Naruto: A New Life with Tsunade

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"I'm furious!"

Danzo Shimura's eyes glinted—not with the power of the Sharingan, but with the fire of frustration. His hands clenched behind his back, his mind churning as he surveyed the aftermath of the Uchiha massacre.

This night had been his finest orchestration yet. He had skillfully manipulated Sarutobi Hiruzen's vague orders, adding an "urgent" written test to delay Uchiha Sasuke at the Ninja Academy. He'd discreetly approved leave for the entire Konoha Police Force, ensuring they would return home, where Uchiha Itachi could corner them. His Root agents had tightened the net, erecting barriers to prevent any survivors from escaping.

As the saying went, "No pain, no gain." Yet despite his meticulous planning, Danzo had gained nothing for himself. Not a single Sharingan rested in his possession, leaving him to face an inevitable and humiliating confrontation with Hiruzen.

He scowled, his expression of feigned remorse the perfect mask. It was a look Natsume would have easily seen through—a chef choking down a bitter dish he had no choice but to eat.

Orochimaru, observing Danzo's simmering fury, seemed mildly amused. He stood in the shadows, his golden eyes gleaming with a serpentine amusement that only added insult to injury.

Unlike Danzo, Orochimaru had secured a handful of Sharingan from prior experiments. His prize? Uchiha Nobu—a rare subject whose body accepted all transplanted tissue with no signs of rejection. Nobu's cells had been used to craft the Sharingan-embedded arm Danzo now bore.

"Of course," Orochimaru mused aloud, "not all Sharingan are equal. The Mangekyō Sharingan remains elusive, doesn't it?"

Danzo bristled at the remark but said nothing. Orochimaru continued, his tone almost teasing. "Every attempt to acquire one has failed. Perhaps it's not the eyes... Perhaps it's you." His smirk widened as he turned away, content with his parting jab.

Before Danzo could retort, a Root operative appeared, kneeling before him. "Lord Danzo," the masked shinobi reported, "approximately three hundred Uchiha are unaccounted for."

Danzo stiffened, his cold composure cracking. "What did you say?!" His voice rose slightly. "Where are they now?"

"Unknown, sir. We believe they may be at the Naka Shrine."

Danzo's mind raced. Three hundred missing Uchiha? Among them, there had to be Sharingan users, perhaps even those with three-tomoe eyes. The potential filled him with a grim excitement.

Orochimaru smirked from the shadows. "If someone had the power to take three hundred Uchiha without a trace," he drawled, "do you think they'd leave anything for you?"

Danzo glared at him but bit back his response. Orochimaru shrugged, stepping into the darkness. "Handle the remaining tasks yourself," he said, his tone dismissive. "I have no intention of dealing with Hiruzen's inevitable tirade. Remember our agreement."

Danzo watched him disappear, clenching his fists. If not for the value of Orochimaru's research, he would have eliminated the snake long ago.

Another operative appeared, his tone urgent. "Lord Hokage is en route. He will arrive momentarily."

Danzo's expression darkened, but he quickly masked his apprehension. "Leave half the Root here to secure the Uchiha district. The rest will accompany me to Naka Shrine." He paused, then added, "I'll join you shortly."

The operatives vanished just as Hiruzen arrived, his voice cutting through the night. "Danzo!" The Third Hokage's tone was sharp, laced with fury. "What have you done?"

---

Hiruzen Sarutobi stormed into the devastated Uchiha district, his sandals splashing through pools of blood. The sight of fallen clansmen scattered across the ground left a sour taste in his mouth. He turned to Danzo, his face a mask of outrage.

"I told you to wait for my order! Why did you act on your own?"

Danzo straightened, his tone calm yet unyielding. "Hiruzen, hesitation would have cost Konoha dearly. The Uchiha were on the brink of rebellion. I acted swiftly to prevent disaster."

"Prevent disaster?" Hiruzen's voice rose. "Look around you! This isn't prevention—it's slaughter!"

"No Konoha shinobi were harmed," Danzo countered, his tone sharp. "A rebellion would have cost far more lives."

Hiruzen pointed to the bodies, his voice heavy with disgust. "You claim this was for Konoha, but where are the eyes? Where are the Sharingan?"

Danzo's jaw tightened. "They were taken," he said flatly. "By a mysterious figure."

"A mysterious figure?" Hiruzen's disbelief was palpable. "How many times will you invoke 'mysteries' to cover your actions, Danzo?"

Danzo scowled, his frustration evident. "This is no fabrication, Hiruzen. The evidence speaks for itself."

"And Itachi?" Hiruzen's tone softened, though his anger remained. "Where is he?"

"He's fled," Danzo said coldly. "After... slaughtering his own clan."

Hiruzen's breath hitched. Itachi? The boy he had groomed, the prodigy of the Uchiha? His mind struggled to process the news. Perhaps Itachi had believed this was his only option—a grim and tragic choice to protect the village.

Hiruzen sighed, his shoulders sagging under the weight of failure. Danzo seized the opportunity. "In the Uchiha records, I discovered troubling plans," he began. "They intended to abduct Sarutobi Seinosuke. He's likely at the Naka Shrine."

"What?!" Hiruzen's head snapped up, his expression hardening. "How dare they!"

