"Natsume, get up and take your medicine!"
Tsunade opened the door. Through the crack in the door, she saw Natsume sleeping soundly.
This kid is really good-looking to an excessive degree.
"Sis, could you please go out for a moment?"
Natsume said somewhat shyly.
He wasn't used to having someone watch him change clothes.
"Ah."
Tsunade came to her senses, noticed his expression, and said with a smile, "What's there to be shy about?"
Yuck, you perverted woman!
Natsume stared at her, looking like he wouldn't get out of bed unless she left.
But with his innocent face, it was... incredibly cute.
Tsunade subconsciously swallowed and closed the door, saying, "Come out after you've changed your clothes."
She turned around, picked up an apron and put it on, then entered the kitchen and started cooking.
Shizune was also there, decocting medicine.
Although chakra is very versatile, the use of medicine is still widespread.
As a Medical Ninja, decocting medicine is a must-have skill.
This medicine is for strengthening the body and was specially decocted for Natsume to improve his physical condition.
He grew up in an orphanage, and his three meals were just so - so, let alone getting enough nutrition.
"Natsume."
Shizune knocked on the bathroom door with the medicine in her hand.
"Alright."
Natsume put down his toothbrush, opened the door, took the medicine, and gulped it down.
It was warm and caring.
Yeah, right.
His little face scrunched up in bitterness as if he were a poor soul tasting something extremely bitter.
"Here, have a lollipop."
Tsunade took out a lollipop, unwrapped it, and stuffed it into Natsume's little mouth.
Although she gambles, drinks, and has a fiery temper, she is still a good 'adoptive mother'.
Tsunade showed her true colors in just three days.
When she goes out to buy medicine, she must gamble.
When having dinner at night, she must drink.
She's both a gambler and a drunkard.
Natsume was glad that Tsunade was strong enough.
Otherwise, she would have had her kidneys removed and been sold off to some god - knows - where long ago.
Not long after.
The rice balls were placed on the dining table.
As usual, Natsume did some mental preparation, picked up a rice ball, took a couple of bites, and swallowed it.
Shizune across from him did almost the same thing.
Only Tsunade, while eating her rice ball and looking at Natsume, had an even bigger smile on her beautiful face.
People all like good - looking people.
Tsunade was no exception.
She thought Natsume was right up her alley in terms of looks, and just looking at him made her happy.
After having breakfast.
Tsunade took out two sets of black mourning clothes and said, "Natsume, Shizune, put these on over your clothes. We're going to a funeral today."
Natsume nodded, took the clothes, and put them on over his own.
Suddenly, he looked like part of a professional team.
The Konoha Memorial Stone.
When the three of them arrived, it was already crowded with people.
Everyone was wearing a uniform black coat, and the atmosphere was solemn.
This was also the first time Natsume had seen so many characters from the story's plot.
All the ninjas without missions were here.
He scanned the crowd.
He only recognized a few people with very distinctive features.
Like Kakashi Hatake.
His white hair and the mask that seemed to be glued to his face were very eye - catching.
But he looked extremely down.
It was as if a ghost had sapped all his energy last night, making him look lifeless.
Natsume could understand that.
After losing his teammates Obito Uchiha and Rin Nohara one after another, Kakashi Hatake also lost his teacher, Minato Namikaze.
Coupled with the loss of his father in his childhood, it's not an exaggeration to call him an unlucky star.
It wasn't until he met Naruto Uzumaki that Kakashi Hatake pulled himself together.
Since it was a funeral, no one had the desire to talk to each other.
Natsume stood beside Tsunade, occasionally looking around.
Not long after, the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, made an appearance.
In a solemn tone, he began his speech.
"Minato Namikaze, the Fourth Hokage, and the unfortunately sacrificed ninjas and villagers gave their lives to bring peace to Konoha and to uphold the Will of Fire. They fought to the death with the invaders."
