Konoha: From the moment I was adopted by Tsunade

Chapter 237 Petting the Cat and Red's Kiss

The Hokage's office.

Natsume finished dealing with the matters of Konoha Village in no time.

He was bored and decided to pet the cat.

The Flying Thunder God Technique is activated.

Daimyofu, the capital of the Land of Waves.

The black cat that Natsume had recently adopted was sleeping on the sofa.

He raised an eyebrow.

The black cat's eyes were unfocused and lifeless.

Clearly, she is currently chatting with Matatabi in the sealed space.

Although Natsume allowed her to be free, it was impossible for her to escape the Daimyo's mansion after losing her chakra.

Even if they escape, how can they leave the Land of Waves and return to Kumogakure?

Natsume stepped forward and stroked the black cat's head.

She suddenly woke up, her face full of vigilance. Upon seeing her owner, she could only retract her claws and obediently meow.

Her face, whether from anger or shyness, gradually turned crimson.

Natsume held her in his arms.

The black cat struggled a couple of times, a little uneasy, but ultimately succumbed to the superior cat-petting skills.

She bit her little pink tongue tightly, her whole body completely limp.

"It's lunchtime, time for lunch."

Natsume patted the black cat's head.

She understood and jumped into his arms.

"Let's eat fish."

Natsume got up, walked to the kitchen door, and called to the cat.

She immediately jogged over and rubbed her head against his leg.

Although his eyes already revealed a murderous intent.

Natsume opens the refrigerator.

It contains various ingredients prepared by Ena Uzumaki.

It includes fish.

Natsume thought for a moment and decided to make a spicy fish dish.

Because the fish in the refrigerator is a blackfish.

Half an hour later, the spicy fish was freshly cooked.

Natsume carried the dishes away from the kitchen.

The black cat followed him.

After placing the dishes on the table, Natsume picked up a piece and said, "Try it."

The black cat raised her head, a hint of worry on her face, but at her master's command, she opened her mouth and swallowed the fish.

Her dark pupils narrowed slightly.

It's so delicious!

The black cat subconsciously licked its lips.

This was the first time she had ever tasted something so delicious.

If she were in a different place, she really wanted to enjoy herself.

"Come and eat with yourselves."

Natsume glanced at her and said.

After that, I ignored her.

Lunch is finished.

Natsume patted the black cat's belly and found that she was quite full.

She was so ashamed that she showed an expression of deep embarrassment.

After all, she really couldn't resist.

Natsume, holding the cat's leash, accompanied her for a few laps around the lobby, a sort of digestive exercise.

Goodbye, little kitty.

He ignored the extremely agitated black cat and turned to leave.

You have to keep the excitement going with this kind of feisty cat; don't rush things.

Natsume turned around and went to Uzumaki Ena's room.

Just in time for a nap.

Two hours later, he returned to the Hokage Building.

The afternoon passed by leisurely.

At five o'clock, there was a knock on the door.

"Natsume, are you done with your work?"

Kurenai walked in with a smile on her face and asked.

"Um."

Natsume stood up and said, "I'm really looking forward to Kurenai-neechan's cooking."

"Why do you assume it was me who cooked?"

Kurenai walked ahead of him, asking questions as she went.

"Because Sister Hong is definitely the kind of virtuous wife and loving mother, cooking is undoubtedly a basic skill for her."

Natsume said casually.

"I accept the Hokage's praise."

Kurenai opened the door, her red lips slightly pursed, and even her tone became a little lighter.

She clearly appreciated the compliment about being a virtuous wife and loving mother.

"So, it really was Sister Hong who cooked?"

Natsume and she walked side by side to the entrance of the Hokage Building.

"Yes."

Kurenai Yuhi stopped and said, "I need to go buy groceries now, so I'd like to trouble you for a small favor, Hokage-sama."

"no problem."

Natsume clenched his fist and said, "Putting everything else aside, I still have strength."

Kurenai glanced at his completely muscleless arms, and couldn't help but raise the corners of her mouth slightly.

He really does fit her image of a beautiful young man.

It's a completely different feeling from a muscular man.

It took about half an hour for Xi Ri Hong to buy a bunch of groceries and take them home.

Natsume felt that it would be enough for ten people.

Kurenai Yuhi opened the door and said with a smile, "Welcome, Hokage-sama."