Danzo concealed a smirk, knowing he had successfully baited Hiruzen. "We'll uncover the truth," he said smoothly. "If Seinosuke possesses Wood Release, it explains their interest."

Reluctantly, Hiruzen nodded. Together, they set off toward the shrine, leaving behind the ruins of the Uchiha clan.

---

The Naka Shrine

For centuries, this hidden place has been the sacred gathering ground of the Uchiha clan. Though Konoha's higher-ups had long known of its existence, they had never been privy to its exact location.

It wasn't until Uchiha Shisui and Uchiha Itachi sought refuge here that they finally pieced it together. The clan had fallen entirely under their silent control. But there's one thing even they don't know.

Beneath Naka Shrine lies an ancient stone tablet, inscribed by the Sage of Six Paths himself. Its secrets are revealed only in stages—to those who wield the Sharingan, Mangekyo Sharingan, and, ultimately, the Rinnegan.

When Danzo ordered Root operatives to investigate, Sarutobi Hiruzen and he arrived only once the search was complete.

"Danzo-sama. Hokage-sama."

The Root agents saluted sharply. Hiruzen's brow furrowed at their audacity—their address placed Danzo's title before his. They have grown bold. Too bold.

Scanning the area, Hiruzen's eyes landed on a body beneath a white cloth. His heart sank.

"Who is that?" he asked, his voice steady despite his unease.

The Root agent replied with chilling bluntness. "Sarutobi Seinosuke."

Hiruzen froze, his eyes widening as his face paled. "What… what did you say?"

"It's your son. Sarutobi Seinosuke."

"Impossible…" The words fell from Hiruzen's lips like a reflex, his trembling hand reaching for the cloth. He pulled it back to reveal his eldest son's lifeless face.

"No…"

In that moment, the Third Hokage seemed to age ten years. Seinosuke, his eldest, had walked beside him, followed his teachings, and risen to become an ANBU captain. Now, he was gone.

Danzo observed the scene with practiced indifference. Family ties, in his eyes, were a weakness he had never allowed himself.

"What about the others?" Danzo asked, his voice cutting through the heavy silence.

"Only him, sir," the Root agent replied coldly. "We searched the entire area. There was no one else—just Sarutobi Seinosuke."

"What?" Danzo's cane struck the ground, his irritation breaking through his usual composure. "In a place so vast, there's no one else?"

"No, sir."

Danzo's frustration grew. Without securing the Sharingan, his plans had gained no new advantage. His thoughts turned to the Hokage's seat—his long-sought prize. He glanced at Hiruzen, his eyes narrowing. It's your turn to regret, Hiruzen.

---

The Land of Waves

In the daimyo's mansion, Uzumaki Ena worked tirelessly to arrange quarters for over three hundred refugees—civilians and a handful of ninjas. After the Uchiha clan's fall, their numbers had dwindled, with many lost during Uchiha Itachi's massacre.

Now, only thirty-two Uchiha ninja remained: Shisui, Mikoto, Izumi, and five jounin among them. Ena's organization had suddenly grown stronger, allowing her a brief moment of relief for Natsume's safety.

Notifications rang in Natsume's mind, signaling his impact on the timeline.

Due to your actions, the fates of Uchiha Izumi, Uchiha Mikoto, Uchiha Shisui, Uchiha Itachi, Shimura Danzo, Sarutobi Hiruzen, and others have been altered. You have gained 370 destiny points.

Natsume allowed himself a small smile of accomplishment but knew this was only the beginning.

Danzo won't stop here, he thought grimly. If he pushes further, I'll be ready.

---

Aunt Mikoto

Natsume knocked softly on the door. When no response came, he entered quietly, finding Uchiha Mikoto sitting on the floor. Her once-bright eyes were blank, devoid of life.

The memory of Uchiha Itachi striking down Fugaku had shattered her spirit. Unlike in the original events, Mikoto had survived, but only because of Natsume's intervention.

"Aunt Mikoto," Natsume said gently.

Her dull eyes flickered, landing on him. She didn't react, her expression numb.

"Please, let me go," she murmured, her voice hollow.

Natsume had restrained her earlier, knowing she might otherwise end her life. Her despair was palpable, and he could only imagine her pain.

He knelt beside her, brushing her disheveled hair aside. Her once-delicate features were pale, her kimono torn from the earlier struggle.

"Aunt Mikoto," he repeated softly, his tone steady.

"Where… where is Sasuke?" she asked suddenly, her voice trembling.

Natsume's heart ached. She believed her youngest son had perished.

"He's safe," Natsume assured her gently.

Mikoto's face crumbled as tears streamed down her cheeks. She buried her face in Natsume's chest, her grief spilling out in uncontrollable sobs.

Natsume held her silently, letting her cry. When her tears finally subsided, she looked up, her voice hoarse.

"Let me see him," she whispered.

Natsume hesitated. "Aunt Mikoto… you need to wait. Konoha is under martial law. If you appear now, it could affect Sasuke's growth."

Her brows furrowed in confusion. "What do you mean?"

"For the Uchiha, gaining power often requires emotional trials," Natsume explained. "If Sasuke knows you're alive, his resolve may weaken. For him to grow, he needs to face this pain."

Mikoto's heart wrenched. She didn't want Sasuke to suffer, but she understood the weight of Natsume's words. To protect her son, she had to let him walk this path alone.

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