"Me?"
Natsume had known already, so he wasn't surprised. He teased, "Lord Jiraiya sure thinks highly of me."
"You really don't care at all about the Great Toad Sage's prophecy?"
Tsunade glanced at Natsume's calm face and couldn't help asking.
From what she knew of him, she could tell he didn't think much of it.
That surprised her.
The Three Big Unexplored 'Sage' Regions are called "Sage" because, in many shinobi's hearts, their status is supremely high.
If you learn Sage Mode, you can leap straight into the top tier of the ninja world.
Even without talent, the powerful summoning beasts from the three sanctuaries bring huge gains.
Not to mention the Great Toad Sage—his Prophecy Technique has never failed, inspiring reverence in many.
Including Jiraiya.
"Why should I care?"
Natsume kneaded her toes and said with a smile, "I'm the contractor of Shikkotsu Forest, not Mount Myoboku. If I listen to the Great Toad Sage's prophecy, then the Slug Sage will definitely get angry."
"That does sound reasonable."
Tsunade closed her eyes, enjoying his massage. "But if there really is a so-called Child of Prophecy, I also think it's you."
"Really?"
Natsume watched the curve of her chest rise and fall with her breathing. "I'm not interested in being some Child of Prophecy."
"I figured."
Tsunade's lips pursed, a hint of a smile showing.
When Jiraiya came to chat with her, she'd already guessed how Natsume would react.
"He said he wants to take you as his disciple."
Tsunade shifted, leaning even closer to him.
"He dares to think big."
Natsume snarked, "Even if I agreed, what could he teach me?"
Tsunade ignored the disrespect in his tone toward Jiraiya and instead smiled.
"I don't want to share my student either, because you belong to me."
"Drop a line like that out of nowhere and I won't be able to hold back."
Natsume arched a brow.
Tsunade immediately opened her eyes and saw his half-smiling look.
She glared. "Talking to you—don't get any funny ideas."
"So you mean once we finish talking, I can think whatever I want?"
Natsume instantly seized on the point.
"…"
Tsunade's brows knit, her gaze turning dangerous. She kicked him barefoot. "All you know is how to talk!"
Natsume caught her foot and kneaded it.
"Foot-fetish guy."
Tsunade snorted softly but didn't pull away.
"Anything else to talk about?"
"Besides the Child of Prophecy, Jiraiya is looking for a shinobi who can destroy Mount Myoboku."
There was no hesitation on Tsunade's face as she said it.
Jiraiya may once have been important to her, but now he couldn't compare to Natsume at all.
Selling out Mount Myoboku didn't make her feel anything.
"The Great Toad Sage is that strong—who could destroy Mount Myoboku?"
Natsume suspected the prophecy referred to Kaguya.
If the original setting wasn't off, the Great Toad Sage's power isn't inferior to the Sage of Six Paths.
So, at the moment, he couldn't beat him.
Unless he brought Kaguya.
"No idea."
Tsunade shook her head. "But the Great Toad Sage's prophecies don't go wrong."
"If Mount Myoboku really gets destroyed, does it affect us?"
Natsume watched her expression and probed.
"It won't affect Konoha, but Shikkotsu Forest might get dragged in."
Tsunade's face grew solemn. "The Three Big Unexplored Sage Regions have always watched over each other."
"That's true."
Natsume mused.
The sanctuaries must be connected.
If Mount Myoboku faces a huge crisis, the other two will probably come help.
Hmm, looks like it needs proper planning.
It's all fate points, after all.
Especially Mount Myoboku—so many famous toads by name.
Ryuchi Cave has a few too.
The pretty snake yokai in human form.
"Um… dinner's ready."
Shizune came out of the kitchen. Seeing the two on the sofa, a vague emotion flashed in her eyes.
"Shizune-nee, you're here too."
Natsume really hadn't noticed her.
"…"
Shizune was a bit speechless.
"How do you even talk like that?"
Tsunade pulled her feet from his lap and stood up. "Wash your hands and eat."
"Sorry, Shizune-nee."
Natsume smiled.
"I-It's fine."
Shizune trembled slightly and quickly averted her gaze.
Tsunade glanced at her, seeming to notice something, but said nothing.
Natsume went to wash his hands.
On the table, the dishes were all set.
"I'm digging in!"
All three said in unison, then picked up their chopsticks.
Halfway through the meal, Natsume glanced at Tsunade and stretched a foot to rest it on her thigh.
Shizune suddenly coughed and immediately grabbed a glass of water to gulp down.
Natsume paused, then instinctively looked under the table.
For some reason, Shizune's legs had stretched forward quite a bit, just enough to block Tsunade.
