Naruto: A New Life with Tsunade

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Early Morning

Natsume opened his eyes sluggishly, his body protesting every movement.

I pushed myself too hard yesterday.

He had spent the morning training, negotiated with Orochimaru and Mei Terumi in the afternoon, and then engaged in a demanding sparring match with Uzumaki Ena that drained nearly all his chakra reserves.

"You look like you've been hit by a ton of bricks," came Tsunade's voice. She stood in the doorway, arms crossed, her expression a mix of curiosity and concern. "Rough night?"

"Just a little tired," Natsume replied, rubbing his temples. Then, with a mischievous glint in his eyes, he added, "Maybe I'd feel better if you'd stayed and slept in with me, Sis."

Tsunade's response was swift—a sharp flick to his forehead.

"Ow!" Natsume yelped, sitting up and rubbing the sore spot. "Do you always have to resort to violence?"

"Stop exaggerating," Tsunade replied with a smirk. "If you can survive sparring with a fully trained Uzumaki, I doubt a flick from me can hurt you."

Sympathy isn't in her vocabulary, Natsume thought wryly.

Before he could retaliate, she grabbed him by the collar and dragged him toward the dining room. "You're eating double breakfast today. No complaints."

"Double breakfast?!" Natsume groaned, slumping in defeat.

Shizune entered just in time to catch his dramatic display. "What's going on here?" she asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Nothing," Natsume muttered, though he shot her a hopeful glance. "Sister Shizune, you wouldn't mind sharing some of this food, would you?"

"No way," Shizune replied with a knowing smile. "You're on your own."

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At the Ninja Academy

After enduring his punishment meal, Natsume headed to the Ninja Academy. The courtyard was bustling with parents and students. Today marked the start of the school year, and he had promised to check on Hinata Hyuga.

As he scanned the crowd, his gaze landed on a familiar figure—Uchiha Itachi, standing calmly amidst the chaos.

"Itachi," Natsume called, approaching the stoic Uchiha.

Itachi turned, his dark eyes betraying mild surprise. "Natsume. What brings you here?"

"I could ask you the same," Natsume replied, glancing around. "Where's Sasuke?"

"He's off meeting his... friends," Itachi said, the faintest trace of a smile gracing his lips.

"Friends?" Natsume raised an eyebrow. "You mean Naruto?"

Itachi nodded. "And a few others. It's good for him to build bonds outside the clan."

"Interesting," Natsume mused, his thoughts drifting to Sasuke's rivalry with Naruto. "Though I bet Sasuke's still more focused on surpassing Naruto than making friends."

Itachi's expression darkened momentarily. "His focus on strength is... concerning."

Natsume decided to change the subject. "I'm here to see someone as well," he said, nodding toward Hinata Hyuga, who stood nearby with her mother.

As he approached, Hinata's eyes widened, and a faint blush spread across her cheeks. "N-Natsume…" she stammered, barely audible.

"Hello, Aunt Rinka," Natsume greeted Hinata's mother politely. Then, smiling warmly, he addressed Hinata. "Long time no see, Hinata."

Hinata fidgeted with the hem of her jacket, her gaze fixed on the ground. "Y-Yes…"

Rinka chuckled softly at her daughter's shyness. "Natsume, it's nice to see you. What brings you to the academy today?"

"Just thought I'd stop by," Natsume replied casually, though he was subtly keeping an eye on Hinata's safety.

Rinka's expression turned serious as she leaned closer to whisper, "Be cautious around the Uchiha. Tensions are high right now."

Natsume nodded. "Understood."

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Back at the courtyard, Natsume rejoined Itachi. Moments later, four familiar figures appeared: Uchiha Sasuke, walking with his usual air of confidence; Uzumaki Naruto, practically bouncing with energy; and two girls, Haruno Sakura and Yamanaka Ino, trailing behind, chatting animatedly.

"Sasuke-kun is soooo cool!" Sakura gushed, ignoring Naruto's attempts to get her attention.

"Cool? More like broody," Naruto muttered under his breath, earning a glare from Sakura.

Ino, however, had stopped mid-sentence, her gaze fixed on Natsume. Her jaw nearly dropped as she took in his older, taller figure. While Sasuke had always been her crush, Natsume was on an entirely different level.

Natsume noticed Yamanaka Ino glancing his way. Ever since mastering Sage Mode, his sensory abilities had sharpened significantly.

How could he describe it?

Ino was undeniably cute, but not yet beautiful. He knew that with time—especially after marriage—her appearance and figure would mature into something extraordinary.

Her best friend, Haruno Sakura, though... well, compared to Ino, she still had some catching up to do.

Natsume flashed Ino a bright smile.

She stiffened instantly, her cheeks glowing red as she quickly averted her gaze.

"Are you okay?" Sakura asked, raising an eyebrow. Ino's flustered expression made her look like she'd seen a ghost.

