Adopted by Tsunade [173-174] (Patreon)

Chapter 173: Danzō and the Dragon Vein

“I’ll go deal with those two. You wait here for me. Don’t wander off, but don’t let your guard down either.”

Natsume pointed to himself, smiled, and said, “This Hokage is worth a hundred million ryō. Your fight is far from over.”

“Natsume-sensei, don’t worry about us!”

Naruto said, brimming with fighting spirit, “If it happens again, we definitely won’t be that miserable! Right, Sasuke?”

“Mm.”

Sasuke nodded, his tone notably firm.

Natsume sensed a shift in his attitude and couldn’t help thinking that the Uchiha clan really only bowed to the strong.

Of course, the fact that Mikoto was still alive also kept him from being as cold as in the original story.

Natsume’s gaze fell on Hinata.

Unlike the other two, her little face carried a faint worry and reluctance.

Mm, very much like a little wife.

Natsume couldn’t resist ruffling her hair, then disappeared from before them.

…

Kirigakure.

It was nighttime, so Terumi Mei wasn’t in the Mizukage’s office—she was at home.

While she was taking a bath, her expression suddenly sharpened with vigilance. She hurriedly wrapped a towel around herself and quietly stepped out.

“Couldn’t you pick a better time?”

Terumi Mei frowned as she looked at Natsume on the sofa.

She’d almost thought she had a burglar.

If she hadn’t seen who it was, she’d have spat one mouthful of acid and not even left bones behind.

“Sorry.”

Seeing her look, Natsume immediately apologized. “I didn’t know you were bathing.”

He had to admit, though—quite the sight.

Her reddish-brown hair hung wet down to her waist.

She wore a white bath towel, revealing smooth, pale arms and long legs.

Altogether, she had a more seductive charm than usual.

“What do you want?”

Terumi Mei pinched the towel with one hand to keep it from slipping. “Say it and go.”

She sounded impatient.

Anyone would be grumpy if their bath got interrupted.

“How about I wait till you’re done?”

Natsume smiled. “Though I don’t mind such a beautiful view.”

Terumi Mei shot him a glare and turned straight back into the bathroom.

…

A few minutes later, she came out wearing a loose light-blue nightgown.

“Need me to dry your hair?”

Natsume said shamelessly, “I can help style it too.”

Terumi Mei suddenly remembered something from long ago.

After he rescued her in Uzushio Village, he’d changed her hairstyle while she’d been unconscious.

She’d actually liked it and kept it ever since.

Terumi Mei sat on the sofa, tossed him a dry towel, and asked with a straight face, “What do you want with me?”

Standing behind her, Natsume helped dry her hair. “To sell you two people.”

“What do you mean?”

Terumi Mei’s lips curved. “A dignified Hokage doing human trafficking?”

“Momochi Zabuza and Haku.”

Natsume grinned. “Interested?”

“You captured them?”

Terumi Mei’s expression changed, her breath quickening.

What Kirigakure lacked most right now was strong shinobi.

Momochi Zabuza was once one of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen, formidable in strength.

Most importantly, he defected because he couldn’t stand Yagura’s bloody rule.

In other words, he was truly a Mist shinobi at heart.

“They tried to assassinate me and got caught.”

Natsume put down the towel and began to style her hair. “Since they’re Mist defectors, I came to you.”

“Thank you.”

Warmth rose in Terumi Mei’s heart. “What do you want in return?”

She suddenly thought of the kiss in the daytime, and her cheeks flushed.

If he asked for that again, should she say yes… or yes?

“Be my little maid for seven days.”

Natsume thought for a moment.

“…?”

Terumi Mei blinked, rejecting him without thinking. “Impossible!”

She was the Mizukage. If word got out, how would she show her face in the village?

“Really don’t want to?”

Natsume’s devilish whisper brushed her ear. “Seven days for two top combatants for your village. What a bargain.”

Terumi Mei fell silent.