So he'd touched the wrong person.
This was a bit awkward.
"Shizune, what's wrong?"
Tsunade looked up and asked.
"N-No, I'm fine."
Shizune's face flushed red and she shook her head quickly.
"Take a moment."
Noticing her expression, Tsunade patted her back, concern in her voice.
"Mm."
Shizune nodded, but her heart was pounding.
Did he do it on purpose? Or by accident?
But the next second, she felt Natsume's foot withdraw.
A sudden sense of loss welled up inside.
Her racing heart also returned to normal.
After dinner.
Silent Shizune immediately cleared the tableware and went into the kitchen.
"Go shower."
Natsume picked Tsunade up.
"No funny business tonight."
Tsunade preempted his preemption.
"Then what do I do?"
Natsume bent down, cheek to hers, and complained pitifully, "You can't be that heartless."
Tsunade narrowed her eyes, wrapped her arms around his neck, and gave a light hum. "You're getting a bargain."
…
Morning.
"Morning, Shizune-nee."
"Morning."
Shizune instinctively glanced at the tightly closed door behind him.
Lady Tsunade… can't get up again?
"Sis is going to sleep a bit more."
After being found out, Natsume no longer cared about titles.
"Mm."
Shizune nodded.
Shizune lowered her head at once, her face burning.
What am I even thinking?
Natsume looked at her and didn't overthink it.
After breakfast, he headed to the Hokage building.
He handled affairs briefly, then appeared in Hozuki Castle.
…
"Sorry—Musashi and Kojiro are missing."
Mui looked ashamed. "I don't know what method they used to undo my Fire Release: Heavenly Prison."
He truly hadn't expected those two to break out.
"It's fine. Let them go."
Natsume could guess why.
It must have been Minato and Kushina helping in secret.
"I've already captured Ryuzetsu."
Mui sighed in relief. "You can see her anytime."
"Take me."
Natsume nodded.
Mui led the way. Soon, they stopped before a cell.
"Bastard!"
The moment Ryuzetsu noticed Mui, murderous intent exploded from her.
She believed he had sacrificed Muku to open the Box of Ultimate Bliss.
So she infiltrated Hozuki Castle to kill him for revenge and destroy the box.
To be fair, that wasn't far off.
It was indeed Mui's actions that led to Muku being absorbed into the box.
After losing his son, he realized family mattered most, so he wanted to resurrect Muku.
Natsume looked over Ryuzetsu.
Pretty decent.
But the most eye-catching were her white hair and eyes.
Her eyes were entirely white, yet with two rings.
Add one more ring and it's the Rinnegan; subtract two and it's the Byakugan.
Shame—stuck in between.
"Want to see the Box of Ultimate Bliss?"
Natsume asked.
"Who are you?"
Ryuzetsu blinked, sizing him up.
She didn't remember any masked shinobi like this from Kusagakure or Hozuki Castle.
"Don't want to?"
Natsume's tone was flat. "Then stay here until you die."
"Wait!"
Ryuzetsu gritted her teeth. "I want to see it!"
The box was her goal.
Also, she had a hunch—if she refused, she might really be locked up for life.
How would she avenge him then?
Mui stepped forward and opened the cell.
"…?"
Confusion crossed Ryuzetsu's face.
Mui actually followed this mysterious powerhouse's orders?
What was going on?
The dread was so great she temporarily forgot to strike at Mui.
"Lead the way, Mui. We're going to the box."
Natsume ordered.
"Yes."
Mui nodded and walked ahead.
Ryuzetsu stared blankly, feeling more and more terrified.
They soon reached an underground base.
Natsume finally saw the box's true form.
Ugly as sin.
Pitch black, with four human faces.
Could be a horror movie prop without any issue.
Natsume stepped forward and entered Sage Mode.
He immediately felt innumerable negative emotions.
He'd guessed right—the box was indeed related to Yin Release.
At the same time, a whisper entered his ear.
It carried boundless temptation, as if telling him that as long as he opened the box, any wish could be granted.
Natsume arched a brow. "Since you're here, come out."
Mui and Ryuzetsu both jolted, hastily looking around.
"Found us?"
Naruto glanced at the three not far away, especially the unknown masked shinobi.
To his surprise, only Mui showed hostility toward him.
The other two didn't.
"Let's go."
Sasuke dropped his disguise, activated his three-tomoe Sharingan, and locked on Mui.
Before, he couldn't use chakra. Now it was different—he'd teach this bastard a good lesson.
"So you're from the Uchiha clan."
Mui's heart skipped, and his eyes instinctively went to Natsume.
There was something fishy here!