Konoha's Training Ground 4.
"Did Natsume-sensei trick us?"
Uzumaki Naruto asked listlessly.
He'd received Kurenai's notice yesterday and had been excited.
He still was when he got here.
But almost two hours had passed and Natsume hadn't shown.
His enthusiasm cooled.
"He wouldn't."
Hyuga Hinata defended him. "Natsume-nii wouldn't lie."
Perched in a tree, Uchiha Sasuke stood hands-in-pockets, expressionless.
Though inwardly a bit impatient.
"The sun's high already."
Naruto flopped on the ground like a salted fish. "If he doesn't come, it'll be lunchtime."
"Natsume-nii is Hokage now. It's normal to be busy."
Hinata found him another excuse.
"Right, that's true."
Naruto brightened. "Hokage is swamped."
"Morning."
Natsume appeared in an instant, startling Naruto and Sasuke.
They didn't know the Flying Thunder God; it just felt too sudden.
"Natsume-sensei!"
Naruto sprang up. "Do we have a mission?"
Sasuke leapt down too. He looked forward to missions.
He'd stayed in Konoha all along, only brawling with brats, never a real life-and-death fight.
That way, he could never defeat Uchiha Itachi.
"Mm, and it's S-rank."
Natsume thought a moment.
By the ninja world's standards, S-rank missions involve national or village secrets, bounties in the millions, wars, assassinations of key figures, or subjugating ninja units.
A Hokage is a key figure.
Marking it S-rank was fair.
"S-rank?!"
Naruto's eyes widened.
As a ninja, he knew what S-rank meant.
Under normal circumstances, genin absolutely don't take S-rank missions.
It's pure suicide.
Even the always-cool Sasuke looked surprised.
Only Hinata stayed calm.
To her, whatever Natsume did was right.
A sort of blind trust.
"What is it?!"
Naruto's eyes burned.
Given his nature, he wouldn't care about the subtext—just the thrill.
Sasuke sighed inwardly—of course.
"Protect the Hokage to the Fire Country's metropolis."
Natsume smiled.
"Protect the Hokage… isn't that just protecting you, Natsume-sensei?"
Naruto blinked, disappointed. "Where's the danger in that?"
A Hokage travels with ANBU plus the Guard.
As three genin, they'd be background extras.
"No—just the four of us."
Natsume shook his head.
"That works!"
Naruto was fired up. "I'll protect sensei!"
Sasuke frowned.
Hokage traveling alone.
The danger would be tremendous.
S-rank made sense.
He clenched his fists by reflex—fear flickered—then steadied.
As a Uchiha, he wouldn't fear hardship.
Natsume read their faces.
Overall, not bad.
But reality can differ.
In the original, two years older Sasuke, Naruto, and Sakura met Momochi Zabuza.
Their first battle was awful; they froze at killing intent.
Now they were stronger, but still lacked real combat.
And those who'd come to assassinate him were likely vicious rogues or missing-nin.
They wouldn't hold back.
"You have an hour to prepare. Meet at the village gate. Bring a change of clothes and plenty of tools."
"Got it!"
Naruto bolted like a fierce dog was chasing him.
Sasuke melted into shadow.
"Natsume-nii, see you later."
Hinata bobbed her head and left.
Natsume returned to the Hokage's office.
He'd horsed around with Tsunade that morning and lost track of time, causing his lateness.
Now that he'd leave Konoha, he needed to inform Kurenai and others—so they wouldn't think the new Hokage vanished within two days.
He picked up a dossier.
This was the ninja list he'd asked Kurenai to compile.
The jonin who'd supported Sarutobi Asuma at the last meeting.
Mostly Sarutobi and Shimura clan jonin.
Natsume planned to assign them more dangerous missions later, openly weakening them.
"Thanks, Kurenai."
He set the file down and looked at Kurenai nearby.
Still the pencil skirt with black stockings, paired with her stern, refined face—it reminded Natsume of a few office movies.
Ahem.
Pure coincidence.
"I plan to head to the Fire Country's metropolis today. While I'm gone, please keep an eye on things."
Given the current secretary-plus-advisor setup, the village could run fine even without the Hokage present.
"Understood!"
Kurenai nodded. "I'll notify Kakashi and Gai and have ANBU accompany you."
"No need."
Natsume waved. "I'll go alone."
"That won't do."
Kurenai refused at once. "It's too dangerous."
"Kurenai, openly defying the Hokage isn't what a secretary should do."
Natsume smiled.
"I… that's not what I meant."
Kurenai flustered. "I'm worried about your safety."
"I get it. But you need to trust the Hokage."
Natsume winked. "The Hokage is Konoha's strongest ninja."
"Sorry."
Sensing that confidence, Kurenai blushed and nodded.
"No need to apologize."
Natsume waved. "Anything else?"
"Yes."
Kurenai took out a letter. "A personal letter from the Kazekage."
Natsume raised a brow.
Rasa?
In the original, Orochimaru schemed against him and he died.
Then he was impersonated, dragging Sunagakure into the Konoha Destruction Plan.
Sarutobi Hiruzen died; Orochimaru lost his arms; Gaara became the big winner, succeeding as Kazekage.
Now, because of Natsume, Orochimaru was still quietly in Konoha.
Naturally, Rasa didn't die.
He'd even contributed ninety points of Fate.
Natsume opened the envelope expecting the chunin exams—but it was about an alliance.
At this time, Suna and Konoha weren't as close as in the original—just average relations.
In the Third Ninja War, they hadn't fought each other.
Suna had been invaded by Kumo and couldn't expand outward.
After the war, the Wind Daimyo was displeased and cut funding.
That's why Orochimaru, posing as Rasa, pulled off the Konoha Destruction Plan so smoothly.
