Natsume sent Uzumaki Naruto home.
Looking at the rather shabby room, he thought of Uchiha Sasuke.
With his help now, Naruto's relationship with Kurama should heat up quickly.
And he'd also obtained the thought-forms of Uzumaki Kushina and Namikaze Minato.
The former knows quite a lot about jinchuriki.
The latter goes without saying—rich combat experience and numerous jutsu.
In other words, Naruto now has two extra "plug-ins" compared to the original story.
By comparison, Uchiha Sasuke is in a tough spot.
If he doesn't find a way, he might never surpass Naruto in his life.
How to put it…
Sasuke is still quite young and has only just awakened a two-tomoe Sharingan.
Under normal circumstances, it's hard to advance quickly; the best path is to learn more jutsu.
Like Lightning Release.
Natsume had just been chatting with Minato and got reminded of something.
Hokage Guard.
The purpose of this position isn't really to protect the Hokage, but to train direct loyalists.
Like the Hokage Guard under the Second Hokage, Senju Tobirama.
All of them were big names:
Hiruzen Sarutobi, Homura Mitokado, Koharu Utatane, Torifu Akimichi, Kagami Uchiha, etc.
By the Fourth Hokage, it was much weaker:
Genma Shiranui, Iwashi Tatami, and Raidō Namiashi.
The reason they were shuffled out of Konoha's power center wasn't just that Minato died early—the main reason was their lack of power.
Their only notable value was that the three of them could jointly perform the Flying Thunder God.
After Tsunade became Hokage, she also chose guards.
Yep—still Genma and the same trio.
Most likely because of the Flying Thunder God and a lack of better candidates.
…
Natsume returned to the Hokage's office.
After making sure no one was inside, he pushed the door open.
With his relationship with Tsunade, there was no need to knock.
"Sis."
Natsume slipped to her side, dove into her arms, and rubbed his cheek against her.
"This is the office."
Tsunade lifted his chin with one hand and kicked him with her bare foot. "Behave."
"And you're lecturing me?"
Natsume glanced at her bare feet—she'd kicked off her high-heeled sandals—and said, "Not a shred of Hokage dignity."
"Hmph, I am the Hokage!"
Tsunade glared at him. "Whatever I do has its reasons. You just listen to me."
"Alright, my Hokage-sama, I have a memorial to present."
Natsume took out a proposal for a Hokage Secretariat and handed it to her.
"What did you write?"
Tsunade opened the file and fell into thought.
Bored, Natsume stood behind her and kneaded her shoulders.
"Elimination ranking and shift rotation are good—they'll trigger a sense of urgency and motivation."
Tsunade lifted her head, exposing her fair neck. "But this compensation system has never existed in Konoha. It's not quite appropriate."
"Why not?"
Looking at that deep cleavage, Natsume asked, "The seven ninja in the Hokage Secretariat are tied up by office work and can't take outside missions. If you don't pay them, why would they stick with the job long-term?"
The ninja system is frankly absurd.
As a ninja, you only get paid through missions.
Everything else is unpaid labor.
No wonder the Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi kept hyping the Will of Fire.
Tsunade blinked. That actually made sense.
She turned back to the documents.
Natsume idly played with her silky blonde hair.
"I'll study this carefully."
After finishing, Tsunade looked genuinely surprised.
Individually, some items weren't impressive, but with Natsume's suggestions and combinations, it formed what looked like a workable management system.
If fully implemented, it would be much more efficient than before.
"I think you're more suited to be Hokage than I am."
Tsunade spoke from the heart.
"Hardly."
Natsume rested his chin on her shoulder. "I just summarized what I learned from Gunma Company."
Feeling his warm breath at her ear, Tsunade turned her head, uncomfortable.
Hearing him mention Gunma Company reminded her that he'd been sharp for a long time.
"Sis."
Natsume suddenly spun the Hokage chair so Tsunade faced him.
"What is it?"
She looked puzzled.
"Your birthday present was a little hasty, so here's a second one."
