Adopted by Tsunade [193-194]

Chapter 193: Welcome to My World

Isshiki noticed the anger in Kaguya's eyes.

Even though she'd already said it outright, he still found it laughable and jarringly absurd.

Since when would the Otsutsuki clan ever grow fond of humans?

 "Kaguya, you've fallen."

Isshiki raised both hands, his right eye flickering madly.

Dojutsu—Daikokuten!

The storm of fists slowed slightly as they reached him.

Then, behind him, space began to ripple.

Vast amounts of chakra poured into his ocular-space.

But Kaguya now outclassed him in power.

A complete devour was impossible for Isshiki.

In an instant, chakra detonated from his body as the center, flooding and drowning everything around him.

The glacier underfoot shattered at once, spraying shards of ice.

Kaguya remained completely unaffected, her snowy-white eyes fixed on the center of the blast.

Moments later, Isshiki hovered in the air in a sorry state.

Cracks covered his body, though they were constantly knitting back together.

"Damn it."

Isshiki couldn't help but curse under his breath.

He was at a total disadvantage.

A sheer gap in power he could hardly bridge.

Things looked very bad.

Gritting his teeth, Isshiki summoned his black rods again.

He burst forward, launching an attack on Kaguya.

A sea of chakra surged around him, sending out huge ripples as if the very space was trembling.

Kaguya stood her ground without the slightest intent to dodge.

As the black rod closed in, her palms slapped down on Isshiki's wrists.

Her chakra turned to needles, stabbing deep inside.

"Ah!"

Isshiki screamed, a wave of unbearable soreness ripping through his arms.

On reflex, he loosened his grip. The black rod fell and sank into the glacier.

Kaguya did not stop attacking.

Her palms hammered down toward his neck, then she kicked out, striking him square in the face.

Isshiki was hurled away.

The ground split open, rolling up waves dozens of meters high.

"Kaguya!"

Humiliated and enraged, Isshiki rose again, his face so mangled his original features were unrecognizable.

Kaguya frowned slightly.

So ugly.

Nothing like Natsume at all.

She raised both hands, intending to end the fight.

If this dragged on, Natsume might start to worry.

All-Killing Ash Bones!

Two finger bones emerged in her palms and shot forth at blistering speed.

Isshiki's face twisted into a snarl.

He couldn't match her power, nor her technique.

His defeat was already written.

But he refused to accept it.

In his eyes, Kaguya was nothing but a lowborn.

If she hadn't stolen the God Tree's fruit, she would've died a thousand, ten thousand times by now.

Damn it!

Resolve flashed in his eyes.

He didn't dodge. The bones hit him, and his body began to collapse.

"Kaguya! I'm taking you with me!"

His right eye burst in an instant.

All his chakra and ocular power gushed out like a vast sea, filling that space in a heartbeat and spilling outward.

Kaguya's heart jolted. She immediately used Amenominaka to shift into the Starting Sphere Space.

She grabbed Natsume and left at once.

…

Outside, above the Land of Demons—

She suddenly noticed space had been locked.

Two opposing black lids appeared above her head and beneath her feet.

At the same time, Isshiki's chakra and ocular power actually broke through the Amenominaka.

They appeared in the sky, rapidly swelling and solidifying into a soil-like substance.

"What is that?"

"Such a huge sphere!"

"Is that a new version of the Skynet?"

"Form up, quickly!"

The Land of Demons was in an uproar.

Under their astonished gazes, the gigantic black-and-white sphere soared into the sky until it disappeared.

Natsume didn't know how the outside world was reacting.

He was a little troubled.

Kaguya's strength far exceeded his expectations.

Isshiki at seventy percent power had been virtually powerless before her.

That blew up his plan.

He was already considering whether, given his relationship with Kaguya, he could just run off with her.

Fortunately, Isshiki hadn't given up—he detonated at the end!

How delightful.

Natsume was rather moved.

He looked around.

The interior was very empty.

Judging from the black lids earlier, this should be the sealing kettle Isshiki used in the original story.

But it was different.

Clearly stronger.

After all, he'd burned up his chakra and dojutsu power at the end.

"Don't worry."

Kaguya glanced at him and raised her hand.

Yomotsu Hirasaka!

A black portal appeared.

