Naruto: A New Life with Tsunade

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After finishing with her hairstyle, Natsume heard a soft beep from the Holy Ring of Destiny, though it came with a slight delay.

Due to your actions, Terumi Mei's fate has shifted. You have gained 100 Fate Points.

Not a bad outcome, Natsume thought, a satisfied smile crossing his face.

Yawning, he stepped out of the room. To prevent any surprises, he had placed a subtle barrier—a sensory alarm that would alert him if anyone crossed it. It wasn't much, but it would give him time to react.

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The Next Morning

The light streaming through the window woke Natsume. He blinked, taking a moment to adjust. Sleeping alone still felt strange. It wasn't the lack of warmth he missed—it was the ingrained sense of always being ready for action.

After dressing, Natsume made his way to Terumi Mei's room. She hadn't woken up yet.

Recalling something, he rummaged through his pouch and pulled out a small black pill—a Soldier Pill (Bingū Dango) designed to restore chakra. This particular pill was no ordinary concoction; it had been formulated by Tsunade herself to dissolve easily, even when administered to unconscious patients.

Sitting beside the bed, Natsume gently parted Terumi Mei's lips and slipped the pill onto her tongue. After ensuring it had melted, he wiped his hands clean and waited.

Moments later, Terumi Mei stirred, her eyes fluttering open. She felt weak, her body heavy. Blurred memories of the previous day rushed back, and she sat up abruptly, her gaze sharpening when it landed on Natsume.

As the future Mizukage, she carried herself with poise and authority. Gratitude for being saved was present but muted—overshadowed by wariness. The man before her had deceived her, pretending to be a merchant looking to open sea routes. If he were from an enemy village, aiding him would have been treason.

"Who are you really?" Terumi Mei demanded, her voice sharp and laced with suspicion. "And what's your true goal?"

Natsume leaned back slightly, meeting her gaze with calm composure.

"I used to be a shinobi of Kirigakure," he began. "But I fled during the Bloody Mist era due to persecution under the Mizukage's regime. Now, I am part of an organization called Destiny."

Her eyes narrowed at the mention of persecution. She had lived through the same era and knew the weight of his words. But the name "Destiny" was unfamiliar.

Natsume continued, his tone steady, "Our goal is simple: to create a world where everyone can thrive—free from war and oppression."

Terumi Mei scoffed lightly, skepticism evident. "A noble ideal… or so you'd like me to believe. But how does your organization achieve this 'thriving world'? Charity doesn't build nations."

"You're right," Natsume said, his smile faint. "Let me explain. Since the dawn of the shinobi world, there have been three Great Ninja Wars, with countless smaller conflicts in between. Why do you think peace has always been fleeting?"

Caught off guard by the shift in his tone, Terumi Mei straightened. She recognized the weight of his question. Many had pondered the root causes of war, from ordinary shinobi to Kage-level leaders.

"War stems from competition over resources," she replied after a pause. "The nations fight for power and survival. Villages like Konoha thrive because they dominate the best resources."

Natsume nodded, acknowledging her answer. "True, but that's not the full picture."

Leaning forward, he asked, "Would you say Kirigakure is the most resource-starved among the Five Great Nations?"

Terumi Mei hesitated before nodding. Kirigakure's wealth lay mostly in its fisheries and waterways—important, but insufficient compared to Konoha's fertile lands or Iwagakure's mineral-rich mountains.

Natsume smiled knowingly. "From my perspective, Kirigakure has resources just as valuable as any other village. The problem lies in how they've been managed—or rather, mismanaged."

Terumi Mei frowned. "That's absurd."

"Is it?" he challenged, retrieving a scroll from his pouch and placing it before her. "This contains plans for a project worth hundreds of millions of ryo. If implemented, it could transform Kirigakure's economy."

Unrolling the scroll, Terumi Mei scanned the document. It outlined the creation of maritime trade routes, the development of a naval force, and strategies to monopolize sea-based commerce.

But one section made her jaw tighten—a clause stating she would owe the Destiny organization a debt of 200 million ryo in exchange for their assistance.

"You expect me to sign this?" she asked coldly, her eyes hard.

Natsume shrugged. "It's a business proposition. Wars are fueled by unequal access to resources. If everyone prospers, conflict becomes unnecessary. That's the principle Destiny operates on."

Terumi Mei's hand hovered over the scroll. The logic was compelling, yet the trust wasn't there.

"I can't trust you," she said firmly.

"Understandable," Natsume replied. "But keep in mind—if I wanted to harm you, I wouldn't have gone through the trouble of saving your life."

Terumi Mei stared at him for a long moment, finally muttering a quiet, "Thank you."

Natsume's smile softened. "You're welcome. Now, as an apology for my earlier deception, let me share something else—free of charge."

Her eyes narrowed. "What kind of information?"

"Your Mizukage, Yagura Karatachi, has betrayed Kirigakure," he said, his tone low and steady.

Terumi Mei's breath hitched. "What are you talking about?"

"Have Ao use his Byakugan to observe Yagura," Natsume suggested. "You'll find the truth."

Her face paled. Yagura—a perfect Jinchūriki—betraying his village? It was unthinkable. But if Natsume was right, then her entire world could be thrown into chaos.

Natsume watched her reaction with quiet resolve. He didn't know whether Yagura was being controlled directly or if something deeper was influencing the Three-Tails. Whatever the case, he was certain the truth would change everything.

