Adopted by Tsunade [247-248] (Patreon)

Chapter 247 – You’ve Got a Little Sister Now

At the gates of Konoha Village.

“Whoa, we’re finally back!”

An unrestrainable excitement was written all over Naruto’s face.

This time their mission had taken them very far, all the way to the Land of Wind.

The round trip alone had taken nearly half a month.

Most of the time had been spent on the road, which made it rather dull.

Compared to Natsume, his new teacher, Uzuki Yugao, was basically the exact opposite extreme.

She was as meticulous and tireless as a machine.

It was one mission after another.

Even Naruto was starting to feel he couldn’t keep up.

Though the fighting was indeed pretty fun.

“Let’s go eat at Ichiraku Ramen!”

Naruto looked at Uzuki Yugao and his two teammates and extended an invitation. “My treat!”

There was even a hint of cathartic pleasure in his tone.

Because Hinata was with them, it was equivalent to treating ten people at once.

“I have to go to the Hokage Building to turn in the mission.”

Uzuki Yugao’s tone was cool as she said, “The three of you go eat.”

She was only a substitute leader.

Under Orochimaru’s influence, her personality had become rather indifferent again.

Besides, they hadn’t been together long; naturally, there weren’t many emotional ties yet.

“I’m going home.”

Sasuke said calmly, “My mom is waiting for me.”

“Me too.”

Hinata hesitated for a few seconds before refusing.

“Then tomorrow!”

Naruto wasn’t affected at all. “I’m going first!”

He shot off toward Ichiraku Ramen like a yellow whirlwind.

The three who remained went their separate ways.

As Sasuke walked down the main street, the tension in his body gradually eased.

His life had been pretty good recently.

After obtaining Satori, his strength had been steadily increasing.

He still couldn’t compare to Naruto, but he was already frighteningly strong.

After learning about the existence of jinchuriki, the unwillingness in his heart wasn’t as intense.

After all, the truly powerful one wasn’t Naruto, but the Nine-Tails.

It was normal that he couldn’t win.

But that didn’t mean he would never be able to.

Because the Mangekyo Sharingan could control the Nine-Tails.

In other words, once his eyes awakened, he’d be able to defeat Naruto.

It was only a matter of time.

When he arrived at the Uchiha compound, Sasuke even showed a smile.

Although there were far fewer people than before, the fact that people he knew were still alive was a huge comfort.

Especially Mikoto.

“Mom, I’m home.”

Sasuke opened the door, took off his shoes, and shouted loudly.

Hearing his voice, Mikoto came out of the kitchen.

She was wearing an apron, clearly in the middle of cooking.

“Sasuke.”

Mikoto walked up with a smile and asked gently, “Let me see… it looks like you’ve gotten a bit darker.”

“We were on a mission in the desert of the Land of Wind.”

Sasuke explained, “It’s really hot there.”

If Naruto were here, he’d definitely be shocked that Sasuke would say so many words.

Outside, Sasuke always maintained his aloof image.

You could call it terse and to the point.

“Next time, I’ll talk to your teacher and have him assign you missions in the Land of Fire.”

Mikoto said with a touch of distress.

“It’s fine.”

Sasuke shook his head. “It’s the same wherever I go.”

“As expected of my son.”

Mikoto patted his hair. “Go take a rest. I’ll finish cooking.”

She turned and went back into the kitchen.

Sasuke flopped down onto the sofa.

At home, he was much more relaxed.

He took a sip of water, then closed his eyes.

Satori was different from a tailed beast. It had a consciousness, but it couldn’t communicate.

Or rather, given Sasuke’s personality, he wouldn’t chat even if it could.

So his method was very simple and brutal.

He forcibly drew out Satori’s power every day.

Under normal circumstances, he wouldn’t be able to absorb it.

Fortunately, the wondrous nature of sealing jutsu compensated for this flaw.

Sasuke’s consciousness sank into the sealing space.

Satori immediately rushed at him, but soon slammed into the seal.