"I'm fine!" Ino snapped back, flustered. But when her eyes darted toward Natsume again, her demeanor softened, and her voice became unusually sweet.

"That's... weird. You sure you're not under some kind of genjutsu?" Sakura muttered suspiciously, her gaze shifting toward Natsume.

Before Ino could retort, a familiar voice cut through the moment.

"Big brother!"

A young Uchiha Sasuke sprinted toward them, stopping in front of Natsume.

Sakura, only now noticing Natsume properly, froze in place. Who is that? she thought. Sasuke was already the most handsome boy she knew, but this man—Natsume—was on a completely different level. How is that even possible?

"Long time no see, big brother," Naruto Uzumaki greeted with his trademark grin, joining them.

"You've got a test at the academy today, right?" Natsume asked, patting Naruto's shoulder. "You're going to ace it. First place is yours."

"Not if I have anything to say about it!" Sasuke cut in, his dark eyes burning with determination. "This time, I'll beat him."

Naruto, unfazed, grinned even wider. "I'm looking forward to it, Sasuke!"

Sasuke scoffed but didn't hide the way Naruto's words fueled his resolve.

"Naruto, is this your brother?" Ino asked, stepping forward with a polite smile. Her attention was on Naruto, but her eyes couldn't help but sneak glances at Natsume. He's unreal, she thought. No way this guy is related to Naruto.

"My name's Natsume," Natsume introduced himself with a calm, warm tone. "When Naruto was younger, he had some trouble with bullies. I gave him a hand."

"Wait, no!" Naruto shouted, too late to stop the embarrassing revelation.

"Really?" Ino blinked in surprise. "Naruto got bullied? But you're top of the class now—even stronger than some of the chunin instructors!"

The thought of Naruto as a victim was hard to reconcile with the confident, skilled ninja he'd become.

Sasuke, who had been speaking with his older brother Itachi nearby, perked up. This was new. Naruto always seemed so untouchable—kind, talented, and unstoppable. For once, Sasuke felt like he had something to tease him about.

"Alright, let's head to the academy before we're late," Natsume said, clapping his hands lightly.

Naruto hurried ahead, eager to escape any more embarrassing revelations, and Sasuke followed closely, his competitive energy radiating.

Sakura instinctively trailed after Sasuke but called over her shoulder, "Ino, come on!"

Ino sighed wistfully but reluctantly followed.

"And you?" Natsume turned to Itachi. "Want to come watch?"

"Sorry, I'm tied up with Anbu work," Itachi replied evenly.

"Oh? Something serious?" Natsume asked, intrigued.

Itachi hesitated briefly. "The Hokage's son, Sarutobi Seinosuke, has gone missing."

"Missing? That's bold. Who would dare?" Natsume's sharp eyes widened.

"We don't know yet," Itachi said with a frown. "It's been days, but there's no trace."

"Sounds like you've got your hands full. Good luck," Natsume said, offering a wave before heading toward the academy.

The playground was already buzzing with students. As usual, the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, stood on a raised platform, delivering his annual speech.

"Good morning, everyone. Today, I want to remind you of the Will of Fire..."

Despite his son's disappearance, the Hokage's dedication to Konoha's core values remained unshaken. Natsume couldn't help but admire him. The speech might rarely change, but its message was timeless.

Finally, the speech ended, and the opening tests began.

Naruto and Sasuke had been promoted to the fourth year, while Sakura, Ino, and Hinata were second years. Hyuga Neji, already a prodigy, was in his third year.

Though matches were typically within the same grade, Naruto's reputation often drew challenges from older students.

Natsume joined the spectators, eager to watch.

Hinata, who had undergone intense summer training with him, impressed everyone. Normally shy and reserved, she outperformed her entire class, securing the top spot. For someone like her, standing out among peers like Inuzuka Kiba, Nara Shikamaru, and Aburame Shino was no small feat.

The highlight, however, was the fourth-year match between Naruto and Sasuke.

"I wonder if Sasuke will finally break his streak as Naruto's runner-up," Shikamaru remarked lazily. "Honestly, fighting Naruto sounds like too much effort. I'd just forfeit."

"Hmph! Sasuke-kun isn't like you, Shikamaru!" Sakura snapped, fists clenched. "Sasuke-kun, you can do it!"

A chorus of cheers erupted from the girls in the crowd.

"Sasuke sure has his fan club," Choji said through a mouthful of chips.

"Doesn't matter," Kiba muttered. "He still can't beat Naruto."

On the field, Sasuke's fists tightened as he felt the weight of everyone's expectations. He took a deep breath and turned to Naruto.

"Naruto," Sasuke said, his voice cold but steady. "Get ready. I'm going to show you just how strong I've become."

Naruto grinned, completely unfazed. "I'm looking forward to it, Sasuke!"

The skies, which had been cloudy all morning, cleared just in time for the battle. Sasuke felt a surge of confidence as the match began.

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