Yugito Nii entered the bathroom carrying some clothes.
Natsume didn't rush over to join in.
Because he wasn't in a hurry.
It was more like a game of cat and mouse between him and Yugito Nii.
When it came to looks or figure,
how could she possibly compare with Tsunade and the others?
Even Yukie Kazahana seemed a bit more refined.
Coupled with her awful personality, Yugito Nii's only advantage was being Matatabi's Jinchuriki.
Natsume decided it was time to teach her some discipline and set her on the right path.
After half an hour, Yugito Nii pushed open the bathroom door and stepped into the hall.
Her face was flushed red, her eyes filled with shy anger, her teeth clenched — like a cat that had just puffed up in anger.
Natsume gave her a slow once-over.
What he'd prepared for Yugito Nii was essentially a catgirl outfit:
a sleeveless black bodysuit,
hugging her tall, slim, and curvaceous frame perfectly.
Combined with her proud expression, she really did resemble a catgirl.
Of course, Natsume knew Yugito Nii would never thank him.
If it were just the tight outfit, she wouldn't have been so furious.
But it also came with cat ears, a tail, and a collar.
"Do you know how a cat greets its master?" Natsume asked, patting his thigh.
"You!"
Yugito Nii bit her lip hard, her face turned red again, fists clenched tightly.
She was practically about to lunge at Natsume in fury.
But she didn't dare.
After a moment of anger, she sadly approached.
Avoiding his smug face, she placed her head on his thigh.
"Not bad. You're getting the hang of it," Natsume said, reaching out to stroke her hair.
Fresh out of the bath, Yugito carried a faint fragrance.
Her hair was still slightly damp, having only been towel-dried, and felt quite pleasant to touch.
"Your face is so red. Excited?" he asked, feeling her burning skin.
"Not at all!"
She shot him a glare.
"Cats don't talk like humans," he said, placing his hand over her mouth. "Keep this up, and I'll have no choice but to send you back to Kumogakure."
Yugito Nii's pupils tightened—she understood exactly what he meant.
Gritting her teeth, she let out a soft, "Meow..."
It sounded forced, but still convincingly cat-like.
Natsume casually grabbed her cat tail and traced his hand down its length.
Yugito Nii stiffened all over.
"Don't do anything reckless," he warned.
Her body went limp, tears streaming down her face.
Without her powers, she could no longer maintain that prideful demeanor.
That won't do, he murmured gently, reaching out to wipe away her tears.
She lifted her head, eyes brimming with tears as she stared at him.
Not because his actions changed her view of him—she was just desperately hoping her worst fear wouldn't come true.
Natsume glanced outside and said, "It's already noon. Let's get some rest."
Yugito Nii's eyes widened suddenly, and she shook her head quickly.
She had wanted to say something, but because of his words, she dared not speak.
"What are you thinking about?"
Natsume glanced at her and asked, "Since when do humans fall for *cats*, exactly?"
Yugito Nii tilted her head in confusion.
Then what exactly were *you* trying to do?
"Isn't it only natural for a cat to keep its master company while sleeping?"
Natsume picked up the black cat and tucked her under the covers, despite the cat's startled look.
But he didn't actually do anything.
He just played with the cat for half an hour and that was it.
Natsume stretched lazily.
He was feeling rather energetic now, so he decided to go find Mikoto Uchiha.
It had been a while since he last visited her. He missed her a little.
Yugito Nii instinctively clenched her thighs together as an unusual flush spread across her exposed skin.
As if she'd been pierced by some kind of stick.
This was all thanks to Natsume's superb cat-petting technique.
Still, he truly stopped right there.
Under Yugito Nii's gaze—laced with both shock and disappointment—Natsume simply turned and left.
She lay on the bed, her entire body burning with feverish discomfort. It was unbearable.
Uchiha Clan.
Dressed in a nun's habit, Mikoto Uchiha sat on the sofa.
Her face flickered between smiles and expressions of guilt as she stared at the photo on the table.
A sudden gust of wind swept through the room.
Mikoto instinctively turned around and saw Natsume.
She quickly reached for the photo.
But Natsume got there first.
It was a snapshot of a group.
Likely Mikoto and Fugaku Uchiha.
Why say "likely"?
Because they both looked like teenagers, so incredibly young.
