Naruto: A New Life with Tsunade

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In just three days, a four-shinobi team had dismantled five enemy outposts.

The mission had been executed smoothly, with twenty-seven Kumo-nin eliminated. Most were Genin and Chūnin, with only two Jōnin among them. For a team on their first mission together, the result was nothing short of miraculous.

Night had fallen.

There was no light in their camp, and though they lay in their sleeping bags, none of them slept.

Tsunade, however, had sensed someone tracking them earlier that evening. The tracker was skilled, making it difficult to pinpoint their exact location, but Tsunade had recognized the signs. Despite her team's careful movements over the past three days, she knew it wouldn't be long before Kumogakure realized they were operating in the area.

Instead of hiding, Tsunade had decided to use this to their advantage and set up an ambush.

Natsume glanced over at Kabuto Yakushi and Shizune, who lay nearby, their breathing steady in the quiet. Though they shared the large tent, they were spaced apart, on guard even in their rest.

Natsume shifted quietly, moving closer to Tsunade.

"What's wrong?" she asked, her eyes opening, alert even in the dark.

"Nothing," Natsume whispered. "I just want to be closer to my sister."

He leaned in, their cheeks nearly touching. Tsunade's eyes widened slightly as she looked toward Kabuto and Shizune, who lay still, seemingly asleep.

"They'll notice," she murmured, her tone soft but wary.

"No, they won't. They're just pretending," he replied, moving even closer.

Tsunade sighed quietly, feeling both a bit helpless and conflicted. She didn't move away, though a tense silence hung between them, mingling with the risk of discovery.

Tsunade hadn't felt this on edge even when facing Hanzō of the Salamander.

This isn't right, she chided herself. I should keep my distance from Natsume. How did it come to this?

He's just a child, still innocent in many ways, and here I am, indulging his whims.

She glanced at his face, faintly illuminated by the night. Just this once, she told herself. This will be the last time.

One day, Natsume would grow up, marry, have a family. She would remain his adoptive mother, his mentor, a memory. With a soft sigh, she brushed her fingers gently across his cheek, just for this last time.

Suddenly, the night was split by a flash of lightning.

Tsunade's expression hardened immediately.

Natsume sprang to his feet, swiftly weaving hand signs. "Suiton: Suijinheki!" (Water Release: Water Formation Wall).

Chakra surged through the earth, and a towering wall of water rose in front of them just as the lightning struck. The electricity crackled through the water, dispersing across the ground.

"Careful!" Natsume called, moving back swiftly.

The water wall held for only a moment, but it bought them the time they needed.

Kabuto quickly tossed a smoke bomb, filling the tent with thick smoke that obscured their movements.

Tsunade was already on the move. She burst out of the tent, her expression fierce, her posture tense. Natsume glanced at her, taken aback by the intensity in her eyes.

"There are eight of them," Kabuto whispered, his sensory abilities activated. "Two with high chakra signatures—likely Jōnin."

"It seems Kumogakure doesn't know it's Tsunade-sama," Shizune murmured, preparing her poisoned senbon. "If they did, there'd be more of them."

As she finished speaking, the sound of a heavy impact echoed outside, accompanied by the tremor of Tsunade's powerful strikes.

"Looks like she's handling things," Kabuto remarked, chakra scalpels forming in his hands. "She seems… a bit more irritable than usual."

Without a word, Natsume dashed out of the tent.

Just beyond, Tsunade was engaging two Jōnin, her strikes overwhelming them. Six other Kumo-nin had formed a perimeter but struggled to pinpoint the team's exact location in the lingering smoke.

As Natsume arrived, the crackling of lightning intensified, sparking dangerously.

"Suiton: Suiryūdan no Jutsu!" (Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet)

A massive water dragon surged forth, intercepting the lightning jutsu and dispersing its energy across the battlefield.

