As classes ended, parents began gathering outside the Ninja Academy to pick up their children.
Sasame spotted Uchiha Itachi leaving with a teenage boy—undoubtedly Shisui, already famed as "Shunshin no Shisui", the Uchiha clan's brightest prodigy.
After a day at school, Sasame had memorized most of his classmates' names.
Aside from Itachi, there was one other canon character: Inuzuka Hana—Kiba's older sister, a veterinarian.
Her role in the story was minor, though.
Sasame wasn't sure how to alter her fate for Fate Points.
"STOP!"
"PAY UP!"
A sudden commotion.
Sasame looked up—and froze.
A wrinkled old woman was sprinting like an athlete, effortlessly outpacing six burly debt collectors behind her.
As she passed the gate, she winked playfully at Sasame.
If you ignored her age and appearance… it was kinda cute.
Sasame recoiled.
Has my charm reached this level?!
Then it hit him—
This was Tsunade's debt evasion routine.
He sighed.
As her nominal foster son and disciple, he could already foresee his future:
Endless debt-chasing with Shizune.
"I, Sasame, swear eternal enmity against gambling, drugs, and—
Wait, no. Just gambling."
He narrowed his eyes.
Need to find a way to make money fast.
The group vanished down the street.
Seven or eight minutes later, the "old lady" returned—morphing back into Tsunade in front of Sasame.
"How was school?"
"Not bad."
Sasame took her soft hand and asked, "Who were those people chasing you?"
"Oh, creditors."
Tsunade waved dismissively. "Borrowed a little money. It's not like I won't pay them back—no need to hound me."
Sasame's eye twitched.
A little money?
If he recalled correctly, Tsunade's IOUs filled multiple crates.
"Enough about that."
Tsunade grinned. "To celebrate your first day, let's buy some sake!"
You just want an excuse to drink!
Sasame protested, "Alcohol is bad for your health."
"You underestimate me, little brother."
Tsunade crouched, tapping the diamond mark on her forehead.
*"This is the Strength of a Hundred Seal—a powerful jutsu. Know what it does?"
"No." Sasame shook his head.
Lie. He knew exactly what it was—but admitting that would raise too many questions.
"It keeps my body at its peak condition—immune to toxins, aging, anything."
Tsunade smirked proudly. "Sake? Nothing can harm me."
"Wow! Sis is amazing!"
Sasame sparkled with admiration, laying it on thick.
Tsunade's heart fluttered. That look was too adorable.
She nuzzled his cheek, whispering, "I've got more secrets… You'll see~"
Her sweet, intoxicating scent made Sasame's face burn red.
Tsunade's grin widened.
Oh? Blushing? Let me see—
But since they were in public, she held back.
After grabbing two bottles of sake from a tavern, they returned home.
Shizune was already cooking.
As an orphan, her culinary skills were top-notch.
If not for Tsunade's insistence on "sibling bonding", she'd handle breakfast too.
Dinner was lavish:
Miso soup
Tempura
Mapo tofu
Salmon rice bowl
Sasame ate happily.
Tsunade was even happier—being the only one allowed alcohol.
Shizune and Sasame were "too young", according to her.
After the meal, Shizune took the dishes to the kitchen.
Tsunade, now noticeably tipsy, lounged on the sofa, cheeks flushed like ripe apples.
Her golden eyes fluttered open, locking onto Sasame as he studied ninjutsu scrolls.
"Saa~sa~me~"
Her voice was sugary, almost sing-song.
She pulled him into a tight hug, burying his face in her ample chest.
*"I loooove you, little brother~"
"..."
Sasame gave up on reading.
Women. Always distracting me from my studies.
Not that being smothered was unpleasant—but the pent-up frustration was agonizing.
"Sis, you're drunk. Go rest."
He knew firsthand how annoying drunk people could be.
Especially if they puke on you.
"I'm not drunk!"
Tsunade pinched his cheeks, her fingers soft but unrelenting.
"Only drunk people say that."
Sasame sighed. "Just go to bed."
"You're rejecting me? Fine! I'll go!"
She stumbled up, swaying toward her room.
Just as Sasame relaxed—
She turned back.
"...?"
Before he could react, Tsunade scooped him up.
*"You're coming with me."
This wasn't part of the deal!
Sasame wriggled—but Tsunade's monstrous strength made escape impossible.
In her room, Tsunade dropped him onto the bed.
Sasame bolted for the door—
Then froze at the sight behind him.
Smooth skin. Curves. Gold. Red. White.
He spun around and fled.
Their relationship wasn't at that stage yet.
No point ruining things for momentary pleasure.
"Guess I'll visit Orochimaru."
Sasame needed distraction.
Since Yamato's fate had changed, Orochimaru must've accepted the deal.
But obtaining Hashirama's cells was still risky—one misstep, and his true identity could be exposed.
Yet he needed those cells.
The boost to Wood Release was too significant.
Even with his innate talent, Sasame lacked the chakra reserves and Sage Body to maximize it.
Until he had enough Fate Points, Hashirama's cells were essential.
And not just for me—future subordinates too.
He could use Fate Points to get them…
But they were too expensive.
Better to scheme another way.
"Shizune-nee, I'm going to bed."
Sasame called out. "Check on Tsunade later, okay?"
Shizune addressed Tsunade as "Lady Tsunade", while Sasame used "sis".
At first, Shizune found it weird—until Sasame said:
"Don't worry. We'll each use our own terms."
Who knows? Maybe you'll end up calling me 'Master's Wife' later~
(He kept that last part to himself.)
Orochimaru's Hideout.
After spending 1 Fate Point, Sasame's Wood Clone materialized.
Orochimaru was in the basement, "educating" Yamato—both indoctrinating and experimenting on him.
With his charisma maxed, handling a kid was child's play for Orochimaru.
The only issue?
Yamato had been brainwashed by Danzo, requiring personality recalibration—
Alongside Wood Release research.
Yamato's success gave Orochimaru a new idea:
Instead of stealing bodies, why not enhance his own?
If he could perfectly integrate Hashirama's cells—unlike Danzo's frankenstein graft—
The possibilities were endless.