Naruto: A New Life with Tsunade

---

After Uchiha Shisui regained consciousness, he attempted to take his own life.

It wasn't because he doubted the Will of Fire, but because he feared becoming a tool used to harm Konoha.

Natsume, however, was adept at handling those deeply loyal to Konoha's ideals.

He posed two sharp questions that pierced Shisui's convictions:

"Do you believe in the Will of Fire as espoused by Hiruzen Sarutobi, or the Will of Fire as a guiding principle for Konoha itself?"

"And if you follow Hiruzen's interpretation, are you certain it's the correct path? Don't you want to uncover the truth for yourself?"

Shisui froze, his resolve shaken.

Why had Konoha's top officials—Danzo Shimura and Orochimaru—targeted him? What had gone so wrong?

Shisui didn't want to believe the Will of Fire was flawed. But Natsume introduced another possibility: it wasn't the Will of Fire that had failed—it was Sarutobi Hiruzen himself.

The suggestion planted a seed of doubt. The truth wasn't difficult to discern: Hiruzen had made several questionable decisions over the years, many of which served to consolidate his power under the guise of the Will of Fire.

Shisui, who had once trusted Hiruzen implicitly, now saw him in a new light.

That didn't mean Shisui immediately trusted Natsume, though.

With Shisui alive, he couldn't help but focus on the looming crisis: the escalating tension between Konoha and the Uchiha clan.

"How are your eyes?" Natsume asked, studying Shisui carefully.

The reason Natsume had saved Shisui was to test the Mangekyō Sharingan Shisui had obtained. If Shisui was sensible, he could become a valuable ally. If not, there was only so much Natsume was willing to do.

"I've adjusted to them," Shisui replied evenly. "Perhaps, as you said, these are the eyes of my ancestors."

The Mangekyō Sharingan he now bore had been transplanted from Danzo Shimura. If they truly belonged to Uchiha Kagami, Shisui realized, the history of his clan—and Konoha—was far more tangled than he'd ever imagined.

Of the seven guards who had protected the Second Hokage, Senju Tobirama, only Uchiha Kagami had died under suspicious circumstances.

Tobirama himself might not have betrayed Kagami, but others clearly had.

Konoha had long since betrayed the ideals of the Will of Fire.

"What's the current situation with the Uchiha clan?" Shisui asked, his mind turning to the inevitable conflict.

"It's bad," Natsume replied bluntly. "The radicals are preparing to rebel. It's only a matter of time."

Three years at most, Natsume estimated.

"I want to be there when it happens," Shisui said, his voice resolute. "Even if the Uchiha rebel, they won't stand a chance against the entire village. But I want to ensure some of them survive."

Shisui was disillusioned with Konoha's leadership, but he refused to let his clan be wiped out.

Natsume smiled inwardly. This was precisely what he'd hoped for. If the radicals rebelled, they would sow chaos, but not all of them needed to perish.

In the original timeline, Uchiha Itachi had slaughtered everyone—men, women, and children alike. But now, there was a chance to save some of the Uchiha.

Natsume had already decided where the survivors would go. They could become an integral part of his future plans.

"No problem," Natsume replied with a small smile. "You'll get your chance."

Shisui had no idea how different this rebellion would be from what he imagined. Soon enough, he'd witness Uchiha Itachi, the person he trusted most, carry out the massacre.

"Thank you," Shisui said, surprised by Natsume's apparent willingness to help.

Natsume left the room, his thoughts elsewhere. Shisui's Mangekyō Sharingan, powerful as it was, had one fatal flaw: it was tied to Kotoamatsukami. Manipulating others with the technique no longer aligned with Natsume's plans, and using it on the likes of Hiruzen or Danzo seemed wasteful.

Instead, Natsume's thoughts drifted to new targets—like Konan of the Akatsuki. A skilled shinobi, her loyalty to Nagato and Yahiko's ideals was unwavering. Controlling her would be a challenge, as Nagato's Rinnegan might detect any subtle manipulation. Careful planning would be necessary.

Before Natsume could enact these plans, he needed to complete a mission.

At the mission hall, he collected an assignment from Gunma Company: escorting a client to a port in the southeast of the Land of Fire. Conveniently, this port also provided passage to the Land of Water.

Kirigakure was still under the oppressive "Bloody Mist" regime of Yagura, the Fourth Mizukage. Entering the village undetected would require meticulous planning.

Before departing, Natsume stopped by Tanshu Street to bid farewell to Uzumaki Ena.

"You're leaving?" Ena asked, her expression calm.

"I'll be back," Natsume replied.

"By then, my Yin Seal will be complete," she said with a faint smile.

Her rapid progress irritated Natsume.

"You'd better have it perfected when I return," he said before leaving.

His first destination wasn't the Land of Water, but the Land of Waves.

In the original timeline, this was where Team 7 had encountered Momochi Zabuza and Haku during their mission to escort Tazuna, the bridge-builder.

Natsume's target, however, wasn't Zabuza. It was Gato, the corrupt businessman who had hired him. Rich, influential, and powerless, Gato was the perfect mark.

In this altered timeline, Natsume intended to control the situation early. The Land of Waves, free of Gato's tyranny, could serve as a refuge for the surviving Uchiha—a place to rebuild and, in time, repay their debt to him.