"Natsume, I..."
Mikoto's heart skipped a beat, panic flashing in her dark eyes.
She feared that Natsume would get angry.
After all, still thinking about her deceased husband at a time like this surely constituted betrayal.
"Auntie Mikoto, how old were you in this photo?"
Natsume asked curiously.
Mikoto noticed his expression and secretly relaxed.
Looks like he wasn't mad after all.
"Twelve."
Mikoto leaned forward, her pale, smooth hands gently kneading his shoulders.
As she gazed at the photo, warmth flickered in her clear eyes.
"No wonder you looked so young then."
Natsume turned his head slightly to look.
Mikoto was tenderly massaging him with a gentle demeanor.
Yet her gaze lingered on the photograph, filled with nostalgia.
Oh...
"Back then, Auntie Mikoto was really cute."
Natsume turned his head away and let out a thoughtful sigh.
"I wasn't."
Mikoto smiled and replied.
"I want to see too."
Natsume covered the photo and asked, "Auntie Mikoto, can you perform the Transformation Jutsu?"
Mikoto hesitated.
She had already noticed Natsume's passionate, curious stare.
It wasn't just curiosity anymore.
Mikoto shyly lowered her head but didn't refuse.
The transformation jutsu was cast.
She transformed into a beautiful young girl.
Appearing anew before him, stirring interest within him.
"Not bad at all."
Natsume circled around her a few times and said, "If we were the same age, I'm sure I'd have fallen for you too."
Mikoto Uchiha blushed slightly, her beautiful eyes betraying a hint of shyness.
She instinctively dwelled on his words.
What would have happened had she met Natsume before Fugaku Uchiha?
"I want to make a comparison."
Natsume smiled. "Ms. Mikoto, could you use the [Shadow Clone Technique] to recreate two different versions of yourself?"
Mikoto paused briefly, her face burning red as she shyly and obediently nodded.
[Shadow Clone Jutsu] activated.
Chakra split into three, forming three separate figures.
Compared to the standard Clone Jutsu, the [Shadow Clone Jutsu] was clearly more practical.
Provided there was enough chakra and no fatal damage taken, the clones could last for a long time.
Moreover, they possessed independent consciousness.
It was practically having real clones.
Additionally, the memories and experiences of the clones would return to the original after dispelling.
In short, it was an extremely useful Ninjutsu.
Three hours later, Natsume stepped out of Mikoto Uchiha's room.
"Ms. Shizune, what are you doing standing at the door?"
He spotted a shadowy figure loitering near the door from a distance.
For a second, he thought someone had broken in.
He wondered who would be so bold as to rob him?
It turned out to be Shizune.
Had she forgotten her key?
"Who?!"
Shizune flinched like a startled rabbit, stepping back a few paces.
"It's... just you."
She clutched her chest, visibly shaken, and asked, "Why are you here?"
"Isn't me being here perfectly normal?"
Natsume blinked and said, "I just got off work."
"I..."
Shizune hesitated.
What she really meant was why Natsume hadn't used the [Flying Thunder God Technique] and had just walked home instead.
As for why she was waiting at the door—it was simple.
She worried something might be happening inside.
What if Tsunade and Natsume were drinking together in the house?
What if she barged in? That would be so awkward.
But nothing had happened today, and she hadn't expected to get caught red-handed by Natsume either.
She wanted to explain, but couldn't easily do so.
"What's wrong?"
Natsume noticed her odd expression and couldn't help but ask.
"Nothing... nothing at all!"
Shizune quickly opened the door and said, "I'll go cook!"
She hastily took off her shoes and ran into the kitchen.
Only now did Natsume notice she was wearing black stockings.
He rubbed his chin thoughtfully.
Black stockings suited some people, making them look sexy—but on others, they came off as clumsy or bland.
Shizune definitely fell into the latter category.
Probably because of her hairstyle.
With those thoughts, Natsume closed the door behind him.
He entered the hall.
Tsunade was sprawled across the sofa, utterly lacking in any ladylike decorum.
That was a stark contrast to Mikoto Uchiha's demeanor earlier.
But this was precisely her charm.
If every woman he met was gentle and obedient, life would get pretty dull.
"Sister, did you go to the casino again today?"
Natsume sat beside her and asked.