Suna was too poor.
Next door, Konoha was rolling in money—given the chance, of course they took it.
After the plan failed, Suna decisively allied with Konoha to ease survival pressure.
Natsume finished reading Rasa's letter and fell into thought.
If he didn't know Shimura Danzo was in Suna, he might believe the alliance was sincere.
After all, Rasa had been forced into being a gold miner to keep the village afloat.
But with Danzo added in, it felt different.
Still, this was a good opportunity.
Show force and secure Suna as an ally; Natsume's Hokage seat would be much steadier.
"Kurenai, send a reply."
After thinking a moment, he said, "Tell them Konoha agrees to an alliance—details to be discussed."
"Okay."
Kurenai wasn't surprised.
Most prefer peace over war.
Natsume admired her departing silhouette and stretched.
He left the Hokage's office.
With some time before the hour, he didn't go to the gate; instead, he headed to the Mizukage's office.
…
In just over three years, Kirigakure had grown wealthier.
One, Terumi Mei ended Yagura's bloody rule and gradually reconnected with neighboring countries and villages.
Two, five shipping routes opened, bringing plenty of traffic.
Where people go, business follows.
Kirigakure was bustling again.
But healing takes time.
The core problem remained: too few ninjas.
Under the Third and Fourth Mizukage, they'd lost many.
Restoring their former strength within three years was impossible.
"Morning, Lady Mizukage."
Natsume sat on her desk without ceremony.
"It's already noon."
Terumi Mei shot him a glance, unconcerned by his manners.
They'd grown quite close these years.
Only a thin layer of window paper left.
She thought it fine as is.
She was Mizukage; Natsume was head of some organization.
Being together wasn't realistic.
"Why that outfit again?"
Natsume sighed. "It really doesn't show off your beauty."
After three years of tempering, Terumi Mei had grown more mature and seasoned, a qualified Mizukage—close to her original self.
"Hmph. I'm Mizukage, not your subordinate."
Her exquisite face cooled. "What I wear is none of your business."
"What if I help you forge an alliance with Konoha?"
Natsume grinned.
Konoha and Kiri's relationship was poor.
Because of two events in the Third War:
The Seven Ninja Swordsmen's ambush.
And Three-Tails' self-destruction.
Might Duy and Nohara Rin died.
Mei had proposed alliances to the other four villages.
She felt Kiri couldn't take more turmoil.
But Kumo and Konoha refused.
The former simply didn't want to; the latter because of old grudges.
Natsume brought it up now—besides him being Hokage—also because three years had passed.
As long as Kiri paid a price, an alliance wouldn't be out of the question.
"Can you?"
Mei sounded doubtful.
She'd investigated Natsume.
Konoha had no ninja named Takashi, nor ties to the Sunny Sea Shipping Company.
He'd claimed to have connections, but she hadn't fully believed it.
Alliance is different.
It can't happen without the Hokage.
"Of course."
Natsume's eyes traced her pale neck and the graceful rise and fall of her breathing.
Mei noticed his unrestrained gaze but said nothing.
She was used to it by now, and didn't mind this much loss.
She cared more whether his words were true.
Though he was capable, he couldn't command the strongest of the Five Villages.
"Konoha has a new Hokage recently, you know?"
Natsume asked.
"Mm. I heard it's Tsunade's disciple, very young, named Natsume."
Mei nodded, then considered a possibility. "You know him?"
"Don't you have a portrait of the new Hokage?"
Natsume didn't answer, but asked.
"It hasn't arrived yet."
Mei explained, "Konoha is far; and Natsume wasn't very famous before. We didn't pay attention."
"I see."
No wonder she'd been so calm seeing him.
He leaned down, face close, nearly kissing her.
"What… are you doing?"
Mei leaned back by reflex, head tilting aside, heart pounding.
"So you can get a clear look at the new Hokage."
Natsume wouldn't admit he just wanted a little advantage.
But her fluster pleased him.
It showed she had feelings for him.
"What did you say?!"
Mei snapped her head around and stared at him.
Too shocked to mind how close they were.
Natsume could feel her warm breath and faint fragrance.
"I am the Hokage."
"…"
Mei's pupils shrank; her rosy lips parted and forgot to close.
After a long beat, she realized how close they were.
Her face flushed; she turned away. "D-Don't joke."
"You think the Flying Thunder God is something anyone can access?"
Natsume's lips curled. "If you don't believe me, I can take you to the Hokage's office."
Mei froze.
Could it be true?
Too outrageous.
She looked at his overly handsome face, speechless.
"Give me a moment."
She no longer knew how to deal with Natsume.
If he was the Hokage, then over the past three years… had she betrayed Kirigakure?
So the traitor was me?
And the Mizukage, no less.
"What are your terms?"
In the end, Mei couldn't refuse the benefits of an alliance.
And working with Natsume—risk aside—had yielded many gains.
At least it saved Kiri years of development.
If they allied now and stopped fighting Konoha, that was acceptable.
"First, return Ao's Byakugan to the Hyuga."
Natsume raised one finger.
Mm, and win some favor from his future father-in-law.
"Fine."
Mei pondered, then nodded.
Byakugan wasn't as powerful as imagined.
It didn't boost Ao that much.
Returning it to Konoha was okay.
"Second… how about the Mizukage's first kiss?"
Natsume suddenly shifted tone, smiling.
"What are you talking about?!"
Mei blurted, "That's impossible."
"Alright."
He'd only said it to tease her; he hadn't meant to coerce her. "If you don't want to, I'll change the condition."
"Are you toying with me?"
Mei glared, but for some reason, seeing him give up so lightly irritated her.
Am I that unattractive? Not worth a second ask?
Thinking that, she suddenly stood and bit his lips hard.