"You're awake?"
Natsume entered with a bowl of porridge.
Mikoto, who'd been spacing out, jolted and hurriedly pulled the sheet up to cover herself.
Covering her ears to steal a bell.
Natsume smiled, set the porridge on the table. "Get up and eat."
The aroma made Mikoto's stomach growl.
She blushed in embarrassment.
No dinner last night, no breakfast today, and such exertion—she was starving.
She'd been too focused on the Mangekyo and had forgotten.
"C-could you step out first?"
Her voice was soft and weak.
That kind of tone with no threat, yet forced to beg.
Natsume stepped forward.
"P-please spare me."
Mikoto backed away until she hit the corner, nowhere to go—pitiful.
"Are you questioning my character?"
Natsume pinched her chin and looked her over. "Who forced who last night? Forgotten already?"
Mikoto froze.
It had indeed been her making the first move.
"I…I… that was…"
She stammered, not knowing what to say.
Reminded of last night, her blush spread to her ears.
"Sorry… I… have sinned."
Mikoto blurted out an apology.
"If you've sinned, put on new clothes."
Natsume produced a black nun outfit. "It'll lessen your sense of guilt."
He didn't tease further, turned, and closed the door.
Mikoto stared blankly at the outfit, then didn't refuse.
Her face flushed; she spun around, unused to it.
First time with black garter stockings.
The rest was fine.
She peeked outside—Natsume seemed to have left.
She picked up the porridge and took a sip.
Surprisingly good.
Worlds apart from last night's porridge.
Natsume went to say hi to Uzumaki Hinae, then returned to the room.
Mikoto had finished all the porridge.
Her lips now glossy and moist, not dry like last night.
Natsume took in her curves beneath the black habit—better than expected.
"Want more?"
He pointed at the bowl. "If you're not full, there's more."
Mikoto placed both hands on her lower belly and nodded sheepishly.
Natsume immediately brought two more bowls.
"Um… may I ask something?"
Mikoto licked her lips, swallowed porridge, and asked, "Why didn't I awaken the Mangekyo last night?"
"It's not that simple."
Natsume blinked and smiled. "Don't worry. We've got time. One day you'll awaken."
"…"
Mikoto's body stiffened.
She'd spent all her courage last night.
She'd hoped the ordeal would end quickly—turns out it was only beginning.
"There's no free lunch."
Natsume ruffled her hair. "So work hard, Aunt Mikoto."
Mikoto's rosy lips parted; she held back what she wanted to say and kept eating.
"From now on, go to Hinae. Have her help train your ocular power."
Natsume stood. "Your ocular power was forced up. That's not good for you."
"Okay."
Mikoto nodded.
She didn't really understand. Whatever Natsume said, she'd do.
"Remember to return the flute to Tayuya."
Natsume smiled. "She's been mad for a while. Don't tell her what you used it for."
Mikoto turned as red as a steaming kettle.
Mortified.
She wanted to crawl into a hole.
Natsume didn't linger. With Flying Thunder God, he returned home.
He changed into clean clothes and headed to the Hokage building.
Today was his first day as the Hokage's aide.
He was already late by a whole morning.
Thankfully, Shimura Danzo had set a precedent—he rarely came to the building, and when he did, it was to argue with Hiruzen.
Everyone was used to it.
Now there was a new aide. Being late? Small matter.
Natsume entered his office.
After yesterday's cleanup, it looked presentable.
He started work.
He didn't know how Danzo worked, but Tsunade had arranged everything for him.
So-called decision authority.
Matters preprocessed by the Hokage's secretary corps would go to him for decision.
That used to be the Hokage and the advisors' job.
But the two advisors were dead—only Tsunade remained.
If it were Hiruzen, he wouldn't share power.
Tsunade and Natsume didn't stand on ceremony.
With the secretary corps' support, it wasn't as busy as imagined.
His job was essentially stamping.
Approve? Stamp. Disapprove? Send back.
His efficiency was high; in under an hour, he was done.
"Take these to Sensei."
Natsume set down the seal and instructed.
An ANBU appeared and took the files.
With free time, Natsume set out to visit Orochimaru.
This time as Konoha's Hokage aide.
He'd proposed to Tsunade researching Wood Release.
But ordinary folks couldn't do this kind of experiment.
Without a leader, decades might pass with no results.
In all Konoha, the best suited was Orochimaru.