Three meters away, yet it couldn’t cross.

Sasuke gave a small chuckle and formed a hand seal.

At once, a faint black mist appeared on Satori’s body.

Drawn by an unseen force, it poured into Sasuke’s eyes one wisp after another.

His three-tomoe Sharingan opened at once and began to tremble.

Sasuke gritted his teeth and endured the discomfort, continuing to absorb until he could no longer bear it, at which point he withdrew from the sealing space.

“Sasuke, come eat.”

When Mikoto saw him wake up, she called out.

“Are there guests tonight?”

Sasuke jumped down from the sofa and came to the table—only to freeze.

“No.”

Mikoto shook her head, then asked in puzzlement, “Why do you say that?”

“Because there’s a lot of food.”

Sasuke sat down. “Usually we only have two dishes.”

“Oh, that.”

Mikoto smiled gently and handed him a pair of chopsticks. “It’s because I have some good news to tell you.”

“Good news?”

Sasuke looked at her, his face showing a hint of interest. “What is it?”

“You’re going to have a little sister.”

Mikoto rested her hand on her stomach as she spoke.

“???”

Sasuke’s eyes widened instantly, his expression freezing. “L…little sister? What do you mean? Did you adopt a girl?”

“No.”

Mikoto explained, “I’m pregnant.”

“Ah?”

Sasuke’s body stiffened, and scarlet instantly flooded into his eyes.

He stared blankly at the woman in front of him, unable to believe what she’d said.

His father had been dead for years. How could she be pregnant?

Unless it was someone else’s.

For a moment, Sasuke didn’t know what to say.

Rebuke his mother?

He couldn’t do it.

Calmly accept it?

He didn’t seem able to do that either.

All kinds of emotions surged into his heart, and his three-tomoe Sharingan trembled violently.

“Whose…is it?”

Sasuke forced the words out with great difficulty.

“Natsume’s.”

A look of happiness appeared on Mikoto’s face.

Sasuke was dumbfounded.

He had never imagined it would be Natsume.

Because there was such a big age gap between them.

A sharp pain suddenly lanced through his eyes, and the world seemed to turn blood-red.

“Why…?”

Sasuke clutched his head, his voice pained.

“Sasuke, are you unhappy?”

Mikoto’s happy expression turned to sadness. She bit her lip. “Then I’ll get rid of her.”

“Wait.”

Sasuke panicked a little and hurried to explain, “I… didn’t mean it like that.”

Mikoto’s brows knit ever so slightly.

Sure enough, the emotional stimulus still wasn’t enough.

She understood the reason.

It was herself.

The mother–son bond between them was affecting him.

He hadn’t been driven all the way to the extreme.

No—Natsume was part of it too.

Natsume had prevented the Uchiha massacre and gone to great lengths to help Sasuke grow stronger.

No matter how you looked at it, he’d done Sasuke an immense favor.

So after the initial shock, Sasuke unexpectedly found that he could accept it.

Under these conditions, the Mangekyo Sharingan ultimately hadn’t awakened.

“Mom, if you want to have her, then have her. I won’t mind.”

Sasuke exhaled and spoke.

“Thank you.”

Mikoto looked at him, her face once again taking on that gentle look.

What an understanding child.

Completely different from what she’d expected.

She had thought Sasuke would shout and scream and oppose her.

…

After dinner.

Mikoto went into the kitchen to wash the dishes.

Sasuke lay on the sofa, eyes vacant.

He still hadn’t fully recovered from the explosive news he’d just received.

In his memory, Fugaku and Mikoto had a very good relationship.

In the end, it all came back to that night.

Hatred flashed in Sasuke’s eyes.

Uchiha Itachi!

The source of all sin.

For the sake of so-called capacity, he had lost his humanity.

If not for that, their family could have been living happily together.

Sasuke suddenly thought of something else.

He was going to be an older brother.

He didn’t know how Itachi had reacted when he heard their mother was pregnant back then, but he resolved that he absolutely could not repeat his brother’s mistakes.