But in the next instant, it fractured.

Kaguya's face remained calm as she clenched her fists.

Eighty Gods Vacuum Attack!

Countless fists landed in an instant.

The entire sphere trembled.

But it still had no effect.

Kaguya's expression stiffened.

She felt the thorniness of the situation.

Amenominaka!

The Rinne Sharingan on her forehead glowed.

The nearby space was immediately torn open.

But in the next moment it rapidly mended.

Locked in a stalemate of destruction and rebirth, Kaguya's chakra drained quickly.

Moments later, her face paled, and her heart sank.

Isshiki's dying seal was tougher than she'd imagined.

Breaking it might take a long time.

Kaguya glanced at Natsume instinctively, a trace of guilt flashing in her eyes.

Whenever she faced trouble, Natsume helped her.

Now it was the other way around—she was powerless.

If she'd known, she wouldn't have agreed to his request; she would have made him stay in the Land of Ancestors.

Natsume saw all her attacks fail.

He couldn't help but marvel at the terrifying will of the world, forcing things back to the starting line.

Kaguya sealed; the history of the ninja world officially begins.

The only difference was that the ones to act weren't Hagoromo and Hamura, but Isshiki.

That might be the only change since Natsume crossed over.

But for him, the situation was just right—perfectly aligned with his plan.

He no longer needed to rack his brain to persuade Kaguya.

"Lady Goddess."

Natsume stepped forward, took her hand, and said, "I have a way out."

"You?"

Kaguya stared at him, disbelief filling her snowy eyes.

If even she couldn't leave, how could Natsume, who was weaker, possibly have a way?

 "Lady Goddess."

Natsume hesitated, then said, "There's something I lied to you about."

Kaguya tilted her head, a bit puzzled.

Mainly because she didn't feel she'd suffered any loss—she hadn't even noticed being lied to.

"See for yourself."

Natsume transmitted a filtered set of information to her via chakra.

Kaguya's expression changed.

Natsume being from the future was surprising but acceptable.

After all, he'd always been unusual.

And she didn't think he'd done anything wrong.

Everyone has secrets.

So did she—such as not telling Natsume that she was the one to be sacrificed, not Isshiki.

What shocked Kaguya was that there was no trace of her in the future.

Either she left the planet, or she was sealed.

The former was unlikely—she still had to plant the God Tree and hadn't considered leaving.

Most likely the latter.

She was undying, so sealing was the only option.

Isn't that exactly what's happening now?

Kaguya instinctively squeezed Natsume's hand. "Sorry," she said.

Huh?

Natsume blinked.

I lied to you, and you're apologizing to me?

How does that make sense?

After a moment's thought, he understood.

There was no Kaguya in the future, yet she existed now.

That meant she would encounter disaster—be sealed.

He'd crossed into the past and kept helping her grow stronger.

In her view, he was clearly trying to change the fate of her being sealed.

But they had failed.

Not only failed—he'd been dragged into it and sealed along with her.

So adorably silly.

Natsume looked at the tight-lipped Kaguya before him and leaned in, gently nipping her lower lip with his teeth, teasing the soft flesh just enough to draw a faint gasp from her.

His hands slid to her waist, pulling her closer until their bodies pressed together, the heat of her skin seeping through their clothes.

Kaguya's arms wrapped around his neck, fingers tangling in his hair as she pulled him in deeper. She returned the favor with fervor, her lips crashing against his in a hungry, open-mouthed kiss.

Their tongues met in a slick, urgent dance—hers sliding against his with bold strokes, exploring the warmth of his mouth while she nipped back at his upper lip.

Natsume's hands roamed lower, gripping her ass firmly, kneading the curves as he deepened the kiss, his tongue thrusting in rhythm with the subtle movements of their bodies, tasting every inch of her desire.

The world around them blurred—the air thick with the wet sounds of their mouths devouring each other, saliva mixing in messy, unapologetic passion.

A long while later—

They separated, both panting, faces flushed and lips glistening with shared saliva. Kaguya suddenly smiled.

With Natsume by her side, even being sealed felt acceptable.

"You don't believe I have a way, do you?"

Natsume pinched her cheek with a smile.

Kaguya didn't mind his touch, but stared at him with doubt.

