After leaving the Hyuga clan, Natsume returned to the Hokage Building.
Although the incident involving Kusagakure and Hozuki Castle had seemingly come to a close, it wasn't truly over yet.
There was still one thing left to do.
That was, to write the mission report.
Honestly, Natsume didn't care much for writing reports, but they were necessary for his three students to gain experience.
Yes, three of them.
Even though Hinata Hyuga hadn't taken part, her participation would still be recorded.
Who could possibly object to a bit of Hokage-level favoritism?
"Sister Kurenai, could you help me draft a mission report?"
Of course, there was no way Natsume was going to write it himself.
"What else are secretaries for?"
"It's about Hozuki Castle," he said after a pause. "Mark it as a Class S mission. Just summarize the main points in a few sentences."
He left out any mention of Mikoto Uchiha's appearance or Sasuke Uchiha's wish.
Instead, he claimed that the lord of Hozuki Castle, Mui, had opened the Box of Supreme Bliss, releasing a monster.
Thanks to his efforts and those of Team 9, the creature was defeated and sealed away.
Kurenai Yuhi naturally had no intention of questioning him.
Following his instructions, she completed the mission report.
Natsume glanced through it and said, "Not bad at all."
Kurenai gave a small smile. "That's just what secretaries do."
"Go ahead and archive it."
Natsume handed the documents back to her.
"Yes."
Kurenai turned and exited the Hokage's office.
[Your actions have changed Hinata Hyuga's destiny. You gained 100 destiny points.]
[Your actions have changed Hiashi Hyuga's destiny. You gained 20 destiny points.]
Two consecutive prompts left Natsume puzzled.
What happened to Hiashi?
He had no idea that the bow he'd given almost killed his future father-in-law.
Putting it out of his mind, Natsume handled some village paperwork before reaching what he called "happy hour."
Activating the Flying Thunder God Technique, he vanished from the Hokage's Office.
A few seconds later, the door swung open.
"Summer…"
Kurenai's gaze fell upon the empty Hokage seat, a flash of disappointment crossing her face as she stamped her foot in frustration.
"A second too late."
She sighed, closed the door behind her, adjusted her collar, and headed home.
The next day.
Land of Snow.
Natsume knocked on the door.
"Enter."
The calm, cold voice of Kaguya Otsutsuki rang out.
Natsume pushed the door open and stepped in slowly.
No one was sitting behind the desk, so his eyes drifted toward the bedside.
Kaguya leaned against the wall, a quilt covering her legs.
She had been staring at the ceiling, but when Natsume entered, her gaze snapped down to him.
"Just woke up?"
He approached, asking casually.
"No sleep."
Kaguya shook her head. "I can't fall asleep without you here—"
"You're saying something so sweet this early in the morning—I can't take it."
Natsume paused briefly, then chuckled.
"Sweet talk?"
Kaguya tilted her head slightly, her intense gaze fixed on him. A hint of confusion showed in her expression as she asked, "Is that what this is called?"
"Mmm… Yeah."
Natsume sat on the edge of the bed and said, "Sweet nothings are words that make people feel really happy. Of course, they can only be said to someone you like."
Kaguya Otsutsuki drew back the quilt, revealing her long, smooth legs and pale, delicate feet.
"Come here."
She gestured with a wave of her hand.
Natsume got up and sat beside her.
Kaguya Otsutsuki pulled the quilt back over both of them, covering their legs.
"Say something sweet."
She reached out, wrapping her arms around Natsume and pulling him into her embrace.
"When you try too hard to say something sweet, it loses its effect."
Natsume rested his head on her shoulder, eyes half-closed as he studied her snow-white jawline.
Kaguya Otsutsuki paused, then gently bit her lip.
"Do we get up now?"
Natsume remembered today was the Kazahana Snow Festival. Originally, his plan had been to take her out to enjoy it.
It had been a while since he'd come to this era, but she'd stayed cooped up inside the Daimyo's Mansion of the Land of Snow all this time.
If they didn't get out soon, they'd end up going moldy!
"In a minute."
Kaguya tightened her embrace, her soft, pale thighs pressed snugly against his legs.
"I like this," she murmured, lips curling into a smile. "It feels like my heart's racing out of control."
"..."
Natsume blinked in surprise.
Why does your flirting sound so rehearsed?
And you don't even realize you're saying romantic things.
