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Tsunade narrowed her eyes, contemplating what to do about Natsume. Leaving him in the orphanage posed a risk—Danzo might eventually get his hands on him. The thought alone made her scowl. Danzo would turn the boy into a pawn for his twisted ambitions, corrupting him like so many others.
She wasn't entirely pleased with Hiruzen Sarutobi either. His recent decisions had been questionable at best, and her faith in his judgment was wearing thin. Why not take matters into my own hands? she thought. Why not adopt him myself?
Tsunade had returned to Konoha not only to attend the funerals of Namikaze Minato and Uzumaki Kushina, but also to take Shizune with her. During the Second Shinobi World War, Shizune had been just a baby, and Tsunade hadn't been able to bring her along. Now, however, Shizune had graduated from the Academy and had shown remarkable skill in medical ninjutsu. Tsunade was determined to personally train her.
But now, with Natsume in the picture, another thought crossed her mind. Why not take him, too?
Nonō Yakushi, the matron of the orphanage, had described Natsume as a bright and mature boy. Tsunade wouldn't have to worry much about raising him. All she needed to do was teach him Wood Release—a kekkei genkai that had vanished from the world after the death of her grandfather, Senju Hashirama. As the last surviving member of the Senju clan, Tsunade felt it was her responsibility to pass on their legacy.
Perhaps it's time the world feared the power of the Senju clan once again, she mused.
Kneeling before Natsume, her expression softened. "You're a Senju, Natsume," she said gently. "If you can use Wood Release, that means you've inherited the blood of my clan."
Natsume blinked, unsure of how to respond. He had heard stories about the Senju, one of the most powerful clans in Konoha's history, but he had never imagined he could be connected to them. Is she going to teach me now?
"I am Tsunade, one of the Legendary Sannin," she added, puffing her chest slightly when she saw his hesitation. "Come with me, and I promise, you'll never have to worry again."
Natsume eyed her curiously. With her confidence and the promise of protection, he felt himself nodding. "Alright... I'll go with you."
Tsunade smiled warmly and teasingly pinched his cheek. "Smart boy. You've made the right choice."
Before they could leave, a voice called out. "What about me?"
It was Kabuto Yakushi, Natsume's closest friend in the orphanage. He looked concerned, glancing between Natsume and Tsunade.
"Kabuto, don't be rude," Nonō Yakushi interjected, her tone firm yet gentle. "Natsume is leaving the orphanage, but you'll still be able to see him."
Kabuto's shoulders slumped a little, but he said nothing more.
Natsume hesitated, recalling Kabuto's potential—he would eventually attract the attention of powerful figures, but it wasn't the right time to bring that up. He smiled at Kabuto, hoping to cheer him up. "Don't worry, Kabuto. I'll visit you every day."
Kabuto's face brightened. "You promise?"
"Promise."
Tsunade stood and extended her hand toward Natsume. "Let's go," she said, her tone leaving little room for delay. Without hesitation, she gently grasped his hand and led him toward the door.
"Natsume, don't forget to visit me!" Kabuto called out from behind.
"I won't!" Natsume waved back, making a mental note to keep his word.
As they left the orphanage, Tsunade glanced up at the Hokage Rock, her gaze lingering on the carved faces of past Hokage. Natsume, noticing her distraction, stood on his toes in an attempt to see what she was looking at, but he was too short.
Tsunade chuckled softly. "I'm looking at the Hokage Rock," she explained, resisting the urge to ruffle his hair. "The Senju clan's old compound is at its base. That's where we'll learn more about your heritage."
They walked in silence through the village until they arrived at a secluded area. Before them stood a large, traditional wooden house. Tsunade's expression softened as she took in the sight. "This is where I grew up," she said quietly. "Where my grandfather, Senju Hashirama, and my grandmother, Uzumaki Mito, once lived."
Natsume looked around, taking in the simple yet grand atmosphere. It's...nice, I guess.
Inside, the house was surprisingly well-maintained. Tsunade noticed the signs of regular upkeep—likely the work of ANBU stationed nearby to keep it secure. She opened the refrigerator, but it was empty. "Of course," she muttered, shaking her head. "Looks like boiled water will have to do for now."
She handed Natsume a glass of water before heading upstairs. When she returned, she carried two scrolls.
"Can you read?" she asked.
"The matron taught me," Natsume replied.
Tsunade handed him one of the scrolls. "This is the Senju clan's genealogy. Take a look—maybe some of the names will sound familiar."
Natsume unrolled the scroll and scanned its contents. Aside from Senju Hashirama and Senju Tobirama, the names meant little to him. He shook his head. "I don't remember anything from before."
Tsunade gave him a reassuring smile. "That's alright. We'll make new memories together."
She handed him the second scroll. "This contains the teachings my grandfather left behind on Wood Release. I can't use it myself, but this scroll should guide you."
"Thank you, Tsunade-sama," Natsume said, feeling genuine gratitude. Even if he never reached the level of Hashirama, mastering Wood Release to Yamato's degree would be more than enough.
"You can call me 'sister' when we're alone," Tsunade said, a slight hint of awkwardness in her voice.
Natsume glanced up at her, confused. "Tsunade-sister?"
Her smile grew bright, and she nodded. "Good! Now, do you want to change your name? How does 'Natsuki' sound?"
Natsume froze. Is she trying to replace me with someone else? The name "Natsuki" reminded him of something unpleasant from an old memory. Shaking his head, he replied, "My parents gave me the name Natsume. It's the only thing I have left of them. I'd like to keep it."
Tsunade's smile softened as she patted his head. "That's fine, Natsume. What do you want for dinner? I'll get it."
"Barbecue!" Natsume said, his excitement showing.
"Alright," Tsunade chuckled. "You start studying that scroll, and I'll be back with some food."
With that, she left the house, and Natsume eagerly opened the scroll. The first technique detailed was Wood Release: Wood Substitution Jutsu, an advanced variation of the basic Substitution Jutsu, using a wooden clone to take the user's place. It seemed like the perfect challenge for him to start with.
Meanwhile, in the Hokage's office, Sarutobi Hiruzen sat behind his desk, reviewing reports as he puffed on his pipe. The burdens of Konoha weighed heavily on him.
"Hokage-sama," an ANBU agent wearing a frog mask knelt before him. "Tsunade-sama has just taken a boy named Natsume to the Senju compound."
"Natsume?" Hiruzen frowned. "Who is he, and what connection does he have to Tsunade?"
"He's an orphan from the Konoha orphanage," the ANBU replied. "They only met today."
Hiruzen took a long drag from his pipe, pondering. If they only just met, why would she take him to the Senju compound? There had to be something special about the boy. But his thoughts shifted quickly to the bigger issue—Tsunade had returned. Konoha needed her more than ever. Perhaps this was the opportunity to convince her to stay.
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