He would become a good older brother.

Thinking of this, a small smile appeared at the corner of Sasuke’s mouth.

It actually felt…pretty good.

Sasuke suddenly sat up.

He sensed something off.

Yin Release.

He’d been absorbing Satori’s power recently, so he was very familiar with it.

The source was… the kitchen?

“Mom!”

Sasuke shouted as he sprinted at full speed.

No answer.

A sense of foreboding crept into his heart.

He slowly reached out, grasped the doorknob, and opened the door.

A face so familiar it could never be mistaken appeared before him.

“Uchiha Itachi!”

Sasuke shuddered, his three-tomoe Sharingan activating on its own.

But the next moment, he froze.

Itachi’s cold face shifted to the side.

Behind him, Mikoto lay in a pool of blood.

“No!”

Sasuke’s features twisted, tears streaming down.

His three tomoe began spinning wildly.

The mother who had escaped death once had now died.

The little sister he had just gained had vanished with her.

Sasuke’s chest heaved violently as he roared in rage, “I’m going to kill you!”

The tomoe linked end to end, forming a hexagram.

A powerful, gloomy, and deranged aura erupted from him.

His ocular power howled like a storm, instantly engulfing Itachi.

With him at the center, the entire space twisted and warped.

In the next second, it turned into invisible blades, madly shredding everything.

A spray of blood.

Itachi disappeared without a trace.

“Hahahaha!”

Sasuke laughed maniacally. “Dead! They’re all dead!”

He laughed until he cried.

Then a wave of pain and exhaustion swept through his entire body, and he collapsed.

The world shook faintly and returned to normal.

“He’s fine.”

Natsume withdrew his hand. “The stimulus was too great, and on top of that his ocular power was drained, so he passed out.”

Mikoto finally let out a breath.

Sitting by the bed, her expression was complicated. “Sasuke, I’m sorry.”

“This was a necessary price.”

Natsume consoled her. “Mikoto, you should look on the bright side. No one actually died—that’s already very fortunate.”

Mikoto fell silent at that.

What he said was true, but seeing that ferocious side of Sasuke had still made her feel awful.

Natsume didn’t say anything more.

In the illusion just now, Sasuke had displayed a new dōjutsu.

Judging by the effect, it should be an offensive eye technique, and it was also tied to space.

The exact details, only Sasuke himself knew.

There was another eye technique as well.

Natsume wasn’t about to pry.

He’d just find an opportunity to take them out on a mission, and he’d learn soon enough.

He rubbed his chin. Who should he pick as an opponent…?

…

“Ahhhh!”

Sasuke suddenly snapped his eyes open, sat bolt upright, clutched his head, and let out a pained cry.

“Sasuke, are you okay?”

Mikoto hurriedly asked.

“Mom…?”

Hearing that familiar voice, Sasuke froze for a moment.

He looked at Mikoto, the madness still lingering in his gaze.

“Wh…what’s going on?”

Sasuke shook his head hard, his face full of confusion. “What was that just now?”

“It was a genjutsu.”

Mikoto picked up a towel and wiped the cold sweat off his forehead as she explained, “A genjutsu we prepared for you, to help you awaken the Mangekyo Sharingan.”

Genjutsu?

Sasuke blinked, then felt a surge of relief.

Good.

His mother wasn’t dead, and his little sister was still alive.

Wait—if it was a genjutsu, then the sister was fake?

A strange mix of feelings welled up in him.

He had already steeled himself to be a good big brother.

But soon, that faint gloom was blown away by the joy of awakening the Mangekyo Sharingan.

Two abilities surfaced in his mind.

The left eye: Takemikazuchi-no-Kami.

Its ocular power shatters space, turning it into countless blades that completely shred the enemy.

It was an offensive dōjutsu, and also a space-time technique.

Within a certain range, space would be locked, leaving the target with nowhere to run.

Unless they possessed ocular power surpassing Sasuke’s, or a more advanced eye.

Otherwise, they couldn’t shake it.