Thinking it over, it didn’t seem like a bad deal.

Provided she could accept playing that role.

She pondered for a moment, then decided.

It wasn’t like being a little maid would lead to anything. In exchange for two people, it was worth it.

“When?”

Terumi Mei asked with difficulty.

“Next time.”

A smile flickered at Natsume’s lips.

As expected, she agreed.

Shame it wasn’t the right time, or he could’ve played master-servant games now.

Leaving Zabuza and Haku behind, Natsume returned to the tent.

His three students hadn’t rested and were waiting for him.

“Sleep.”

After setting a barrier outside the tent, Natsume slid into his sleeping bag.

Outdoors wasn’t like home.

Especially for shinobi, who had to be ready to fight anytime, so they slept in their clothes.

[Because of your actions, the fates of Momochi Zabuza, Haku, and Terumi Mei have changed. You gained a total of 137 Fate Points.]

…

A new day.

As Natsume expected, Zabuza and Haku were just the beginning.

The further from Konoha they traveled, the more assassins they encountered.

But their strength varied widely.

Some were chūnin, some jōnin.

However, the big five villages judged ranks differently from the minor ones.

Those “jōnin” were like nine-tenths strength, or even lower.

Sasuke, Naruto, and Hinata gradually regained their confidence.

Turns out they weren’t weak—Zabuza was simply too strong.

The four walked and halted, reaching the Fire Country metropolis by dusk.

In the meantime, they’d faced seven assassination attempts.

The biggest change was that Sasuke, Naruto, and Hinata had become more decisive.

They hadn’t hardened themselves to kill yet, but it was progress.

“Whoa! So lively!”

Entering the metropolis, Naruto was like a country bumpkin seeing a grand garden for the first time, exclaiming non-stop.

Sasuke and Hinata weren’t as exaggerated, but they couldn’t help looking around.

Thanks to its superior geography, the Land of Fire was the largest among the nations.

Naturally, its metropolis was also the grandest city.

But Natsume felt little.

Compared to the cities of his past life, there was no contest.

He’d seen real megacities, so this hardly stirred him.

Glancing at the sky, Natsume didn’t rush to meet the daimyō. Instead, he treated his three students to a good meal.

They’d had a hard day.

At night, Naruto was still bursting with energy and dragged Sasuke out to stroll.

Natsume and Hinata didn’t go.

He felt there wasn’t much to see; she simply wanted to be with him.

Fire Daimyo had a daimyō residence in Konoha.

Konoha also had a permanent station in the Fire Country metropolis.

The Nara clan handled it.

Thanks to their outrageous intelligence, the Land of Fire permitted them to serve as civil officials at court.

In such a role, the Nara were perfect liaisons.

On a rooftop.

Natsume casually handed Hinata a bag of chips.

He looked up at the night sky.

A huge full moon hung overhead.

He thought of Tsunade, wondering if she could sleep without him.

Hinata glanced at him, quickly looked away, and nibbled absentmindedly at the chips.

“How do you feel about today?”

Natsume picked up a chip and popped it in his mouth.

“Pretty good.”

Hinata answered instinctively.

Thinking that sounded too brief, she added, “I was nervous at first, but once I got used to it, it felt no different from daily training.”

By training, she meant the genjutsu scenarios Natsume set for her.

Those were sometimes no less intense than a fight to the death.

“Good work.”

Natsume extended a hand and let Hinata rest her head on his thigh.

The sudden move turned her face bright red.

She chewed her chips uneasily.

But Natsume didn’t speak again.

The air grew quiet.

Hinata gradually relaxed.

Combined with the day’s skirmishes, she soon drifted into sleep.

Natsume scooped up her small body and carried her back to her room.

Then he returned to Konoha.

…

“Still awake?”

Natsume slipped into bed and asked.

“Mm.”

Tsunade nodded, hugging him. “Now I can sleep.”

