Yuugao Uzuki.
In the original story, after graduating, she would join the ANBU as a Special Jonin thanks to her mastery of Konoha's swordsmanship.
Her boyfriend, Hayate Gekkou—infamously joked about as "the only guy who died in the Shippuden arc"—would later perish in the series.
But now, she had been taken as Orochimaru's disciple. Even as a secondary pick, this was a meteoric rise in status.
Unfortunately, in the original story, she was an irrelevant side character.
If not for her looks, no one would remember her.
The amount of Fate Points depends on two criteria:
The character's original role in the story.
The degree of their altered destiny.
A single character can provide up to 100 Fate Points per major turning point, with each criterion roughly contributing 50 points each.
Yuugao contributed 49 points—meaning her fate had diverged drastically from the original path.
Itachi Uchiha only gave 18 points, proving that even as Orochimaru's disciple, his core convictions remained unchanged.
For Konoha's sake, he would still make extreme choices.
With Orochimaru taking Itachi and Yuugao away, the Academy's test concluded.
Students dispersed, returning to their families.
At the school gates, Sasame spotted his legal guardian—his "mother" in name only—Tsunade.
"Why were you half an hour late today?"
"Lord Orochimaru was selecting disciples. The school held a test."
Sasame took her hand as he spoke.
Tsunade froze for two seconds.
She was reminded of Nawaki.
Orochimaru's last disciple had been her little brother.
Sensing her silence, Sasame looked up—only for his vision to be blocked by two towering obstacles.
There was a saying in his past life:
"If a woman looks down and can't see her toes, she is a peerless beauty."
Today, he was experiencing the reverse perspective.
Realizing his words had triggered painful memories, Sasame opened his mouth to comfort her—
But Tsunade suddenly scooped him up, pressing him against her chest in a soft embrace.
Now, he could see her face.
A faint sadness lingered in her eyes.
Yep, definitely thinking about Nawaki.
But that grief seemed to transfer onto him instead.
"Don't move. Let me hold you for a bit."
Sasame obediently turned into a plush hug pillow, staying still.
After a while, Tsunade loosened her grip—but didn't put him down, carrying him all the way home.
Sasame didn't complain.
Bored, he spent the trip studying the elegant rise and fall of her jawline.
"You've been staring at me the whole way. Any thoughts?"
Tsunade suddenly looked down, meeting his eyes.
Caught off guard, Sasame floundered for a response.
Amused, Tsunade nuzzled his cheek affectionately.
"Thank you. I feel much better now."
Her breath tickled his skin.
Sasame shivered.
"I'll check if Shizune's done with dinner."
Tsunade set him down, ruffling his hair before leaving.
Sasame exhaled in relief, plopping onto the couch and turning on the TV.
The programs were mediocre, but they killed time.
Dinner was served shortly after.
"Thanks for the meal!"
Sasame clapped his hands together before digging in.
The Academy's cafeteria food was barely edible, and Tsunade's onigiri breakfasts were hit-or-miss.
Dinner was his only proper meal of the day—so he ate like a starving wolf.
Afterwards, it was Wood Release training time.
Shizune retreated to her room to study medical texts, while Tsunade lingered in the living room—
Watching Sasame through the window in case his training went wrong.
Flipping through scrolls, Sasame settled on his next jutsu:
Wood Release: Wood Locking Wall
A defensive technique that summoned curved wooden pillars, forming a dome for 360° protection.
"Sasame, want an apple?"
Tsunade called out after a while. "I'll peel one for you."
"Sure."
But minutes passed with no sign of her.
Wiping sweat off his brow, Sasame peered through the window—
And bolted inside in alarm.
Tsunade was hugging herself, trembling violently.
A bloodstained knife lay on the table.
Shit.
Even elite shinobi were glass cannons—Tsunade included, unless she activated her Strength of a Hundred Seal.
Now, the sight of blood had triggered her hemophobia.
Unsure how to help, Sasame gently patted her back.
"It's okay."
Tsunade lifted her head, saw him—and yanked him into a rib-crushing embrace.
Sasame endured wave after wave of suffocating softness without complaint.
Eventually, the shaking stopped.
"Sis, you should rest."
But Tsunade only tightened her grip.
Clearly, she wasn't fully recovered.
Sasame sighed internally. Guess I'm stuck here.
Then, Tsunade stood up—still holding him—and carried him to her room, tucking him into her futon.
"Huh?!"
Before he could react, the lights went out.
Tsunade silently claimed him as a body pillow, falling asleep within minutes.
Sasame felt like human medicine.
Whatever. Patient's needs come first.
Morning.
Sasame woke up aching everywhere.
Tsunade was a restless sleeper—arms around him, legs tangled with his, face buried in his neck.
At first, it was like being cradled by sentient marshmallows.
But staying in one position all night? Absolute torture.
"Sis."
He gazed at Tsunade's flawless sleeping face and called out.
She stirred—pulling him closer.
Then, like a cat, she nuzzled his cheek.
"Five more minutes…"
"..."
Unable to endure, Sasame deployed his ultimate weapon—wrapping his arms around her neck and whimpering:
"Sis, I'm hungry."
Tsunade's eyes snapped open.
"I'll make onigiri."
Freedom at last.
After changing, washing up, and eating, Sasame felt reborn.
Last night was hell.
At school, his never-absent deskmate Itachi was missing.
The other kids were jealous—not of his absence, but of his private tutoring under Orochimaru.
Sasame, who knew the horrifying truth, felt no envy.
"Tutoring"? More like dissection prep.
Saturday, July 7th.
Sasame poured all his chakra into a Wood Clone, then spent 1 Fate Point to send it to meet the legendary Akatsuki.
Operation: Save Karin and Her Mother was officially underway.