After teasing the black cat to its limit, Natsume immediately stopped and walked away.
Although Yugito Nii had strong willpower, if this continued, there would come a day when she couldn't take it anymore.
Eventually, she might truly turn into a cat.
Natsume was certainly worthy of his name.
At the entrance of Konoha Village,
Naruto Uzumaki, Sasuke Uchiha, and Hinata Hyuga were already there waiting.
The two gatekeepers, Izumo Kamizuki and Kotetsu Hagane, were chatting warmly with them—
or more accurately, chatting with Naruto Uzumaki.
After all, he was naturally outgoing.
Their conversation revolved around the recent trip to Fire Country's capital.
"If Master Natsume hadn't stopped me, how could Zabuza Momochi ever be my and Sasuke's opponent?"
Naruto tilted his chin up slightly, saying regretfully.
"Good job, Naruto."
Izumo and Kotetsu exchanged glances and gave half-hearted applause, their tone clearly mocking.
They evidently doubted what Naruto claimed.
Zabuza Momochi was one of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist—an elite even among jonins.
How could he possibly lose to a Konoha genin?
Sasuke twitched the corner of his mouth.
If they met Zabuza again now, he'd be confident.
Back then, they simply weren't good enough.
But that was just Naruto's personality—Sasuke wouldn't try to stop him.
"Hokage!"
Their smiles faded instantly as both men straightened their backs on instinct.
"Master Natsume, you finally came!"
Naruto immediately stopped chatting and spoke excitedly.
"Teacher."
Sasuke greeted him actively.
"Sign here."
Meeting Hinata Hyuga's gaze, Natsume approached her and ruffled her hair.
She closed her eyes slightly like a little cat, blushing yet happy.
Naruto and Sasuke had long since grown used to this scene.
After signing the registration form provided by Izumo and Kotetsu, the four left Hidden Leaf Village.
River Country lay between Fire Country and Wind Country.
Not too far away.
In the original story, Raiga Kurosuki's arc began with a request from villagers near Zuishō Grass Gold Mine.
Now, it was a mission devised by Natsume himself after dispatching Anbu for reconnaissance.
He had even worried whether Raiga Kurosuki would even be there.
Since it was a gold mine, Natsume contacted Sunny Mercantile Guild to prepare for its takeover.
Might as well not let good things go to waste.
This time, Natsume didn't use the Flying Thunder God Technique to travel—he walked instead.
It was meant to train Team 9.
Such a long journey required constant vigilance against various ninja or bandits while also concealing their presence.
After all, outside the village, careless actions by a ninja easily caused conflict.
Though Natsume didn't mind such issues, Team 9 needed the experience.
Including meals.
He made them fend for themselves.
Evenings arrived.
Naruto and Sasuke pulled out packed lunches prepared in advance.
One was bought from a shop; the other prepared by Mikoto Uchiha.
Typically, ninja on missions ate simple, make-shift meals.
Many times, something like onigiri would suffice.
But then again, they weren't short on cash.
Natsume picked a nearby spot and began putting up the tent.
Hinata Hyuga took out her lunchbox, suddenly recalling the words of her mother, Rinka Hyuga.
Instinctively, she glanced at her two teammates before getting up and walking toward the tent.
"Natsume-niisan, do you want to eat?"
Hinata asked, holding the lunchbox with both hands.
"What about you?"
Seated inside the tent, Natsume patted the ground beside him.
"Mother prepared an extra portion specially."
Hinata naturally sat down next to him and said.
"Oh."
Natsume accepted the lunchbox with a smile. "Then I'll help myself."
Truly, her future mother-in-law was considerate and thoughtful.
The food was tasteful, prepared with great care.
"Do you like what I made?"
Hinata took out a new lunchbox, opened it, and asked with slight anticipation.
"That's actually really good."
Natsume honestly replied.
Though not quite matching his cheating-level cooking skills, it ranked among the best within the group he knew.
Hinata nodded, mustering her courage before saying, "I want to learn how to cook from Mother."
Immediately after speaking, her face became lightly flushed as if covered by a thin red veil.
Learning wasn't the real goal; preparing meals for Natsume was.
"Let me be your first customer then."
Natsume smiled.
This girl was so easy to read.
"Okay!"
Hinata's mood brightened instantly, her mouth curling into a sweet smile.
"I'm really looking forward to it. But don't push yourself too hard, okay?"
Natsume glanced at her and said, "Right now, your priority should be listening to your teacher and properly learning Void Fist."
Hinata looked slightly shy.
Indeed, she had considered exactly that.
She hadn't expected Natsume to see right through her thoughts.
Lowering her head, she took small bites of her lunch.
"Is one serving enough?"
Natsume thought to ask.
"N-no...it's okay."
Hinata quickly shook her head.
"How can you manage without eating properly?"
Natsume smiled gently, "Anyway, I've got [Flying Thunder God Technique]. It won't take long."
Seeing this, Hinata didn't say anything else.
Yet warmth filled her heart.
After they all finished eating, Natsume clapped his hands to get everyone's attention.
This short chapter is not yet over. More exciting content will follow!
"Nightfall is the most dangerous time."
He smiled. "Attacks tend to happen frequently during this period."
"Let them come!"
Upon hearing this, Naruto Uzumaki couldn't wait to fight.
