Nonou was stunned, even ignoring Natsume's new wounds.
There were countless Kekkei Genkai in the ninja world, but Wood Release was different.
The First Hokage, Senju Hashirama, unified the world with it and built a new era.
Konoha's "leaf" referred to Wood Release.
Since Hashirama, no one had possessed it—not even among the Senju.
Nonou never expected to see Wood Release herself.
"Director?" Natsume called.
"Have you told anyone else about this?"
She exhaled deeply, then healed his new wound.
Nonou wasn't naive.
Before running the orphanage, she'd been an elite in Konoha's intelligence division and had been forced to serve under Danzo.
She understood what Wood Release meant.
"You're the first to know."
Natsume watched her, relieved—just as he expected.
After three years together, they were like mother and son.
Nonou would never hand him to Danzo.
She wasn't loyal—that's why Danzo later wanted her dead.
She knew too much without being loyal.
"Good."
Nonou patted his head, frowning, clearly troubled.
Keeping it secret couldn't last forever.
And having Wood Release but not using it would be a waste.
If Danzo got him, Natsume would become nothing but a tool.
So, report to the Third Hokage?
Nonou considered her options.
Natsume knew it was time to step in. "Director, what jutsu is this?"
"Wood Release. It was used by the First Hokage."
Nonou didn't hide it. "If you can use it, your ancestors must have intermarried with the Senju."
The Senju were once a great clan, but, by Hashirama's ideals, they stopped intermarrying and blended into Konoha. Now, they barely existed.
Only Tsunade remained publicly.
"It's really Wood Release?"
Natsume feigned shock, then got excited. "Director, do you know any Senju? If I can find out which ancestor, maybe I can learn who my parents were."
Nonou paused.
Natsume was a war orphan, young, with many lost memories.
His suggestion made sense—he might learn who his parents were.
And he reminded her: there was someone more suitable than Sarutobi Hiruzen—
Tsunade.
The last of the Senju.
Most importantly, Nonou knew Tsunade's character. She'd treat Natsume well.
"I'll handle this."
Nonou opened the closet and got him clean clothes. "Take a bath and get some rest."
"Okay."
Natsume nodded, taking the clothes.
He'd done what he needed.
Now, it was up to Nonou.
If not, he'd just have to play along with Sarutobi Hiruzen.
Going by Yamato's treatment later, it wasn't so bad.
Provided he showed the Will of Fire.
He was good at that sort of thing.
A half-baked ideology, really.
He even thought he could trick Sarutobi Hiruzen himself.
…
…
A week passed.
In a quiet corner of the orphanage—
"Natsume, happy birthday."
Kabuto brought him a small cake.
The tables had turned.
Natsume smiled and accepted it.
Their birthdays were only a week apart—a coincidence.
"Natsume, what's your birthday wish? Or what do you want to do when you grow up?" Kabuto was curious.
In three years together, Natsume had always seemed mysterious.
Especially last year, when he seriously told Kabuto, "Don't reveal your medical talent, or disaster will strike—for you and the director."
It sounded like a prophecy.
Kabuto was baffled.
But out of trust—and a strange feeling—he hid his true talent and played average.
"What do I want to do?"
Natsume thought for a moment, then waved his hand. "I'll be the man who becomes Hokage."
Meaning the Fifth Hokage, Tsunade.
If we're going big, let's go all the way.
Some might say she's too old.
But she's beautiful.
If she's beautiful, age doesn't matter—hell, even species doesn't matter.
Right, like the Ninja Ancestor who bang Kaguya.
So jealous!
"Hokage, huh?"
Kabuto wasn't surprised.
Thanks to Sarutobi Hiruzen's great PR, he was a hero to all kids—the strongest Hokage.
To be Hokage was every kid's dream.
Just like wanting to be an astronaut or scientist in the real world.
Only when they grew up would they learn about disappointment.
"Yep! Hokage!"
Natsume finished his cake, threw an arm around Kabuto's shoulder. "Someday, I'll be Hokage, and you'll be my advisor. We'll make Konoha great again!"
If he wasn't worried about scaring Kabuto, he'd add, "I laugh at Sarutobi for being foolish, Danzo for being reckless—today's world has only us as true heroes."
He had his reasons.
Kabuto had limitless potential; recruiting him early was a huge win.
A true all-rounder—couldn't miss out.
"Deal!" said Kabuto, fired up by Natsume's encouragement.
"Natsume!"
Yakushi Nonou's voice sounded.
Natsume jumped.
Crap, if she heard his chuunibyou speech, he'd die of embarrassment.
He turned, and froze.
It wasn't just Nonou—there was another woman.
She wore a green coat, had smooth blonde hair, a mature and alluring figure.
There's a saying: men like slightly plump women.
And this woman was the best of that type.
Just her legs, matched with black or white stockings, could kill.
Natsume looked up, meeting her amused brown eyes.
"Lady Tsunade, the kid was just joking, please don't take it seriously," Nonou hurried to explain.
"No worries."
Tsunade glanced at him. "So this is Natsume? Quite a smart kid."
Nonou nodded. "Yes, he's the one I told you about."
Tsunade approached. "You want to be Hokage?"
Natsume gave a bright smile. "Because I want to protect everyone."
It was a fake smile, but he knew this would hit Tsunade hard.
"Why?"
Tsunade paused, then said in a strange tone. "People who want to be Hokage are all idiots—willing to die for others."
"I've seen war. I want to bring peace."
Natsume gave the standard answer. "If I become Hokage, I can stop war and bring peace."
Truthfully, he just wanted to survive.
Tsunade paused, remembering her dead brother, Nawaki. He used to say the same things.
But he died in war.
"Such a big mouth for a little kid."
Tsunade laughed, rubbing his head.
Natsume was speechless.
You know what men hate most?
Being called small!
Someday, he'd show her what "big" meant.
Tsunade collected herself. "Show me your Wood Release."
Natsume held out his hand—thorns grew from his palm.
He didn't know Wood Release yet, so he relied on instinct.
Thankfully, Nonou had taught him chakra control.
Otherwise, he wouldn't have been able to show anything.
Tsunade's face turned serious—it was real.
She'd grown up with Hashirama and knew Wood Release well.
Natsume's display wasn't genjutsu or mimicry.