Naruto: A New Life with Tsunade

---

"You finally came."

Orochimaru's voice had an edge of impatience.

The past two weeks had stretched on like an eternity. Every day, his mind had been consumed by the thought of Natsume's arrival, driven by an insatiable thirst for knowledge. The Mangekyō Sharingan—a power like no other—had intrigued him beyond measure. As a scientist and seeker of forbidden jutsu, he was desperate to unlock its mysteries.

"I'm surprised you're still alive."

Natsume settled down with an air of nonchalance, pouring himself a cup of tea. He took a slow sip and grimaced. "This tea... tastes like dirt. Next time, get something worthy of your reputation."

Orochimaru's eye twitched, but he remained silent. He needed Natsume, and patience was a small price to pay for what he desired. "Tell me how to obtain the Mangekyō Sharingan."

"All deals require an equal exchange," Natsume responded with a casual smile. He didn't answer the question directly. "Do you have the Hashirama cells I requested?"

"I've secured them," Orochimaru replied smoothly. "I can hand them over now."

Natsume had been cautious, never appearing in person, only sending Wood Clones (Moku Bunshin) for their dealings. Orochimaru knew that once the clone dispelled, anything in its possession would vanish with it. However, if he played his cards right, he could trace the clone back to the real Natsume. All it would take was one small mistake on Natsume's part.

Natsume was, of course, fully aware of Orochimaru's intentions. It was one reason he had delayed their trade. But things had shifted recently. After gaining control of Gunma Company, Natsume had amassed nearly 100 million ryō in cash—wealth funneled from casinos and underground banks over the past decade.

His current focus was on using that wealth to fund a rescue mission. And who better for such a task than the five great shinobi villages?

The Akatsuki.

Many considered the Akatsuki to be too dangerous, unpredictable. But Natsume understood their motivations. At this point in time, they were still in the process of gathering funds. Contracts, bounties—they needed these to sustain their operations. Their credibility was crucial. If it became known they betrayed employers, no one would trust them.

As long as you paid them, the Akatsuki would keep their word.

If Orochimaru wanted to test them, Natsume was more than willing to offer up two of their members as fodder.

"No need to rush. This is just a clone." Natsume waved dismissively. "In two days, you'll conduct the trade with our organization directly."

"Agreed." Orochimaru nodded, hiding his satisfaction. Even if he couldn't meet Natsume in person, contact with this mysterious organization would suffice. He was confident that, given a trail, he could uncover the truth behind them.

"One piece of advice," Natsume said, his tone more serious. "If you plan on testing the Akatsuki, be sure to take proper precautions. They're not as easy to manipulate as I am."

Orochimaru's eyes narrowed slightly. Something about those words touched a nerve. Arrogant brat.

Did Natsume truly believe Orochimaru couldn't handle a few members of the Akatsuki or the Mangekyō Sharingan? He was one of the legendary Sannin—he had earned that title through countless battles and years of forbidden research.

Natsume, sensing Orochimaru's irritation, smoothly changed the subject. "Now, back to the Mangekyō Sharingan."

Orochimaru's frustration lingered, but his curiosity overpowered it.

"The Mangekyō Sharingan is an advanced evolution of the Sharingan," Natsume began.

"Then, many Uchiha should have the potential to awaken it, no?" Orochimaru interrupted, excitement creeping into his voice. Uchiha Shisui had been an extraordinary talent, but surely other Uchiha prodigies could reach such heights. There must be more.

"It's not that simple," Natsume replied. "The conditions for awakening the Mangekyō Sharingan are extreme. It requires both incredible talent and deep emotional trauma. Only a few have ever managed it—Uchiha Madara, Uchiha Shisui, and someone who once controlled the Nine-Tails."

He deliberately omitted others, like Uchiha Izuna. Orochimaru didn't need that information.

Orochimaru's eyes widened as realization dawned. He had suspected that the person responsible for controlling the Nine-Tails couldn't have done so with an ordinary three-tomoe Sharingan.

"Who is this individual? Another Uchiha?" Orochimaru pressed. He knew the Uchiha clan's history intimately. No one extraordinary had emerged from the clan in the past decade, aside from Uchiha Fugaku, who was far too cautious to be involved in such an event.

"That information comes at a price," Natsume said with a knowing smile. He had no intention of revealing Uchiha Obito's identity to Orochimaru—there was no benefit in it for him.

Orochimaru frowned, feeling as though Natsume was stringing him along. "What price?"

"One you can't afford."

Orochimaru's face darkened at the remark, but Natsume continued as if he hadn't noticed. "As for Uchiha Shisui, you've fought him before. You understand how difficult it would be to obtain his eyes."

Orochimaru's lips thinned. He couldn't argue; Shisui's mastery of the Mangekyō Sharingan was unparalleled, far beyond his current reach.

Suddenly, a new idea sparked in Orochimaru's mind, and his eyes gleamed with malicious excitement. "Can your organization help me acquire Shisui's eyes?"

Natsume shook his head. "As I said, you can't afford the price. And even if I did acquire them, why would I hand over such a valuable treasure to you?"

Orochimaru fell silent. He knew Natsume was right. Capturing Shisui on his own was an impossibility. The only way to do so would be with the assistance of Hiruzen, Jiraiya, or others in Konoha. But even then, they would never allow him to keep the Mangekyō Sharingan for himself—it would be returned to the village.

The Akatsuki, however, had no such allegiances.