The right eye: Magatsuhi-no-Kami.

When activated, he becomes a god of calamity, bringing all kinds of misfortune to those nearby.

If it’s not deactivated, the calamities will not stop.

It was a highly random dōjutsu.

Because calamities could be great or small.

Great ones, like dropping dead on the spot.

Small ones, like catching a cold.

Takemikazuchi-no-Kami was born from Sasuke’s desire to kill Itachi.

Magatsuhi-no-Kami came from his belief that he was cursed by heaven, always bringing disaster to his family—a reflection born of his despair.

All in all, both eye techniques were pretty good.

Especially Takemikazuchi-no-Kami.

Of course, Magatsuhi-no-Kami wasn’t bad either. With enough luck, it was a super god-tier skill—whoever it touched died.

“I’m fine.”

Sasuke came back to himself and, seeing the worry in Mikoto’s eyes, said, “I’ve never felt this strong before.”

“Congratulations.”

Only then did Natsume speak. “With the Mangekyo Sharingan, your strength has already surpassed that of an ordinary jōnin.”

“Thank you, sensei.”

Sasuke said earnestly.

Natsume’s contribution to his awakening couldn’t be overstated.

It was Natsume who had ordered the sealing squad to seal Satori into his body, massively boosting his ocular power.

Without that, even if he’d suffered a huge emotional shock today, awakening might still have been very difficult.

Otherwise, he should have awakened back when he fell under Itachi’s Tsukuyomi.

But he hadn’t.

Ultimately, it was because he’d been too weak back then.

Sasuke believed he would have awakened the Mangekyo eventually, but Natsume’s help had undoubtedly moved that timeline up by several years.

“Sasuke.”

Mikoto hesitated for a moment, then said, “Um… you really do have a little sister.”

“???”

Sasuke went dumb on the spot.

…

Chapter 248 – Mother and Daughter Safe

Sasuke felt like he’d been riding a roller coaster all day.

Up and down, up and down.

Just like life.

Truly, anything bizarre could happen.

Once the shock passed, all he could do was accept it.

He didn’t change how he addressed Natsume; he still called him “sensei.”

Mikoto didn’t force it.

Or rather, she had no intention to.

She didn’t dare make her relationship with Natsume public.

If Sasuke suddenly started calling him “Dad,” wouldn’t everyone know?

Mikoto really couldn’t handle that kind of social death right now.

She still cared quite a bit about the Uchiha clan’s reputation.

“Sasuke, you just awakened your eyes. Take some time to get familiar with them.”

Natsume thought for a moment, then added a reminder: “The Mangekyo Sharingan is incredibly powerful, but it has side effects. Overuse will cause your eyesight to deteriorate, and eventually you’ll go blind.”

He had to remind him.

In the original story, once Sasuke awakened his Mangekyo, he spent all his time showing off, almost getting himself killed.

“Go blind?”

This was clearly the first time Sasuke had heard of such a thing, and he reflexively showed confusion.

After all that effort to awaken his eyes, there was such an outrageous side effect?

He felt a bit cheated.

“Sasuke, your sensei is right. Our clan records do mention this.”

Mikoto nodded. “But as long as you don’t abuse your eye techniques, it’s not that dangerous.”

Sasuke’s face relaxed in understanding.

In that case, it was acceptable.

Even without using special dōjutsu, the Mangekyo Sharingan already made him far stronger than an average jōnin.

“Sensei.”

Sasuke lifted his head, urgency and expectation in his eyes. “Do we have any leads on that man’s whereabouts?”

Mikoto flinched slightly and hesitated.

Natsume silently cursed in his heart.

You just awakened and already want to go after Itachi?

You think you can take him?

Sasuke’s mindset really was a big problem.

In the original story, he was like this all the time.

If not for all his plot armor, he’d have been in the Pure Land ages ago.

“We have some clues.”

Natsume shot Mikoto a reassuring glance. “We know he joined a mysterious organization, but we still need time to pin down his exact location.”

“What organization?”