Partly because the shoes on the rack looked kind of dirty.
If she'd been home, they should've been clean.
"Just played around a little."
Tsunade brushed a strand of hair from her forehead and muttered, "Bad luck today."
Natsume casually pinched her softly curved thigh and said, "You went to another casino."
"Your Gunma Casino always makes me win. It's so boring."
Tsunade slapped his wandering hand and said, "Gambling depends on luck, not behind-the-scenes help."
Do you have any luck?
Of course, that was something he could never say out loud in front of her.
Otherwise, he'd end up dead.
Natsume caught her hand and said, "Don't worry, lose as much as you want. I have money."
He had repaid every debt Tsunade had accumulated.
Considering how much money the Thousand Sunny Merchant Guild was making now, no matter how much they lost, it wouldn't matter at all.
At worst, Natsume would just buy the casino again.
Tsunade immediately brightened up and said, "Great! One day, I'll gamble away every last penny you've got."
"If you do, you'll have to compensate me."
A faint smile tugged at Natsume's lips as he traced circles on her palm.
"How should I compensate you?"
Tsunade raised an eyebrow and asked.
"You know what I mean."
Natsume replied meaningfully.
"You're thinking about something dirty again."
Tsunade hugged his head and rubbed circles into his scalp with her knuckles as she said, "I've figured out—you're nothing but a lecher these days."
"Can you really blame me?"
Trapped beneath her assault, Natsume desperately tried to catch his breath.
Feeling his hot breath against her skin, Tsunade blushed slightly before letting go of him.
This was supposed to be time for waiting for dinner.
They shouldn't do anything else, lest Shizune feel embarrassed again.
This mini-chapter isn't finished yet—more excitement coming up!
"There's been nothing worth watching on TV lately," Tsunade changed the subject as she slouched back onto the couch and yawned while stretching lazily.
The motion was so exaggerated with Haku's dango that Natsume almost couldn't hear what she was saying.
"That's true enough," Natsume stroked his chin thoughtfully, asking, "Sister, what kind of novels do you like?"
"Novels?"
Natsume hesitated briefly, surprised by the sudden shift in topic, but still answered, "Hmm, maybe ninja adventure novels."
"No problem," Natsume smiled and said, "I'll get someone to turn it into a TV series."
"Eh?"
Realizing what he meant, Tsunade waved her hands and said, "No need to go to such trouble."
She had only mentioned it offhandedly.
Producing a TV show wasn't exactly something a Hokage should be doing.
"It's fine. I know a production team. They don't have anything going on anyway."
What Natsume meant was Yukie Kazahana's former film crew.
After she became Daimyo, she stopped acting altogether.
That entire production team had naturally followed Yukie Kazahana to the Land of Snow.
"How do you know *everything*?" Tsunade asked suspiciously.
"It's not exactly me personally—it's more the Gunma Company," Natsume explained. "Banks deal with loans as part of their normal operations, including plenty from the film and television industry."
"Alright then," Tsunade gave up trying to argue further. "Just make sure it doesn't take away from your responsibilities in Konoha."
Thinking about it, watching her favorite novel turned into a TV drama didn't sound bad at all.
"It won't take long."
Natsume said, amused. "It's not like I'm the one filming it."
He'd be seriously challenged if he had to act in a TV series.
A low-budget film with only two characters stuck in a single room? That he could handle.
"Lady Tsunade, Natsume—come have a meal."
Shizune placed the food on the table, calling them over.
Lady Tsunade immediately stood up.
The Hokage who slacked on work but never skipped a meal.
She truly lived up to that title.
Natsume followed behind at a slower pace, admiring her confident strides and swaying hips.
A mix of two distinct styles—somehow, it worked perfectly.
Later that evening,
Natsume decided to make a special trip to the Land of Snow while he still had time.
Daimyo's Mansion.
He avoided seeking out Kaguya Otsutsuki—he feared she'd try to keep him there.
Yukie Kazahana had already eaten, but it was still early, and she wasn't asleep yet.
She was working.
Konoha had many affairs to manage, but the Land of Snow had even more.
After all, it was an entire nation.
Its population alone far exceeded Konoha's.
Natsume knocked on the door.
Yukie Kazahana looked slightly puzzled.
