Hatake Tatsuya in Naruto

Of course, in the end, Obito couldn't resist the feeling inside his heart. Without even acknowledging White Zetsu's words, he activated Kamui and vanished from the hidden base.

"Why did you want to tell him this? It doesn't benefit Project Tsuki no Me," Black Zetsu asked, his voice low and gravelly.

"Hey, just tell him if you think it's interesting. Besides, it's nothing," White Zetsu replied with a smirk.

"Boring," Black Zetsu commented coldly, but secretly thought to himself, Obito, Nagato, Kakuzu, Sasori, Kisame... even with me included, the ten core members originally planned are still far from complete. We need to expedite our efforts to recruit more key members.

...

...

"Tsunade-sama has worked hard! Please enjoy some tea~"

"I prepared your favorite roasted Chicken Teriyaki and Sake for you today."

As Tsunade walked through the door, she was taken aback by the sight of the two girls enthusiastically attending to their daily routines. As a woman, she couldn't help but realize the terrible ideas her students were cooking up. Both she and Terumi Mei were married to that bastard Tatsuya, and it was clear that this arrangement was stirring something in them.

"Come on, Tsunade-sama! You've worked hard. Do you want to take a shower first?" Kurenai asked, stepping closer.

"Don't! You two stay away from me!" Tsunade exclaimed, a hint of fear creeping into her voice.

She had considered sending them both away, but that would only be a temporary fix, not a permanent solution. Besides, their relationship with Tatsuya was already an open secret in the village.

"Hmmm~"

Tatsuya's humming could be heard from the yard, where he was playfully tossing Hinata into the air like a baby doll—throwing, catching, throwing, and catching again. He was teasing her like a playful little child.

To Tsunade's irritation, Hyuga Hiashi seemed to approve of the whole scene. He had sent Hinata over without hesitation, stating that a long-term stay was no problem. Tsunade couldn't help but think, Damn, how quickly do these political pricks sell their daughters!

"I am truly so tired because of you," Tsunade muttered as she plopped down on the nearby bench, crossing her feet over Tatsuya's legs without a care for her image.

"I wonder how Tobirama Ojii-san did it. Staying single all his life... maybe I could've used his secret," she sighed, raising an eyebrow at Tatsuya. "What was it? Total avoidance of women? An indestructible ego?"

Tatsuya, smirking at her comment, leaned back casually. "Well, if I had to guess... he probably just never bothered getting entangled in unnecessary drama."

Tsunade scoffed but couldn't help the small chuckle. "Maybe that's it... and I've been too soft-hearted all these years." She paused and gave him a sideways glance. "You should learn from him, Tatsuya."

Tatsuya raised an eyebrow. "And miss out on the fun?" He grinned, clearly unbothered.

Tatsuya set Hinata down and gestured for her to play nearby. The indifferent expression on his face indicated that he was not surprised by the situation. After all, Tsunade had been reluctant to take on the role of Hokage since she first assumed the position seven years ago. That she had managed to endure it all this time was nothing short of a miracle.

"Is the relationship between the Uchiha and the village stable now Tsunade-sama?" asked Nohara Rin, pulling out Tsunade's favorite yakitori skewers.

After the Nine-Tails Rebellion, Tsunade had been worried that the tensions between the village and the Uchiha would escalate further following her abdication. She had gritted her teeth and pressed on, but now she sensed that the conflict didn't seem as intense as it had immediately after the chaos of the Nine Tails. Still, things weren't much better.

"I've done everything I can," Tsunade said, shifting uncomfortably several times. Finally, she turned and rested her head on Tatsuya's legs, exclaiming, "After working for so many years, I'm tired! It's just wrong!"

Since getting married, Tsunade's mindset has changed significantly. What could it be? Homesickness? Tatsuya doubted it. Most likely, her hands were itching to visit the casino.

However, Tatsuya had already sent someone ahead to notify the casinos in the Land of Fire. If Tsunade lost any money, it would flow back into Tatsuya's pockets the very next day. No one dared offend the strongest ninja in the world over a small amount of money. Ah, the power of capital.

"Then who will the Hokage next?" Kurenai asked curiously.

"Namikaze Minato," Tsunade said as she took a bite of the chicken skewers. "Sakumo declined, saying he's not suitable for this position, Guru."

"Indeed," Tatsuya agreed. "If a political idiot were in power, I fear he'd be played like a puppet."

"Do you want anything else Tsunade-sama?," Nohara Rin said, noticing how much chicken Teriyaki Tsunade had devoured.

"Drink Sake?" Kurenai chimed in.

"No! Don't even suggest that; it's disgusting…" Tsunade raised her hand to decline.

Once the two mischievous girls had left, Tsunade gave Tatsuya a playful but firm pinch on the waist, her expression serious. "You're unbelievable," she remarked.

Tatsuya smirked in response, offering a cheeky grin. "Thanks~," he teased, mirroring her gesture.

Tsunade huffed in annoyance, muttering under her breath, barely loud enough for him to hear, "This won't work in the long run. I don't want you getting too attached to that Hyuga girl."

...

...

A few days later, on the back mountain of the Uchiha clan, Uchiha Shisui, 18, and Uchiha Itachi, 13, were engaged in their daily conversation.

"Tsunade-sama has finally made a formal decision," Shisui said, gazing at the river below the mountain for a long moment before turning to Itachi. "She will abdicate, and it's almost certain that the Fifth Hokage will be Minato."

Itachi's eyebrows twitched, and his lips pressed into a thin line. "The Uchiha don't have the chance to get the title of Fifth Hokage. Many radicals will oppose this, likely pushing for my father's nominate himself."

"Patriarch Fugaku is strong, but he doesn't stand a chance against Minato-sama," Shisui replied. "In the past few years, we've done our best to contribute to the village, hoping to ease the tensions between our clan and the village."

A year ago, Shisui had withdrawn from the Anbu squad. As a formal Uchiha ninja, he had gained fame on the front lines under the name "Shuishin no Shisui," earning respect in both the village and throughout the Land of Fire. If another ten years passed, he might even become a popular candidate for Hokage. But for now, he knew he wasn't qualified.

Itachi, too, had recently become captain of an Anbu team. They both hoped that through their efforts, the estrangement between their clan and the village could be resolved, but they remained uncertain about the outcome.

"If there is a rebellion…" Itachi, ever the pessimist, felt a wave of worry wash over him.

"Oh, don't think like that, Itachi!" Shisui replied with a smile, giving Itachi's shoulder a reassuring pat. "We've all worked so hard, so everything will be fine."

"Uh… I hope so," Itachi said, managing a reluctant smile.

After they parted ways, Itachi chose not to mention something troubling to his close friend: his father's recent actions had been somewhat strange.

---

Enjoyed the chapter?

You can read 40 chapters ahead and get exclusive access to more content on P*treon.c*m/Marioni