Natsume knelt on one knee and produced a diamond ring.
There are diamonds in the shinobi world.
In the original story, at Naruto's wedding, a rich lady gifted a blue crystal kunai made of colorful diamonds.
True extravagance.
Tsunade didn't blush like a maiden; she broke into a brilliant smile.
She extended her hand and spread her fingers.
Natsume took her left wrist and slid the ring onto her ring finger.
The diamond wasn't large—mainly for convenient wear.
Under the diamond, he'd engraved a Flying Thunder God mark.
Tsunade didn't yet know he could use FTG, but for safety, he had to set it.
And a diamond ring, well, it has special meaning from his previous life.
Wearing it on the ring finger signifies marriage.
"Thank you."
Tsunade stood and hugged him, leaning into his arms with infatuation. "I really like this gift."
"I also like the gift you gave me."
Natsume held her narrow waist.
"Can't you stop ruining the mood so casually?"
Tsunade balled her fist and thumped Natsume's back.
She didn't use much force; instead, she held him tighter.
The next moment, she shoved Natsume away, angry.
"Thinking nasty thoughts again!"
Tsunade sat back in the Hokage chair, arms crossed, exuding dominance. "If there's nothing else, go home and wait for me!"
Natsume mused that she really was extraordinary.
Pity Tsunade was still traditional and didn't dare do anything in the Hokage office.
"There's one more thing."
Setting aside distractions, Natsume reminded her, "Sis, now that you're Hokage, you should form a Hokage Guard Unit."
"I don't need protection."
Tsunade refused without hesitation. "I'd end up protecting them—too troublesome."
"True, but with a guard unit, you can order them to handle things."
Natsume explained, "And even the ANBU—you need to cultivate direct loyalists."
Tsunade fell into thought.
That was indeed something she'd overlooked.
How to put it…
She'd just ascended to Hokage and wasn't familiar with political infighting.
"Then you be my Hokage guard?"
Tsunade looked up, light-brown eyes full of expectation.
If he were her guard, he could stay by her side anytime—very nice.
Natsume wasn't having it—he was busy.
"Too dull—not my style. I do have picks though: Hatake Kakashi and Might Guy, how about them?"
Might Guy might change the tone drastically, but his strength was undeniable.
Kakashi is fifty-fifty with anyone, while Guy is an all-in one-for-one with anyone.
Even Uchiha Madara almost got caught.
And if Guy became Tsunade's guard, Natsume could justify teaching her the Eight Gates.
Her power would skyrocket.
Yin Seal, Byakugō, bodily activation, bodily regeneration, and Eight Gates.
Just imagining it is thrilling… cough, terrifying.
Natsume thought only his Sage body could withstand that unending onslaught.
"Mm, add Kurenai Yuhi and Shizune too."
All men won't do.
Although Kakashi and Guy aren't into women, just in case, bring in Shizune as an inside line.
Tsunade rubbed her chin, thinking.
Leaving Shizune aside, the other three hadn't served as jonin instructors yet.
Kakashi had been appointed, but had no students.
Thinking it over, they seemed quite suitable.
"Let them try."
Tsunade finally accepted Natsume's suggestion.
"I'll inform them."
At the door, Natsume said, "Sis, I'll be waiting at home."
"Stop spouting nonsense!"
Tsunade's heart fluttered; she rolled her eyes. "Go do it!"
Natsume left the Hokage building.
No need to look for Shizune; she'd agree.
In the original, she wore many hats: apprentice, guard, secretary, and general helper.
Natsume visited Kurenai first.
She agreed readily.
Kurenai came from an illusion-ninja clan, but it wasn't large.
And theoretically, Hokage guards are Hokage material.
Like Hiruzen.
At worst, you join Konoha's mid-to-high leadership.
Left were Might Guy and Hatake Kakashi.
In the original, neither married nor had kids—best buddies for life.
Natsume glanced at the sky; dusk had just set. Guy should be training outside the village.
He headed to the Forest of Death, activated his Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan since no one was around, and quickly found his target.
