Naruto: A New Life with Tsunade

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Curse Seal

Natsume raised an eyebrow as he observed Tayuya's transformation. Just moments ago, she resembled a cornered lamb—now, she was more like a feral predator. The power of the Curse Mark had amplified her strength and ferocity, though its effects were not without limits.

"The boost in strength is impressive," Natsume mused, his tone detached.

"I'm going to kill you!" Tayuya snarled, her eyes ablaze with fury.

Her face twisted with anger, and her sharp, newly-formed fangs glinted ominously. Tayuya wasn't like ordinary kunoichi—she had survived Orochimaru's sadistic experiments, emerging as a hardened, ruthless fighter.

"Kill me? Are you sure about that?" Natsume asked, his calm demeanor only provoking her further.

"Bastard!" she screamed, losing all composure as she charged at him with pure, unrestrained rage.

Bang.

Natsume caught her fist effortlessly, his grip firm and unyielding. Despite her transformation, she was still leagues below him. He hadn't even needed to tap into Mokuton or Sage Mode.

Tayuya thrashed against his hold, her voice a cacophony of frustration and desperation. "Kill you! Kill you! Kill you!" she yelled, her ferocity gradually giving way to fatigue.

Natsume's brow furrowed as he watched her outburst. "You're like a child throwing a tantrum," he remarked, almost pityingly.

"Shut up! Just… kill me!" Tayuya screamed, her voice cracking under the weight of her humiliation and rage.

Unperturbed, Natsume pulled a small ruler from his pouch and lightly tapped her forehead. It was a tool he had originally bought to discipline Karin, though the latter had never actually required it.

"Children who misbehave get punished," he said with mock sternness, flicking the horn that had sprouted from her forehead.

Tayuya flinched, her face turning crimson as she bit her lip. "D-don't touch my horn!" she stammered, a mix of embarrassment and indignation in her voice.

Natsume smirked, amused. "So, you can feel them, huh?" He spent a small amount of destiny points to assess her condition. As expected, Orochimaru's Curse Mark hadn't left any insidious tricks within her chakra network—she was just a pawn, not a ticking time bomb.

"Listen, I know you want to kill me," he continued, folding the ruler away. "But with your current strength, you're just spouting nonsense."

Tayuya's glare sharpened. "I'll make you regret this," she hissed, venom dripping from her words.

Natsume chuckled. "Tell you what—I'll give you a chance. One assassination attempt per day. But if you fail…" He leaned in slightly, his voice dropping. "There will be consequences."

Tayuya's eyes widened, a flicker of competitiveness sparking within them. Despite her exhaustion, her resolve hardened.

"You'll regret this," she growled.

"Yeah, yeah," Natsume replied dismissively, waving her off. Just as she prepared to lunge at him again, the effects of the Curse Mark dissipated, and she crumpled to the ground, unconscious.

Natsume crouched beside her, brushing a strand of crimson hair from her face. "You're too weak right now. Get some rest."

---

Later That Afternoon

Natsume met with Terumi Mei, in a secluded meeting room. Her usually composed demeanor was replaced by frustration and simmering anger.

"You were right," she admitted reluctantly, her tone heavy with resignation. "Ao has confirmed it—Mizukage-sama is most likely being controlled."

Natsume nodded, unsurprised. "I figured as much."

Terumi Mei's fists clenched at her sides. The idea that Yagura, their leader, was under someone else's influence was horrifying. Yet, the legendary Sharingan had a reputation for such feats.

"Thank you for the information," she said, her voice tinged with unease.

Natsume had given her critical intel for free—information that could have been worth hundreds of millions. Terumi Mei couldn't help but feel wary of his intentions.

"Are we even now?" Natsume asked, a knowing grin on his face.

Terumi Mei hesitated but eventually nodded. The suspicion she had harbored about his identity seemed trivial compared to the gravity of the situation.

"For now, we need to focus on freeing Yagura from this control," she said. "The matter of reestablishing trade routes will have to wait."

"That's fine," Natsume replied with a shrug. He couldn't resist teasing her as he added, "You still haven't changed that wavy hairstyle, huh?"

Mei's eyes narrowed, but she ignored the comment. "Our first priority is identifying the one pulling the strings," she continued. "This isn't something I can let you get involved in."

Natsume smirked. Her caution was justified, though unnecessary. "You'll need help," he warned. "This isn't an ordinary enemy you're dealing with."

She stiffened, knowing he was right. Kirigakure's future rested on this mission. "What's your price?" she asked reluctantly.

Natsume chuckled, producing a contract. "I'll help you free Yagura. In exchange, you'll work for me for one year. Don't worry—I won't make you do anything degrading."

Terumi Mei scanned the document, relieved by its straightforward terms. It was a fair price for the potential salvation of her village.

She signed the contract, then added a condition of her own. "If it turns out I don't need your help, the contract is void."

"Agreed," Natsume said with a grin, sealing the deal.

---

Back in His Room

Natsume returned to find Tayuya awake, glaring daggers at him from her spot on the bed.

"I left some food for you," he said, gesturing to a table laden with pastries and tea.