Clearly, she didn't believe it.

"I crossed over because of the Dragon Vein."

Natsume improvised. "Before I traveled, I left a marker. Now I can use that marker to cross back."

Kaguya blinked, her clear gaze fixed on him.

No matter how she thought about it, it didn't seem reasonable.

A marker still working after a thousand years?

"In any case, we'll know if we try."

Natsume squeezed her hand. "Lady Goddess, would you come back with me?"

Kaguya thought for a moment, then nodded.

She couldn't break the seal now anyway—might as well go to the future with him.

Besides, her goal was to plant the tree.

Where she planted it didn't matter.

As for Hagoromo and Hamura—she was a bit reluctant, but they weren't absolutely necessary.

In her heart, Natsume ranked a little higher.

"Don't worry, Lady Goddess."

Natsume let out a breath. "In the future, we can still carry out the Skynet plan."

In fact, planting the tree would be easier in the future.

By then, the whole world would be ninja—both their number and quality vastly improved.

Even the nine Tailed Beasts would have matured.

In the original, they'd been tiny at birth.

It was Sage of Six Paths—Hagoromo—who found the right places to strengthen them.

The three great sanctuaries as well.

The future Great Toad Sage was in no way inferior to the Sage of Six Paths.

Just… much fatter.

Kaguya would harvest chakra; he would harvest Fate Points.

A perfect match.

With their strength, sweeping the ninja world would be no problem.

But then, they wouldn't be able to gather enough Fate Points.

Natsume still owed the Ring of Fate two thousand points, after all.

Kaguya said nothing, merely squeezed his hand in return.

Natsume understood her meaning and smiled.

Five thousand Fate Points vanished in a flash.

As space twisted, their bodies turned into motes of starlight and left this world completely.

…

Meanwhile, atop the sealing kettle—

A strange pulse flickered.

Moments later, it condensed into a black blob.

It had a nose and eyes, like a puddle.

It looked toward the kettle, as if trying to see through the thick seal at the man and woman inside.

"I'll be back!"

Isshiki's voice rang out.

It leaped and sped toward the Land of Demons.

He was far too weak now.

And his main body had been sealed as well.

To resurrect, he had to undo the seal, but that would free Kaguya too.

So he needed a foolproof plan.

For example, using Hagoromo and Hamura.

…

Land of Ancestors.

When the moon rose that night, Hagoromo's sense of dread peaked.

Could something have happened to Mother and Teacher?

But with their strength, how could that be?

In mounting unease, he waited for the next day.

Still no sign of either of them.

Hagoromo immediately thought of the letter Natsume had left and opened it at once.

Moments later, he collapsed to the floor.

Naturally, Natsume hadn't told him the truth.

He only said he went to deal with Isshiki. If he didn't return, he'd been sealed.

Hagoromo and Hamura were to follow the instructions in the letter.

"I haven't even called you…"

Tears ran from Hagoromo's eyes.

But soon he stood, determination on his face.

He would save his parents!

Even if he couldn't now—

He and Hamura were only two years old; they would grow stronger.

One day, they would break the seal and free their parents.

Even if it meant cooperating with the three great sanctuaries, he would not hesitate.

…

Land of Wind, Rōran Dragon Vein.

Light flashed.

Amid the sweeping yellow sands, two figures appeared.

Kaguya's eyes widened on instinct.

They had actually escaped Isshiki's seal?

Unbelievable.

She looked over the Dragon Vein before them.

So this was the reason for the time travel?

But it was nearly exhausted now.

A bit of a pity.

If there were enough energy, she'd have liked to try traveling back again to fight Isshiki anew.

[Because of your actions, Kaguya's fate has changed. You gain 100 Fate Points.]

[Because of your actions, Isshiki's fate has changed. You gain 99 Fate Points.]

[Because of your actions, Black Zetsu's fate has changed. You gain 99 Fate Points.]

The sudden prompts stunned Natsume.

Ninety-nine?

Isshiki isn't dead?

Then what about Black Zetsu?

Natsume fell into thought.

In the original, Kaguya created Black Zetsu to plot for a thousand years and free her.

Now Natsume had run off with her.

By rights, there should be no Black Zetsu.

But ninety-nine Fate Points meant, like Isshiki, it hadn't died.