---

Terumi Mei's steps were heavy, but her resolve unshaken. After learning that Yagura Karatachi, the Fourth Mizukage, might be under external control, she couldn't remain idle. Despite her exhaustion, she insisted on returning to Kirigakure without delay.

To ensure her safety, Natsume offered to personally escort her on the journey. The road back to the Village Hidden in the Mist was fraught with risks—enemy forces might still be lurking, and Mei was a prime target.

"Thank you, Takashi," Mei said, her voice calm but laced with weariness.

"You don't need to thank me, Mei," Natsume replied, his tone steady. "Ensuring your safety is the least I can do."

Mei offered him a faint smile, though the weight of her responsibilities was evident in her eyes. "I'll return after I've confirmed the truth," she said firmly before entering into the village.

---

Inside the village, Ao, one of Kirigakure's most renowned jounin, was waiting. His sharp eyes and the Byakugan—claimed as a spoil during the Third Great Ninja War—were his trademarks, earning him the moniker White Eye Killer.

"Lady Terumi," Ao greeted, his tone respectful but slightly surprised. "You're back earlier than expected."

"Why do you look so surprised, Ao?" Mei asked, narrowing her eyes slightly. "Did something happen while I was gone?"

Ao hesitated before giving her a sheepish smile. "It's just… you've styled your hair differently today. It's quite… girlish."

Mei blinked, momentarily caught off guard by the unexpected comment. Realizing her hair was indeed not its usual neat arrangement, she quickly dismissed it. It must have gotten messy during the battle, she thought, unaware that it was Natsume who had styled it.

"I'm here to discuss something serious," Mei said, steering the conversation back. "I have reason to believe that Yagura-sama may be under external control."

Ao's expression darkened. "Yagura-sama? Are you certain? His strength is legendary—it's hard to imagine anyone capable of manipulating him."

"Hard to believe or not, his actions over the years have grown increasingly erratic," Mei countered. "It's as if he's not the same person anymore."

Ao sighed, rubbing his temples. "If this is true, it's a grave matter. I'll look into it discreetly. But if Yagura-sama truly has been manipulated…" His voice grew grim. "It would bring shame to Kirigakure."

---

Later, Mei found herself reflecting on Ao's earlier remark. Standing by a lake, she caught her reflection in the water. Her hair fell loosely around her shoulders, a rare sight for her. Takashi… she thought, a small smile tugging at her lips before she shook her head. There's no time for such thoughts.

---

Meanwhile, Natsume decided to visit Hinata Hyuga. Using a reverse summoning technique, he appeared near the Hyuga estate and was greeted warmly by the young heiress.

"N-Natsume!" Hinata exclaimed, her voice both surprised and delighted.

Natsume chuckled, kneeling slightly to meet her gaze. "It's been a while, Hinata. How have you been?"

Hinata's face flushed crimson, but she managed a shy smile. "I-I'm fine. I didn't expect you to visit."

"Well, I thought you might need some help," Natsume replied. Noticing her frown, he asked, "What's troubling you?"

Hinata hesitated before speaking. "It's… my brother, Neji. I told him I would one day break the Caged Bird Seal, but he called me a hypocrite. He doesn't believe I'm strong enough."

Natsume's expression softened. "Neji's tough to deal with, isn't he? But do you know why he doesn't believe you?"

Hinata shook her head, tears welling in her eyes. "Because… I'm not strong enough to prove it."

"Exactly," Natsume said gently. "But that doesn't mean you can't change his mind. Your talent is greater than you think. You just need to believe in yourself and train harder."

"But Neji-nii is so much stronger than me," Hinata murmured.

"Only because he's had a head start," Natsume reassured her. "You're already creating your own techniques within the Eight Trigrams Style. With enough training, you'll surpass him."

Hinata's eyes widened in surprise. Natsume smiled and ruffled her hair. "Come on, let's train."

---

Natsume led Hinata to a secluded area in the Forest of Death. "We're going to try something different," he said, activating his Mangekyō Sharingan.

"What are you going to do?" Hinata asked nervously.

"A little exercise for your mind and spirit," Natsume explained. Using his Sharingan, he cast a genjutsu, crafting a world where Hinata faced her deepest fears and insecurities. Unlike Itachi's brutal methods, Natsume's approach was gentler, guiding her through the illusion.

Hours passed within the genjutsu, though only minutes elapsed in reality. When the illusion ended, Hinata collapsed into Natsume's arms, trembling.

"It's over," Natsume whispered soothingly. "None of it was real."

Hinata clung to him, her small frame shaking, but eventually, she calmed down and fell into a deep sleep from exhaustion.

Natsume smiled softly. "You did well, Hinata," he murmured before carrying her back to the Hyuga estate.

---

That evening, Natsume surprised Hinata with a fireworks display, lighting up the night sky in her honor. As the colors burst across the heavens, Hinata watched with awe, her heart lighter than it had been in a long time.

"Thank you, Natsume," she whispered, her resolve growing stronger.

---

After ensuring Hinata was safe, Natsume headed toward one of Orochimaru's hidden bases. Since acquiring Shisui Uchiha's Mangekyō Sharingan, he had been planning his next move. There was one jutsu he needed to learn: the Flying Thunder God Technique.

As he entered the dimly lit chamber, Orochimaru greeted him with a sly smile. "Ah, To what do I owe this pleasure?"

Natsume's Sharingan gleamed. "I need your help mastering something… legendary."

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