Sasuke immediately asked again.

He didn’t even notice Natsume and his mother making eyes at each other right in front of him.

“We’re not sure yet.”

Natsume shook his head and smiled. “But you don’t need to rush. Once we have a lead, I’ll take you to find him.”

“Thank you, sensei.”

Sasuke could only suppress his impatience.

“Get some rest. I’m heading back to the Hokage Building.”

Seeing that, Natsume didn’t stay any longer.

“I’ll walk you out.”

Mikoto stood up at once and followed him.

Sasuke scratched his head, feeling that something was seriously off.

Before, behavior like this had seemed perfectly normal to him.

Now, it felt like they were sprinkling dog food in his face.

…

Natsume sensed Mikoto catching up and stopped.

The next second, he felt a soft warmth against his back and a faint fragrance.

“Thank you.”

Mikoto spoke in a soft voice.

Natsume turned to face her, lifting a hand to cup her cheek.

Smiling, he said, “No need to thank me. It’s not like I’m losing out.”

Mikoto realized what he meant and her face flushed red.

“Speaking of which…”

Natsume lowered his head to look at her. “I actually liked you more the way you were before.”

Mikoto’s body trembled, her ears turning bright red.

If it had been anyone else, she would have already called him a pervert.

Seeing the playful look in his eyes, she bit her lip, stood on her tiptoes, and leaned in.

Her lips brushed the corner of his mouth. Then, flustered, she whispered, “If you like it, I can.”

Her voice was very quiet.

If Natsume weren’t as strong as he was, he wouldn’t have heard it at all.

He froze slightly.

Well now.

So this is the kind of person you are, Mikoto?

I like it.

“Next time, we’ll try something a little more fun.”

Natsume reached out and ruffled her hair.

“Mm.”

Mikoto’s eyelashes quivered. Resting her head on his chest, her tone held a trace of anticipation.

“You being this obedient feels a little strange to me.”

Natsume leaned to her ear and gave it a playful nip. “If you don’t go back soon, Sasuke will start wondering.”

Panic flashed in Mikoto’s watery eyes.

Even though Sasuke already knew about their relationship, she didn’t dare show this side of herself too much, for fear her image in his heart would crumble.

…

[Becaus eof your actions, Uchiha Mikoto’s fate has changed. You’ve gained 100 Fate Points.]

[Because of your actions, Uchiha Sasuke’s fate has changed. You’ve gained 70 Fate Points.]

Back at the Hokage Building, the Sacred Ring of Fate chimed in Natsume’s mind.

Not bad. A decent profit.

Since Tsunade was close to her due date, Natsume didn’t go out on missions anymore.

Time flew by.

In the blink of an eye, two months had passed.

The only major event during this time was the graduation of the latest class at the Ninja Academy.

That included Hyuga Neji, Rock Lee, and Tenten.

Natsume didn’t interfere much.

Their squad leader was still Might Guy.

He really was the best choice.

Especially for Rock Lee.

As for the other two, they didn’t really need much.

One came with an inherited secret art, the other with a mountain of ninja tools.

Natsume suspected the only reason Tenten became a ninja was to help sell her family’s gear.

It was worth noting that she wasn’t just rich; she also had insane luck.

In the original story, she even picked up the Six Paths Tools for free. Truly outrageous.

…

Konoha Hospital.

Yakushi Kabuto was giving a lecture.

His topic was the technology of White Zetsu cells.

The students below were all medical-nin.

Among them was Haruno Sakura.

She looked at Kabuto and couldn’t help but sigh inwardly.

He was only a few years older than her, yet already so incredible.

Yakushi Nonō was also present.

Her level was higher, and she had long since mastered this material.

She was mainly there to supervise, and to see how her foster son was doing.

It made her feel very gratified.

Two children from the orphanage had already become big shots.

The lecture ended.

A round of applause followed.

Kabuto pushed up his glasses and showed a gentle smile.

His personality was nothing like the mercurial weirdo from the original.