At this hour, no one should dare interrupt her.
Unless it was either Kaguya Otsutsuki or Natsume.
Thinking of that possibility, she quickly rose from her seat and hurried to the front door, opening it.
"Lord Natsume?"
A flash of delight lit up Yukie's delicate features.
But just as quickly turned into shyness.
On a night filled with swirling black winds,
he shows up at a young girl's doorstep late at night.
Could he have ulterior motives?
Her voice trembled with nervous excitement as she spoke. "Please come in, Lord Natsume."
"No need."
Natsume glanced at her thin kimono pajamas and shook his head.
After all, he already had a devoted wife waiting at home.
Her body tensed instantly.
"This is for you."
Natsume pulled out a novel. "Have your old production team adapt it into a TV series."
"A TV series?"
Instinctively, Yukie caught it and asked, "That's all? Just this?"
"Yeah."
Natsume smiled. "Try to make it good. You can ask ninjas to help out."
Special effects are crucial in films or TV dramas.
Even though the ninja world doesn't have a special effects industry, they do have ninjas.
Real-time ninja effects? Sounds good to me.
"O-okay..."
Yukie wanted to say something else but couldn't find the words.
As for Natsume, without hesitation, vanished right before her eyes.
Back home, he trained with Tsunade until exhaustion set in before falling asleep.
The night passed quietly.
Morning arrived.
After breakfast, Natsume strolled slowly toward the Hokage Building.
On the way, he turned his thoughts to the Akatsuki.
Wondering whether Konan had returned to Amegakure yet.
Without the Flying Thunder God Technique, traveling from the Land of Water to the Land of Rain still took two or three days.
Although she claimed she was returning to report back, Natsume knew she must've already received Nagato's orders beforehand.
The reason she hadn't taken him directly was likely because his power and standing surpassed her expectations.
So, she probably planned to consult with Nagato first.
But judging by that god's personality, such small details probably wouldn't concern him much.
Natsume felt that joining Akatsuki was all but inevitable.
It's a great way to make money and demonstrates real power—a perfect tool.
"Hokage-sama."
The voice of Kurenai Yuhi came from behind.
Natsume turned his head and saw two people. Besides her, there was also Yugao Uzuki.
He was taken aback.
Because it had been quite some time since he last saw her.
"Hokage-sama."
Yugao Uzuki slightly bowed, speaking in a cold tone.
She exuded an air of cold detachment.
Much like Orochimaru himself.
Natsume nodded and asked, "How's your teacher doing lately?"
"The same as always, staying inside the laboratory all day without going out."
Yugao answered calmly.
Oh…
!
She didn't show any particular respect just because Natsume was the Hokage.
As Orochimaru's apprentice, often treated as an experiment, she'd seen her fair share of horrors.
"Are you heading to the Hokage Building?"
Natsume asked with a smile. "That's not common."
"It was assigned by my teacher."
Yugao replied immediately. "He wants to find some documents."
"What kind of documents?"
Natsume raised his eyebrow and asked.
"They're related to cells and human bodies."
Yugao hesitated briefly but held nothing back.
After all, given the Hokage's position, it would be easy to discover what documents she had taken.
Natsume nodded, deep in thought.
Orochimaru had been researching White Zetsu for a long time now; logically, there should have been results by now.
He should pay a visit sometime to check in and show concern.
The three reached the Hokage Building together.
Then Yugao turned off in another direction.
"Yugao has really changed a lot,"
Kurenai said thoughtfully, watching her retreating figure.
"Well, considering she became Orochimaru's apprentice,"
Natsume shrugged, "It's natural for her demeanor to mirror her teacher's over time."
"That's true."
Kurenai couldn't help but agree when thinking of Orochimaru's dark presence.
All three Sannin are well known.
But when it comes to popularity, Tsunade and Jiraiya rank higher.
Likely because they come across as friendlier.
"Natsume, remember to come over for dinner tonight."
Standing in front of the Hokage's office door, Kurenai blinked coquettishly and reminded him.
"I will."
Natsume smiled and said, "How could I forget Sister Kurenai's invitation?"
"Good then."
Kurenai curved her lips into a smile, her eyes shimmering.
"I look forward to having you there."
Natsume nodded and watched her enter the adjacent office before opening the door.
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