Adopted by Tsunade [123-124] (Patreon)

Chapter 123: Mei Terumi Practicing Gratitude

"Same as ever, huh."

Natsume watched Sasuke awaken his Sharingan from start to finish.

Even without Itachi's Tsukuyomi, the outcome hadn't changed.

He was, after all, Indra's chakra reincarnate.

The talent was there.

It just felt a teeny tiny bit off that he opened with a single tomoe.

After the ANBU knocked Sasuke out, they took him to the ninja hospital.

The abnormalities he'd just shown made her a little worried.

And Hiruzen Sarutobi had ordered that his safety must be guaranteed.

Natsume withdrew his gaze and didn't follow.

He turned and went home.

Kurama Yakumo was asleep on the sofa.

She'd waited too long.

Tsunade and Shizune were nowhere to be seen.

Natsume rubbed his chin.

As a Konoha leader, Tsunade was probably at the Hokage building right now.

He had neither the interest nor the standing to join the discussion.

But the result was set in stone.

The Uchiha clan had been wiped out.

There wasn't much room for Hiruzen to maneuver.

List Itachi as a rogue ninja, punish the insubordinate Shimura Danzo.

The rest was arranging funerals.

But having been wronged, Shimura Danzo would only become more determined to seize the Hokage's seat.

It wouldn't be long before a storm of public opinion swept Konoha.

…

Land of Water.

Kirigakure.

Mei Terumi was practicing vocalization.

Because Natsume said he wanted to hear her sing, but she was a novice, so she'd invited a famous singer from the Land of Water.

The diva taught her a vocal practice method:

Sing while walking.

Keep the body relaxed, but not truly slack—relaxed on the outside, engaged on the inside.

Keep phrasing and breath steady, maintain precise resonance placement.

Don't force the throat—engage the whole body.

If after two to three hours the voice is still bright, that counts as success.

To repay a favor, Mei Terumi had already been practicing hard for a while.

It was working pretty well.

From tone-deaf at the start, she was now fairly on pitch.

Worried about being noticed, she practiced at night in the Mizukage's office.

Suddenly, applause sounded.

Mei Terumi's heart stopped.

Crap—if people found out that the outwardly dignified Mizukage was doing this in private—

Her prestige would plummet.

She even considered silencing the witness, until she saw it was Natsume.

"You… did that on purpose, didn't you?"

Mei Terumi exhaled and asked.

"On purpose? What on purpose?"

Lazing comfortably on the sofa, Natsume watched her frightened look and smiled. "Are you really that afraid of being seen?"

"I'm the Mizukage."

Mei Terumi pouted. So he did do it on purpose.

"So what? A Mizukage can lead a normal life too."

Natsume said meaningfully, "Like singing, dancing, working out, and falling in love."

"You're talking nonsense. How could a Mizukage do those things?"

Mei Terumi's heart thumped hard. Flustered, she brushed a few loose strands behind her ear.

The unconscious gesture lent her a uniquely girlish air.

"But you were just singing."

Natsume looked at her.

"That's because of our deal."

Mei Terumi blurted, "Not because I wanted to."

"What do you want to do?"

Natsume followed up.

Mei Terumi froze.

She'd never thought about it.

All her life, she'd seemingly been preparing to be Mizukage.

Beyond that, she knew nothing.

Even singing—she'd only gotten into it because of Natsume.

Mei Terumi pressed her lips together, then skipped the topic. "Why are you here this late?"

"To hear you sing."

Natsume answered without hesitation.

"Not today."

Mei Terumi's pupils widened slightly. "I'm not ready yet."

She would never allow errors or anything less than perfection.

Especially in front of Natsume.

Ahem.

Mainly, seven hundred million in loans were at stake. She couldn't be careless.

"Your merchant guild people have already arrived."

She stiffly changed the subject again. "Opening the sea route is underway—estimated completion in three months."

"Much appreciated."

Natsume didn't call out her poor acting and smiled. "Once it opens, we'll still need Kirigakure to provide long-term protection."

"No problem."

Mei Terumi had planned to make money with him anyway. She continued, "When are you going to the Land of Whirlpools?"

