Naruto and Kurama—that is, the Nine-Tails' fates changed.
Natsume could understand.
But why Haruno Sakura and Hatake Kakashi?
Since those two were affected, what about Uchiha Sasuke?
Natsume pondered and guessed.
If Naruto became a super genius, he'd graduate smoothly without repeating.
Thus, his teammates and teacher might change.
Meaning Haruno Sakura and Hatake Kakashi would miss out on him.
But Uchiha Sasuke didn't.
Truly a millennium-spanning tragic love.
Can't separate you two.
Were Asura and Indra gay?
Cough.
Natsume recalled a saying from his previous life.
If Uchiha Sasuke were a girl, there'd be no room for Haruno Sakura or Hinata.
Naruto happily left with the barbecue.
Natsume and Uzumaki Hinae returned to Tanzaku Quarters.
After lunch, he went to train.
Wood Style, Water Style, plus Earth Style.
Natsume was learning a lot.
If he didn't work hard, how could he get promoted, marry a beautiful rich girl, become the future CEO of the Konoha, and reach life's peak?
At night, he used Reverse Summoning again to sneak—er, no, secretly deliver food to Hinata.
"Guess who?"
Natsume covered Hinata's eyes with his hands, asking in a playful tone.
"I-It's... it's..."
Hinata stammered, unable to say the full name.
And Natsume already felt his palms heating up rapidly.
Next moment, it seemed steam would burst out.
Natsume stopped teasing and took out tonight's supper.
Ichiraku Ramen.
He remembered in the original, Hinata ate over forty bowls in one go, making Akimichi Choji question life.
But she wasn't grown yet, so her appetite shouldn't be that huge; he brought ten bowls.
Hinata saw the ramen, her eyes lighting up uncontrollably, like a squirrel spotting a pine nut.
"Here, chopsticks."
Natsume sat across from her, smiling. "Eat up; it's not good cold."
"Th-thank... you."
Hinata lowered her head and ate.
"Have you gone out lately?"
Natsume worried she'd be bullied by brats again.
Hinata slurped a noodle, swallowed, shook her head. "Father has been teaching me fist techniques; no time."
At that, she shivered.
Hiashi's angry and disappointed expression scared her.
But she couldn't change her personality.
She also felt Hiashi increasing the training intensity, seeming urgent.
Natsume frowned.
Hiashi and Uchiha Fugaku were both tiger dads.
Too strict to make their children strong.
But blind strictness didn't work much.
Hinata's personality was partly due to fearing Hiashi.
Natsume had no short-term solution.
He could only see if feeding Hinata full would change anything.
After all, for a Hyuga, such a big appetite was abnormal.
And unlike the Akimichi fatties, she didn't gain weight.
Natsume could only think it was bloodline-related.
"In a couple days, I'll take you out to play."
"Really?"
Hinata immediately perked up.
Being scolded daily by Hiashi, she felt she'd go crazy if it continued.
Going out for fresh air was good.
And with Natsume, even better.
"When have I lied to you?"
Natsume smiled. "Keep eating."
Hinata nodded.
Half an hour later, all ten bowls were gone.
Natsume subconsciously glanced at her belly—no change, like her stomach was a dimensional pouch.
"Full?"
"Mm."
Hinata nodded hesitantly.
"Not good."
Natsume tapped her forehead with his finger. "Tell the truth, or say how many more bowls you can eat?"
Hinata's face turned bright red; she held up one finger.
"One bowl?"
Natsume raised an eyebrow.
"T-Ten... ten bowls."
Hinata said softly.
"..."
Natsume's mind was left with two words: Admirable!
Good thing he had Gunma Casino and Gunma Bank, or he couldn't afford it.
"Alright, tomorrow night I'll bring twenty bowls."
Natsume said earnestly. "You must eat your fill; no full stomach, no body energy."
Hinata nodded obediently.
"Okay, I won't disturb your sleep."
Natsume stood, took the trash, left her a slug.
Reverse Summoning activated.
He returned to his room and fell asleep.
But he didn't know there was a bad woman lurking outside.
Tsunade.
She couldn't sleep, came to check on Natsume, but found him gone.
Pondering, she summoned a slug, learned the details, and felt sour.
As expected.
Natsume had a new little girl.
Tsunade should be happy, but she couldn't.
She returned to her room, sleepless.
Finally, considering factors, she decided it was time to cut off the overly intimate relationship with Natsume, keeping it to mother-son or master-disciple.
…
The next day.
"Natsume, Rinka said to thank you for your help, she's inviting you to dinner. Hinata will be there too."
Tsunade said nonchalantly.
"Oh?"
Natsume thought, what a coincidence.
He'd planned to invite Hinata out through Rinka anyway.
From active to passive.
"Sure."
Natsume nodded.
Tsunade noticed his mood change and felt a bit sad.
Got a wife and forgot the mom.
She silently repeated: I'm not sad; I should be happy, because I can't accompany him to old age.
"One more thing."
Tsunade changed topics timely. "With you and Kabuto's strength, you're ready for the Chunin Exams, so I signed you up."
Natsume was stunned, a bit unexpected.
But good.
Becoming Chunin raised status and pay.
In the original, Chunin Exams were joint.
The classic one hosted by Konoha, inviting Sand, Rain, Grass, etc.
Of course, villages could hold internal ones.
If the Hokage approved.
Sometimes only a few apply per year.
A joint exam would be wasteful.
Waiting a year or so was unnecessary, so internal it is.
"Since Shizune is already Chunin, you need another teammate."
Tsunade glanced at Shizune, then at him. "Any picks? If not, I'll find one."
"Does Inuzuka Hana have a team? She's my classmate, familiar."
Natsume thought around and could only pick Inuzuka Hana, a side character who might yield fate points.
"I'll ask."
Tsunade nodded.
Natsume was a combat ninja, Kabuto medical—missing a sensor.
…
Meanwhile, at Mount Myoboku.
Jiraiya looked around, his face nostalgic.
Among the Sannin, his ninjutsu talent was the worst.
Tsunade aside, comparisons with Orochimaru always ended in his defeat.
This changed after he accidentally entered Mount Myoboku.
He learned sage arts and sage mode, his power skyrocketing; even Orochimaru might not beat him.
Because of this favor, Jiraiya respected Mount Myoboku, especially the Great Toad Sage.
He followed its words without question.
"Long time no see."
Jiraiya said sentimentally.
After learning of the Child of Prophecy from the Great Toad Sage, he'd been wandering the ninja world, gathering info.
So far, two candidates.
Namikaze Minato and Nagato.
The former was dead, so not.
The latter had the Sage of Six Paths' eyes, great talent—possible.
Pity he wasn't a Konoha ninja.