"Natsume, get up and take your medicine."
Tsunade opened the door. Through the crack, she saw Natsume sleeping peacefully.
This kid is just too good-looking.
"Sis, can you please step out for a moment?"
Natsume said, a little shy.
He wasn't used to having someone watch him change.
"Oh."
Tsunade snapped out of it, noticed his expression, and smiled, "What's there to be shy about?"
Natsume stared at her, clearly saying, "If you don't leave, I'm not getting up."
With that innocent face, it was just... overwhelmingly cute.
Tsunade subconsciously swallowed, closed the door, and said, "Come out when you're done changing."
She turned, put on an apron, and headed into the kitchen to cook.
Shizune was there too, but she was brewing medicine.
Even though chakra is powerful, medicine is still widely used.
As a medical ninja, brewing medicine is a must.
This medicine was specially prepared for Natsume to strengthen his body.
He'd grown up in an orphanage, with meager meals and barely any nutrition.
"Natsume."
Shizune knocked on the bathroom door, holding the medicine.
"Okay."
Natsume put down his toothbrush, opened the door, picked up the medicine, and drank it in one go.
Warm. Thoughtful.
Yeah, right.
His little face instantly twisted into a bitter grimace.
"Here, have a lollipop."
Tsunade unwrapped one and popped it into his mouth.
Despite her gambling, drinking, and fiery temper, she was still a good foster mother.
It had only been three days, and Tsunade's true colors were already showing.
Went out to buy medicine? Had to gamble.
Dinner? Had to drink.
Gambler plus alcoholic.
Natsume was glad Tsunade was strong enough.
Otherwise, he would've been sold off long ago.
Soon, rice balls were served.
Natsume mentally prepped himself, picked up a rice ball, took a few bites, and swallowed.
Shizune, across from him, did almost the same.
Only Tsunade watched Natsume eat, her beautiful face smiling even more.
Everyone loves a good-looking face.
Tsunade was no exception.
She thought Natsume fit her aesthetic perfectly, and just looking at him put her in a good mood.
After breakfast, Tsunade took out two sets of black funeral clothes. "Natsume, Shizune, put these on. We're attending a funeral today."
Natsume nodded and put his on.
…
Konoha Memorial Stone
By the time they arrived, the place was packed.
Everyone was in black, the atmosphere solemn.
It was the first time Natsume had seen so many story characters in one place.
Every ninja who wasn't on a mission was there.
He glanced around.
He only recognized a few with distinct features.
For example, Kakashi Hatake.
That white hair and the ever-present mask made him stand out.
But he looked utterly dejected—like a ghost had drained his life away.
Natsume understood why.
After losing teammates Obito Uchiha and Rin Nohara in succession, Kakashi also lost his teacher, Minato Namikaze.
And he'd lost his father as a child. Calling him cursed wouldn't be an exaggeration.
It wasn't until he met Naruto Uzumaki that Kakashi found purpose again.
Since it was a funeral, nobody felt like talking.
Natsume just stood by Tsunade, occasionally glancing around.
Soon, the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, appeared.
He began his speech in a heavy tone.
"The Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze, and the fallen ninjas and villagers gave their lives for Konoha's peace, upholding the Will of Fire, perishing with the invaders."
"Among them were elders in their fifties and sixties, as well as children only seven or eight. Their deaths are Konoha's loss. Those of us who survived will always remember them, and carry on their spirit and the Will of Fire."
"I promise, all the deceased will receive compensation, and their families will be properly cared for."
Although it was inappropriate, Natsume almost laughed.
During the Nine-Tails' attack, Minato and Kushina were the greatest heroes.
And their son, Naruto Uzumaki, should've been treated as a hero, but ended up subjected to extreme ostracism as a jinchūriki.
That's just… ironic.
Everyone at the funeral had been protected by Minato and Kushina.
But who'd have thought, in a few years, they'd call their savior's son a demon fox and treat him with cold cruelty.
Fourth Hokage, is this what you protected?
"Natsume."
Tsunade handed him a white flower. "Come with me to offer flowers later."
"Okay."
Natsume nodded.
Honestly, he didn't feel much.
After all, the dead were strangers to him.
After offering flowers, he followed Tsunade home.
In the days that followed, he needed to quickly master the Wood Style: Body Clone Technique, then make contact with Orochimaru.
Because Natsume didn't know when exactly Orochimaru would defect.
If he missed the chance, it'd be troublesome.
Orochimaru was a crucial part of his plan.
…
…
Half a month passed.
Natsume and Tsunade grew closer.
Their relationship was like mother and son, and siblings at the same time.
Under Tsunade's careful guidance, Natsume finally learned the Wood Style: Body Clone Technique.
Although his chakra could only manage one full use before exhaustion, it was still an achievement.
At his age, he was already a prodigy.
Meanwhile, Hiruzen Sarutobi sent the ninja academy enrollment notice.
Tsunade agreed, but not completely.
She thought six years of academy was too long; two or three years would be enough before graduating early.
That Night
"This jutsu is too much for you right now."
Tsunade wiped sweat from Natsume's forehead with a tissue.
The Wood Clone Technique was an E-rank jutsu.
Once he mastered it, he tried to learn a D-rank Wood Style jutsu.
But it was too hard.
Natsume looked up, just in time to see Tsunade's face close to his.
At such close distance, he could feel her fragrant breath on his cheek.
He instinctively turned away—only to catch a glimpse of a snowy abyss.
Instantly, things got a lot more exciting.
"Alright, that's enough for tonight. Go take a bath, then sleep."
Tsunade ruffled his hair. "You're only seven. Don't push yourself too hard—rushing will only harm your body."
Natsume nodded.
At this age, it was indeed taxing.
So, Sis, could you ease up a little?
So many benefits, I can only sigh in frustration.
After his bath, Natsume lay in bed for half an hour, then got up.
Wood Style: Wood Clone!
Vines sprouted from his head and shoulders, quickly forming two clones in front of him.
Wood Style: Transformation!
The two clones were wrapped in branches, then morphed into two young men in their twenties.
"Persuade Orochimaru as best you can," Natsume instructed.
He'd never go himself. That'd be suicide.
Thankfully, with Wood Style, his clones could do what regular clone and transformation jutsu couldn't.
Of course, it wasn't realistic for the wood clones to walk there.
Natsume spent two fate points to send them straight to Orochimaru's residence.
"I'll go first," said the clone on the left. "With Orochimaru's personality, I'll probably die."
"No worries, I'll back you up," said the right clone, giving a thumbs-up. "Let's see how I do in this high-level match."
"Good luck, other me."
The left clone resolutely entered the house.