"Next time."

Natsume stood, stretched. "Since I can't hear a song, I'll leave you to practice."

Mei Terumi hesitated, not knowing what to say.

Natsume, at the window, suddenly stopped and beckoned her over.

"What is it?"

Puzzled, she walked over.

"Don't move."

Natsume's face turned serious.

Mei Terumi instinctively nodded.

Then she saw Natsume draw closer, the distance shrinking, as if going negative.

Her heart suddenly hammered, out of control. Her body trembled; she wanted to run.

That overly handsome face grew in her vision until it stopped about a centimeter away.

"Ah!"

Natsume's voice carried regret.

His warm breath brushed her white neck, tickling her.

"You really are taller than me!"

Deflated, Natsume muttered to himself.

"…"

Mei Terumi's lashes trembled.

That's it?

I thought you were about to—

For some reason, a faint disappointment flickered through her.

But his reminder made her realize the person before her was just a boy, not a mature man.

Judging by the looks of it, only a teenager.

Ridiculously young.

Standing together, they'd look like siblings, not lovers.

"Up close, you're even prettier."

Natsume took the chance to study the girl before him.

Because of the height difference, his view was all smooth skin.

He could also catch a faint body scent.

Mei Terumi went rigid on the spot.

In the silent Mizukage's office, her slightly rapid breathing was audible.

Face faintly flushed, she stepped back and averted her gaze. "Thanks for the compliment."

"You're welcome."

Natsume waved it off, feeling a bit lousy.

Men are sensitive about length.

Like height.

Mei Terumi was quite a bit taller.

But that was normal.

Natsume was still a teenager—he'd grow.

He remembered Mei Terumi's official height was 174 cm—pretty tall, taller than many guys.

By comparison, Tsunade was shorter, only 163 cm.

But height has its own merits.

Different experiences.

"Alright, I'm off."

Natsume sat back on the windowsill. "Since you're learning to sing, you might as well learn to dance too."

Before she could answer, he vanished.

"???"

Mei Terumi stood there, speechless at his pushiness.

So… should she learn to dance?

Chapter 124: A True Princess Carry

Late night.

Hokage's office.

"Old man, go rest."

Tsunade looked at the haggard Hiruzen Sarutobi and suggested.

"Yeah, Hiruzen, leave this to us."

Shimura Danzo was in a wonderful mood, but his face showed concern for his friend.

"I'm fine."

Hiruzen waved a hand. "I'm a father, but first and foremost I'm the Hokage. I won't let personal feelings influence Konoha."

Danzo's expression froze.

Hokage! Hokage! So annoying!

"This can't be hidden. Announce it."

Hiruzen scanned the documents and sighed.

Other than some missing Uchiha clansmen, all other ninja were dead.

Konoha's combat power had been reduced by at least a tenth.

"As for Sasuke…"

Hiruzen hadn't finished when Danzo cut in.

"Leave him to me!"

A dangerous glint flashed in his eyes. "No one can guarantee Sasuke won't become another Itachi. Let him join Root—I'll forge him into a blade loyal to Konoha that will never betray us."

Itachi's Mangekyo Sharingan was too strong.

Whether Sasuke could reach that level or not, it was best to have him in hand.

And with him, he'd have leverage over Itachi.

Prevent waking up at night to a pair of Mangekyo staring at him.

"Hmph. Giving him to you would only ruin a prodigy."

Hiruzen's voice hardened. "Sasuke stays as he is. I'll find him a good teacher."

"Hiruzen, you—"

"I won't regret this."

Hiruzen cut off his spell of words, then asked coldly, "As for your unauthorized actions—what do you have to say?"

Danzo blinked in surprise. Not getting to say "You'll regret it" made him a bit uncomfortable.

But he couldn't dwell on it. He declared righteously, "Everything I did was for Konoha!"

"Enough! Konoha is not your tool for personal gain!"

Already furious over Sarutobi Seinosuke's death, Hiruzen snapped, "Effective immediately, Root is disbanded!"

"What?!"

Danzo's heart lurched. "I do not agree!"