Natsume felt completely wrapped around Kaguya's finger.
After a while, she released him.
Kaguya gave him a light kiss on the cheek and said, "I want breakfast made by you."
"Just wait a second."
Natsume left the room and borrowed the mansion's kitchen to prepare a bowl of ramen.
As for himself, he'd already eaten with Tsunade.
Kaguya picked up chopsticks and began eating breakfast gracefully.
Natsume sat opposite her, watching every move she made until his gaze settled on her forehead.
[Rinne-Sharingan] — the third eye she gained after consuming the God Tree's fruit.
Naturally, she kept it hidden.
Natsume had never seen its true form and couldn't help but feel curious.
Still, he dared not casually ask Kaguya to show it to him.
To her, that eye must be something incredibly precious.
"Was it good?" Natsume asked when she finished eating.
"Very good."
Kaguya narrowed her eyes slightly, like a well-fed white cat looking thoroughly satisfied.
"If you say it's great, then it definitely is."
Natsume reached out, gently brushing away strands of white hair from her forehead.
Seeing she didn't get angry, he quietly exhaled in relief.
"What are you doing?"
Kaguya looked puzzled.
"Hmm, I can't let bangs cover your beautiful face."
Looking into her white eyes, Natsume smiled.
Kaguya blinked, sensing a flicker of joy deep inside.
Was it because she'd been called beautiful?
Suddenly, she felt like she was becoming strange.
She had heard similar words before.
But she'd just ignored them.
Or rather, she had never responded at all.
So why did those same words feel so different coming from Natsume?
"Was that meant to be romantic?"
Kaguya Otsutsuki paused briefly before speaking.
"You could call it that, I suppose."
Natsume hesitated slightly in response.
Sometimes he felt like he couldn't quite grasp Kaguya's train of thought.
This must be what an emotionless girl is like.
"I see."
A smile appeared on Kaguya's face as she said, "I don't dislike this feeling. You can say more."
Natsume felt like he was about to lose today.
He finally said something romantic—only to be playfully teased in return.
Too strong, Lady Kaguya...
A guy like me doesn't stand a chance of escaping your grip.
"Let's go."
Natsume opened the door and said, "The Kazahana Snow Festival has already begun. Look."
Looking up, Kaguya saw exquisite images in the sky.
They looked like clouds, shifting into various plants and animals.
In addition, there were decorations unique to the Land of Snow.
After Yukie Kazahana's restoration of her country, Natsume had given tremendous support.
Previously, they'd introduced chakra armor, airships, environmental modifiers, and so forth.
Building on these achievements, continued improvements had pushed their technology even further forward.
Projecting images into the sky? That was now a simple task.
"That one is you."
Kaguya noticed the central figure was Natsume.
Beside him was also Yukie Kazahana.
Natsume's heart skipped a beat, secretly thinking that Lady Kaguya probably wouldn't be jealous, right?
He felt she didn't care much about Yukie.
Or rather, no two humans could earn even a proper glance from her.
"She really likes you."
Kaguya suddenly stated.
"N-no... I don't think so?"
Natsume's heart stopped beating.
"My eyes can see into her thoughts."
Said Kaguya with a calm tone.
Natsume paused briefly.
Suddenly, he recalled how, in an original anime storyline, Kaguya had seen through Hamura's lie, as well as Hagoromo Otsutsuki's inner thoughts.
Oh no!
Doesn't that mean there's nowhere for me to hide from her?
"Ordinary creatures cannot hide any emotions from me,"
Gazing at him, slight puzzlement flickered across Kaguya's eyes, "...except for you."
Instantly, Natsume relaxed.
Could it be protection from the Tamaki of Destiny?
He wasn't entirely sure why.
But whatever the case, it was good news.
Kaguya noticed the faint panic in his eyes.
She took his hand, gave it a little squeeze, and said, "I don't care what you're thinking—as long as you like me."
Instinctively, Natsume looked at her. Though her expression didn't change much, the words she spoke carried genuine emotion.
Good grief, Lady Kaguya going all out—he couldn't handle it.
The worst part was that she didn't even realize what she'd just said.
"Let's go."
Taking her hand in return, Natsume said, "Let's go take a walk outside."
The Kazahana Snow Festival was an annual grand event in the Land of Snow.
Already, the streets were bustling with people.
Natsume had originally planned to disguise Kaguya, but suddenly noticed nobody seemed able to see them anyway.