So… "Black Zetsu saves Mother" becomes "Black Zetsu saves Father"?

If Kaguya could create Black Zetsu, then Isshiki certainly could too.

Could this be the so-called corrective force of the world?

Natsume came back to himself and noticed Kaguya staring at him. He smiled.

"Lady Goddess, welcome to my world."

Whatever the case, his goal had been achieved.

Kaguya was his.

Ahem.

Not his—his partner.

"Lady Goddess, can you sense Isshiki?"

Natsume pointed at the moon and asked.

"You mean he's not dead?"

Kaguya pondered briefly, then raised her head.

The Rinne Sharingan and Byakugan activated together.

Hm?

An Otsutsuki descendant?

But far too weak.

Kaguya glanced past that and probed deeper into the planet.

Inside, she sensed Isshiki's aura.

Weak, but alive.

If the seal were undone and he obtained sufficient energy, he could return to his peak.

Worse yet, the seal was protecting him.

To kill him, she would have to forcibly break the seal.

That would be enormously costly.

But if she didn't kill him, she couldn't rest easy.

Chapter 194: Three Years of Longing Poured Into Tsunade

(Note: There's no time skip in the current timeline but MC spent three years in the past.)

"Isshiki certainly isn't dead."

Kaguya withdrew her gaze.

"What a troublesome enemy," Natsume sighed. "But you don't need to worry too much. He poses no threat right now."

"If I want to kill him, do you have a way?"

Kaguya's cool gaze fell on him.

It was the trust built over years.

When something seemed impossible, she asked Natsume.

He would give the perfect answer.

"You asking that means, to kill him, we must first break the seal?"

Natsume considered and asked.

Kaguya nodded.

As expected, Natsume understood her best.

She tilted her head slightly, a hint of expectation on her face.

"If Isshiki isn't dead, he definitely left a back-up plan."

Natsume smiled. "Then how about we let him undo the seal himself?"

Kaguya's snowy eyes brightened.

Inside the seal, Isshiki absolutely couldn't recover.

In other words, the moment he unsealed himself would be the moment he died.

And Natsume's guess was highly plausible.

Arrogant or not, Isshiki still had brains.

Without a back-up plan, he'd be sealed forever.

For him, that was worse than death.

"Mm. We'll do as you say."

Kaguya agreed.

She didn't want to waste too much chakra.

Thinking of chakra led her to the God Tree.

"When do we begin the Skynet?"

Kaguya raised her hand, uncertain. "The God Tree feels… off. My connection to it is faint."

"Wait."

Natsume took her hand. "Don't summon the God Tree yet."

The God Tree's husk—the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path—should have already been summoned by Nagato.

But as the true master and wielder of the superior Rinne Sharingan, Kaguya could easily snatch it back.

That would complicate things.

"Why?"

Kaguya was puzzled, then recalled Natsume had spoken with Hagoromo before leaving.

Was this related to the God Tree?

Before she could ask, Natsume admitted it.

"The God Tree—or rather, the Ten Tails—has been split into nine Tailed Beasts. I had Hagoromo do it."

Before, he'd done it to guard against changes to history.

Isshiki's appearance gave him another reason.

"Think about it, Lady Goddess."

Natsume smiled. "Isshiki needs massive energy to revive. Right now, only the God Tree can supply that."

Kaguya blinked.

That made sense.

And he could deduce even that?

She suddenly felt grateful Natsume was on her side.

If he helped Isshiki instead, the outcome would be anyone's guess.

"Therefore, Isshiki's back-up plan will likely unseal him only after the nine Tailed Beasts are gathered."

Natsume continued, "If you summon it now, you'll alert him. So we just wait."

"What about the Skynet?"

Kaguya's obsession with chakra far surpassed Isshiki's.

"We're still building it."

Watching the subtle shifts on her cool face, Natsume couldn't help pinching her again.

Too adorable.

"Even without the God Tree, you'll do."

He brushed her hair back behind her ear.

Kaguya couldn't help a smile.

Right.

After swallowing the God Tree's fruit, she was no worse than the tree itself, and could use her Rinne Sharingan as the server.

The chakra harvested would be returned directly to her.

And the God Tree was only temporarily unavailable.

