Tsunade rested her head on Natsume's lap and closed her eyes.
"I'll start," Natsume said, brushing her bangs aside and beginning the massage.
He didn't really know how to massage, but kneading and rubbing couldn't go wrong.
He pressed her forehead in a steady rhythm.
After a few minutes, Tsunade's body relaxed.
She was already a bit tired, and with someone gently massaging her, she quickly drifted off.
Natsume soon moved to her face.
Very soft, but not chubby.
Just the right build—a woman like this didn't feel bony at all.
Suddenly, Tsunade turned, facing him.
Natsume found it awkward to continue.
After a moment's thought, he looked at her delicate ear and blew gently.
In his previous life, this was called ASMR.
Natsume sometimes listened to it, but it never cured his insomnia—if anything, it made him more excited.
Still, it was quite pleasant.
He just lacked the right tools, like cotton swabs.
"Don't!"
Tsunade shivered, waking up to see Natsume's bewildered face.
"My ears don't need a massage," she said softly, cheeks a little red.
Natsume was startled.
So soft-spoken… wait, that's not Tsunade's usual style.
Oh, so that's it.
Sensitive spot.
If this were a game—like Sekiro—there'd be a red dot on her ear.
Natsume made a mental note and nodded, "Got it."
Tsunade closed her eyes again.
Soon, her breathing became slow and regular.
Natsume enjoyed the smooth softness until his hands got tired and he stopped.
"I—"
Shizune had just walked in and saw Tsunade sleeping.
A teacher and her student should act like teacher and student.
But looking at them, you'd never guess they had that relationship.
Still, thinking about how Tsunade and Natsume normally interacted, it made sense.
Shizune quietly slipped into the kitchen.
Natsume continued gently stroking Tsunade's hair.
A little revenge—after being patted on the head so many times, he finally got to return the favor.
When mealtime came, Tsunade woke up.
She'd slept well.
Ever since being cured of her hemophobia and returning to sleeping alone, she'd suffered occasional insomnia from the change.
Natsume stood up, but his legs were numb after sitting still all afternoon and he fell backward.
Tsunade quickly reached out to steady him.
But something embarrassing happened—Natsume instinctively grabbed for something as he fell and ended up grabbing her chest.
Tsunade gasped as she felt Natsume's hand close around her ample breast. The thin fabric of her shirt did little to dull the sensation of his fingers pressing into her soft flesh. A jolt of electricity shot through her body, making her nipple harden instantly against his palm.
Natsume's eyes went wide as he realized what he was gripping. He could feel the warmth of her skin, the pliable give of her breast, the stiff peak of her nipple. For a moment, he was frozen, unable to let go.
Tsunade's face turned bright red. She let go, letting him fall onto the sofa.
"Come eat," she muttered, vanishing.
Natsume looked at his left hand.
I swear, it was an accident.
Then it was time for dinner, training, and sleep.
Natsume fell asleep easily.
But Tsunade didn't—her mind was too clear, and she couldn't sleep at all.
After a long while, she got up and quietly went to Natsume's door.
The door was closed, but not locked.
Using her excellent stealth skills, Tsunade made it to his bedside without waking him.
Natsume slept soundly, his face peaceful.
With his looks, he seemed as fragile as porcelain to Tsunade.
She felt a surge of unfamiliar emotion.
Tsunade was confused.
She knew keeping her distance was right, but she couldn't control her feelings.
Suppressing them too much would only make them explode later.
Tsunade sighed softly, stood there for a bit, did nothing, and left.
After calming down, she finally made it through the long night.
…
…
The next day.
There was a knock at the door.
"Lady Tsunade, is Natsume home?"
Uchiha Shisui asked when Tsunade answered.
"Shisui? What's your business with him?"
Tsunade asked, raising an eyebrow. She had no prejudice against the Uchiha, but preferred Natsume not get too close to them.
Typical parent behavior.
"I'd like to treat him to a meal to thank him," Shisui said, sensing Tsunade's guardedness, though he couldn't understand it.
"I'll ask him," Tsunade decided not to refuse.
She went to the study.
"Shisui wants to thank you with dinner. Will you go?"
"Thank him?"
Natsume realized why Shisui had said that in the Hokage's office yesterday—it was for stopping Orochimaru.
"I'll go," Natsume agreed.
Soon, he and Shisui arrived at a barbecue place.
Uchiha Itachi was already there, having ordered the food.
"This meal is to thank you for your help. Otherwise, I might have lost my eyes," Shisui said, raising his cup. "Since we're underage, let's drink juice."
The three clinked their glasses.
"I've read your essay on the Will of Fire," Shisui added after finishing his drink. "It's rare to meet someone so like-minded. Let's be friends."
Well, well!
Returning kindness with danger.
Everyone knows Uchiha friends are the most dangerous—who knows when you'll be used as sacrifice for their Sharingan.
Natsume smiled and picked up his chopsticks, "Sure, let's talk."
The meal went well for all three.
Though he'd gained some temporary trust from Shisui and Itachi, Natsume's life didn't really change.
…
Another week passed.
The Cloud Village envoys arrived.
To show sincerity, Hiruzen himself led the major clans to receive them.
In the Hokage Tower's reception hall—
"Why isn't Hiashi here?"
Hiruzen asked, noticing the Hyuga clan was absent.
"The clan head is busy preparing for Lady Hinata's third birthday and couldn't get away," the Hokage's guard replied.
Hiruzen frowned.
A show of dissatisfaction.
In the previous war, Tsunade and Fugaku were front and center; the Hyuga clan wasn't mentioned.
He took a puff of his pipe. "No matter."
The Hyuga had always been loyal to the Hokage.
Whoever's in charge, they support.
That's why they've lasted so long.
Annoyed or not, their loyalty was unwavering.
Hiruzen didn't mind Hiashi's little protest.
He'd make it up to them later.
Soon, the Cloud Village envoy entered—their leader was jonin Samoya.
As both sides began their verbal sparring over terms, Natsume received an invitation.
From the Hyuga clan, personally written by Hiashi with great sincerity.
An invitation to Hinata's birthday banquet.
Of course Natsume wouldn't miss it.
The Cloud Village envoys had just arrived, and that incident was about to happen—the Hinata kidnapping.
Fate Points were calling.
It was a turning point not just for her, but also for Hizashi and Neji.
If he could save them, maybe he'd even trigger the main house/branch house conflict and get more Fate Points.
But the Caged Bird Seal would always be a shackle.
No matter how much trouble they caused, the branch house could never escape their fate.