar emotion.

Tsunade was confused.

She knew keeping her distance was right, but she couldn’t control her feelings.

Suppressing them too much would only make them explode later.

Tsunade sighed softly, stood there for a bit, did nothing, and left.

After calming down, she finally made it through the long night.

…

…

The next day.

There was a knock at the door.

“Lady Tsunade, is Natsume home?”

Uchiha Shisui asked when Tsunade answered.

“Shisui? What’s your business with him?”

Tsunade asked, raising an eyebrow. She had no prejudice against the Uchiha, but preferred Natsume not get too close to them.

Typical parent behavior.

“I’d like to treat him to a meal to thank him,” Shisui said, sensing Tsunade’s guardedness, though he couldn’t understand it.

“I’ll ask him,” Tsunade decided not to refuse.

She went to the study.

“Shisui wants to thank you with dinner. Will you go?”

“Thank him?”

Natsume realized why Shisui had said that in the Hokage’s office yesterday—it was for stopping Orochimaru.

“I’ll go,” Natsume agreed.

Soon, he and Shisui arrived at a barbecue place.

Uchiha Itachi was already there, having ordered the food.

“This meal is to thank you for your help. Otherwise, I might have lost my eyes,” Shisui said, raising his cup. “Since we’re underage, let’s drink juice.”

The three clinked their glasses.

“I’ve read your essay on the Will of Fire,” Shisui added after finishing his drink. “It’s rare to meet someone so like-minded. Let’s be friends.”

Well, well!

Returning kindness with danger.

Everyone knows Uchiha friends are the most dangerous—who knows when you’ll be used as sacrifice for their Sharingan.

Natsume smiled and picked up his chopsticks, “Sure, let’s talk.”

The meal went well for all three.

Though he’d gained some temporary trust from Shisui and Itachi, Natsume’s life didn’t really change.

…

Another week passed.

The Cloud Village envoys arrived.

To show sincerity, Hiruzen himself led the major clans to receive them.

In the Hokage Tower’s reception hall—

“Why isn’t Hiashi here?”

Hiruzen asked, noticing the Hyuga clan was absent.

“The clan head is busy preparing for Lady Hinata’s third birthday and couldn’t get away,” the Hokage’s guard replied.

Hiruzen frowned.

A show of dissatisfaction.

In the previous war, Tsunade and Fugaku were front and center; the Hyuga clan wasn’t mentioned.

He took a puff of his pipe. “No matter.”

The Hyuga had always been loyal to the Hokage.

Whoever’s in charge, they support.

That’s why they’ve lasted so long.

Annoyed or not, their loyalty was unwavering.

Hiruzen didn’t mind Hiashi’s little protest.

He’d make it up to them later.

Soon, the Cloud Village envoy entered—their leader was jonin Samoya.

As both sides began their verbal sparring over terms, Natsume received an invitation.

From the Hyuga clan, personally written by Hiashi with great sincerity.

An invitation to Hinata’s birthday banquet.

Of course Natsume wouldn’t miss it.

The Cloud Village envoys had just arrived, and that incident was about to happen—the Hinata kidnapping.

Fate Points were calling.

It was a turning point not just for her, but also for Hizashi and Neji.

If he could save them, maybe he’d even trigger the main house/branch house conflict and get more Fate Points.

But the Caged Bird Seal would always be a shackle.

No matter how much trouble they caused, the branch house could never escape their fate.

Chapter 54: Only Those Who Know, Know

“That’s a bit ticklish,”

Natsume shivered.

Uzumaki Hinae paused her massage, took a sip of water, then continued.

A warm, moist sensation kept coming from his ear.

Natsume thought—this was the real way to enjoy life.

Real-life ASMR was great.

After massaging Tsunade last time, he’d wanted to try it himself. Now, with Hinae doing it, it truly was enjoyable.

She wasn’t very skilled yet, but serious enough.

With this attitude, her proficiency would improve in no time.

Then he could have her try other spots.

All according to plan.

Natsume lay sideways on Hinae’s lap, admiring her clothes.

Today, she wore an outfit he’d designed.

Not the previous Ram or Ishtar—this time, it was an elf named Celestine Lucross.

Let’s just say, those who know, know.

And those who don’t—don’t ask, just stay innocent.

The dress was white, but not much fabric.

Natsume's eyes wandered appreciatively over Hinae's scantily-clad form as he reclined in her lap. The white "dress" - if you could even call it that - left very little to the imagination. Its sheer fabric clung to every curve, the plunging neckline exposing a tantalizing amount of cleavage.

From his vantage point below, Natsume had an unobstructed view up the dangerously short skirt. Only that teasing black strap stood between his gaze and Hinae's most intimate areas. His breath caught as she shifted slightly, causing the strap to slide to the side.

Hinae’s face was crimson, like a cat, as she kept massaging his ear.

Gentle, helpless, but obedient—hard not to feel sorry for her.

