NOVEL NEXT Chapter 49: reward?
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Uchiha Clan Residence
Uchiha Fugaku sat in his study, hands clasped together, eyes closed in contemplation. The air in the room felt heavy, burdened by unspoken frustrations. He awaited Itachi's return from the Hokage's office, his anger simmering just below the surface—some directed at Konoha's leadership, some at Uchiha Shisui.
Mangekyō Sharingan. A power so profound had been kept from him, the patriarch of the Uchiha clan.
If I had known sooner, things would not have come to this.
The sliding door creaked open, and Itachi entered, his movements as quiet as the night. He knelt before his father, his demeanor calm but unreadable.
"Father," Itachi began, his voice steady.
Fugaku opened his eyes, his tone cold and measured. "What did the Third Hokage say?"
Itachi hesitated briefly. "He claimed ignorance of the situation. He promised to retrieve Shisui and hold Danzo Shimura and Orochimaru accountable."
Though Fugaku remained stone-faced, his grip on the table tightened. "Hiruzen Sarutobi's promises mean little," he muttered.
Itachi knew his father's trust in Konoha's leadership had long since eroded. Yet, he believed Hiruzen's words carried sincerity. If the Third Hokage had wanted Shisui's Mangekyō, he could have easily manipulated the situation through Shisui's loyalty. All evidence pointed to Danzo and Orochimaru acting independently.
"Father," Itachi continued, "I have been assigned to the ANBU."
Fugaku raised an eyebrow, his thoughts racing. "ANBU?" he repeated. "This could serve the clan well. You will act as our eyes and ears among the Hokage's inner circle." His gaze hardened. "Remember, no matter what role you play, your loyalty lies with the Uchiha clan."
Itachi nodded, concealing the pang of disappointment that flared within him. Why can't you see Konoha as part of us, Father?
Fugaku's voice broke the silence. "What is the power of Shisui's Mangekyō Sharingan?"
Itachi froze for a moment before replying. "It grants him the ability known as Kotoamatsukami. It can manipulate others' thoughts without their knowledge."
Fugaku's eyes widened, his shock quickly giving way to fury. His fist slammed onto the table. "That fool!" he roared. "Such a technique could have ended this conflict! If we had used it on Hiruzen Sarutobi or the elders—" He cut himself off, his words hanging ominously in the air.
Shisui, what were you thinking?
The room grew quiet again, save for Fugaku's heavy breathing. Finally, his voice softened. "Check on Sasuke. The attack has left him shaken."
"Yes, Father," Itachi said, bowing before leaving the room.
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Hyūga Residence
Under the cover of darkness, Natsume carried Hinata on his back, carefully navigating the compound's security. His mastery of stealth made the feat almost effortless.
"Thank you," Hinata whispered softly, her voice filled with gratitude.
Natsume gently brushed her hair out of her face as he set her down near the compound's gate. "See you next time," he said with a warm smile before vanishing into the shadows.
Moments later, he used the Reverse Summoning Technique to return to his room. He barely had time to exhale before noticing Tsunade sitting cross-legged on the couch, watching television.
"You went to see Hinata again, didn't you?" she asked casually, though her tone carried a hint of disapproval.
Natsume froze, scratching the back of his head sheepishly. "How'd you know?"
Tsunade smirked faintly but said nothing, hiding the small flicker of jealousy that had crept into her heart. She quickly masked her feelings with a sigh. "Go help Shizune set the table," she said dismissively.
Before Natsume could respond, Shizune walked in, balancing dishes in both hands. "Dinner's ready!" she announced cheerfully.
Tsunade's sharp tone softened as she turned to Natsume. "Well? Don't just stand there. Let's eat."
"Yeah, yeah," Natsume replied, grinning as he joined them. He found himself amused at the rare moment of fluster from the legendary Sannin.
The trio settled at the table, the comforting aroma of freshly prepared food filling the room.
"When do the Chūnin Exams resume?" Natsume asked between bites, his thoughts already wandering to the challenges ahead.
"The day after tomorrow," Tsunade replied absently. She assumed his eagerness was tied to his ambitions, unaware of the greater schemes unfolding in his mind.
Shisui's fate remains unclear, but destiny points have already been earned. The rest doesn't concern me now.
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Forest of Death
The next morning, Natsume stood at the entrance to the Forest of Death, flanked by Kabuto Yakushi and Hana Inuzuka.
"Your pup's as energetic as ever," Natsume said, crouching to pet Kuromaru. The ninken barked in response, wagging his tail.
"Kuromaru just knows you spoil him," Hana teased, crossing her arms.
Tsunade approached the group, her sharp gaze lingering on Natsume. Without a word, she ruffled his hair, catching him off guard. "Let's go," she said, leading them to the exam grounds.
The number of competitors had thinned considerably, leaving only ten teams. As Natsume scanned the crowd, he noticed the absence of Uchiha Itachi.
Looks like the Third pulled him into ANBU early, Natsume mused.
At the front, Kurenai Yūhi stepped forward, her crimson eyes scanning the participants. Her voice carried authority as she explained the rules.
