Gifted the First Hokage's Necklace

Graduating in just two and a half years was solely because Natsume was too outstanding.

With Uzumaki Ena's help and the Wood Style serum, his body was now in peak condition. In terms of Chakra alone, he was no weaker than an ordinary Jonin.

His only weakness now was his lack of combat experience.

Since coming to this world, Natsume had never gone through a life-and-death battle, so naturally, he had no experience.

The gap between experienced and inexperienced ninja was actually quite significant.

Take Itachi Uchiha, for example. After graduating last year, he had formed a team with Orochimaru's other two disciples, Anko Mitarashi and Uzuki Yugao.

The three of them had maintained a one hundred percent mission completion rate so far, even exceeding expectations on several A-rank missions.

They were now hailed as Konoha's strongest Genin squad and had gained quite a reputation.

In theory, Natsume could rely on Wood Style to trade blows with an Itachi Uchiha who had awakened the Sharingan, but in practice, it would probably be difficult.

That was the advantage experience brought.

Unless overwhelming strength could simply crush everything.

With Naruto Uzumaki's vast reserves of Chakra, under equal conditions, no matter how experienced someone was, one move would take them down.

No matter what, although Natsume was a Genin, his overall strength was no worse than a Chunin's.

With more training, he could become a Jonin.

At this pace, only a handful of people, such as Itachi Uchiha, could compare to him.

"Natsume, congratulations on graduating."

Tsunade had been waiting outside the examination classroom. The moment she saw him emerge with a Genin forehead protector on, she immediately smiled.

Although she knew Natsume passing the assessment was inevitable, she still worried as his "foster mother."

"I've taken another step closer to becoming the man who'll be Hokage."

Natsume raised a thumb and pointed it at his forehead protector as he spoke with high spirits.

He had long since figured out Tsunade's personality and knew this would make her happy.

So alike. Truly alike.

Tsunade recalled how Nawaki had looked when he graduated from the Ninja Academy. His expression had been much the same as Natsume's now.

Then and there was just like here and now.

"Today is the day you graduate. Big Sister has a gift for you."

"Okay."

Natsume looked at her expectantly. He loved gifts the most.

Tsunade smiled and removed the First Hokage's Necklace, looping it around his neck and putting it on him.

The necklace was not cold at all. Instead, it was exceptionally warm.

Remembering the legend of the First Hokage's Necklace, Natsume felt a slight chill.

In the original story, everyone who had worn it died, including Naruto Uzumaki.

But he was the protagonist. He died, then came back to life.

"This is the necklace my grandfather left me. It contains his Wood Style Chakra, and it will be greatly beneficial to you."

Tsunade stroked his head as she explained.

Natsume had wanted to refuse, but she was giving him far too much.

He remembered that, early in the story, this necklace could even suppress the Nine-Tails' Chakra, which meant the Wood Style Chakra within it was no small amount.

For someone like him who could use Wood Style, it was undoubtedly an excellent power bank.

As for that fatal curse, Natsume thought, I have a cheat. What am I afraid of?

"Lady Tsunade."

An Anbu ninja suddenly appeared. "Lord Hokage wishes to see you and Natsume."

Having their warm moment interrupted, Tsunade's face showed displeasure as she asked coldly, "What does that old man want now?"

"Lord Hokage did not tell me."

The Anbu ninja carefully glanced at her before replying respectfully.

Tsunade waved her hand.

He immediately vanished.

"Let's go."

Tsunade took Natsume's hand and said, "Let's see what this old man wants."

Hokage's Office.

Hiruzen Sarutobi was startled by the suddenly opened door. He hurriedly covered the crystal ball in front of him and wiped the flush from his face.

"Tsunade."

He calmly tapped his pipe and asked, "Since when did you stop knocking like Danzō?"

"Enough, I'm in a hurry. If you have something to say, say it quickly."

Tsunade sat down on the sofa with broad, forceful movements, looking nothing like a gentle woman.

Hiruzen Sarutobi was used to her personality. Smiling, he looked at Natsume and said, "Today is my grandstudent's graduation day. Of course I had to meet him."

"Lord Hokage." Natsume immediately greeted him.

"What a good child." Hiruzen Sarutobi nodded in satisfaction.

Over the past two and a half years, Natsume had always earned perfect scores in theory classes.

He had displayed an exceptionally deep understanding of the Will of Fire.

In some areas, even Hiruzen Sarutobi himself had felt enlightened after reading his work. That really was how things should be done.

It left him with an excellent impression of Natsume.

When Itachi Uchiha graduated at the age of seven, Hiruzen Sarutobi's evaluation had been that he could consider problems from the perspective of a Hokage.

As for Natsume, he felt that he was the perfect inheritor of the Will of Fire, with an utterly thorough understanding in every respect.

"Get to the point."

Tsunade shot him an annoyed glare.

"Alright, alright. You've grown up and started despising your old teacher."

After putting on a sigh, Hiruzen Sarutobi said, "Now that Natsume has become a ninja, according to custom, he will be assigned teammates and a squad leader. I already have some preliminary candidates..."

"No need."

Tsunade cut him off. "I'll be the squad leader. His teammates will be Shizune and Kabuto Yakushi."

"But what about your hemophobia?"

It was precisely because he knew about her hemophobia that Hiruzen Sarutobi had planned to arrange a trusted jonin for Natsume.

"It's cured."

Tsunade raised her head and sliced open a wound with a kunai. Blood flowed out, but she showed no reaction whatsoever.

Hiruzen Sarutobi was overjoyed.

A normal Tsunade would have an enormous impact on Konoha.

Back when they fought Sunagakure, she had turned the tide and defeated Chiyo. Otherwise, victory would not have come so easily.

That alone showed just how important Tsunade was.

In truth, her title as the greatest Medical Ninja in the shinobi world was already more than enough.

Previously, her inability to take the battlefield because of hemophobia had effectively crippled more than half of her usefulness.

"Why didn't you tell me sooner?"

There was some reproach in Hiruzen Sarutobi's tone, but far more joy.

Konoha was starting to resemble its golden age again.

Among the older generation, he and Shimura Danzō could still fight. Fugaku Uchiha, Hyuga Hiashi, Shibi Aburame, and others were all still around. Now, the Sannin had officially returned to full strength as well.

Among the younger generation, Kakashi Hatake, Might Guy, Shisui Uchiha, Itachi Uchiha, and the rest were gradually taking up the mantle.

Hiruzen Sarutobi immediately felt a tremendous weight lift from his shoulders.

The situation was looking excellent.

"Since that's the case, you'll lead the team."

Amid his happiness, Hiruzen Sarutobi no longer concerned himself with Natsume's issue. "However, I must remind you that as ninjas, they must venture out into the world. Shizune, Natsume, and Kabuto Yakushi are all talented children. If you keep protecting them, you'll only delay their futures."

"I know."

Though reluctant, Tsunade understood that Hiruzen Sarutobi was right.

If another shinobi war broke out and Natsume and the others had to fight without any experience, they would simply be throwing their lives away.

"The war between Konoha and Kumogakure is nearing its end. You can take them there to gain some experience."

Hiruzen Sarutobi added, "If you appear at the border, Kumogakure may agree to negotiate peace ahead of time."

"That was your real purpose all along, wasn't it, old man?"

Tsunade snorted, but she did not refuse. "I'll make my own arrangements. You don't need to worry about it."