Natsume felt his body responding to the erotic sight above him. He longed to reach up and caress Hinae's trembling thighs, to slide his hands beneath that flimsy excuse for a dress. But for now, he simply enjoyed the view, drinking in every detail of her barely-concealed body.

After half an hour, Natsume finished his happy time, looking very satisfied.

Hinae wiped sweat from her brow, feeling parched, and drank another cup of water.

“Thank you.”

Natsume pinched her blushing cheek—felt warm.

“As long as you like it,”

Hinae replied shyly, but her tone was still gentle—like a mother who didn’t mind a child’s mischief.

Natsume didn’t stay; tonight was Hinata’s birthday banquet.

…

Four days had passed since the Cloud Village envoys arrived, but negotiations still weren’t done—neither side’s demands had been met.

Cloud wanted maximum benefit.

Hiruzen, as the war’s real winner, also made demands.

So things were at a standstill.

But negotiations are always a tug-of-war—rarely settled instantly.

Tsunade, Natsume, Shizune, and Kabuto arrived at the Hyuga estate.

It was dusk, but the place was lively—guests coming and going, Hyuga clan members busy everywhere.

As one of the Sannin, Tsunade was treated differently.

“Lady Tsunade,”

Hiashi quickly greeted her. “We’ve prepared special sake for you tonight—please enjoy.”

“Good sake? Then I’ll have to try it. If it’s not good, I’ll hold you responsible,” Tsunade’s eyes lit up at the mention of good alcohol.

“Don’t worry, it is,”

Hiashi promised, leading the four into the courtyard.

He favored Tsunade not just for her title, but because as a medical ninja, she increased everyone’s chances of survival.

“Lady Tsunade, you and your three disciples can sit anywhere. I need to greet more guests, so please excuse me,” Hiashi apologized and left.

“Quite a crowd,”

Tsunade looked around—most were familiar faces: major clan ninjas and jonin civilians.

At least several hundred people—very lively.

Reasonable, though.

The Hyuga were not just one of Konoha’s founding clans, but one with deep roots since the Warring States period.

Strong and, unlike the Uchiha, easy to get along with—so they had good relations with other clans.

Now it was Hinata’s birthday, so everyone showed up.

Even the Uchiha sent someone—Uchiha Mikoto, who came because of Hyuga Rinka.

The men fought, but their wives were close friends.

“Lady Tsunade, Kabuto, Natsume—”

A familiar face approached: Yakushi Nonou.

“Director,”

Natsume and Kabuto stood up and greeted her.

“Sit, no need for formality,”

Nonou smiled kindly.

Natsume was now being promoted as Konoha’s new genius.

And Kabuto, staying true to his roots, had secured more funding for the orphanage.

Both fame and money—Nonou felt proud of her two foster sons.

“Director, now that Konoha manages the orphanage, why not work at the hospital?” Natsume suggested during small talk.

“Why do you think that?”

Nonou was surprised.

“You’re a medical ninja—being at the orphanage is a waste,”

Natsume looked to Tsunade for support.

“True,”

Tsunade caught his drift. “I know your skills. If you want, I can get the old man to make you vice director at the hospital. What do you think?”

Natsume gave a thumbs up.

Nice one, sis.

Staying at the orphanage always left her vulnerable to Danzo’s threats—it wasn’t valued. But the hospital was central to the medical system, and as vice director, Hiruzen wouldn’t send her on dangerous missions.

Plus, with Tsunade’s recommendation, even Danzo would hesitate.

Previously, Natsume hadn’t brought it up—he hadn’t thought of it, and they’d been too young.

Also, Nonou wouldn’t abandon the orphanage at first.

But now, with the village’s help, her burden was much lighter.

At least she didn’t have to struggle to make ends meet.

“But the orphanage…”

Nonou hesitated.

“Leave it to me,” Kabuto said. “I’ll look after it, and if there’s trouble, we’ll ask Tsunade-sensei or the Hokage for help.”

With Tsunade as backup, Nonou was reassured.

[Because of your actions, Yakushi Nonou’s fate has changed. You gain 49 Fate Points.]

With that, Natsume’s Fate Points broke a thousand.

Worth celebrating.

But he didn’t spend any—saving up for Sage Body or for emergencies.

“Why are they here?”

“So bold…”

“The villages are at war, but we can’t just attack the envoys.”

Suddenly, whispers made Natsume look up.

At the door stood twelve Cloud ninja, their headbands on display.

At the front was the Cloud envoys’ leader, Samoya.

Natsume raised his eyebrows.

He’d long wondered how Samoya got close to Hinata in the ultra-secure Hyuga estate.

As the saying goes, the most dangerous place is the safest.

Hinata’s birthday banquet had gathered almost all of Konoha’s elite.

No one would expect trouble now.

But thinking outside the box—that’s exactly why the Hyuga let their guard down.

In the party’s later stages, with everyone eating and drinking, it would be easy to sneak into the inner house and take Hinata.

No matter what, Natsume decided to keep an eye on Samoya.