"Sister Hong, you're too kind."

Natsume could only shake his head because he was carrying vegetables in both hands.

As soon as Yuhi Kurenai entered the room, she took off her high heels.

Natsume could clearly see her jade-like feet and calves wrapped in black stockings.

"Come in."

With her feet firmly planted on the floor, Xi Ri Hongyu took the groceries he was carrying from both hands.

Natsume took off his shoes, closed the door behind him, and then walked into the hall.

"Sister Hong, where is your mother?"

He looked around but didn't see anyone else.

"My mother went to a friend's house for dinner."

Kurenai's face flushed slightly as she quickly passed by Natsume and entered the kitchen.

Only a faint fragrance remained.

Natsume thought to himself that this reason was far too absurd.

The Hokage is visiting, and you're going to your friend's house?

However, he did not reveal Kurenai's intentions.

He sat down on the sofa.

A moment later, Kurenai reappeared and asked, "Natsume, what would you like to drink? How about black tea?"

Natsume nodded and said, "I'll go with whatever the host says. I don't have any requests."

Kurenai walked to the coffee table, knelt down, took out the black tea, and began to brew it.

Natsume looked down at the snow-white scenery.

Do you wear this outfit at home too?

"no."

Kurenai looked up and said instinctively.

After she finished speaking, a slight blush appeared on her face.

Because she dresses quite casually at home.

"I'll wear this in front of the Hokage."

Kurenai noticed his puzzled look and explained, "Other clothes would be a bit inappropriate."

"What are you saying?"

Natsume shook his head and said, "With Kurenai's beauty, she wouldn't look out of place in anything she wears."

"I……"

Kurenai seemed about to speak but then stopped herself.

"Or does Sister Hong just see me as an outsider?"

Natsume raised an eyebrow and asked with a smile.

"No!"

Kurenai quickly waved her hand and said, "I've always considered Natsume as my younger brother."

After she finished speaking, she realized she had fallen into a trap.

"Have some tea."

Kurenai bit her lip, placed the teacup in front of Natsume, and said, "I'm going to change my clothes."

She turned and went into the room, leaning against the wall, her face flushed.

"Why do I feel like I'm being manipulated by a little kid?"

Kurenai patted her face with both hands and said, "We can't let this go on."

She opened the wardrobe and took out the clothes she usually wore at home.

A rather loose-fitting kimono-style nightgown.

In terms of sexiness, it can't compare to a bodycon skirt.

However, it's just too casual.

After all, this was the only outfit she wore on ordinary days.

But with Natsume around, she still didn't take off her underwear.

Kurenai left the room.

Natsume looked up and smiled, "You're so cute, completely different from your professional demeanor at work."

"Thanks."

Kurenai turned and walked into the room with satisfaction.

Natsume sipped his black tea, waiting for the food to be served.

It's actually a bit boring.

After waiting for a while, he got up and went to the kitchen.

"Is there anything I can help you with?"

Natsume stood at the door and asked.

"Need not."

Wearing an apron, Kurenai Yuhi didn't turn her head and said, "Leave it to me."

"What? Are you afraid I'll make things worse?"

Natsume looked at her and said, "My cooking skills are excellent, you know."

"Can you cook?"

Kurenai stopped what she was doing and asked.

"certainly."

Natsume stepped forward, picked up a fish casually, and said, "Take a look."

He held the fish's tail down with one hand and quickly pulled it across with the other, holding a knife.

A moment later, thin slices of fish were cut out.

The red sunset glowed slightly in her eyes.

Natsume's movements were very practiced.

This is definitely not something that can be learned in a short time; it requires long-term accumulation.

In an instant, Kurenai's opinion of Natsume rose even higher.

In the ninja world, such ninjas are extremely rare.

He is the best candidate for husband.

"How is it?"

Natsume asked with a hint of smugness.

"I underestimated you."

Seeing his boastful expression, Kurenai couldn't help but smile.

He's still just a kid at heart.

"Then you can chop the vegetables."

Kurenai thought for a moment and then said.

She actually quite likes the feeling of the two of them working together.

It reminded her of the time when she used to watch her father cook in the kitchen.

How I miss those days!

Natsume's help tonight made her feel at home again.

Dinner was served.

Two people, four dishes.

"We definitely can't finish it all."