Taking advantage of the confusion, Shizune launched a barrage of poisoned senbon. One of the Kumo-nin cried out in pain as the needles found their mark. Within seconds, the poison took effect, claiming his life before he could react.

"Be careful!" one of the remaining Kumo-nin shouted. "These aren't ordinary shinobi!"

As the smoke began to clear, Kabuto threw another dark projectile. Expecting more smoke, one of the Chūnin countered with a wind jutsu. "Fūton: Daitoppa!" (Wind Release: Great Breakthrough).

But Kabuto's projectile wasn't a smoke bomb—it was packed with explosive tags. The resulting explosion ripped through the night, scattering the Kumo-nin.

In the chaos, Kabuto appeared behind one shinobi, his chakra scalpel slicing through muscle and vital points with surgical precision.

Meanwhile, Natsume kept up his barrage of water bullets, forcing the remaining shinobi to stay on the defensive. Shizune's senbon followed his attacks, catching the Kumo-nin off guard.

Within minutes, six of the Kumo-nin were down.

The two Jōnin, however, were still fighting fiercely. Kumogakure was renowned for its Nintaijutsu—a combination of taijutsu and lightning-enhanced chakra. Even though these Jōnin were not as powerful as the Fourth Raikage, their speed and strength were formidable.

But against Tsunade, it wasn't enough.

Her speed matched theirs, and her strength was unmatched.

With a fierce roar, she delivered a chakra-infused punch that obliterated one of the Jōnin with raw power. The remaining Jōnin froze in shock, his eyes wide.

"How…?"

Tsunade didn't give him a chance to recover. Her second punch shattered his defenses, leaving him defeated.

Natsume arrived in time to witness the end of the battle, his gaze admiring. "Impressive," he murmured. Tsunade's mastery of taijutsu, especially when she was angered, was unparalleled.

Tsunade, her fury now subsiding, noticed Natsume watching and felt a twinge of worry.

Does he think I'm too harsh?

She wiped her hands on her already blood-stained clothes, but the stains remained.

"Sister, it's over," Natsume said quietly, stepping closer. "We should move, maybe find somewhere to clean up."

Tsunade took a deep breath and nodded. "You're right. Let's get out of here."

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In his past life, Natsume had enjoyed the simplicity of gathering resources in games—hoeing the earth, picking up trash, and looting treasure. But now, with his newfound wealth and status, rifling through the belongings of defeated Kumo-nin didn't hold the same appeal.

The two unconscious Jounin lay on the ground, beaten senseless by Tsunade's fists, their faces bloodied and barely recognizable. Natsume averted his eyes, a hint of disgust crossing his face, while Kabuto, unfazed, rifled through their belongings with practiced efficiency, collecting anything of value.

Natsume sighed. If this keeps up, Kabuto's going to be a full-time medic, scout, and loot collector.

Standing nearby, Tsunade wrinkled her nose in distaste, clearly uncomfortable with the lingering metallic scent of blood. She glanced between Kabuto, who was unfazed by the gore, and Natsume, who seemed lost in thought.

"Natsume," she called, her voice soft but firm.

"Hmm?"

Natsume, with no intention of looting corpses, turned quickly and jogged over, his expression attentive.

"We passed a river earlier today," Tsunade said, rubbing her chin thoughtfully before adding, with a slight smile, "How about keeping watch while I go wash up?"

Natsume's face lit up with pride. "Of course! I'll make sure no one gets near!"

Tsunade blinked, slightly taken aback. I didn't mean enemies, she thought, her cheeks tinging pink. Does he not even think about... peeking?

But when she looked into his earnest eyes, a pang of guilt crept in. He's such a good kid. How could I even think he'd be like other men?

The two of them reached the river, where the water glistened under the moonlight. Tsunade found a spot near a small waterfall, while Natsume settled himself on a large rock a few meters away, his back turned respectfully.

What an odd feeling, Tsunade thought, sneaking a glance at Natsume. He seems almost... ethereal tonight, like a spirit from one of the old legends.