He kissed her forehead and stopped teasing.

…

Morning.

Bright sunlight slipped in through the window, landing on Tsunade’s serene, delicate sleeping face.

Natsume stared, entranced by the beauty.

“Good morning.”

Tsunade blinked awake hazily, wrapped him in her arms, and nuzzled his face, reluctant to let go.

Maybe it was the pregnancy, but to Natsume she seemed like a girl in love, extra clingy.

He liked that change.

“I’m going to see the daimyō.”

Natsume checked the time.

“Let me hold you a little longer.”

Tsunade tightened her arms.

“Alright, go on then.”

Tsunade whispered in his ear, “When you get back, I’ll reward you.”

“Mm.”

He patted her head, then appeared in the Fire Country metropolis.

…

“Hokage-sama, please follow me.”

Nara Hisanobu led the way, and they soon reached the daimyō residence.

To Natsume’s surprise, it wasn’t a court audience but a private meeting between him and Fire Daimyo.

That was suspicious.

“When Tsunade sent word, I thought she was joking.”

Fire Daimyo beamed. “I didn’t expect it to be true—and such a young Hokage. Remarkable.”

“You flatter me.”

Natsume stayed polite, neither humble nor overbearing.

He couldn’t regard a daimyō with the same reverence as other shinobi did.

Beyond his past-life mindset, he had the strength to back it up.

If Fire Daimyo behaved, he might spare him.

If not, then too bad.

“How is Konoha now?”

Fire Daimyo noticed his attitude, was slightly displeased, but let it go.

“Since the end of the Third Great Ninja War, after years of recovery, quite good.”

Thinking he was asking out of concern, Natsume answered honestly.

“Good.”

Fire Daimyo abruptly changed tack. “The Land of Fire has had disasters and misfortunes these two years. Our finances are tight.”

Natsume raised a brow.

No wonder he made him come personally.

He wanted to cut the budget.

In the original, after Naruto became Hokage, Fire Daimyo brought this up due to peacetime—and Naruto ridiculously agreed.

This was post-ending, with Naruto the strongest shinobi.

Say what you will about the system.

Now it was Natsume’s turn.

Freshly in office, and Fire Daimyo dropped this on him.

Clearly he thought the young were easy to push around.

Everything else was an excuse.

“Daimyō, have you heard this saying?”

Natsume activated his Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan. “Are lords and nobles born of some special stock?”

Fire Daimyo’s gaze went blank.

“I shouldn’t expect much.”

Natsume shook his head. “In that case, don’t blame me.”

He didn’t plan to kill Fire Daimyo for now—too destabilizing.

And hard to explain to Tsunade.

Controlling the Land of Fire through Fire Daimyo was best.

Then take it slow.

Natsume couldn’t stay by the daimyō’s side long, so he planned to have Uchiha Shisui handle it.

Shisui was in the Land of Snow now with little to do.

Things were on track there; with Koyuki, that was enough.

After finishing with Fire Daimyo, Natsume led his three students back to Konoha.

They were attacked four more times on the way.

All in all, the Fire Country trip was a big success.

He trained Naruto, Sasuke, and Hinata, and settled Fire Daimyo.

Konoha wouldn’t lack money anymore.

Natsume could proceed boldly.

For example, implementing a shinobi remuneration system.

It would cost money, but the benefits were obvious.

First, ordinary civilian shinobi would be fiercely loyal to Konoha.

Because their income improved.

Second, many clan shinobi would shift from “clan above Konoha” to “Konoha above clan.”

Reason being, income.

Money makes the world go round.

Especially in this world, where shinobi thought was quite simple.

Hiruzen Sarutobi could win loyalty with the airy “Will of Fire.”

Natsume, by working both angles, would make them even more grateful.

[Because of your actions, the fates of Shimura Danzō, Mukade (Anrokuzan), and Sara have changed. You gained a total of 112 Fate Points.]

The sudden prompt made Natsume pause.