Once Isshiki was eliminated, she could reclaim it.

"Where to now?"

Kaguya asked coolly.

"The Land of Snow," Natsume said, taking her hand. "I'm in charge there."

He paused and looked her over.

Her horn and Rinne Sharingan were far too conspicuous.

She looked nothing like a normal human.

"Can you hide your horn and eye?"

he asked carefully.

Mainly worried there might be some taboo involved.

"Understood."

Kaguya obediently complied.

Without the horn and Rinne Sharingan, she looked like a member of the Hyuga clan.

Only more regal.

Considering her strength, Natsume figured any White Zetsu would be seized the moment it got close—no need to worry about exposure.

He used Flying Thunder God.

They appeared in the daimyo's residence of the Land of Snow.

Kaguya looked around, her gaze settling on a lamp.

She tilted her head, confused.

No fire, no chakra—how did it shine?

"This is an electric light."

Seeing her expression, Natsume explained, "It runs on electricity."

"What is electricity?"

Kaguya stared at the lamp.

"…"

Natsume drew a slow breath.

I'm a humanities guy…

How do I explain this?

Luckily, Koyuki Kazahana saved him.

"Na—"

Her smile froze as she instinctively looked at Kaguya.

She was stunned by Kaguya's overwhelming looks and aura.

A complicated look crossed Koyuki's face.

No wonder Natsume had shown no interest in her these past years.

He already had such an exceptional woman.

Kaguya didn't look at Koyuki. Humans, aside from Natsume, didn't interest her at all.

In her view, this electric light was far more interesting.

Feeling Kaguya's indifference, Koyuki bit her lip.

A little angry.

But helpless.

She really couldn't compare to Kaguya.

Natsume noticed Koyuki's odd reaction and could guess what she was thinking.

She wasn't subtle, after all.

To be fair, Koyuki was quite pretty.

But Natsume's attitude toward her was casual.

No deep feelings—though if she insisted, he wouldn't refuse.

Ahem.

Natsume asked, "Koyuki, did you receive the news about the Sand and Leaf alliance? How long has it been?"

He wanted to confirm whether the three years he spent in the past were frozen here or had progressed in sync.

Koyuki came back to herself. "It was yesterday."

So time didn't move.

Natsume let out a breath.

If it had moved in sync, he'd have been missing for three years.

Unthinkable.

Tsunade and the others would have worried themselves sick.

As it stood, there was no problem.

He might even make it back in time to sign the alliance with the Sand.

"Koyuki, this is Miss Shinobu."

Natsume paused and made up a random name for Kaguya. "Prepare a room for her, please."

"She's staying here?"

Koyuki was surprised.

In her eyes, Kaguya must have been a princess from some country.

Her entire bearing screamed aloof nobility.

"Mm."

Natsume added, "Right next to my room."

Koyuki's face dimmed, but she still turned to make arrangements.

"Lady Goddess, to avoid alerting Isshiki, use 'Shinobu' as your name for now."

Natsume turned to her.

Kaguya seemed very interested in future technology and kept observing.

Hearing him, she nodded—she didn't care much either way.

"This way, please."

Natsume opened a door.

Kaguya withdrew her gaze and stepped forward to walk alongside him.

Soon, they reached the study.

"Here are the tales of the last thousand years."

Natsume picked up a book and handed it to her. "Hagoromo is now revered as the Sage of Six Paths—quite famous."

Kaguya's interest stirred slightly.

She sat and opened the book.

"Lady Goddess, I'll be back in a bit."

Natsume closed the door.

Flying Thunder God.

He appeared in the Hokage's office.

He held up a finger to signal Shizune not to cry out.

Tsunade, in her sleeveless top, was sleeping on the desk.

Shizune covered her mouth and nodded.

She glanced at Tsunade, then quietly left with Tonton.

Though she wanted to ask where Natsume had gone these two days, now was clearly not the time.

There was no place for her in this home anymore.

Natsume walked forward slowly.

Perhaps from sheer exhaustion, Tsunade didn't notice his arrival.

With her upper body tilted, her curves were effortlessly outlined.

Natsume hadn't done it with anyone for three years; he felt a stir.

 "Hm?"

Tsunade finally sensed that burning gaze.