"Also, you're removed as head of Root and as Hokage's advisor. Go retire, Danzo."

Hiruzen's face was iron, merciless.

Koharu and Homura, who'd been watching, were stunned.

It had been a long time since they'd seen Hiruzen act so decisively.

"Hiruzen?!"

Danzo was incredulous. "I've served Konoha! I've bled for Konoha! You can't do this!"

Hiruzen looked at him, unmoved.

"Hiruzen, you'll regret this!"

Danzo gritted his teeth, face twisted with resentment, and stormed out.

Outside the Hokage building, his expression was as dark as the night.

He flashed away with Body Flicker and returned to Root.

…

"Lord Danzo."

Several figures knelt before him.

"Ryoma, go to the Sarutobi compound. Get rid of Hiruzen's grandson. Make it clean."

Danzo issued orders coldly.

You stayed calm when one Sarutobi died.

How about when it's your unborn grandson too?

"Fū Yamanaka, spread a story."

Danzo continued, "Say the Uchiha downfall began because they kidnapped and killed Sarutobi Seinosuke."

He didn't believe Hiruzen could hold out.

And Hiruzen cared deeply about his image.

A blend of truth and lies would sow doubt about him.

Triple mental strikes—if Hiruzen could still remain Hokage,

Danzo would accept his loss.

"Hiruzen, you showed no mercy—don't blame me for answering in kind."

He closed his eyes and gave the final order. "Go fetch Orochimaru."

…

Senju residence.

Natsume yawned.

He was waiting for Tsunade to come back.

It was almost 2 a.m.

He could only say, wow.

They'd been discussing that long—what were they even doing?

"Why not go sleep in your room?"

Tsunade opened the door and saw Natsume on the sofa.

"Waiting for you."

Natsume rubbed his eyes. "Any later and I would've dozed off."

Warmth flowed through Tsunade's heart.

No matter how late she came home, someone waited.

It was a feeling worth remembering.

"Sorry. Too much happened tonight."

She walked up to him. "Go to your room first, I'll take a shower."

"Carry me."

Natsume refused to move from the sofa.

In his previous life, this would've never flown.

But in the ninja world, Tsunade was basically a super strongwoman.

"Why are you like a child?"

She rolled her eyes, but her body was honest—she bent down and lifted him.

A proper princess carry.

Warm and comfy.

Then he was ruthlessly tossed into bed.

Rough, nothing princess-like at all.

Natsume tugged at the corner of his mouth. Wicked woman.

He lay there, and half an hour later Tsunade returned.

She wore a white nightdress, hair blown dry and loose down her back.

Compared to her usual self, a little less heroic, a little more relaxed.

Tsunade turned off the lights.

And was immediately hugged.

She didn't push him away. On the contrary, the day's accumulated fatigue slowly melted.

So nice.

Cheek to cheek, feeling his warmth, Tsunade drifted into sleep.

…

A new day dawned.

While the two slept, news of the Uchiha massacre spread through Konoha overnight, causing a huge sensation.

Not just civilians—even clans found it unbelievable.

The Uchiha's strength was universally acknowledged.

Even those who disliked them didn't deny their power.

And such a clan had been wiped out in a single night, leaving only one orphan, Sasuke.

How absurd.

[Because of your actions, Sarutobi Konohamaru's fate has changed. You gained 100 Fate Points.]

[Because of your actions, Hiruzen Sarutobi's fate has changed. You gained 80 Fate Points.]

The notification woke Natsume with a start.

He was confused.

Konohamaru too?

"Lady Tsunade!"

With Shizune's anxious voice, the door slid open.

She froze.

Tsunade, still asleep, was cheek to cheek with Natsume, arms around him.

Hearing Shizune, she reflexively raised her head.

"I—I—I'm sorry!"

Shizune snapped out of it, bowed hard, and fled.

She was full of regret.

Should've knocked.

"…?"

Tsunade turned to stone on the spot.

Moments later, face flushed, she wanted to flee the ninja world.

"Uh…"

Natsume scratched his head, about to say something, when Tsunade punched him and sent him flying into the corner.