His research ability had been tested countless times—reliable.
The investigation into Danzo also implicated Orochimaru.
By Konoha rules, he could be sent to the Pure Land to meet the Sage of Six Paths.
But his identity was special, and his influence great.
Most importantly, Tsunade couldn't bring herself to do it.
The Sannin had grown up fighting side by side—the bond was strong.
Not killing him was fine, but letting him freeload resources—no.
Natsume hadn't cared before because the Hokage was Hiruzen.
Now it was Tsunade—his family.
In other words, Orochimaru was freeloading at his house.
Natsume hated freeloaders.
Unforgivable.
Orochimaru had to work.
Natsume left the Hokage building and headed to Orochimaru's residence.
At the door, he felt many prying gazes.
Snakes from Ryuchi Cave.
"Inform Lord Orochimaru that Hokage Aide Natsume seeks an audience."
He spoke casually and entered the hall.
Unexpectedly, there was someone else.
Anko Mitarashi.
Both hands full of six skewers of tri-color dango; on seeing Natsume, she was chewing, cheeks puffed.
"Natsume?"
She swallowed and grinned. "Feels like it's been ages."
"It has."
Natsume nodded. "Last time was three or four years ago, when we infiltrated the Cloud camp together."
"Want some?"
Anko offered a skewer.
"No."
Natsume waved. "Eat too much and you'll gain weight."
"It's fine. I don't gain weight."
Anko smiled confidently. "I eat them every year and keep the same weight."
Natsume thought: that's the curse mark at work.
When the day comes and Orochimaru bolts, you're done for.
"By the way, congrats on becoming the Hokage's aide."
Anko was excited. "If I mess up, cover for me."
"Your teacher is Lord Orochimaru. He won't let you get in trouble."
Natsume paused. "But I can cover you too."
Orochimaru might be cold, sly, and distant, but he was a good teacher.
He'd been great to Nawaki and Anko.
As for Sasuke, he hadn't treated him as a student, but a vessel.
"Yay!"
Anko beamed.
"Waiting for Lord Orochimaru?"
Though higher in rank, Natsume added honorifics in public to respect seniority.
"Mm. But sensei's busy lately. Not sure when he'll come."
Her smile dimmed. "I haven't seen him in a long time."
Busy—an excuse.
Natsume could guess Orochimaru's thoughts.
Anko just didn't fit his tastes in talent and temperament.
Still, he did care about her as a student.
"How about Yugao?"
Natsume thought of her two teammates.
Itachi had defected; Uzuki Yugao hadn't.
"Not sure."
Anko's expression faltered.
She really didn't know what Yugao was doing, but knew she stayed by Orochimaru's side.
So enviable.
Anko felt unwilling.
She was his first student in this period.
Why not treated accordingly?
Just then, she lit up with joy.
"Sensei, you're back?"
"Mm."
But Orochimaru's gaze fell on Natsume, ignoring Anko.
"I heard you learned Shikkotsu Forest's Sage Mode?"
Anko's smile froze.
Waaah, sensei, look at me.
"Got lucky."
Natsume gave her a consoling look, then answered Orochimaru.
"There's no 'luck' in learning Sage Mode."
Orochimaru licked his lips—interested.
There were only two known Sage Mode users.
Aside from that mysterious masked man he'd encountered, only Jiraiya and Natsume.
And Jiraiya's wasn't complete.
Though Orochimaru had developed the Heaven and Earth curse marks, they still lagged behind Sage Mode.
If Natsume would let him study it, he could gain something new.
"…"
Natsume could feel Orochimaru's gaze.
"Lord Orochimaru, I came for business."
Natsume shifted to the point.
"What is it?"
Orochimaru smiled indifferently.
Cold, but no intent to strike Natsume.
One, he'd be hard to beat.
Two, it would anger Tsunade.
Without absolute certainty, he wasn't inclined.
"Anko, please step out."
Natsume said, "This concerns Konoha's secrets."
Anko hesitated, a bit aggrieved, but said nothing.
She was a shinobi—she followed orders.
Natsume was no longer a junior—he was the Hokage's aide.
After Anko left, Orochimaru's aura grew colder.
He did value this student.
"Lord Orochimaru, I hope you'll lead the Wood Release experiments."
Natsume said evenly.
"Doesn't Konoha already have Hashirama cell transplant techniques?"
Orochimaru frowned.