"Among them were elderly people in their fifties and sixties, as well as children as young as seven or eight. Their passing is a great loss to Konoha Village. Those of us who survived will always remember them and carry on their spirit, the Will of Fire."
"I hereby guarantee that all the deceased will receive pensions, and their relatives will be given the best possible arrangements."
Although it wasn't appropriate for the occasion, Natsume almost burst out laughing.
During the Nine - Tails Incident, the greatest heroes were Minato Namikaze and Kushina Uzumaki.
Yet their son, Naruto Uzumaki, who should have been treated like a hero, ended up being treated extremely poorly because of his status as a Jinchuriki.
Without a doubt, this is a huge irony.
The ninjas and villagers attending the funeral were all protected by Minato Namikaze and Kushina Uzumaki.
But who could have imagined that a few years later, they would call the son of their saviors a demon fox and give him the cold shoulder.
Fourth Hokage, just look at what you've protected.
"Natsume."
Tsunade stuffed a bunch of white flowers into his hands and said, "Later, come with me to offer the flowers."
"Sure."
Natsume nodded.
Well, to put it bluntly.
He didn't really feel anything.
After all, to him, the deceased were all strangers.
After offering the flowers, he went home with Tsunade.
In the following days, he had to quickly learn Wood Release: Three Basic Body Techniques and then make contact with Orochimaru.
Because Natsume didn't know exactly when Orochimaru would defect.
If he missed the chance, it would be really troublesome.
Orochimaru was a very important part of his plan.
Half a month passed.
The relationship between Natsume and Tsunade became even closer.
It was a dual relationship like that of a mother and son, and an elder sister and younger brother.
Under Tsunade's careful guidance, Natsume finally learned Wood Release: Three Basic Body Techniques.
Although using all the techniques once would exhaust his Chakra, it was still a remarkable achievement.
At his age, he could already be called a genius.
Meanwhile, Hiruzen Sarutobi sent someone to deliver an admission notice to the Ninja Academy.
Tsunade agreed, but not entirely.
According to her, instead of spending six years at the Ninja Academy, Natsume could graduate early after two or three years.
At night.
"This ninjutsu is way too tough for you at this moment."
Tsunade took out a tissue and wiped the sweat off Natsume's forehead.
The Three Basic Body Techniques are E-rank Ninjutsu.
After mastering them, he tried to learn the D-rank Wood Release Ninjutsu.
But it was too difficult for him.
Natsume looked up and could just see Tsunade's face up close.
Because the distance was so short, he could feel her fragrant breath on his cheek.
He instinctively turned his head, and his eyes were suddenly attracted by the alluring sight in front of him.
The level of stimulation immediately doubled.
"Alright, that's enough training for tonight. Go take a shower and then go to bed," Tsunade said as she ruffled his hair. "You're only seven years old. You don't have to rush your training. The more impatient you are, the more harm it will do to your body."
Natsume nodded.
At this age, it was really hard on the body.
So, sis, can you tone it down a bit?
There are so many eye-catching things, but I can only look and can't have them.
After Natsume took a shower and lay in bed, he got up half an hour later.
Wood Release: Wood Clone!
Several vines emerged from his head and shoulders, and soon two clones formed in front of him.
Wood Release: Transformation Jutsu!
The two clones were suddenly wrapped in branches, and then their bodies grew taller, transforming into two young men in their twenties.
"Try your best to persuade Orochimaru."
Natsume naturally wouldn't go there himself.
That would only be a suicide mission.
Thanks to the Wood Release, otherwise, ordinary Clone Jutsu and Transformation Jutsu couldn't be used like this.
Of course, it was also unrealistic to let the wood clones walk there.
Natsume spent two destiny values to send them to the place where Orochimaru lived.
"I'll go first," the clone on the left said. "Judging from Orochimaru's personality, I'll probably bite the dust."
"It doesn't matter. I'll step in," the clone on the right said, giving a thumbs up. "This High-End Game. Watch me shine."
"Please, another me," the clone on the left said and walked into the mansion resolutely.