The Man Who Wants to Become Hokage

Yakushi Nonō froze on the spot, failing to react even when Natsume injured himself again.

There were countless Kekkei Genkai in the Shinobi World. She would not have been surprised no matter what kind he had awakened.

But Wood Style was different.

The First Hokage, Hashirama Senju, had relied on it to sweep through the Shinobi World and establish a new era of prosperity.

The "wood" in Konoha referred precisely to Wood Style.

Unfortunately, after Hashirama Senju, no ninja had ever possessed Wood Style again.

Not even the Senju Clan.

What Yakushi Nonō had not expected was that she would witness Wood Style with her own eyes today.

"Director?" Natsume called.

"Who else have you told about this?"

Yakushi Nonō took a deep breath, then reached out and healed Natsume's fresh wound.

She was not some naive ninja.

Before becoming the director of the Orphanage, she had been an elite of the Konoha Intelligence Division. Because she had been too outstanding, Shimura Danzō had coerced her into serving Root.

Precisely because of this, she understood what the emergence of Wood Style represented.

"Director, you're the first person to know."

Seeing her expression, Natsume secretly breathed a sigh of relief. This was within his expectations.

After living together for three years, they were practically mother and son.

Yakushi Nonō could never hand him over to Shimura Danzō.

Because she was not loyal.

That was also why Shimura Danzō would later want to get rid of her.

She knew too much, yet she was not loyal.

"Good."

Yakushi Nonō stroked Natsume's hair, her brows tightly furrowed as she looked deeply troubled.

Keeping it secret could not last forever.

Besides, possessing Wood Style Talent without using it would undoubtedly be an enormous waste.

Shimura Danzō was ruthless. If Natsume were handed over to him, he would no longer be himself, but a cold-blooded tool.

So should she report this to the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi?

In a short time, Yakushi Nonō considered many things.

Natsume knew it was time for him to step in. He asked, "Director, what kind of ninjutsu is this?"

"Wood Style. It was the ninjutsu once used by the First Hokage."

Yakushi Nonō did not hide it from him. "The fact that you possess it means one of your ancestors must have married into the Senju Clan."

Before Konoha was founded, the Senju Clan had been a renowned major clan with a vast population.

But because of Hashirama Senju's ideals, they no longer maintained marriages within the clan and instead broadly integrated into Konoha.

From then on, the clan effectively ceased to exist.

At present, Tsunade was the only Senju left in the open.

"Wood Style?"

Natsume appropriately showed a surprised expression, then said excitedly, "Director, do you know any ninjas from the Senju Clan? If we can find out which ancestor it was, then I might be able to learn who my parents are too."

Yakushi Nonō's expression paused slightly at his words.

Natsume was a war orphan. Because he had been young and frightened, he had lost many of his memories.

And the method he proposed did indeed offer a chance of finding out who his parents were.

At the same time, Natsume reminded her that there was someone more suitable than Hiruzen Sarutobi.

Tsunade.

The last remaining Senju.

More importantly, Yakushi Nonō understood Tsunade's personality. She would certainly not mistreat Natsume.

"Leave this matter to me."

Yakushi Nonō opened the wardrobe and took out another set of clothes. "Go take a bath and get some rest."

"Okay."

Natsume took the clothes and nodded obediently.

He had done everything he needed to do.

The rest depended on Yakushi Nonō.

If it really did not work out, then he could only go put on a show for that old geezer Hiruzen Sarutobi.

Judging by Yamato's treatment later on, it would not be too bad.

Provided Natsume displayed the Will of Fire.

He was quite good at that sort of thing.

It was nothing more than an incomplete, lousy theory.

He even felt that he could turn around and fool Hiruzen Sarutobi instead.

Another week passed.

In a secluded corner of the Orphanage.

"Natsume, happy birthday."

Kabuto Yakushi presented him with a small cake.

How the tables had turned.

Natsume smiled and accepted it.

His birthday was only a week apart from Kabuto Yakushi's, which was quite a coincidence.

"Natsume, do you have a birthday wish? Or rather, what do you want to do in the future?" Kabuto Yakushi asked curiously.

After spending three years together, he had always felt that Natsume was mysterious.

Especially last year, when Natsume had suddenly sought him out and solemnly told him not to reveal himself—never reveal his medical talent—or disaster would strike, whether for him or for the director.

It had sounded like a prophecy.

Kabuto Yakushi had been utterly dumbfounded at the time.