For the most part, he was very similar to Yakushi Nonō.

Relatively approachable.

When everyone else had left, only Nonō and Sakura remained.

“Sakura, how did it feel?”

Kabuto took the initiative to ask.

“It’s very hard.”

Sakura was honest. “There were a lot of parts I didn’t really understand.”

“You’re still new to it. That’s normal.”

Kabuto smiled faintly, reassuring her. “But with your talent, I believe you can learn it.”

“I’ll work hard!”

Sakura clenched her fists.

If she mastered this, she’d never again have to worry about Sasuke-kun losing an arm or a leg.

She’d finally be able to contribute.

She listened to Yamanaka Ino’s stories about Team 9’s missions every day—and she was very jealous.

Unfortunately, she couldn’t join them.

She just wasn’t strong enough.

“Looks like my timing’s pretty good.”

Natsume knocked on the door with a smile.

“Lord Hokage.”

Sakura hurriedly bowed.

Kabuto, on the other hand, didn’t react much.

“Long time no see, Natsume.”

Nonō greeted him with a smile.

“Director, how have you been lately?”

Natsume nodded back. “If there’s anything you need, just tell me.”

Nonō shook her head.

She wasn’t being polite.

Ever since Natsume became Hokage, her own status had risen sharply.

Everyone knew the connection between them.

In many areas, she was given special treatment.

For example, medicine.

In the past, expensive drugs had been difficult to get approved.

Now, an application was all it took.

The orphanage was even more so.

It had already been renovated several times. It was downright luxurious.

“Kabuto, I have something I need your help with.”

After a brief exchange of pleasantries, Natsume turned to Kabuto.

“I’ll leave you to it, then.”

Nonō, seeing that, left the room with Sakura.

“Edo Tensei—have you mastered it?”

Natsume didn’t waste words.

“No problem there.”

Kabuto looked a bit puzzled. “You’re the Hokage. Using a jutsu like that… won’t it cause trouble?”

In the ninja world, playing with the souls of the dead was something despised by everyone.

Naturally, Edo Tensei was no exception.

After the Second Hokage Senju Tobirama created and used it, it came under heavy criticism.

For instance, the Second Tsuchikage of Iwagakure had called Edo Tensei a despicable technique and held it in extreme contempt.

Even the First Hokage Senju Hashirama had said it wasn’t a good jutsu.

In the original story, after Tobirama’s death, none of the succeeding Hokage—Hiruzen, Minato, Tsunade—ever used Edo Tensei.

Most likely, it was for this reason.

Unless you didn’t care about your reputation at all.

“Why would it cause trouble?”

Natsume shrugged and smiled. “It’s not like I’ll be the one casting it.”

“…”

Kabuto was speechless.

So I’m the designated scapegoat?

Then again, he didn’t really care about his reputation.

“Who do you want to revive?”

Kabuto adjusted his glasses. “I should remind you that Edo Tensei requires a sacrifice and a certain amount of the deceased’s remains.”

“I should correct you—this doesn’t really count as reviving them.”

In Natsume’s view, Edo Tensei was more like crafting puppets.

Incredibly convincing puppets, but still.

“Nohara Rin.”

Natsume paused. “Do you know her?”

“I don’t.”

Unlike his omniscient counterpart in the original story, this Kabuto was more of a shut-in.

Rin had died during the Third Great Ninja War. That was too long ago; there was no way he’d know.

“Do you have her body?”

Kabuto asked casually.

He didn’t care who it was.

“At the Memorial Stone.”

Natsume felt that question sounded very strange.

“…?”

Kabuto also found that answer bizarre.

If she was at the Memorial Stone, didn’t that mean she was a Konoha shinobi?

You’re the Hokage, and you’re doing this?

Does that sound reasonable?

“I can perform Edo Tensei, but as for grave-robbing, that’s on you.”

Kabuto said after a moment’s thought.

Clearly, he still had some principles.

He wasn’t the mad grave-robber from the original timeline.

“Fine.”

Natsume agreed.

