Adopted by Tsunade [109-110] (Patreon)

Chapter 109: He Who Plays with Fire Gets Burned

Uchiha Fugaku was asleep.

Suddenly, he heard urgent knocking.

He opened his eyes, puzzled.

In the middle of the night—what's going on?

"I'll go take a look."

Fugaku gave Mikoto a reassuring glance, put on his clothes, and opened the door.

"Yashiro?"

Among the Uchiha, he trusted Uchiha Yashiro quite a bit.

He was Fugaku's right-hand man in the Konoha Police Force—calling him the vice-captain wouldn't be an exaggeration.

Someone with talent for analysis and leadership.

"Clan Head, come with me."

Yashiro spoke in a low voice. "There's something that needs your decision."

Fugaku found this stranger still. Couldn't they say it here?

But out of trust, he didn't ask further and followed Yashiro to a room.

"Clan Head."

Uchiha Inabi and Uchiha Tekka stood and saluted.

Fugaku was about to speak when he saw Sarutobi Seinosuke behind them.

His heart jolted. He hurried forward, reached out to feel for breath, and then turned back, rigid.

"Tell me—who killed him?"

"Clan Head."

Yashiro recounted what had happened, including what they extracted using the Sharingan.

"How is that possible?"

Fugaku instinctively didn't believe it. "That day, Sarutobi Hiruzen's panic didn't seem fake."

And he didn't believe a man hailed as a paragon of shinobi would stoop to something so filthy.

"Clan Head! Sarutobi Seinosuke had Wood Release—that's ironclad."

Inabi pressed, "He's not from the Senju. How could he have Wood Release?"

Fugaku fell silent.

Wood Release wasn't some dime-a-dozen Kekkei Genkai.

There had to be some connection among the masked man, Sarutobi Seinosuke, Orochimaru, and Shimura Danzō.

It was hard to say what role Sarutobi Hiruzen was playing in all this.

The Uchiha were already at a critical juncture of survival.

Now that they'd killed Sarutobi Seinosuke, whether they wanted to rebel or not, they'd be forced down that path.

"Did you handle this discreetly? Were you noticed by the ANBU when you returned?"

Fugaku sighed inwardly.

He was reluctant to walk the road of rebellion.

Even with the Mangekyō Sharingan, it would only mean rivers of blood.

"Don't worry. No one knows."

Yashiro's expression was firm.

"Then let's stall this for a while."

Fugaku said in a low voice, "Compared to all of Konoha, our clan is too weak. We need a proper plan before we rebel."

At the word "rebel," the other three looked ecstatic.

Why had the conservatives lasted until now?

Because Fugaku kept the balance.

That, and the pro-Hokage faction of Shisui and Itachi.

Now that Fugaku had relented, his son Itachi would naturally have to change his stance as well.

"Pass the word: tomorrow morning we hold a clan meeting at the Naka Shrine."

Fugaku waved a hand.

The Naka Shrine was their ancestral ground—very secure.

Their new district, however, was always under ANBU surveillance.

Many things couldn't be discussed there.

"Clan Head, how should we deal with Sarutobi Seinosuke's body?"

Yashiro pointed and asked, "Should we burn it?"

"Keep it."

Fugaku thought for a moment. "If we rebel, Sarutobi Hiruzen will be our greatest enemy. At that time, we can use Seinosuke's corpse to throw him off balance."

"Clan Head, brilliant."

Yashiro looked genuinely impressed.

"Move Sarutobi Seinosuke's body to the Naka Shrine for safekeeping tonight."

Fugaku added more instructions.

After the three left, he let out a long sigh. In the end, he was setting foot on that road.

It was late, but he no longer felt sleepy.

…

Natsume slept soundly.

After all, he had a very fragrant body pillow.

But his work was far from done.

Seinosuke dying at the hands of Inabi and Tekka would only inflame Hiruzen's rage.

The most likely result might be shifting Hiruzen's resolve to maintain a fragile peace between the Uchiha and Konoha's leadership.

That wasn't Natsume's goal.

He had to make someone—or rather, all of Konoha—believe the Uchiha's downfall was caused by Hiruzen's thirst for vengeance after his son's death.

That way, public opinion could be guided, leaving a stain on the strongest Hokage's legacy and making him unfit to remain Hokage.

He who plays with fire gets burned.

Hiruzen had played with the Will of Fire all his life, unaware he was about to be consumed by it.

But Natsume couldn't do this himself—lest Tsunade get caught up in it.

The best candidate was none other than Shimura Danzō.

