The peace talks between the Konoha and Hidden Cloud Village, under Sarutobi Hiruzen's personal supervision, ended smoothly with massive war reparations.
The good news spread quickly, known to all.
Sarutobi Hiruzen solidified his title as the strongest Hokage.
Natsume suddenly recalled the original story's Konoha Crush plan, where he fought Orochimaru, and no one helped.
Even Might Guy was stopped by Hatake Kakashi.
Perhaps because in their minds, their Hokage was invincible and couldn't possibly lose.
"Big brother!"
Natsume stopped.
Not far away, Naruto was waving at him.
His face beamed with joy.
But because of his appearance, nearby villagers immediately scattered.
The once lively street instantly cleared.
Natsume thought secretly that in crowded times, he could bring Naruto along.
Naruto's smile froze, and he apologized, "Sorry, big brother."
"Why care about others' opinions?"
Natsume smiled indifferently. "If you care, you lose yourself."
"Big brother always says things that make sense, but sometimes I don't understand."
Naruto's eyes showed some thought, but soon he scratched his head goofily.
"It's fine. Once you start school and read more, you'll understand."
In his previous life, Natsume thought Naruto suffered from not studying properly.
Just tak no jutsu without concrete methods was useless.
Setting aside strength, Naruto's level as Hokage was average.
Diligent, yes, but without wisdom, it was blind busyness.
"The Hokage grandpa said the same."
Naruto's eyes lit up. "He said I can go to school next month."
"School? You're only three—what school?"
After asking, Natsume remembered the original mentioned Naruto failed the graduation exam three times.
In other words, he started school three years early.
Analyzing it, it made sense.
Now he was an orphan, idling at home every day; better to go to school and receive the Will of Fire education.
"The Hokage grandpa said starting early means getting strong early."
Naruto mentioned Sarutobi Hiruzen every other sentence.
Natsume wasn't surprised.
This little fox spotting the old fox's flaws would be the anomaly.
Good, this way, easier to gain fate points.
"School does make you stronger."
Natsume's eyes turned.
Naruto repeated grades not because of poor talent, but because the Nine-Tails inside messed with his chakra control.
Setting aside the Nine-Tails, his talent was terrifying.
Few in the ninja world could match him.
For example, the Rasengan series.
Though many mocked using one Rasengan to the end, normal people couldn't develop so many versions.
The Nine-Tails' interference could be solved with sealing jutsu.
Though it'd temporarily prevent Naruto from communicating with the Nine-Tails, he could use his own chakra freely.
The Uzumaki clan's chakra was naturally abundant.
No Nine-Tails, no big deal.
Besides, it was temporary.
He'd eventually be taught by Jiraiya to use the Nine-Tails.
Natsume wondered, if he helped Naruto become a super genius at school, how would his fate change?
Would he still meet Uchiha Sasuke, Haruno Sakura, and form bonds?
Interesting.
Natsume asked, "Naruto, are you going shopping?"
"Yeah, buying instant ramen. Want to come, big brother?"
Naruto looked up expectantly.
"I have things to do, but you can wait for me at the store."
After parting with him, Natsume headed to the Tanzaku Quarters's Gunma Casino.
He didn't know sealing jutsu, but Uzumaki Hinae did.
And it was Uzumaki clan sealing jutsu, same as the one sealing the Nine-Tails.
Reinforcing it would be simple, with low chance of detection.
But Naruto had Anbu watching from afar.
Not close protection, but distant.
Natsume could use blind spots.
"Brother!"
Same address, but he preferred Karin—cuter and sweeter.
Natsume pinched her cheek. "Where's your mom?"
Karin pointed to a nearby room. "She's inside."
What was she doing in a room in broad daylight?
Natsume approached, pushed the door open, curiously looked, and froze.
A bare body curve entered his view.
Red, white.
This scene felt familiar.
Natsume stared for a moment, realizing Uzumaki Hinae was probably training the Yin Seal.
But now, with the door open, every detail was clear. Hinae stood in the center of the room, completely naked—her pale skin almost glowing in the light. Her long, red hair spilled loosely down her back, but did nothing to hide the rest of her. Across the soft curves of her breasts, the flat of her stomach, and even along her thighs and hips, black runes were etched like living tattoos, pulsing faintly.
He remembered in the original, releasing the Yin Seal showed such patterns on the face. Didn't expect them elsewhere too. Here, the marks snaked from her collarbone, down between her breasts, circling her navel, and twisting around her waist.
Her nipples were a flushed pink, rising slightly in the cool air. The runes continued down, dark lines accentuating the smoothness of her lower belly, even tracing the gentle dip between her legs.
Natsume's face heated. He didn't disturb her, lest something go wrong. But naked training like this wasn't good. What if someone else saw? He'd lose out big time.
Natsume closed the door, played with Karin, and waited.
A few minutes later, the door opened.
Uzumaki Hinae saw Natsume, paused, then smiled joyfully.
"Waited long?"
"Not really."
Natsume looked at her smile, feeling happy.
Every time he came, Uzumaki Hinae showed him what gentleness and affection were, like a devoted wife.
"Next time you cultivate the Yin Seal, call me."
Natsume said righteously. "Your state is too dangerous; you need someone watching."
Uzumaki Hinae listened, lowered her head, cheeks flushing, understanding his implication.
But she didn't refuse. "Okay, I got it."
"Can you use the Four Symbols Seal without being detected?"
Natsume got to the point.
Waiting longer, Naruto's side might notice something off.
Uzumaki Hinae pondered, then said, "It's hard."
"If there's already a Four Symbols Seal, just reinforcing it—can you?"
Natsume thought and asked again.
"Yes."
Uzumaki Hinae nodded. "Is there something you need me to do?"
She was quite expectant.
After being cared for by Natsume for nearly three years and learning sealing jutsu, she could finally be useful.
If not, she'd feel like she was being raised into a useless person.
"Yes."
Natsume looked at Karin, stroked her red hair. "Be good at home. Mom and I are going out; we'll be back soon."
"Okay."
Karin nodded obediently.
In front of her brother, she was always the good sister.
Uzumaki Hinae used Transformation Technique to hide her eye-catching red hair, disguising as a Gunma Casino employee.
Under Natsume's direction, she delivered a packed barbecue portion to Naruto as a meeting gift.
During contact, Uzumaki Hinae reinforced the seal.
[Because of your actions, Naruto's fate has changed. You gain 58 fate points.]
[Because of your actions, Haruno Sakura's fate has changed. You gain 99 fate points.]
[Because of your actions, Hatake Kakashi's fate has changed. You gain 99 fate points.]
[Because of your actions, Kurama's fate has changed. You gain 7 fate points.]
Natsume immediately received four notifications.
Beyond his expectations.