Natsume glanced at it and said, "If I had known Auntie was out, I wouldn't have bought so much."

"It's okay. We can just eat it again tomorrow."

Kurenai handed him a pair of chopsticks and said, "Try my cooking."

"Um."

Natsume picked up a piece of fried fish, took a bite, and said, "It tastes good."

"That's good."

Kurenai breathed a sigh of relief and said, "Eat more, make sure you're full, you're still growing."

Natsume couldn't refute it even if he wanted to.

He nodded and didn't continue the conversation.

The meal is over.

Kurenai was clearing away the dishes.

Natsume wanted to help but was refused, so he could only let her do it.

Bored, he closed his eyes and began to observe his immortal body.

With Kaguya Otsutsuki's help, his physique was enhanced.

The most obvious thing is the extra pure chakra in his body.

That is, the chakra of the Otsutsuki clan.

It is clearly of a different quality from his original chakra.

It's like cars, one is a big car and the other is a small car.

Can't be compared.

If given enough time, Natsume's original chakra will be completely replaced, and eventually his Sage Body will evolve again.

Speaking of this, he suddenly thought of Hinata Hyuga.

It seems that what she lacks is the chakra of the Otsutsuki clan.

Kaguya Otsutsuki most likely won't give it to her, but she can have it herself.

I just don't know if she can handle it given her age and physical condition.

Perhaps we should go to the moon someday and take down Otsutsuki Toneri.

After washing the dishes and cleaning the kitchen, Kurenai washed her hands and went to the living room.

She was slightly taken aback.

Because Natsume was leaning against the sofa with his eyes closed, he seemed to be sleeping.

"Are you too tired?"

Kurenai Yuhi recalled that Natsume had also fallen asleep from exhaustion in the Hokage's office the last time.

She even massaged him for a while.

I never expected to fall asleep on my own sofa again today.

However, this also shows Natsume's trust in her.

Kurenai looked at his inhumanly handsome face and was suddenly moved.

She gritted her teeth, lifted her hair, and gently kissed him.

She then quickly stepped back, looking at him with a guilty conscience.

But Natsume did not wake up.

Kurenai's panic gradually subsided.

Thank goodness it wasn't discovered... or so I thought.

With Natsume's abilities, it would be difficult for him not to notice.

But he didn't expose it.

He was curious whether Kurenai Yuhi would continue to do something.

Unfortunately not.

Kurenai Yuhi is, after all, a traditional female ninja.

Natsume stopped pretending.

He opened his eyes and asked, "When did Sister Hong arrive?"

"I just finished washing the dishes."

Kurenai Yuhi gave a faint smile, no different from usual.

"oh."

Seeing this, Natsume said, "If there's nothing else, I'll go back now, so as not to worry you, teacher."

Kurenai opened her mouth, but didn't know what to say.

Should we let him stay overnight?

She can't do that yet.

They could only watch helplessly as Natsume left.

Two more days passed.

Natsume took some time to visit the black market, or rather, the money exchange, in the metropolis of the Land of Fire.

Just as he was wondering how to find the Akatsuki organization, a young ninja stepped forward.

Wearing the Amegakure headband, he carefully examined Natsume's mask and asked, "Are you Lord Takashi?"

Natsume nodded and said, "Yes, that's me."

"I am sent by the angel to pick you up."

The young ninja said respectfully, "Please follow me."

The angel refers to Konan.

That's what the ninjas of Amegakure call her.

Natsume followed him and left the metropolis.

"teacher."

Three figures landed in front of the young ninja.

Natsume raised an eyebrow.

They were three girls, quite young, with undisguised childishness on their faces.

He felt like he was a year or two younger than Naruto Uzumaki.

However, they were all wearing Amegakure headbands, so they should already be genin.

"These are my three students."

The young ninja introduced, "Hydrangeas, water lilies, and hibiscus."

Natsume narrowed his eyes slightly, as if he remembered who these three people were.

In the original work, he participated in the Chunin Exams.

But it wasn't the year Naruto Uzumaki participated in; it was the second year, which he didn't attend.

It is an original work of anime.

Water lilies and hibiscus, not much of a plot.

Hydrangeas, on the other hand, have a bit of a role to play.

Even though it was her corpse.

Because she was made into the Animal Path, one of the Six Paths of Pain, after her death, she is jokingly referred to by many netizens as the Loli Path.