"You will each receive a Heaven or Earth scroll. Your goal is to acquire the missing scroll and reach the tower at the center of the forest. If you are unable to continue, use a signal flare for assistance. The second stage begins... now!"
As the gates opened, Natsume felt a familiar thrill rise within him. Another chance to shape the course of events—and earn even more destiny points.
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Yuhi Kurenai gave the signal, and the Genin teams sprang into action, disappearing into the dense canopy of the Forest of Death like shadows.
At the forefront, Natsume, Kabuto Yakushi, and Hana Inuzuka led the charge, their pace unmatched. They were the strongest contenders, after all.
Without Uchiha Itachi in the mix, Natsume was determined to set a new record for the fastest completion time in the Chuunin Exams.
Standing at the forest's entrance, Yuhi Kurenai let her gaze linger on the treetops before her attention snapped to a figure approaching. Her eyes widened as Tsunade Senju casually strolled toward the forest.
"Tsunade-sama, the rules clearly state that instructors are prohibited from entering the forest," Kurenai said, her tone firm but respectful as she stepped into Tsunade's path.
"I'm not entering," Tsunade replied with a grin, already moving closer to the boundary. "I'm just observing."
"Tsunade-sama—" Kurenai sighed, feeling the weight of the situation. "This is highly irregular. You're putting us in a difficult position."
Tsunade halted briefly, then motioned for Kurenai to follow her. "Fine. Then come with me."
Without waiting for a response, she added with a smirk, "Surely you feel more confident with me around, right?"
Kurenai hesitated before nodding reluctantly. "As long as you don't interfere with the exam or aid your student in any way."
"Of course not," Tsunade said with a chuckle. "Do you really think my student needs help?"
Kurenai's mind wandered back to the reports from the war with Kumogakure. Natsume had allegedly taken down several high-ranking Jonin, including Troy, the Magnet Release user. Kurenai had always assumed that Tsunade did most of the work and allowed Natsume to land the final blow.
The two women followed the trail Natsume's team had taken, their movements silent but swift. It didn't take long for them to catch up.
Natsume, Kabuto, Hana, and her ninken, Kuromaru, were moving efficiently, with Kuromaru sniffing the air to track their targets.
"Isn't it reckless to charge in without setting traps or creating diversions?" Kurenai asked, her sharp gaze fixed on the group.
"There's no need for caution," Tsunade replied, watching her student closely. "Natsume's not here to waste time. He's aiming for a record."
Despite her calm demeanor, Tsunade couldn't help but notice Natsume's uncharacteristic haste. She smirked as realization dawned. Ah, he's after that reward I promised him.
As if on cue, Natsume launched into action, weaving hand signs at an impressive speed. "Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet Technique!"
A massive dragon-shaped torrent surged forward, its sheer size and power leaving Kurenai momentarily stunned.
"He's mastered A-rank Water Release jutsu?" Kurenai whispered, incredulous. Her respect for Natsume grew, even if it was tinged with disbelief.
"Of course he has," Tsunade said, unable to hide her pride. "I didn't raise an average Genin."
Kurenai shook her head, muttering, "With students like that, who wouldn't be envious?"
Tsunade chuckled, crossing her arms. "It's mostly luck. But yes, I hit the jackpot."
By the time Natsume's team reached the central tower, they had already secured both the Heaven and Earth scrolls. The proctor at the tower entrance stared at them in disbelief.
"Twenty minutes?!" the proctor exclaimed, checking the scrolls. "You set a new record! No Genin team has ever finished this fast."
Natsume simply nodded, his expression calm despite the praise, while Kabuto adjusted his glasses with a satisfied smirk. Hana grinned, scratching Kuromaru behind the ears.
After clearing their entry, they moved to the waiting lounge to prepare for the third phase. Moments later, the door swung open, and Tsunade stepped inside.
"Sensei!" the trio greeted in unison.
"Well done," Tsunade said, her voice filled with pride. "You didn't just finish fast; you did it with flair."
Natsume straightened under her praise. "Speed alone isn't enough. Strength matters, too."
Tsunade smirked, ruffling his hair playfully. "And you've got plenty of both."
Kabuto and Hana exchanged knowing looks. Tsunade's favoritism toward Natsume was no secret, but neither of them minded.
The afternoon saw the start of the third phase: the one-on-one battles. Out of the original teams, only five remained, making for intense matchups.
Natsume's power shone as he dominated each of his battles. With Uchiha Itachi already promoted, the competition lacked anyone who could truly challenge him. Kabuto secured second place, showcasing his intelligence and strategy, while Hana took fifth, her bond with Kuromaru proving invaluable.
By the end of the day, all three were promoted to Chuunin.
As the celebrations began, Natsume sought out Tsunade in a quiet corner of the tower. His face lit up with excitement as he approached her.
"Sensei," he began, his voice brimming with anticipation. "I'm a Chuunin now, so... about that reward?"
Tsunade sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose. "You're not going to let me forget, are you?"
Natsume's hopeful expression melted her resolve, and she relented with a resigned smile. "Alright, I'll keep my promise. But don't expect it to be easy."
As he grinned triumphantly, Tsunade thought to herself, I've created a monster.
But deep down, she couldn't have been prouder.
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