"What an unexpected surprise," Tsunade smiled, considering what to do with Natsume.
If she left him in the orphanage, Danzo might get him—he'd be ruined.
As for Sarutobi Hiruzen, Tsunade had her grievances.
Why not take him herself?
Tsunade had returned to Konoha for Minato and Kushina's funeral, but also to take Shizune.
During the Second Shinobi War, Shizune was just born.
So Tsunade hadn't taken her.
Now, Shizune had graduated and showed good medical talent.
With no one in Konoha, Tsunade planned to take her along.
Now, adding Natsume seemed fine too.
According to Nonou, he was mature and sensible.
Tsunade wouldn't need to babysit—just teach him Wood Release.
Since Hashirama's death, Wood Release had disappeared for decades.
As the only Senju left, Tsunade felt responsible.
Maybe the world would remember the terror of Wood Release and the Senju.
"You can use Wood Release, so you're of Senju blood."
Tsunade softened. "You shouldn't stay in the orphanage—come back to the Senju. Will you come with me?"
For some reason, a thought flashed through Natsume's mind:
Are you my Master now?
"I'm one of the Legendary Sannin," Tsunade said, puffing her chest. "Stick with me, you'll never go hungry."
Natsume glanced—yep, he wouldn't starve.
He nodded. "I'm willing."
Tsunade beamed, pinching his cheek teasingly. "Smart choice, handsome."
"What about me?" Kabuto asked.
Natsume was his best friend; he didn't want him to leave.
"Kabuto, don't be rude," Nonou said quickly. "Natsume just won't live here, you'll still see him often."
Kabuto was disappointed, but didn't argue.
Natsume hesitated, then decided to stick to the plan.
Later, he'd let Kabuto accidentally reveal his talent, so Tsunade would take him as a disciple.
If he did it now, it'd be too much of a coincidence and would make Nonou suspicious.
"Kabuto, I'll visit you every day," Natsume smiled.
Kabuto cheered up.
He was smart—he knew it was a good thing for Natsume to go with Tsunade.
"Nonou, I'll take him first," Tsunade said, bending down and holding out her hand. Her impressive figure loomed over Natsume as she leaned forward.
Natsume immediately felt an overwhelming presence, like a deep abyss opening before him.
He thought of two words: rich and generous.
"Let's go."
Tsunade didn't wait, grabbed his hand, and led him out.
"Natsume, remember to visit!" Kabuto called.
"I will!"
Natsume waved back.
Kabuto was a valuable ally—he wouldn't give up their friendship.
…
Leaving the orphanage, Tsunade looked north.
The Hokage Rock came into view, faces of all the Hokage carved into it.
Natsume stood on tiptoe, trying to see what she was looking at.
But he was too short.
Tsunade noticed and smiled.
Natsume was only seven, with a pretty face—every move was adorable.
"I'm looking at the Hokage Rock," she said, resisting the urge to ruffle his hair. "The bottom left is where the Hokage live, and the Senju clan's compound. If you want to know your ancestry, the answer is there."
Tsunade led Natsume north to a remote house.
Her face showed nostalgia.
"This is where my grandparents lived, where I grew up."
She hadn't been back in a long time.
Her grandmother was the first Nine-Tails jinchuriki, Uzumaki Mito.
Because of her special status, she'd always lived in seclusion.
But that was long ago.
Natsume looked around.
Honestly?
Pretty average.
Just a normal Japanese-style house.
Tsunade opened the door. It was spotless—someone cleaned regularly.
Actually, there were even ANBU protecting it.
No one could get close without Tsunade.
If Natsume hadn't been with her, he'd have been caught.
"Nothing here," Tsunade muttered, finding the fridge empty. She shook her head.
She'd wanted to give Natsume milk—kids need it to grow.
Now he'd have to settle for water.
"Sit on the couch, I'll find something," she said, handing him a glass of water and heading upstairs.
Soon she returned with two scrolls.
"Can you read?"
"The director taught me."
"This is the Senju family register. See if any names are familiar."
She sat across from him, long white legs crossed, watching him with interest.
It really was a nice view.
Like admiring a beautiful white cat—you want to pet it.
Natsume finished the scroll.
Aside from Hashirama and Tobirama, all the names were unfamiliar.
"I don't remember the past," he said, shaking his head. "None of the names ring a bell."
"If you can't remember, just let it go," Tsunade said, feeling sorry for his downcast look.
A truly pitiful, yet sensible kid.
"From now on, you'll learn ninjutsu from me."
She opened the other scroll. "I don't know Wood Release myself, but my grandfather left detailed notes—enough for you to learn."
"Thank you, Lady Tsunade," Natsume said gratefully.
For real this time.
As long as he learned Wood Release, even if he couldn't reach Hashirama's level, being as strong as Yamato would be great.
Yamato was mocked for landscaping, but he was really an elite jonin.
"Don't call me 'Lady'—when we're alone, call me sister."
Tsunade was actually a little nervous—afraid he'd refuse.
They'd only just met, so it shouldn't have felt so close.
But Natsume was cute, and his words had won her over.
"Big sister Tsunade!" Natsume replied without hesitation.
Such a great sugar mama resource—calling her sister was a bargain.
Wait, Tsunade was more like a debt queen…
"Natsume, want to change your name? How about Natsuki?"
She'd already sat beside him, a pleasant fragrance wafting over.
Crap, I'm a replacement!
He hadn't expected this, even though he'd steered the conversation.
But he didn't like "Natsuki"—it reminded him of another Natsuki from "Initial D."
He used to envy that Natsuki had a generous uncle who always gave her money.
Only when he grew up did he realize that uncle was actually a sugar daddy.
And it became a meme.
Natsume shook his head. "Big sister Tsunade, Natsume is the only thing my parents left me. I don't want to change it."
Tsunade wasn't angry—she felt even more pity.
She patted his head. "Then we won't change it. What do you want for dinner? I'll go buy it."
"Barbecue!" Natsume replied instantly.
The orphanage barely scraped by with Nonou's help, so meals were simple.
Tsunade stood up. "You get familiar with the jutsu—I'll be back soon."
Natsume opened the scroll.
The first jutsu: Wood Clone.
Substitution jutsu was one of the basic three, but the Wood Clone was a bit more advanced.
You could swap yourself with a wooden clone when attacked.
Difficult, but just right for him now.
…
Meanwhile, in the Hokage's office—
After Minato's death, Sarutobi Hiruzen was forced to return as Hokage.
"This is bad."
Hiruzen puffed on his pipe, staring at a report, exhausted.
Taking power again was nice, but why couldn't things ever be calm?
Minato had just died, and now Kumogakure was causing trouble at the border.
"Lord Hokage."
An ANBU in a frog mask appeared. "Just now, Lady Tsunade took an orphan named Natsume to the First Hokage's old house."
"Natsume? Who's that?"
Hiruzen tapped his pipe. "What's his connection to Tsunade?"
"Natsume is an orphan from the Konoha orphanage. Today was the first time they met," ANBU replied.
Hiruzen blew a smoke ring.
First meeting, and already at Hashirama's house?
Definitely suspicious.
That boy must be special.
But compared to Tsunade, he didn't matter.
Hiruzen was thinking of something else:
Use Natsume to keep Tsunade in Konoha.
He'd already talked to his student, knew she was about to leave.
But Konoha was in crisis and needed Tsunade.
If she stayed, she'd help heal the village and deter enemies.