"Three hundred twenty-one! Three hundred twenty-two! Three hundred twenty-three!"
A voice brimming with power and youth hit Natsume's ears.
There was Might Guy, in a green jumpsuit, running while doing a handstand.
Counting with each step.
"Hey, old man!"
Natsume called out.
"Yo, unfamiliar youth, what's up?"
Guy handstand-jogged toward him.
Quite a bizarre sight.
"The Hokage has an order for you."
Natsume raised a brow.
"What? The Hokage!"
Guy sprang up, did a full 360 in midair, and landed, face alight. "The Hokage is looking for me?"
Because of his father Might Duy's achievements, Hiruzen valued him.
But his personality is a problem for a ninja, so he mostly gets straightforward combat missions.
In reality, infiltration and assassination make up most ninja work.
But who dares assign those to him?
Compared to Kakashi, Guy is relatively idle.
He'd applied to ANBU—Hiruzen refused.
He'd applied to Root—Danzo refused.
Nowhere to vent his hot blood.
So his excitement was normal.
"The Hokage wants you as a Hokage guard—"
Before Natsume finished, Guy burst into tears.
"Boohoo! The Hokage wants me as a guard—I'm so moved! My youth is burning!"
He roared, "Triple the training today! I'm off!"
"…"
Watching Guy's retreating figure, Natsume was speechless.
I wasn't done talking!
He chuckled—no wonder he's Konoha's rare beast.
Guy is actually a great subordinate candidate.
Strong and loyal.
Just a little too hyper.
Natsume could already picture the Hokage building's tone changing completely.
He returned to the village and finally found Kakashi at home.
"Come in."
Kakashi sat on the windowsill, reading Icha Icha.
Natsume suspected the mask was to hide his blush.
"Natsume?"
Kakashi glanced up. "What brings you here?"
"The Hokage wants you as a Hokage guard."
"…"
Kakashi fell silent.
Given his background, Hiruzen, Minato, and now Tsunade had all looked after him.
He just didn't have much motivation.
"I'm already a jonin instructor—afraid I won't have time."
He shook his head—a roundabout refusal.
"You don't have good students yet, do you?"
Natsume made an offer. "If you become a Hokage guard, I'll have you mentor Uchiha Sasuke. How about it?"
Kakashi was tempted.
In today's Konoha, the best student for him would be Sasuke.
Because of the Sharingan.
He'd also worked with Itachi and knew his genius well.
As Itachi's brother, Sasuke wouldn't be far behind.
After a moment's hesitation, Kakashi agreed.
As an instructor, he did want to take on a disciple.
Faced with such a promising seedling, it was hard to refuse.
[Because of your actions, the fates of Might Guy, Kurenai Yuhi, Hatake Kakashi, and Uchiha Sasuke have changed. You gained a total of 37 Fate Points.]
Pretty low.
Not even ten per person.
But fair enough.
Not major changes.
…
By the time Natsume finished, dusk had darkened.
He went home.
Empty.
So he cooked.
Not long after—
Tsunade opened the door, changed shoes, and took off her ceremonial robe.
Not seeing Shizune, she knew she must be working overtime at Konoha Hospital.
She smiled and headed to the kitchen.
Natsume, in the middle of cooking, was enveloped in her soft embrace.
"What's for dinner?"
Free of her Hokage duties, Tsunade became languid.
Leaning on his shoulder, she savored the rare peace.
Natsume turned, wrapped an arm around her waist, and asked, "You… tell me?"
Tsunade didn't follow at first, but her light-brown eyes quickly softened, a blush blooming.
Natsume lifted her onto the counter. "Your cooking's awful—watch closely and learn. If once isn't enough, I'll teach you several times."
"Want to die?"
Tsunade flushed with anger and shame.
She raised her long, stockingless legs and unleashed a fierce, ironclad seven-day combo.
Natsume hissed.
What a wicked woman.
One teasing line and she's this ruthless—doesn't care if he gets hurt.