But out of trust and a faint instinctive feeling, he had concealed his astonishing talent as a Medical Ninja and acted utterly ordinary.

"What do I want to do?"

Natsume rubbed his chin in thought, then waved a hand and said, "Become the man of the Hokage."

He meant the Fifth Hokage, Tsunade.

Since he was going to drive, he might as well drive a big one.

Some people might say she was old.

But she was beautiful.

As long as she was beautiful, not only age, but even species could be crossed.

Right, Xu Xian, hero of the grasslands?

"Hokage?"

Kabuto Yakushi was not surprised.

Thanks to Hiruzen Sarutobi's excellent propaganda, his image was exceptionally lofty in the minds of children, and he bore the title of the strongest Hokage.

Becoming Hokage was practically every child's shared wish.

It was the same kind of answer as wanting to become an astronaut or scientist in his previous life.

Only after growing up would they understand what cruelty truly meant.

"Yes! Hokage!"

Natsume finished the cake in a few bites, slung an arm around his shoulders, and said, "When the time comes, us brothers will make it big together. I'll be Hokage, and you'll be the Hokage's advisor. We'll restore Konoha to glory!"

If he had not been worried about frightening Kabuto Yakushi, he would have added another line.

I laugh at Hiruzen Sarutobi for his lack of wisdom and Shimura Danzō for his lack of strategy. In this world, the only heroes are you and me.

Naturally, he had a reason for doing this.

Kabuto Yakushi had limitless potential. Bringing him under his wing early would definitely not be a loss.

He could fight, heal, and provide support. Natsume could not afford to miss him.

"Alright!"

Kabuto Yakushi was still just a little brat who had not undergone Orochimaru's training. After being fired up by Natsume, he grew excited too, filled with heroic spirit as he said, "It's a deal!"

"Natsume!"

Yakushi Nonō's voice rang out.

Natsume jolted.

Oh no. If she had heard those cringeworthy words just now, would that not be social death?

He immediately turned around and froze.

Besides Yakushi Nonō, there was another woman.

She wore a tea-green long coat and had smooth golden hair. Mature and alluring, her pear-shaped figure was strikingly seductive.

There was a saying in his previous life that men liked women with a little extra weight.

And this woman was absolutely the finest of the slightly plump kind.

Those fleshy legs alone, paired with black or white stockings, were enough to kill a man.

Natsume raised his head and met a pair of bright brown eyes that seemed to be smiling.

"Lady Tsunade, children do not understand such things. He was just talking nonsense, so please do not take it to heart," Yakushi Nonō hurriedly explained, worried that those words had angered Tsunade.

"It's fine."

Tsunade withdrew her gaze and asked, "He's Natsume? He's quite pretty."

Yakushi Nonō breathed a sigh of relief and answered, "Yes. The boy in front is the Natsume I told you about."

Tsunade nodded and slowly walked up to him. "You want to become Hokage?"

A bright smile appeared on Natsume's face as he said, "Because I want to protect everyone."

Though it was only a performative fake smile, he knew how devastating this scene would be to Tsunade.

"Why?"

Tsunade fell silent for two seconds, then said in an indescribable tone, "Anyone who wants to become Hokage is an idiot, easily giving up their life for others."

"I have seen war, so I hope there will be no more war."

Natsume gave the standard answer. "If I become Hokage, I can stop wars and bring peace to everyone."

In truth, he was not that great.

His only wish right now was to survive.

Tsunade was stunned for a moment. She thought of her deceased younger brother Nawaki, who had also talked every day about becoming Hokage and bringing peace.

But in the end, he had died in war.

"You little brat. You may be small, but you sure talk big."

Tsunade chuckled, reached out with her fair hand, and ruffled his hair.

Natsume was speechless.

Did she know what men hated most?

Being called small!

One day, he would definitely make her understand what big meant.

Tsunade gathered her turbulent thoughts and said, "Show me your Wood Style."

Natsume stretched out his hand, and several thorny vines grew out of thin air.

He did not understand Wood Style yet, so he was controlling it purely by instinct.

Fortunately, Yakushi Nonō had taught him how to refine Chakra.

Otherwise, he would not even have known how to demonstrate it.

Tsunade's expression tightened. It was actually real.

She had grown up following her grandfather, Hashirama Senju, and was extremely familiar with Wood Style.

The ninjutsu Natsume had just displayed was definitely not Genjutsu, nor was it an imitation of Wood Style.