He put down the file in his hands and fell into thought.

Mukade and Sara were characters from the movie Naruto Shippuden: The Lost Tower.

In the ruins of Rōran lay the Dragon Vein, representing endless chakra.

In the original, Tsunade sent Naruto, Sakura, Sai, and Yamato on a mission.

They ran into Mukade.

He devoured the seal, triggered the Dragon Vein’s power, and went back twenty years.

Mukade became Anrokuzan, controlled the Queen of Rōran, and planned to use the Dragon Vein to dominate the shinobi world.

The time-traveling Naruto met a young Namikaze Minato, and together they defeated the villain and sealed the Dragon Vein.

“So what, Danzō can’t be Hokage now, so he plans to go back and be Hokage in the past?”

Natsume couldn’t help a jab.

But Shimura Danzō had picked the perfect time to show up.

And he was tangled up with the Kazekage, Rasa.

Chapter 174: Tsunade in Kimono, New Skin Unlocked

The plot of Naruto Shippuden: The Lost Tower wasn’t complex.

The novelty was the special Dragon Vein.

According to official lore:

The Dragon Vein is the earth’s lifeline, with chakra far surpassing other places. Mishandling it could destroy the land.

That sounded very much like a world will.

As for time travel, it likely related to the Flying Thunder God Technique.

Flying Thunder God is an S-rank space-time ninjutsu.

With absurdly high energy, time travel would be within reach.

The question was whether it sent you to the past or into a parallel world.

In the movie, it seemed like the former.

Because the chakra blade Naruto accidentally left became Sara’s relic.

If it were a different parallel world, that’d be hard to explain.

There was another peculiarity.

Though Mukade and Naruto’s group triggered the seal together, they arrived at different times.

Mukade arrived earlier.

This showed the Dragon Vein’s instability.

Natsume wasn’t sure if Danzō, triggering the Dragon Vein now, would go back twenty years.

If he did, what if he changed the past wantonly?

At the end of the movie, Minato erased everyone’s memories to prevent historical disorder.

He didn’t even recognize Naruto.

Clearly an implication.

There might be a “world will” that corrected things.

Either way, Natsume couldn’t let Danzō go alone.

At the very least, he had to go with him.

No—best if he went alone to take a look.

Maybe he could farm some Fate Points.

As for coming back, if Flying Thunder God didn’t work, he’d rely on the Ring of Fate.

Better that than letting Danzō run amok.

“Lord Natsume.”

Kurenai Yuhi knocked and entered, walked to the desk, bent slightly, and handed over a file. “This is what you asked for.”

“Thanks.”

Natsume glanced over it and thought, nice.

Kurenai wore a white blouse, with the top button undone, exposing a pale neck.

Below was still a black pencil skirt, but the usual black stockings had become white.

Both had their charms, though that wasn’t the point.

By rights, Kurenai wasn’t the type to change outfits.

In the original, she practically wore the same clothes to the end.

The change started when she became the Hokage’s secretary.

Ahem.

I’m not that casual.

Natsume opened the file and read.

It recorded the mission when a young Namikaze Minato, Aburame Shibi, and Akimichi Chōza went to Rōran.

But it was very brief.

Their memories had been self-erased.

Still, confirming Rōran’s location from the mission record was enough.

“Kurenai, please return the file.”

After memorizing the location, Natsume handed it back.

She nodded, swayed her hips, and left.

Flying Thunder God.

Natsume appeared in the Land of Wind.

He’d previously sent shadow clones all over the world to leave Flying Thunder God markers.

This one was closest to Rōran.

He narrowed his eyes.

Desolation in all directions—just yellow sand.

A vast desert.

In terms of environment, the Land of Wind and Sunagakure had it worst, so they were the poorest.

As Kazekage, Rasa had to use Magnet Release to pan for gold to make ends meet.

Truly tragic.

Harsh conditions forced Sunagakure down an elite path, prioritizing prodigies.