"Teacher doesn't want transplants. She wants awakening."
Natsume explained.
"Awakening?"
Orochimaru sneered. "Has Tsunade grown naive since becoming Hokage?"
"Impossible?"
Natsume countered.
"Highly unlikely."
Orochimaru didn't explain, and dismissed him. "Tell Tsunade not to waste my time."
"As long as the chance isn't zero, it's worth trying."
Natsume smiled. "Your cooperation with Danzo has already come to light."
"Threatening me?"
A subtle change crossed Orochimaru's face; murderous intent filled the hall.
"Cooperation."
Natsume was calm. "Your experiments can't see the light. You need cover and resources."
"Interesting."
Orochimaru suddenly laughed. "Seems Tsunade doesn't know what you do behind her back."
Another Danzo.
Not impossible to cooperate.
There were things inconvenient for him to handle.
"As a condition, you'll not target Konoha ninja or civilians."
Natsume added, "But I can provide inmates from Konoha Prison."
"Deal."
For now, Orochimaru couldn't bear to give up Konoha, so he didn't refuse.
As for awakening Wood Release—he could just stall.
Major research taking years with no results was normal.
"To ensure cooperation, I'd like to assign someone to study under you. How about it?"
A sudden idea—Kabuto.
His best teacher would be Orochimaru.
If Kabuto learned, great.
If not, other measures—like Kotoamatsukami.
Orochimaru nodded, unconcerned.
"Pleasure working together."
Natsume bowed slightly and left.
"Sensei."
Anko ran in from outside.
"Anything else?"
Orochimaru glanced at her. "If not, head back."
"Sensei, I bought these tri-color dango for you."
Anko offered the remaining five skewers.
Orochimaru was silent for two seconds, then extended his long tongue and swallowed them—sticks and all.
Ghastly, but Anko still looked delighted.
…
Konoha Orphanage.
Kabuto wasn't experimenting today.
He'd hit a limit.
With Natsume handing him increasingly complex tasks, his knowledge base was falling short.
He'd obtained a lot of Orochimaru's techniques, but text was dead.
Clever as he was, he couldn't self-teach everything.
Tsunade was a good teacher.
But each had different specialties.
"Kabuto."
Natsume climbed onto the roof and sat beside him.
"My assistants?"
Kabuto glanced at him. "Honoka alone isn't enough."
To be fair, Honoka was competent at research.
But one person isn't two.
His current projects were mainly two:
Atavistic Otsutsuki chakra.
Kimimaro's Kekkei Genkai sickness.
Neither easy.
"Let's table assistants."
Natsume deflected and changed the subject. "I found you a teacher—Orochimaru."
"Orochimaru?"
Kabuto looked surprised. "Why would he agree?"
"He didn't, exactly."
Natsume briefly outlined the cooperation. "Just learn as much as you can."
If not, Mangekyo in a black room until he taught everything—then release.
"Mm."
Kabuto pushed his glasses up, a hint of excitement on his face.
Seeing Orochimaru's tech was a good thing.
"Do your best."
Natsume patted his shoulder. "I'll bring you more good stuff later."
He meant Shinnō.
Whether his medical forbidden arts or knowledge—they'd help.
As for safety, Natsume wasn't worried.
He'd left a token bought with Fate Points—if anything happened, he could rush over.
Also, Kabuto's loyalty issue.
Orochimaru had charisma, but not succubus-level.
And Natsume could verify via the Ring of Fate.
[Because of your actions, Yakushi Kabuto's fate has changed. You gained 37 Fate Points.]
Back at the Hokage building, Natsume heard the prompt.
Just as he expected, not many points.
Meaning Kabuto hadn't betrayed him.
He just learned under Orochimaru.
A knock sounded.
"Come in."
Natsume put down a file and looked up.
Kurenai Yuhi entered, wearing that bandage-wrapped red dress.
"Lord Natsume."
She bowed slightly. "The Hokage would like to see you."
"Miss Kurenai, no need to be so formal. Just call me Natsume."
He wasn't used to the honorific.
If he called her "aunt," that would be too much.
She wasn't even married.
"In that case, I'll oblige."
Kurenai smiled. "But only if there's no third party present."
She was a stickler for propriety.
In private, fine.
If others knew, it could cause unnecessary trouble.
The Yuhi clan was small.
They couldn't get carried away.
"Alright."
Natsume rose with a smile. "I'll go see Sensei."