Naruto: A New Life with Tsunade

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Uchiha Fugaku was asleep.

A sudden, sharp knock at the door jolted him awake. His eyes opened, briefly disoriented as he adjusted to the darkness.

*What could possibly require my attention at this hour?*

"I'll check it out," he murmured, offering Uchiha Mikoto a reassuring glance as he slipped out of bed and quickly dressed.

When he opened the door, he was surprised to see Uchiha Yashiro standing there, his expression unusually grim.

"Yashiro?" Fugaku raised an eyebrow. Among the Uchiha, Yashiro was one of his most trusted allies in the Konoha Police Force—a dependable comrade and his unofficial deputy.

"Clan leader," Yashiro said in a low, urgent tone. "There's something you need to see immediately. Please, follow me."

Fugaku's frown deepened. Why couldn't Yashiro explain things here? Still, his trust in Yashiro outweighed his questions, and without hesitation, he stepped outside.

Yashiro led Fugaku to a secured room where Uchiha Inabi and Uchiha Tekka were waiting. Both stood and bowed respectfully when Fugaku entered.

But his attention was drawn to the figure lying on the ground behind them.

"Sarutobi Seinosuke?" Fugaku muttered in disbelief, stepping forward. He knelt to check for a pulse, though the pallor of the body told him it was futile. His hand trembled slightly as he pulled it back. Slowly, Fugaku turned to Yashiro, his expression sharp.

"Explain," Fugaku commanded, his voice quiet but heavy with authority.

Yashiro nodded and began recounting the events leading to Seinosuke's capture. He included the results of the Sharingan interrogation conducted by Inabi and Tekka. As Yashiro spoke, Fugaku's mind raced, piecing together the implications.

*How can this be?* Fugaku thought.

"But, clan leader," Inabi interjected, "it's undeniable—Sarutobi Seinosuke possessed Wood Release. Yet he wasn't Senju. How could that be possible?"

Fugaku remained silent, his thoughts turbulent. Wood Release… A rare and revered ability, almost exclusively associated with the Senju clan. The more he pondered, the more the situation seemed riddled with conspiracies. The masked man's appearance, Orochimaru's experiments, Danzo's ambitions—all of them painted an ominous picture.

The Uchiha were already treading a precarious line between survival and rebellion. This revelation only pushed them closer to the edge.

"Did anyone see you return with the body?" Fugaku finally asked, his tone measured.

"No one," Yashiro replied confidently. "We took every precaution."

Fugaku exhaled slowly, the weight of the situation pressing down on him. He had no desire for rebellion; he knew too well the cost of such a path—bloodshed, destruction, and the potential annihilation of his clan. Even with the Mangekyō Sharingan, victory was far from assured.

But circumstances were leaving him little choice.

"This information stays between us for now," Fugaku said firmly. "The clan isn't strong enough to challenge Konoha directly. We need to plan carefully."

At the mention of rebellion, Yashiro's eyes gleamed with a faint excitement. Inabi and Tekka exchanged knowing glances. The shift in Fugaku's tone hinted at a potential change in direction—one that could unify the clan under his command, even swaying Itachi and Shisui.

"Summon a clan meeting at Naka Shrine tomorrow morning," Fugaku instructed. "We'll discuss our next steps there. This compound is under ANBU surveillance; we can't risk talking here."

Yashiro hesitated before asking, "And what about Sarutobi Seinosuke's body? Should we dispose of it?"

Fugaku shook his head after a brief pause. "No. Keep it hidden. If used strategically, it could unsettle Hiruzen and shake his resolve when the time comes."

"Understood," Yashiro replied, bowing. "I'll have it moved to Naka Shrine for safekeeping."

Once they left, Fugaku sat in the now-empty room, the weight of his decision settling over him. He had crossed a threshold. There was no turning back now.

---

Meanwhile, Natsume slept soundly, unaware of the storm brewing. Yet his work was far from over.

Sarutobi Seinosuke's death would likely push Sarutobi Hiruzen to the brink. The Third Hokage's grief might fracture the fragile peace between Konoha and the Uchiha. But Natsume's goal wasn't merely to sow chaos. He needed Konoha's citizens to believe the Uchiha's destruction stemmed from Hiruzen's personal vendetta. If public opinion turned against the Hokage, his authority would crumble, making it impossible for him to maintain his position.

*Those who play with fire will eventually get burned,* Natsume thought, a faint smile on his lips. *Hiruzen has wielded the Will of Fire his entire life. But soon, he'll be consumed by it.*

Direct action, however, was too risky. Natsume's ties to Tsunade made it dangerous to involve himself openly. The ideal pawn in this game was Shimura Danzo.

Danzo, after all, had perfected the art of manipulating public opinion. He had orchestrated Hatake Sakumo's disgrace and fueled the demon fox stigma surrounding Naruto Uzumaki. Moreover, Danzo harbored a long-standing desire for the Hokage's seat. If he believed Hiruzen's position was vulnerable, he'd undoubtedly act.

The best way to set these events in motion was through Orochimaru.

The following morning, Natsume appeared at Orochimaru's lair after his training. He lounged casually, sipping tea as he awaited the Sannin's arrival.

When Orochimaru entered, his expression was colder than usual, his irritation evident. Natsume smirked. Orochimaru hated being outmaneuvered, and Natsume's schemes had forced the legendary shinobi into a reactionary role.

"If you keep frowning like that, it'll age you," Natsume quipped, setting his cup down. "If you want immortality, you should at least *act* the part."

"I've already achieved immortality," Orochimaru replied with a thin smile. "Your advice is unnecessary."

"Fair enough." Natsume leaned forward, his tone sharpening. "You've been monitoring the Uchiha clan, haven't you? What's your assessment? Will they revolt?"