Besides that, Natsume remembers that she has a summoned animal, a panda.

Hydrangea.

The young ninja ordered, "Summon your summoning beast."

"Yes."

Ziyanghua bit her thumb and summoned four spirit beasts.

They were all tigers.

"Sir, please."

The young ninja raised his hand and said, "Riding a summoning beast will be much faster."

Natsume did not refuse and climbed onto the tiger.

They sped along the road.

They eventually left the Land of Fire and entered the Land of Rain.

Instead of going to Amegakure, they arrived at an unnamed canyon.

"Lord Takashi, please come in."

The young ninja stopped and said, "The angel is waiting for you inside."

Natsume twitched the corner of his mouth.

Does your angel live in a cave?

She's not a snake spirit.

But it's understandable that Konan wouldn't let him go to Amegakure.

Natsume entered the cave.

After passing through a somewhat dimly lit passage, the space suddenly opened up, revealing a very spacious interior.

Because there is a huge thing inside.

The Demonic Statue of Heretics.

That is, the body of the Ten-Tails.

This was the first time Natsume had seen it with his own eyes.

The past life doesn't count, since that was seen through a screen.

Only now, standing before it, can one truly appreciate its immense size.

Even a portion of it is enough to be awe-inspiring.

The only downside is that it's too ugly.

However, since the main body is a tree, it's understandable.

A piece of paper flew in from a distance.

It materialized into the form of Konan in front of Natsume.

She didn't explain the purpose of the demonic statue, but simply told him to come with her.

On the other side of the main hall in the cave, Natsume met Nagato, or more accurately, Pain.

Made from Yahiko's corpse.

He has short orange hair and nail-shaped chakra receivers on his face.

He is the strongest among the Six Paths, and can use the classic Rinnegan abilities of Shinra Tensei, Bansho Ten'in, and Chibaku Tensei.

Our organization is called Xiao (晓).

Konan introduced him calmly, "This is our leader, Pain."

"Hello, Chief."

Natsume greeted him with a smile.

Pain didn't react much, only nodding, not even bothering to say a word.

"This is your ring."

Xiao Nan tossed out a ring and said, "This represents your identity and code name, Three Platforms."

Santai was Hidan's code name before, but he died, so it was inherited by Natsume.

"And there's this ninjutsu, the Illusionary Body Technique."

Xiao Nan tossed out another scroll and said, "From now on, the leader will transmit missions to you through the ring."

"OK."

Natsume put away the scroll and ring, not wearing them on his hand.

"The Akatsuki always carries out missions in pairs, and your teammate is Kakuzu."

Xiao Nan didn't seem to mind and continued, "What do you think?"

"Not bad, that's pretty impressive."

Natsume nodded and asked, "So, what kind of mission do I have now?"

"make money."

Xiao Nan blinked her expressionless eyes and asked, "The Akatsuki's main task right now is to make money. You're the head of the Wanli Yangguang Chamber of Commerce, do you have any ideas?"

The true intentions have finally been revealed.

Natsume smiled and said, "For ordinary commissioned tasks, the reward is not high, unless it's like Kirigakure, where everyone participates, but the Land of Water doesn't need that many people right now."

"Is there no other way?"

Xiao Nan frowned and asked.

"It's not that there aren't any."

After a moment's thought, Natsume said, "The Wanli Sunshine Trading Company provides loan services, but collateral is required."

"How many can there be?"

Xiao Nan's heart skipped a beat, and she asked.

"At most one billion."

Natsume casually mentioned a number, then added, "If you want to borrow again, you'll need to provide even more trustworthy proof."

Xiao Nan's eyes lit up immediately.

The highest black market bounties nowadays start at ten million taels of silver, and for the Five Great Shadows, the maximum is two or three hundred million taels.

One billion is undoubtedly an astronomical figure.

And you can borrow even more.

"If the Akatsuki organization wants to borrow it, I can act as an intermediary."

Natsume continued.

Konan subconsciously looked at Pain.

After a moment of contemplation, Nagato, who was controlling things from behind, nodded.

In two years, their plan will be put into practice.

At that point, we'll be at odds with the whole world.

The money, of course, doesn't need to be repaid.

Of course, Nagato believed he had principles.

The money can be returned.

But we'll have to wait until we've completely conquered the ninja world.