"Full of spirit, aren't we?"
Natsume nodded approvingly, "Hinata and I will return to Konoha for a moment. This place is all on you now."
"No problem!"
Naruto thumped his chest proudly. "Teacher, feel free to rest assured."
Looking at him, one might think he wished for enemies to attack immediately so they could show off their strength.
Natsume and Hinata returned to Konoha.
It was already evening, and the streets were eerily quiet.
After all, there weren't many entertainment options in the Ninja World.
Nothing like his past life, where every street buzzed with energy.
Natsume led Hinata to the Uchiha Clan's residence.
Going straight home wouldn't be wise—way too much explaining would be needed.
But going to Mikoto Uchiha's place was no problem at all.
Although confused, Hinata stayed quiet and didn't ask questions.
When she saw Natsume, Mikoto almost rushed forward to hug him.
However, she quickly noticed Hinata standing beside him.
"Hokage-sama."
Mikoto masked her true emotions and asked, "Not sure what brings you here so late at night?"
"Nothing much,"
Natsume said while shaking his right hand that was holding Hinata's. "I'm just a little hungry."
Hungry?
Mikoto glanced curiously at Hinata.
She naturally recognized her.
After all, she and Rinka Hyuga were fairly close friends.
Hinata was also Natsume's disciple and Sasuke Uchiha's teammate.
"Please wait a moment."
Though puzzled by Natsume's behavior tonight, Mikoto naturally agreed—preparing a meal wouldn't be an issue regardless of the reason.
"You can prepare enough food for ten people."
Natsume added.
Mikoto nodded and immediately left.
Not long afterward, she returned to the room.
She had planned to cook herself, but since it was for ten people, she had to let others take care of it.
Soon, the food was served.
Mikoto noticed that Natsume hadn't touched his chopsticks at all—only Hinata was eating.
Just as she began to feel confused, someone called her out of the room.
"Mikoto Mama."
Natsume patted her plump rear and asked, "How is Izumi Uchiha doing now?"
The last time he returned, he'd given her the soul pearl formed from Moryo's condensed essence.
Mikoto's body trembled slightly. Instinctively, she glanced toward Hinata in the distance.
Seeing that she was focused on her food, Mikoto finally relaxed a little and replied, "[Her Byakugan power] has been growing rapidly. It won't be long before she meets the standard to awaken the [Mangekyou Sharingan]."
Unlike Sasuke Uchiha, Izumi already had a mature foundation due to her older age.
But still, there was no guarantee she could definitely awaken the [Mangekyou Sharingan].
"That's good enough."
Natsume examined Mikoto, who stood full and lush before him, momentarily stunned.
She seemed somehow rounder.
Most likely because she hadn't been exercising enough lately.
"Eh…?"
Mikoto felt her heart race under his gaze. She asked, "Is there something special about coming here tonight?"
"Nothing,"
Natsume shook his head. "Just let Hinata finish her meal."
Mikoto hadn't expected that.
Looking at Hinata, an inexplicable sense of envy flickered through her heart.
Natsume clearly treated her exceptionally well.
If only I... No — that's not right.
Mikoto silently scolded herself: What am I thinking?
"What is it?"
Natsume noticed her expression and asked, "Want a daughter?"
"No… not at all!"
Mikoto hurriedly shook her head.
Although not as resistant as before, having another child would still be difficult to explain to Sasuke Uchiha.
"There are currently only thirty or so ninja remaining in the Uchiha Clan."
Natsume crossed his arms and asked, "Mikoto-san, aren't you planning to have more geniuses in the family?"
"..."
Mikoto Uchiha remained silent.
What kind of logic was that?
She lowered her head without responding.
"Mikoto-san must be worried about Sasuke, right?"
Natsume certainly understood how she felt.
Perhaps even better than Fugaku Uchiha himself.
Whatever the case.
"Yeah."
Mikoto hesitated before nodding slightly.
She hesitated because she knew Natsume too.
Most likely, something shocking would follow next.
"With our strength, hiding things from Sasuke would be effortless."
Natsume casually said, "As for identity concerns, we can just say it's someone you adopted."
Once again, Mikoto fell into silence.
"But this is only a suggestion."
Natsume smiled and said, "I don't mean to pressure you at all."
If it were real coercion, he wouldn't have spoken so politely.
Either using the Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan to control her or threatening with the entire Uchiha Clan as leverage.
Either way could make Mikoto agree.
Therefore, she understood as well.
Instinctively, Mikoto cast a grateful glance.
But then she froze.
Why should I feel grateful?
He hadn't really done anything.
Realizing this, Mikoto felt somewhat helpless.
There was truly no going back for her now.
When Hinata Hyuga finished eating, Natsume spoke up, "That's enough for tonight. I'll come back and visit you after completing the mission."
Speaking of missions, Mikoto suddenly thought of Sasuke Uchiha.
They had gone together.
"Okay."
Obediently nodding, Mikoto gently said, "Would you please look after Sasuke a bit?"
"You don't need to worry about that."
Natsume whispered, "With everything between us, there's no way I'd ever let anything happen to Sasuke."
After saying that, he entered the room and took Hinata away.
Mikoto stood there motionless.
That's true.
Judging their current situation, what should Sasuke call Natsume now?
(End of chapter)
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