"Did you do this?"
"Yeah."
Kaguya Otsutsuki spoke in a calm tone, "I don't like them, and I don't want them disturbing us."
Her words perfectly embodied the demeanor of a domineering CEO.
Natsume smiled slightly, walking while gently playing with her hand.
Soft and smooth to the touch.
Kaguya Otsutsuki didn't mind his actions, her eyes casually glancing around at the surroundings.
Everything about this era felt unfamiliar to her.
So she found it anything but boring.
"What is that?"
Kaguya Otsutsuki raised her hand, pointing toward a group of people beneath the torii gate in the distance.
"It's an amulet," Natsume thought for a moment before explaining. "Something similar to a charm. It's used to pray for safety from the gods."
Upon hearing this, Kaguya shook her head.
She herself was a goddess.
She didn't need these flashy things.
"Go buy one."
Kaguya stopped in her tracks and said.
Natsume blinked in surprise.
What are you going to do with it?
Even the gods here struggle to protect themselves when they see you—how could they possibly protect you?
But since Lady Kaguya had spoken, he naturally had to comply.
So he pushed through the crowd and bought a pink amulet embroidered with the characters for "peace and safety."
Kaguya held the amulet, and after a moment, a faint white glow appeared on its surface.
A faint pulse of deep chakra could be sensed within it.
"Here."
Kaguya placed the amulet into his palm. "Wear it."
Natsume blinked.
He hadn't expected Kaguya Otsutsuki to expend so much chakra on his behalf.
Hmm, maybe she just gathered too much chakra recently, and this was a reward—a small share given to him.
This chapter isn't over yet—more excitement ahead!
"What effect does it have?" Natsume guessed as he asked. "Is it automatically triggered when someone attacks me?"
"No. If you suffer a fatal wound, I will appear."
Kaguya Otsutsuki delivered the ultimate possessive declaration in the flattest tone possible. "Because I'm the only one who's allowed to kill you."
Unable to suppress his racing heart, Natsume leaned forward and captured her lips.
After what felt like ages, Kaguya Otsutsuki took his hand again and resumed walking.
At the corner of her mouth, a smile unintentionally surfaced, like a flower blooming in spring.
Truth be told, Natsume wasn't particularly fond of shopping.
In his eyes, there wasn't much fun to be had.
In his past life, whenever he went out, food was always the main event.
But Kaguya Otsutsuki didn't seem to have that mindset.
She only ate what Natsume personally prepared for her.
Everything else, she refused outright.
"A bookstore."
A flicker of interest passed through Kaguya's pale eyes.
She pulled Natsume inside.
"Huh?"
Natsume stood there, completely baffled.
Right at the most prominent location hung a massive poster.
It featured just one line of text:
Jiraiya's New Volume of Make Out Paradise—Now Selling Hotly.
"No way."
Natsume reached up and gently turned Kaguya's face away, trying to redirect her gaze.
But obviously, this had the opposite effect.
"Why not?"
Kaguya lowered her gaze, looking down at him with curious eyes.
"The quality of the book isn't good enough."
Natsume forced the words out, "It's not good."
"You don't like it?"
Kaguya Otsutsuki asked.
"I don't like it."
Natsume told a bold-faced lie.
Well, not exactly a lie.
Make Out Paradise wasn't bad by ninja world standards, but by his past-life standards, it was pretty mediocre. It couldn't hold a candle to novels like How to Win a Battle Before Lifting a Sword, Golden Lotus, or Soaring Clouds of Immortality.
"Then kill him."
Kaguya showed a completely indifferent expression as she spoke.
"Eh, there's no need."
Natsume waved his hand dismissively. "If you want to kill someone, let's go to Mount Myoboku another day."
"Mount Myoboku? Does it still exist now?"
Kaguya furrowed her brow slightly.
"Yeah."
Natsume nodded. "It not only still exists but also holds great influence and is honored as one of the Three Great Holy Places."
"When will we go?"
Kaguya slightly frowned as she asked.
"No rush."
Natsume reached over and lightly pinched her cheek. "Let's drop it for today."
"Okay."
Kaguya turned her gaze back to the books on the shelf.
She took his advice and skipped Make Out Paradise. Instead, she bought a novel called Love Strategy.
True to its name, it was a proper novel.
Natsume flipped through it—it actually was a real novel.
So he paid for it without hesitation.