She opened her eyes, surprise blooming on her face. She stood quickly and hugged him.

Natsume wrapped his arms around her slender waist.

Compared to Tsunade, Kaguya was a flat-chested girl.

Ahem.

That's not nonsense—that's firsthand experience.

 "How are you back so fast? I thought you'd be gone for a long time."

Tsunade rolled her eyes at him, letting his hands wander across her skin.

Natsume didn't answer. He lowered his head to taste the smooth mountain.

 "Mmm—mm."

Tsunade blinked. Natsume seemed unusually passionate today.

But she didn't refuse. She adjusted herself, filling his embrace even more.

Soon, her eyes lost focus, leaving only affection behind.

His lips trailed from her neck to the curve of her shoulder, savoring the warmth of her skin as his fingers traced the hem of her sleeveless top. With gentle care, mindful of her pregnancy and the subtle swell of her belly that cradled their future, he lifted the top over her head, revealing the full, rounded swells of her breasts, their soft peaks hardening under his tender gaze.

Tsunade sighed in contentment, her body arching slightly toward him as he cupped them lightly, his thumbs circling the sensitive tips with featherlight touches, eliciting a soft gasp of pleasure from her lips. She reached for his shirt, tugging it free to expose the firm lines of his chest and abdomen, her hands exploring the defined muscles with a loving caress.

Their kisses deepened, tongues intertwining in a slow, heated dance that built anticipation without haste.

Natsume's hands slid down her sides with utmost gentleness, unhooking her pants and easing them away, along with the delicate fabric beneath, unveiling the smooth contours of her hips and the inviting warmth between her thighs, all while avoiding any pressure on her rounded abdomen. She mirrored his actions, freeing him from his own constraints, her fingers wrapping around his aroused length with a tender grip that drew a low groan of satisfaction from him.

They moved to the desk, her back against the cool wood as he positioned himself carefully, his mouth descending to kiss along her inner thighs, teasing the sensitive folds with light, deliberate touches that made her tremble and whisper his name in bliss, her hands resting protectively over her belly.

As he rose, their bodies aligned perfectly, with Natsume supporting her weight to ensure her comfort. He entered her slowly and gently, filling her with a measured thrust that caused her to moan softly, her legs wrapping loosely around him in encouragement.

The sensation was exquisite—her inner warmth enveloping him completely, each careful movement sending waves of pleasure through them both without strain.

Tsunade's eyes fluttered, her breaths quickening as she met his rhythm, her hands clutching his shoulders lightly, nails pressing into his skin in rhythmic ecstasy.

"Yes... like that," she murmured, her voice laced with satisfaction, her body responding with increasing fervor while he remained attuned to her needs.

Natsume's pace stayed steady and tender, deeper but always gentle, his own pleasure building as he felt her tighten around him, her expressions shifting from affectionate haze to pure delight.

The intensity mounted gradually, their shared breaths mingling in harmonious gasps.

Tsunade reached her peak first, her body arching in a powerful yet controlled release, waves of bliss cascading through her as she cried out softly, her inner muscles pulsing in fulfillment.

The sight and feel of her climax pushed Natsume over the edge moments later, his own orgasm surging through him in a profound rush of satisfaction, spilling into her as he held her close with protective gentleness, both of them trembling in the afterglow of their union.

They lingered there, bodies entwined, savoring the lingering warmth and the deep sense of connection that followed, his hand resting lightly on her swollen abdomen in quiet reverence.

The Hokage's office grew lively.

Outside, Shizune blushed scarlet and set up a soundproof barrier.

She exhaled, feeling strangely hot.

She hung a "Resting" sign on the office door and hurried away.

…

Night fell.

The blazing sun finally dimmed. The pale moon rose among the scattered stars.

Natsume glanced at the hour. He kissed Tsunade's happy, tired sleeping face, then carried her home.

Three years of longing, fulfilled today.

He was very restrained, worried about Tsunade being pregnant.

After helping her bathe, he let her sleep.

He, meanwhile, was off to see Uchiha Mikoto.

Mainly to ask if Sasuke awakened his eyes after meeting her.

Also, a small favor—he planned to have Mikoto use the Amatsumika on Tsunade.

If their future child could inherit both their talents, they could save decades of effort.