Despite her strength and experience, a nervous flutter caught her off guard as she prepared to bathe. She trusted Natsume completely, but the faint blush on her face hinted at a different story.

With a soft sigh, she waded into the river, her bare feet sinking into the cool water. She cast a quick glance toward Natsume's back. A flicker of disappointment surfaced.

Am I really not attractive at all? she wondered, as the water trickled down her skin, catching the moonlight. But, of course, there was no one to notice.

Meanwhile, Natsume sat in deep meditation, reciting the mantra he'd learned from Nie Feng's Bingxin Jue: "If your heart is as clear as ice, even the heavens cannot shake you."

(A/N:-Nie Feng's Bingxin Jue (Ice Heart Technique) is a meditative martial technique from the Chinese Fengyun (Wind and Cloud) series.)

Who could survive such a test? he mused. His mind wavered briefly between curiosity and honor, but he stayed true to his resolve.

First, he knew Tsunade would surely notice.

Second, he couldn't risk destroying the trust she placed in him. She saw him as an innocent boy, and he had no intention of tarnishing that image.

Not long after, Tsunade emerged from the water, now dressed and barefoot, her hair still glistening with droplets.

"Well done. Since you've been so good, how about a reward?" she asked, her tone gentler than usual.

Natsume blinked. Is she testing me? he thought, hesitating.

Quickly, he shook his head. "No need for a reward. It's just what I should do."

Tsunade's lips curved into a soft smile, and she felt a rush of affection for her adoptive son. Leaning down, she placed a light kiss on his forehead.

In that moment, Natsume caught a glimpse of something more beautiful than the moonlit sky—the soft droplets of water that traced the curve of her neckline. His heart skipped a beat.

"Come on," Tsunade's voice pulled him from his thoughts. "Let's head back."

She moved to sit on the rock Natsume had occupied earlier, lifting one leg as she prepared to slip her shoes back on. But Natsume quickly knelt in front of her.

"Let me help," he offered.

Tsunade hesitated, then nodded. "Alright."

Carefully, Natsume guided her feet into the shoes, his fingers brushing gently against her skin.

"Perfect fit," she said, standing up with a light bounce. "Nice job."

Natsume felt a small sense of pride as they returned to camp, where Kabuto and Shizune were finishing the cleanup, waiting for their return.

"Lady Tsunade, we've gathered some intel," Kabuto said, handing over a scroll.

Tsunade scanned it, her expression darkening. "Kumo is systematically clearing out Konoha's outposts," she muttered. "It's too organized to be random skirmishes."

Kabuto nodded. "It seems they're preparing for something bigger."

Tsunade frowned, thinking. "Perhaps... but I don't believe they're preparing for a full-scale battle. Not without the Eight-Tails as support. No, this feels more like a display of power before peace talks."

She rolled up the scroll. "Tomorrow, we'll check the area where Akimichi Shitō's team disappeared. If we find no sign of them, we'll return."

Looking over her group, she added, "Get some rest. There might be a tough fight tomorrow."

Kabuto and Shizune nodded and retreated to their tents, but Natsume lingered.

Tsunade softened her tone. "You should get some sleep too, Natsume. You're still young, and rest is important."

"I'll stay with you," Natsume replied, grinning. "It's no fun keeping watch alone."

Tsunade narrowed her eyes, feigning a stern look. "If you don't listen, I'll have to spank you."

Natsume laughed. "How about we compromise? I'll sleep next to you while you keep watch."

Tsunade shook her head, chuckling. "You're impossible. Alright, fine."

As Natsume unrolled his sleeping bag, Tsunade watched him with a fond smile. He's such a good kid, she thought, her heart warming with affection.

Soon, Natsume was fast asleep, his peaceful face illuminated by the soft glow of the fire. Tsunade couldn't resist leaning down and planting a gentle kiss on his cheek.

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