Why could Gaara become Kazekage at fifteen?

This was part of the reason.

If you’re strong enough, that’s enough.

Natsume clapped his hands and entered Sage Mode; his senses expanded in an instant.

Rōran’s legend had long been known, along with “ruins.”

Sunagakure would’ve investigated.

But Minato’s seal couldn’t be unraveled, so they had to leave it.

The Dragon Vein seal used Flying Thunder God plus Uzumaki sealing.

Sunagakure naturally had no way—until Danzō arrived.

In other words, there should be many shinobi at the site now.

With his senses spread, Natsume found something.

He sped toward the depths of the desert.

The sandstorm grew fiercer, shrouding heaven and earth; visibility under a meter.

For Natsume, this only made cover easier.

He finally arrived at a ruin.

Though half-collapsed, you could still make out the shape of a great city.

Natsume rubbed his chin.

That meant Naruto would still time-travel soon and defeat Mukade—Anrokuzan.

Otherwise, what remained wouldn’t be ruins but a bustling puppet city.

As expected, many Sand shinobi patrolled the perimeter.

Natsume opened his Eternal Mangekyō and slipped inside.

Near the center of the ruins, he found a familiar face.

Baki.

A Sunagakure elite jōnin.

Teacher of Gaara, Temari, and Kankuro.

His status was akin to Konoha’s Legendary Sannin.

Clearly, the entrance was here.

Natsume sensed downward and detected a familiar fluctuation.

Shimura Danzō, and a Flying Thunder God kunai left by Minato.

At the same time, he sensed the terrifying chakra and natural energy of the Dragon Vein.

Vaster than Kurama.

No wonder it could warp time—it was too much.

This world had many mysterious things.

Meteorite of Hoshigakure, the Hero Water of Takigakure, even the Shinigami and Jashin.

Hard to say if they were linked to the Ōtsutsuki.

Thinking of the three great summoning sanctuaries, that could also fit.

There was a native system, after all.

In Natsume’s senses, the Dragon Vein seal had been badly damaged.

It wouldn’t be long before it was undone.

But what was Danzō planning?

His earlier quip that Danzō wanted to go back to be Hokage clearly didn’t hold.

He didn’t even know the Dragon Vein could time travel.

More likely he wanted to use it against Natsume.

If so, the unsealing date would likely be set to the day of the Sunagakure–Konoha alliance.

Using the sudden energy surge, it wouldn’t be hard to kill some shinobi.

Natsume could seize the chance to show power and fully win over Konoha shinobi.

Of course, that assumed he guessed right.

To verify, Natsume weaved signs and summoned a slug smaller than an ant to sneak in.

Through shared vision, he saw the underground chamber more clearly.

On the central dais stood Minato’s special kunai.

All around was a barrier formed of seals.

Natsume couldn’t use sealing arts, but he could recognize them.

Uzumaki seals.

After all, Minato’s wife was Uzumaki Kushina.

Right now, Danzō was working hard to undo them.

At this rate, he needed a few more days.

Relieved, Natsume returned to Konoha.

But he left the tiny slug and a Flying Thunder God marker.

If anything happened, he could teleport instantly.

…

Hokage office.

Shizune was startled by Natsume’s sudden appearance.

Patting her chest, she complained, “Why use Flying Thunder God even inside Konoha?”

“I took a trip to Sunagakure.”

Natsume didn’t hide it. Sitting down, he asked, “What did you need me for?”

“Konoha Hospital has a surgery tonight, so please head home early and cook for Lady Tsunade.”

Shizune blinked.

In truth, that was a lie.

Tsunade had told her not to come home tonight.

Shizune was stunned.

Had it really come to this?

Knowing about Natsume and Tsunade, she should’ve moved out.

She hadn’t.

She wasn’t sure what she felt.

“Got it.”

Natsume didn’t suspect anything and agreed.