First, he was a master at manipulating public opinion. The smear against the White Fang of Konoha and the Nine-Tails demon fox label on Naruto—both were spread by him.

Second, he had motive to frame Hiruzen—he wanted to be Hokage.

Lastly, when it came to taking the blame, he was the chosen Scapekage.

He just couldn't approach Danzō directly.

Right now, the likeliest next Hokage was Tsunade, followed by Jiraiya and Orochimaru, with Danzō dead last.

Between a dying Hiruzen and a young successor,

Danzō would naturally back the former.

So Danzō had to believe his chances at becoming Hokage were very good, only then would he spare no effort to frame Hiruzen.

The person Natsume needed to contact was Orochimaru.

And Orochimaru would certainly be interested in participating in the Night of the Massacre.

After finishing his morning training, Natsume appeared in Orochimaru's hall.

"Go notify him."

He casually picked up a teacup.

The nearby nest of snakes dispersed.

Soon, Orochimaru entered from outside with a dark expression.

He didn't really want to deal with Natsume anymore.

He'd realized they were rivals for the Mangekyō Sharingan.

Every time, because of Natsume, he'd come up empty-handed.

The intel Natsume provided was solid, yes—but it was annoying.

He couldn't beat him either.

This loss of control was what Orochimaru hated most.

"Keep scowling like that and you'll shave years off your life."

Natsume set down the cup with a smile. "If you want longevity, you need a good mindset."

"..."

Orochimaru gave a chilly smile. "I'm already immortal. I don't need your concern."

"Suit yourself."

Natsume couldn't be bothered to explain the flaws in the Living Corpse Reincarnation. With someone as clever as Orochimaru, it was safer to leave a handle.

"You're in Konoha—you should know the Uchiha's situation, right? Think they'll rebel?"

"They will."

Orochimaru nodded. "Given their temperament, it's a miracle they've held out this long."

"Looks like you're ready to take part."

Natsume watched his expression. "But I can give you a chance to take all the spoils—if you can swallow them."

"All the spoils? Impossible."

Orochimaru frowned. "Are you joking? If the Uchiha rebel, it'll throw Konoha into turmoil."

"Because it's simple: Uchiha Itachi will act—and slaughter the entire clan."

Natsume's words put a string of question marks on Orochimaru's face.

What?

Even with his disposition, that statement felt absurd.

Chapter 110: The Deeply Indebted Mizukage

"Those who awaken the Mangekyō must be extreme. Don't be surprised."

Seeing Orochimaru's look, Natsume remained calm.

That included Shisui as well.

For a member of the Uchiha to remain mild—that was its own kind of extremity.

"Even if that's true, Itachi won't work with me."

Orochimaru's grin turned mocking. "I threatened him with Sasuke before. He's long since stopped recognizing me as his teacher."

"You don't understand Itachi."

Natsume spoke decisively. "He can do anything for Konoha."

Even for his most beloved younger brother Sasuke, he had prepared Kotoamatsukami.

If Sasuke betrayed Konoha, he'd forcibly correct him.

"And you and Danzō—he sees you as Konoha's dark side."

Natsume continued, "He'll hate you, but he won't kill you—because it would weaken Konoha. Where there's fire, there's shadow. He'll just see you as necessary."

"What a fool."

Orochimaru sneered. "The Will of Fire is quite the thing."

"Reward discussed—now for the price."

Natsume shifted the topic and tossed him a small slip of paper. "Tell Shimura Danzō this, and add that you'll definitely back him to be Hokage."

Orochimaru glanced at it and licked his lips.

Interesting.

Was this guy still collaborating with Danzō?

Before he could ask, Natsume vanished.

Unlike before, this time there was a faint ripple of chakra.

Orochimaru paused, then his face changed.

The Flying Thunder God Technique.

He'd learned it in such a short time?

The thought that he still hadn't gotten a Mangekyō Sharingan made a murderous light flicker in Orochimaru's eyes.

…

Standing on Konoha's main street, Natsume tilted his head.

What now?

He'd been practicing Flying Thunder God all this time.

Now that he didn't need to, he felt idle.

Tsunade was working at the Hokage Building—couldn't bother her.

Once she became Hokage, he'd make some moves.

Should he practice Danzō's famous line?

"Tsunade, you'll regret this!"

Natsume rubbed his chin, already picturing the amusing scene.

As for what to do with Danzō?

Have him defect.

A spark of inspiration—this would be fun.

He suddenly stopped, images flashing through his mind.

A shadow clone had dispelled.

After mastering Flying Thunder God, he'd sent clones to scatter marked kunai and shuriken all over.