Manpower and loyalty were essential to Natsume's ambitions. The Uchiha, once saved, would owe him a debt they couldn't refuse to repay.

---

The Land of Waves was a small island nation, surrounded by the sea and situated near the Land of Fire, the Land of Hot Water, and the Land of Water. Maritime trade was its lifeblood, with the sea providing both sustenance and passage.

However, peace had been shattered by Gato, the tyrannical head of a shipping company. Using his vast financial resources and a gang of hired thugs, he seized control of all maritime trade routes, ruling the Land of Waves from the shadows.

Unaware of these developments, Natsume had sent his operatives from the Gunma Company ahead to gather intelligence.

---

As Natsume's ship docked at the shores of the Land of Waves, he scanned the dreary coastline. The air was heavy with despair, the people's poverty evident in their ragged clothing and hollow expressions. Gato's oppressive regime had already left deep scars.

Waiting for him at the largest town was Mihashi Nobu, a capable but inexperienced ninja who led Natsume's local operatives. Though a genin, Mihashi was well-suited to the task at hand.

"Natsume-sama," Mihashi greeted, bowing respectfully. "We've pinpointed Gato's base of operations."

"What about his guards? Any sign of the rogue ninja I mentioned—Momochi Zabuza?" Natsume asked, his sharp tone underscoring the importance of the answer.

Mihashi shook his head. "No sign of him yet. Gato's security consists mostly of mercenaries and a few second-rate ninja. He seems confident, probably because the Land of Waves doesn't have its own hidden village."

Natsume smirked. "Good. That makes things simpler. Let's move."

Mihashi led him to a sprawling mansion on the outskirts of town. Flanked by bodyguards, the fortress-like estate was unmistakably Gato's stronghold.

"You all wait here," Natsume ordered, donning a sleek cat-shaped ANBU mask. With a flicker of movement, he vanished, reappearing at the front gates.

"Who goes there?!" a guard barked, half-drawing his sword.

Before the man could act, two shuriken whizzed through the air, embedding in his throat. The guard dropped silently, his comrade following seconds later.

---

Inside, chaos erupted as guards scrambled to intercept the intruder. Streams of water erupted from ninja among them, while samurai charged with raised blades.

"Water Release: Water Colliding Wave!"

Natsume wove hand signs, summoning a torrent of chakra-infused water. It surged forward, smashing into the guards with devastating force. Blood sprayed as they crumpled to the floor.

From deeper within the mansion, Gato emerged, flanked by two Kirigakure ninja.

"Kill him!" Gato shrieked, his voice cracking with panic.

The first Mist-nin made swift hand signs. "Hidden Mist Jutsu!"

Thick fog spread throughout the room, shrouding the ninja's movements. The second Mist-nin darted forward, his hands forming seals.

"Water Release: Water Fang Bullet!"

A spiraling blade of water formed around his arm as he lunged at Natsume, aiming for a decisive strike.

But Natsume was unfazed. With a flash of lightning, he unsheathed the Sword of the Thunder God, the blade humming with energy. The water blade shattered against it, and with a single stroke, Natsume decapitated his attacker.

The remaining Mist-nin froze as the crimson Sharingan spun in Natsume's eyes, piercing through the thick fog.

"An Uchiha…?!"

Before he could react, Natsume disappeared in a blur of speed. A moment later, the ninja collapsed, a clean strike through his heart.

As the mist cleared, Gato stood trembling, his eyes darting over the bodies littering the room.

"Spare me!" he begged, dropping to his knees. "I-I'll give you anything you want!"

Natsume wiped the blood from his blade, his expression unreadable beneath the mask.

"You'll give me everything anyway," he said coldly. With a glance, his Sharingan spun once more, casting Gato into a deep trance.

---

"Mihashi," Natsume called, as the operative entered the room with his team.

"Yes, sir?"

"You know the Transformation Jutsu, correct?"

"Of course."

"Good. Assume Gato's identity for the time being. Extract every detail about his operations and assets. Once you've secured everything, dispose of him."

"Understood!" Mihashi replied, his voice steady despite the gravity of the task.

"Clean up this mess," Natsume ordered, gesturing to the bodies. "Make it look like nothing happened."

---

Over the next several days, Natsume systematically dismantled Gato's empire. The tyrant's assets were liquidated, amassing over one billion ryo—a staggering fortune.

With his operatives installed as the new leadership of the Land of Waves, Natsume drafted a plan to rebuild the nation:

1. Win over the daimyo of the Land of Waves, publicly execute Gato, and gain the favor of the people.

2. Fund Tazuna's bridge project to break Gato's monopoly but maintain control over its operations.

3. Strengthen trade relations with neighboring nations, fostering economic growth.

4. Establish a shipping company to manage the waterways, securing long-term revenue through tolls and fees.

As Mihashi read over the plan, he couldn't hide his admiration.

"You're building more than a business," he said, glancing at Natsume. "You're building a legacy."

Natsume smirked, satisfied.

---

System Messages

Because of your actions, Momochi Zabuza's fate has changed. You have gained 79 destiny points.

Because of your actions, Haku's fate has changed. You have gained 60 destiny points.

Because of your actions, Gato's fate has changed. You have gained 27 destiny points.

Because of your actions, Tazuna's fate has changed. You have gained 4 destiny points.

Natsume leaned back in his chair, counting the ryo and destiny points he had accumulated.

This was the life.

---