The reason he didn't buy Make Out Paradise was because he didn't want Kaguya absorbing all sorts of messy content.
Otherwise, things wouldn't be half as fun.
After leaving the bookstore, they walked out and continued down the road together.
Kaguya let go of Natsume's hand and opened the Love Strategy novel instead.
A faint twitch tugged at the corner of Natsume's mouth.
Had he accidentally turned one of history's most fearsome villains into a shut-in?
Would she move on to video games after finishing books?
Thinking carefully, Kaguya didn't really have much else to do anyway.
Her only job these days was collecting rent.
No skills needed—just wait for Konoha ninjas to waste their hard-earned cash.
Besides, Natsume couldn't always be around to entertain her.
Bringing her to Konoha Village would terrify both people and nature itself.
Especially Black Zetsu and White Zetsu—he'd have to keep her away from them entirely.
Oh right, also animals.
Even creatures like frogs and venomous snakes would panic around her.
"Let's go back."
Kaguya closed the novel and stared intently ahead.
Natsume felt uneasy—something about her seemed… off.
Could it be something about this book?
But he didn't dare ask, so he simply nodded.
They returned to the palace together.
After putting the book down, Kaguya kept her eyes locked on Natsume.
It unsettled him a little.
After a short while, he couldn't help asking, "Umm… Why are you looking at me like that?"
Sitting on the tatami, Kaguya gestured him closer with a wave of her hand.
Natsume approached with confusion.
"The book says there's one thing all men like," Kaguya tilted her head curiously, asking innocently, "Would you mind telling me what it is?"
Natsume gulped audibly.
He had to act now, or it would seem like he was holding back.
"Kaguya, stay still for a moment."
Natsume reached out his hands and helped her remove her outer robe.
Her slender form came into view before him.
Otsutsuki Kaguya didn't show any shyness. She simply looked at him, waiting for his next action.
To her, if she didn't dislike something, then it was acceptable.
Natsume admired the sight of her smooth skin, feeling strangely nervous.
He couldn't understand why—shouldn't he be the more experienced one?
Otsutsuki Kaguya sat up straight, her snow-white hair cascading down and falling onto Natsume's abdomen.
She exhaled softly, her eyes clouded with confusion.
This sensation was completely new to her.
Strange—but wonderful.
Otsutsuki Kaguya's usually expressionless face quietly flushed with color.
Like morning clouds—radiant and enchanting.
She reached out her pale hand and gently caressed Natsume's handsome face.
This chapter hasn't ended yet!
"This… is love?"
Otsutsuki Kaguya murmured dreamily, her eyes unfocused.
Once again, she had achieved spiritual fulfillment.
The last time was when she waited a thousand years and consumed the God Tree's fruit.
But spiritual satisfaction alone wasn't enough.
Otsutsuki Kaguya activated her Rinne-Sharingan.
Instantly transporting both of them into the Shiqiu Space within Amenominaka.
Natsume instinctively held onto her thighs and asked, "Wh—why here?"
Don't blame him for stammering—it was hard to put into words what he was feeling.
Extraterrestrials really were terrifying.
"In this place, I can briefly control the flow of time."
Otsutsuki Kaguya lowered her head slightly, her face flushed with a delicate pink hue.
She wanted to prolong this feeling as much as possible.
"???!"
For the first time, Natsume noticed a flaw in the Sage Body.
Its recovery capabilities weren't quite sufficient.
He sank helplessly into this soft snare, unable to escape.
One month later, he returned to the Daimyo's Mansion in the Land of Snow.
Yet outside, only a single day had passed.
Natsume opened his eyes, staring blankly at the ceiling.
Aching all over, he didn't feel like moving at all.
This long, intense encounter had exhausted him completely.
He was practically falling apart.
Even the Sage Body had its limits after all.
He turned his head and saw Otsutsuki Kaguya hugging his arm, a gentle smile gracing her lips as she slept.
Natsume leaned forward and kissed her forehead.
Then he closed his eyes and drifted off to sleep almost instantly.
How long had passed, he didn't know.
Suddenly, he felt a wave of nausea so intense it nearly made him vomit.
"Wake up already?"
Otsutsuki Kaguya asked coldly.
Gazing at the magnificent scenery before him—rolling peaks like gathering waves, valleys rising like furious tides—Natsume immediately felt pain shoot through his waist.
Save me!
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