“I’ve delivered the message. I’ll head to the hospital.”

Shizune glanced at him, shielded Tsunade’s secret, and left.

…

Dusk.

Natsume stretched.

Without Tsunade, the work was a lot less fun.

But it was fine—he’d see her soon.

Flying Thunder God.

He appeared at his home’s entryway.

“Sis, I’m back.”

He changed shoes and called out.

“Welcome home.”

 Tsunade stood and walked up to him.

 He saw the tenderness in her eyes.

 With her gentle, beautiful smile, she looked every bit the virtuous wife waiting for her husband’s return.

 “How’s my outfit today?”

 Tsunade twirled, expectation on her face.

 “Beautiful.”

 Natsume had noticed her outfit the moment he stepped in.

 A fitted kimono wrapped her shapely figure, the collar pulled down to her collarbone, the bright abyss at her chest dazzling.

 Below, a high slit revealed voluptuous thighs and feet in white ankle socks.

 The kimono was white, dotted with pink sakura.

 Dignified yet sexy.

 Two contradictions combined so well he couldn’t look away.

 Natsume recalled the “reward” Tsunade had promised before the daimyō meeting.

 Was this it?

 “Do you like it?”

 Her amber eyes glowed with charm.

 “I do!”

 He hugged her. “I like you in anything.”

 “Sweet talker.”

 Smiling, she asked gently, “How about I cook tonight?”

 “…?”

 Natsume froze, then hurriedly said, “You’re pregnant—let me.”

 “Do you dislike my cooking?”

 She pushed him away, still smiling, but her lips pursed slightly in mock annoyance.

 “Not at all!”

 He switched tactics instantly. “Then I’ll trouble you tonight!”

 “Good boy.”

 She tugged the kimono up a touch and teased, “Guess what’s under here?”

 Natsume sucked in a breath, staring at her thighs.

 After Mikoto’s multiple lessons, he knew kimonos didn’t need underwear.

 Meaning—nothing underneath.

 “At this rate, you won’t get dinner.”

 He swallowed.

 “Don’t want dinner?”

 Her smile could steal souls; she licked her lips. “I planned to personally serve you.”

 Sure she was teasing, Natsume stopped hesitating and scooped her up.

 “Let’s bathe.”

 Leaning in his arms, her pale fingers stroked his cheek. “Now comes the test of your patience—kimonos are hard to put on and even harder to take off.”

 “I’m very considerate.”

 Natsume grinned with confidence; he was well-versed in kimonos.

 Mikoto loved them, after all.

...

In the steamy confines of the bath, Natsume carefully set Tsunade down on the edge of the tub, the warm water already filling the air with a soothing mist. He knelt before her, his hands steady as he began the intricate process of unwrapping her kimono.

The fabric clung to her curves, and he took his time, peeling it away layer by layer, revealing the soft swell of her pregnant belly and the full, inviting swells of her breasts. She watched him with half-lidded eyes, her breath hitching as his fingers brushed against her skin.

"You're taking your time," she murmured, her voice a husky whisper, as he finally slid the kimono off her shoulders, letting it pool around her feet. Naked now, her body glowed in the dim light, every curve accentuated by the steam.

"Patience is a virtue," Natsume replied, his own clothes quickly discarded. He guided her into the warm water, the two of them sinking in together. The bath was spacious, the water lapping gently at their skin as he pulled her close, her back against his chest. His hands roamed softly over her body, starting at her shoulders, massaging away any tension, then trailing down to cup her breasts. They were fuller now, sensitive from the pregnancy, and she arched into his touch with a soft moan.

"Mmm, that's good," Tsunade sighed, tilting her head back to capture his lips in a deep, lingering kiss.

Their tongues danced slowly, the heat of the water mirroring the building warmth between them.

Natsume's fingers teased her nipples, rolling them gently until they hardened under his touch, eliciting gasps from her.