"There's always a way. Nothing is impossible." Natsume's tone shifted, catching Orochimaru's full attention. "Our organization has identified another Uchiha prodigy. He's on the verge of awakening the Mangekyō Sharingan. And the best part? He's within your reach—as long as you're patient."

Orochimaru's eyes sparkled with curiosity. "Who is it?"

Patience was never an issue for Orochimaru. With the success of his Immortality Jutsu, he had all the time in the world.

"Uchiha Itachi," Natsume revealed.

Orochimaru blinked, recognizing the name. "Fugaku's eldest son?"

The boy was only six years old, still unknown to many outside the Uchiha clan and the academy. But now, the pieces were falling into place.

"Itachi's potential rivals that of Uchiha Shisui," Natsume continued with a faint smirk. "However, he's the son of the Uchiha clan's leader and is close to Shisui. You'll need to act swiftly—hesitate, and the opportunity will pass."

Orochimaru nodded, already formulating new plans. The Uchiha clan was currently on thin ice, and with tensions rising between them and Konoha, any misstep would complicate things.

Before Orochimaru could respond further, he realized Natsume's Wood Clone had already dispersed, leaving him alone with even more questions.

---

The next day, Orochimaru stood before the Hokage's desk.

"Orochimaru," Sarutobi Hiruzen greeted, mildly surprised by the visit. It wasn't often that Orochimaru sought an audience with him these days. Since the end of the Third Shinobi World War, the Sannin had kept to himself, conducting secretive experiments far from the public eye.

"I've decided to take on a new disciple," Orochimaru stated without preamble.

Hiruzen raised an eyebrow. "A disciple?"

It wasn't entirely unusual—Tsunade had recently taken an apprentice as well. But Orochimaru hadn't trained a student since Anko Mitarashi, and even that relationship had become strained.

"Why now?" Hiruzen asked, his curiosity piqued.

"For research purposes," Orochimaru replied, his tone casual, as though it were of little importance. "I need two apprentices to assist me."

Hiruzen nodded thoughtfully, though the reasoning was vague. "Do you have any candidates in mind?"

"Not yet," Orochimaru said smoothly. "I intend to observe the academy students for potential recruits."

Hiruzen considered this carefully. Orochimaru's curiosity was not out of character, but his request was unusual. "Very well. I'll arrange for a special examination at the academy. You can select the students that perform the best."

Then, an idea crossed his mind. "Actually, you may want to look into Uchiha Itachi. He's exceptionally talented and has shown great promise despite his age. He's Fugaku's eldest son."

Orochimaru paused for a brief moment, understanding the Hokage's intention. Hiruzen was subtly attempting to bring the Uchiha prodigy under the village's direct influence. The Hokage preferred to handle such matters through subtle diplomacy, rather than force.

"I'll consider it," Orochimaru replied noncommittally, though his mind was already racing with deeper plans.

---

That afternoon, the academy's First-Year Class A gathered in their classroom. Their instructor, Yamanaka Naoto, entered with an excited smile.

"Listen up, everyone! I've got exciting news!" Naoto announced. "One of the Legendary Sannin, Orochimaru-sama, will be coming to the academy today to select new apprentices. Each of you has a chance to be chosen!"

The classroom erupted with excitement. The Sannin were revered by the younger generation. Even Orochimaru, despite his reputation for being cold and distant, was seen as an icon of power. The chance to become his apprentice was a dream for many.

At the back of the room, Natsume raised an eyebrow. So this is how Orochimaru plans to recruit? It was a clever move. Even the Uchiha clan couldn't protest against an open selection process.

While the other students buzzed with enthusiasm, Natsume's thoughts were elsewhere. He wasn't particularly interested in Orochimaru's recruitment process. His focus was on his Wood Clone, which had been dispatched to Tanshu Street earlier that morning.

---

The underground black market on Tanshu Street was a stark contrast to the official mission boards within the Hidden Villages. Here, unsanctioned missions, bounties, and under-the-table dealings were commonplace.

Natsume's Wood Clone stepped into the dimly lit establishment—a nondescript two-story wooden building with counters reminiscent of a mission hall.

A man behind the counter, appearing to be in his late twenties, greeted him with a knowing grin. "You here to accept a mission or post one?"

"I'm posting one," Natsume's clone replied, sliding a small stack of ryō across the counter. "I need ninjas with reputations for getting the job done. Any recommendations?"

The man pocketed the money smoothly, his eyes glinting with interest. "You're in luck. There's a new group that's been making waves recently. Highly skilled. They've taken on some of the most dangerous missions and haven't failed yet."

Natsume's curiosity piqued. "What's the name of this group?"

"They use code names," the man explained. "But one of their key members is called Kakuzu."

Natsume's smirk deepened. Kakuzu... this might just work. "Alright. I'll assign the mission to them."

---

Mission Posted:

S-Rank Mission: Rescue two captives from Kusagakure and deliver them to Tanshu Street.

Reward: Two million ryō.

Assigned to: Kakuzu and his team.

Details: Meet the employer in front of Dongxue Casino at 7:00 AM on July 7th.

---

Later that afternoon, the students gathered on the academy's playground as Orochimaru arrived. His cold, calculating gaze swept over the eager young faces, but his focus was already on one individual—Uchiha Itachi.

Meanwhile, Natsume watched from the back, his attention divided between Orochimaru's selection process and the unfolding mission he had set into motion.

----------------------------------------

Get early access to the next 15 chapters by joining my Patreon. Support my work and dive deeper into the story by becoming a member today!

Patreon.com/Shinchan_37