It wasn’t really grave-robbing anyway; he just needed a small portion of her remains.

Reviving Nohara Rin via Edo Tensei was meant as a surprise for Uchiha Obito.

And for Kakashi as well.

Because bringing her back wasn’t enough.

Obito needed to understand that she didn’t like him that way.

With Edo Tensei, the sacrifice served as the deceased’s new body.

Natsume had no intention of experiencing that personally.

He had his limits.

Besides, Rin was… just okay.

“As for the sacrifice, you can use White Zetsu.”

Natsume added.

“White Zetsu?”

Kabuto blurted out, “White Zetsu can serve that role too? And just pure White Zetsu cells can work as a sacrifice?”

“It should be fine.”

Natsume hesitated.

In the original, living White Zetsu had been used as sacrifices.

That resulted in revived shinobi whose power was fairly close to their peak.

If a normal sacrifice was used, the summoned ninja’s strength would drop significantly.

For example, in Hiruzen’s last battle, he fought Edo Tensei’d Hashirama and Tobirama to a standstill.

Clearly, those two weren’t at full strength.

Otherwise, even with the Reaper Death Seal, he wouldn’t have been able to drag both of them down with him.

“No matter. If it doesn’t work, I’ll go catch you a couple more.”

Natsume grinned.

“So you really can catch them.”

Kabuto narrowed his eyes with interest. “Then catch a few more for me. I want to see how they develop consciousness.”

“I’ll do my best.”

Natsume didn’t refuse.

They were good brothers, after all.

“Anything else?”

Kabuto asked when he agreed.

“The Third Raikage.”

Natsume said.

He was preparing a sparring partner for Sasuke.

The Third Raikage possessed the so-called strongest spear, Hell Stab: One-Finger Nukite, and the strongest shield, his Lightning Release Armor.

Fast, powerful, and incredibly tough.

He was absolutely Sasuke’s natural enemy.

And as an Edo Tensei, he had no need to fear Sasuke’s dōjutsu.

He’d probably make Sasuke start doubting his life.

Natsume had to admit—he really did put a lot of thought into things for his stepson.

“Aren’t you afraid of offending Kumogakure?”

Kabuto gave him a surprised look. “You’ll have to get his remains yourself.”

Naturally, they’d be in Kumogakure.

He wasn’t going to waste time on that.

“Kumogakure would never suspect the Hokage of grave-robbing their Kage.”

Natsume said carelessly. “So how would I be offending them?”

“…”

Kabuto’s mouth twitched.

Where did that hot-blooded boy who wanted to restore Konoha’s glory go?

How did he turn into such a shameless guy?

Their conversation ended.

Natsume left Konoha Hospital.

…

Another week passed.

In a hospital in the capital of the Land of Fire—

Natsume stood outside a door, his expression calm, but his heart anxious.

Tsunade was in the delivery room.

Given how strong she was, there shouldn’t be any danger, but he couldn’t help worrying.

Not until the cry of a newborn echoed out did he finally exhale in relief.

That feeling immediately turned into anticipation.

Shizune pushed the door open. “Everything’s fine. Mother and daughter are safe.”

Without a word, Natsume stepped into the room.

Tsunade lay on the bed, a bit pale, but far healthier than a normal woman who had just given birth.

She gazed at the baby girl in her arms, her eyes full of motherly love.

Natsume leaned over and couldn’t help smiling.

“How do you feel? You okay?”

“I’m fine.”

Tsunade rolled her eyes at him. “Do I look that fragile to you?”

Natsume just grinned and didn’t argue.

“Look at you, grinning like an idiot.”

Tsunade chuckled as well. “She looks like you—especially the eyes.”

Her irises were a bright brown.

Natsume’s eyes were a typical black.

“The rest is like you. She’s going to be a beautiful girl.”

Natsume reached out and poked the baby’s cheek.

At the same time, he was wondering whether Mikoto’s eye technique had taken effect.

If this child inherited his abilities, it would save him a lot of trouble.