One hand ventured lower, caressing the curve of her belly with reverence, then dipping between her thighs.

He found her slick and ready, his fingers exploring her folds with feather-light strokes, circling her most sensitive spot without rushing.

Tsunade's hips bucked slightly against his hand, her breaths coming in short pants.

"Natsume... more," she pleaded, turning in his arms to face him.

The water sloshed around them as she pressed her body to his, her hands wandering down his chest, tracing the lines of his muscles before wrapping around his hardening length.

She stroked him slowly, her grip firm yet teasing, matching the rhythm of Natsume's mouth trailed down her neck, sucking lightly at her pulse point, while his free hand kneaded her thigh.

Tsunade's moans filled the room, echoing off the tiles, as he brought her closer to the edge with expert precision, his thumb pressing just right against her clit.

Finally, with a mischievous glint in her eyes, Tsunade shifted lower in the water, her lips brushing against his chest, then his abdomen.

"My turn to serve you," she whispered, her voice laced with promise.

She took him into her mouth, her tongue swirling around the tip before she enveloped him fully.

Natsume groaned, his head falling back against the tub's edge, fingers threading through her damp hair as she worked him with skillful, deliberate movements—sucking, licking, and humming softly to send vibrations through him.

The warmth of her mouth contrasted with the bath's heat, driving him wild.

They lingered like that, lost in the intimacy, until the water began to cool.

An hour later, they finished bathing.

Tsunade, soaked too long, lay limp on the bed to rest.

Natsume dried her golden hair.

His fingers grazed her pale back.

She shivered and lifted her head, the flush not yet faded.

“I can use Yin Seal,” she murmured.

“What are you saying?”

Natsume glared. “You can’t risk the slightest thing right now. Understand?”

Tsunade hesitated, then nodded.

She sighed inwardly. Alone, she really couldn’t beat Natsume.

….

A new day.

Natsume went back to work.

With Tsunade pregnant, he didn’t let her overwork—no risks.

No choice.

He’d shoulder more himself.

Opening the door, he found someone already in the office.

Hinata.

She sat on the sofa, absorbed in a report.

Hearing footsteps, she looked up, smiled sweetly, and said, “Natsume-oniisan.”

“What are you reading?”

Natsume couldn’t help asking. “So focused.”

“It’s our mission report.”

Hinata stood and handed it to him. “I wrote it. Please check it.”

Natsume remembered that after completing a mission, shinobi submitted a report to the Hokage.

The content was simple: a detailed account of the mission.

Most shinobi didn’t care—just a formality.

They’d scribble a rough outline; no one complained.

Hinata’s seriousness was rare.

Natsume scanned her elegant handwriting and nodded.

No surprise from a big clan.

Her writing was beautiful and neat.

“I’ll take a close look.”

He noticed the expectation in her eyes and smiled.

Hinata tilted her head slightly, a hint of unease on her face.

She cared too much about Natsume.

Even small things—she didn’t want to let him down.

She used to care most about her father’s evaluation; now Hiashi had stepped back.

“Want the truth or a white lie?”

After reading, Natsume felt like teasing her.

“Um… the truth.”

Hinata opened her mouth, sensing something ominous, and nervously clenched her hem.

Like a good student waiting for critique.

“Mm… so good I don’t know where to start.”

Natsume drew out his tone, then delivered the second half under her worried gaze.

“Eh?”

Hinata blinked.

A moment later, she realized he was teasing.

She lowered her head, a lovely blush rising even beneath her eyes.

She didn’t dislike it—she was happy.

Natsume patted her head. “Do your best next time.”

“Mm.”

Hinata answered softly.

“You’ve all worked hard these days, so I’m giving you some time off.”

Natsume needed to handle the Dragon Vein, so he used that reason to dismiss his three students for now.

After Hinata left, Kurenai entered the office again.

“Lord Natsume, news from Sunagakure—they want to formalize an alliance in a week, at a location in the Wind Country desert.”