Tayuya turned her head stubbornly, refusing to respond. Still, her stomach betrayed her, grumbling audibly.

Natsume chuckled. "Looks like I've got myself a tsundere kitten," he thought, amused by her defiant yet hungry glances.

---

Natsume sighed, his eyes flicking over to Tayuya, who stood in the corner with her arms crossed. Her scowl was as sharp as her tiger-like teeth.

"So, what exactly are you trying to do?" he asked, keeping his tone calm but curious.

Tayuya's temper flared, her brows knitting together as she pointed a finger at him accusingly. "You've been hogging my bed long enough, you bastard. Time to give it back!" she snapped.

Natsume shrugged, feigning indifference. "I thought you'd never ask."

Her sharp retort died in her throat as she blinked at his unexpected response. After a brief pause, she stalked over to the table, glancing at the food laid out. Her irritation simmered as the sight of a perfectly crafted cake caught her eye, her fangs retracting involuntarily.

"Fine. I'll take a nap somewhere else."

Unbothered, Natsume stretched out on the bed, his eyes fluttering closed as though the conversation was already over.

Tayuya's eyes narrowed. She hadn't forgotten their deal—the one where she was allowed to attempt to assassinate him once a day. And now? The perfect opportunity had presented itself.

Her mind raced. It's too easy... it has to be a trap.

But sometimes risks had to be taken. Silently, she crept closer, her fingers reaching for his mask. To her surprise, it slid off without resistance.

Her breath hitched. His face was younger than she had imagined—clean features, annoyingly symmetrical. Handsome.

"Tch," she muttered, her cheeks slightly warm. "Figures. Never trust a pretty face."

She shook off her momentary distraction, pulling a kunai from her pouch. But just as she moved to strike, Natsume's hand shot up, gripping her wrist with unyielding strength. His eyes opened, amusement gleaming within them.

"You lost."

Tayuya froze, her frustration bubbling to the surface. "You jerk! You were awake the whole time?"

"Who told you to fall for such an obvious trap?" Natsume smirked, effortlessly prying the kunai from her grasp. "A deal's a deal. You lost. And I assume you're not one to back out on a promise."

Her pride prickled at his words, but she refused to back down. "Hmph. Fine. What's my punishment? Death? Torture? Something worse?"

Natsume poked her lightly in the stomach, catching her off guard. "Simple. Eat everything on the table. I hate wasting food."

Tayuya blinked. "That's it?"

She glanced at the table again, her skepticism clear. The dishes looked delicious, but there was a lot of food. With a huff, she sat down and grabbed the chopsticks. "Fine. Whatever."

The first bite was unexpectedly good. She paused, her annoyance fading for a brief moment as the flavors melted on her tongue. She continued eating, determined to finish, though her stomach quickly began to protest.

"The punishment isn't over yet," Natsume said, his voice teasing.

Tayuya glared at him, half-expecting him to pile on some ridiculous demand. Instead, he gestured toward the bathroom. "Go take a shower. You've been training all day. Afterward, put on the clothes I left for you."

Her face turned red. "What?"

"You heard me. Twenty minutes. If you take longer…" His smirk widened. "Well, let's just say you might lose those little horns of yours."

"You bastard!" she hissed, stomping toward the bathroom and slamming the door behind her.

Natsume chuckled quietly to himself. "Too easy."

When Tayuya finally emerged, her cheeks were still slightly pink. She was dressed in a simple black-and-white dress with white silk stockings and small leather boots. It was clear she wasn't comfortable in the attire.

Natsume glanced up and gave her an approving nod. "You look great."

"Shut up!" she snapped, flustered. "I'll still kill you, you know!"

"I look forward to it," he replied, dodging as she tried to bite his hand. "Now, go train. Maybe tomorrow you'll actually stand a chance."

The hotel courtyard had been reserved for her training. Natsume wasn't worried about her running away—he knew she had her own reasons for sticking around. For now, her attempts on his life were more amusing than threatening.

---

Later, as Tayuya trained in the courtyard, Natsume returned to his room to prepare a Reverse Summoning Technique. A moment later, he appeared in Konoha, near the Gunma Casino.

He had work to do. Uzumaki Karin and Ena would soon be sent to the Land of Waves to oversee his plans there. The remote village was the perfect location for his next base of operations—far from prying eyes but close enough to Konoha for his purposes. Once he mastered the Flying Thunder God Technique, even distance would cease to matter.

After checking in on his other projects, including Uzumaki Ena's progress with the Yin Seal in the training courtyard, Natsume returned to Kirigakure by nightfall. There, Tayuya was waiting for him, looking slightly less combative than usual.

"Dinner?" he offered, gesturing to the table.

"Can't kill someone if I'm starving, right?" she muttered, her lips curling into a smirk.

"Exactly."

---

That evening, Terumi Mei arrived, her expression grave. "We've confirmed it. The one controlling the Mizukage is in the building. We strike tonight."

Natsume nodded, anticipation rising. "Finally."

Mei's eyes narrowed. "Your position here is... complicated. Officially, you're just a hired mercenary. Let's keep it that way."

Natsume smirked, adjusting his mask. "Understood. Let's get this over with."

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