The farthest one was in the Land of Water and Kirigakure.

Flying Thunder God's cost is determined by distance, weight, and volume.

The farther, heavier, and larger, the more chakra required.

Why is the first requirement for learning FTG a massive chakra reserve?

That's why.

To keep you from getting cocky and teleporting too far—and dropping dead.

Consider the first two FTG users:

Senju Tobirama needs no explanation—Senju chakra for days.

Namikaze Minato, though of civilian birth, had plenty of chakra.

You can tell from his Sage Mode training.

And during the Nine-Tails' attack, he used FTG to relocate a Tailed Beast Bomb.

If he didn't have tons of chakra, would he dare?

With Uzumaki Hinae's help and his own training, Natsume's chakra now far exceeded that of a typical jōnin.

He also had the First Hokage's necklace—a portable battery.

Worst case, swap in the Sage Body for a bit.

In short, he didn't need to worry about consumption.

He realized he hadn't seen Terumi Mei in a while and wondered how she was doing.

He found a deserted spot.

Activated Flying Thunder God.

Of course, he didn't jump straight into the village.

His sensory range wasn't that wide.

If you can't sense the mark, you can't trigger FTG.

Namikaze Minato, the fastest man alive, was always a step late at crucial moments.

He had no choice—FTG has limits.

Unless you have infinite chakra and god-tier sensory.

Even so, the technique was already broken.

After several jumps, Natsume finally reached Kirigakure.

He took a breath; his chakra was mostly spent.

But the speed was insane—a journey of several days done in under a minute.

…

Mizukage's Office.

Terumi Mei clenched her fist and finally couldn't help herself, slamming the desk with a decidedly unladylike punch.

"Those bastards! Delaying the funds again and again!"

After the change of Mizukage, Kirigakure had been wrecked by a Tailed Beast Bomb and needed rebuilding.

But there was no money.

They could only request funds from the Daimyō of the Land of Water.

The year's normal appropriation had already been disbursed early in the year—this was extra.

Naturally, the Land of Water was reluctant.

And Kirigakure was asking for a lot.

With that mindset, the funds were indefinitely delayed.

A month had passed—still not a single ryō.

"That's not like you."

The sudden voice made Terumi Mei flinch slightly, then she realized it was Natsume.

She quickly tidied the messy desk and regained her poise.

"Finished your business?"

Without noticing it herself, her tone had softened.

"More or less."

Natsume glanced at her hair—still the wavy curls he'd styled for her—and smiled. "What's got you mad?"

"It's the Land of Water. The appropriation still hasn't arrived."

She paused, then remembered Natsume's close ties to daimyō and nobles and asked, "Can you push them?"

"It's hard."

Natsume sighed. "With the Land of Water, it's just business between us."

Hearing this, Terumi Mei's eyes dimmed.

Without money, rebuilding and development would stall.

At this rate, even if she worked herself to death as Mizukage, it'd be hard for Kirigakure to catch up to Konoha.

"I do have some spare cash. I can lend it to you."

Natsume's lips curled.

Her eyes lit up, then hesitation crept in.

What would this loan cost?

"How much can you lend?"

"Seven hundred million."

Natsume said it lightly.

Terumi Mei's heart trembled.

In her eyes, Natsume seemed to turn to gold.

Too dazzling.

Seven hundred million was no small sum.

Even the most famous powerhouses of the Five Great Villages rarely had bounties over a hundred million on the black market.

Tens of millions was already impressive.

Seven hundred million would carry Kirigakure through the hardest stretch.

For a moment, Terumi Mei felt like quitting the shinobi path for business.

Of course, she was Mizukage—she quickly composed herself.

Seven hundred million sounded lovely, but the interest alone could be murderous.

"What's the interest—or the conditions?"

She asked calmly.

"Didn't you agree to work for me for a year before? Make it another year and a half. How about it?"

Natsume admired the sudden return of her Mizukage presence and smiled.

Terumi Mei looked surprised.

That again?

It felt… subtle.

Could it be that he…?

She shook off the thought. After a moment's consideration, she said, "Okay. But I have one condition: don't make me do anything that harms Kirigakure."

"Of course."

Natsume never intended to.

His plan was simple.

Give her two and a half years—that's enough time to turn her into an excellent idol.

Terumi Mei exhaled in relief.

In that case, working for him two and a half years was a bargain.

He'd driven off the masked man and was offering a zero-interest loan of seven hundred million to Kirigakure.

An absolute win.

She thought that if she weren't Mizukage, she'd be very willing to be friends with him rather than staying guarded as she was now.

But how would they repay seven hundred million?