Orochimaru's eyes gleamed, his interest piqued. "Oh, they will. It's remarkable they've endured this long."

"Good," Natsume said. "Because I have a proposition for you. This rebellion could be your chance to acquire something… valuable."

Orochimaru's gaze narrowed. "And what, exactly, are you offering?"

Natsume smiled knowingly. "When the Uchiha revolt, Itachi will destroy them."

Orochimaru's eyes widened, momentarily betraying his shock. Even the calculating Sannin couldn't mask his astonishment at the suggestion.

---

"Those who awaken the Mangekyō Sharingan must be exceptional individuals, so there's no need to be surprised," Natsume remarked calmly, catching Orochimaru's curious expression.

"That includes Uchiha Shisui," he continued. "Even among the Uchiha, he's managed to retain a gentle demeanor. Isn't that an extreme in itself?"

Orochimaru's smile twisted coldly. "Even if that's true, Uchiha Itachi will never cooperate with me. I once used Sasuke to threaten him, and since then, he's disowned me as his teacher."

"You don't understand Uchiha Itachi," Natsume replied firmly. "He'll do anything for Konoha."

Natsume's eyes narrowed slightly. "In Itachi's mind, you and Danzo Shimura are the shadows of Konoha—necessary evils. He may hate you, but he won't kill you, because that would weaken the village. In his eyes, where there is fire, there must also be shadow. To him, you're indispensable to Konoha's balance."

Orochimaru sneered. "What a fool. The Will of Fire is such a romanticized notion."

Natsume ignored the remark, pulling out a small slip of paper and tossing it toward Orochimaru. "Tell Danzo Shimura you'll support his bid for Hokage. That's the price for my information."

Orochimaru glanced at the paper, his lips curling into a smirk. "Interesting... still working with Shimura, are you?"

Before he could ask more, Natsume vanished. This time, Orochimaru sensed a faint fluctuation of chakra. His eyes widened. *Flying Thunder God Technique?*

Orochimaru's grin faltered, and a flicker of murderous intent crossed his face. "He mastered it so quickly... and I haven't even obtained the Mangekyō Sharingan yet."

Meanwhile, Natsume reappeared in Konoha's streets, tilting his head as though lost in thought.

"What now?" he mused. "I've already mastered the *Flying Thunder God Technique*, but with no immediate need for it, I'm left with little to do."

He briefly considered visiting Tsunade at the Hokage's Office but dismissed the thought. "I'll wait until she becomes Hokage—then things will get interesting."

As for Danzo? A mischievous smile tugged at his lips. "Perhaps I'll let him defect. That could be... amusing."

Suddenly, a flood of memories surged through his mind—the return of his shadow clones. They had successfully placed *Flying Thunder God* markers across various locations, the farthest being Kirigakure.

"Ah, yes. The chakra cost of the *Flying Thunder God* depends on distance, weight, and size," he reflected. "The farther the teleport, the greater the drain."

"Senju Tobirama could handle it thanks to his vast reserves, and even Minato Namikaze—despite being a commoner—had enough chakra to teleport a *Tailed Beast Bomb* during the Nine-Tails attack. No one with low chakra reserves could pull that off."

Thanks to Uzumaki Ena's training and his own efforts, Natsume's chakra reserves far exceeded that of most jōnin. With the First Hokage's necklace acting as a chakra amplifier, he felt confident.

"Worst case, I'll activate Sage Mode to replenish my reserves," he concluded.

Deciding to check on Terumi Mei, he activated the *Flying Thunder God Technique* and disappeared in an instant.

Natsume reappeared near Kirigakure, briefly steadying his breathing. "Teleporting over long distances in succession drains more chakra than I expected... but it's far faster than days of travel."

In the Mizukage's office, Terumi Mei clenched her fists and slammed the desk in frustration. "Those bureaucrats! Why do they keep delaying the funding?"

Kirigakure was still recovering from the devastation caused by the Tailed Beast, but the Land of Water's Daimyō had yet to release the reconstruction funds. It had been over a month with no progress.

"That's not like you," came a sudden voice.

Terumi Mei stiffened but quickly relaxed, recognizing who it was. "Takashi," she muttered, hastily tidying her desk. "Finished with your business already?"

"More or less," Natsume replied, his gaze lingering on her hair—still styled in the soft waves he had once complimented. Smiling faintly, he asked, "What's bothering you this time?"

"The Land of Water's Daimyō. He hasn't approved the additional funds we requested," she sighed, hesitating before adding, "Is there any way you can help speed things up?"

Natsume sighed. "Unfortunately, my ties to the Land of Water are strictly transactional."

Terumi Mei's shoulders slumped in disappointment. Without funding, Kirigakure's reconstruction would stagnate, leaving them vulnerable.

"I can lend you the money," Natsume offered with a grin.

Terumi Mei's eyes lit up, only to narrow suspiciously. "How much?"

"Seven hundred million ryō."

Her heart skipped a beat. In that moment, Natsume seemed to radiate gold. "That's... more than enough," she thought.

But there had to be a catch. "What's the interest, or... the condition?"

"Well," Natsume began, his grin widening, "didn't you already agree to work for me for a year? Let's extend that to a year and a half."

Terumi Mei blinked, caught off guard by the familiar condition. "Why always that?" she wondered, brushing aside a fleeting suspicion about his motives. After a moment of contemplation, she agreed. "Fine, but on one condition: whatever I do for you must not harm Kirigakure."

"Of course," Natsume replied smoothly. "I'd never ask for anything else."

Relieved, Terumi Mei exhaled slowly. Given the circumstances, an extra six months of service was a small price to pay for such a substantial lifeline. She couldn't forget that Natsume had already rid Kirigakure of the masked man and now offered this financial support.

Still, her caution lingered. "How will I repay such a massive debt?"

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