Making a Deal with the Fourth Kazekage

The dawn slanted through the thin morning mist, carrying a warm breeze through the cheerful leaves. It swept over the fresh scent of grass and earth, swirling as it sent blades of grass fluttering into the azure sky.

In a clearing in the forest, where the warm light of the rising sun filtered through the dense canopy of ancient trees, a woman carrying a child on her back strolled into view.

She was tall, her once-youthful features now grown mature. Her beautiful face was striking, with a lazy allure when relaxed and a cool elegance when her expression hardened, like a flower blooming high on a mountain ridge.

Fine sprays of blood mist drifted to either side. Dozens of masked corpses lay scattered around, their throats cut.

Several figures appeared, crouching or standing on the branches and roots of enormous ancient trees. An Anbu wearing a fox mask casually tossed aside the corpse in his hands. Through the eyeholes, his gaze lingered for a moment on the child on the woman's back.

"We can only escort you this far, Lord Tsunade."

The woman turned around. Her golden hair glowed warmly in the sunlight. She gently adjusted the child on her back to make him more comfortable, then nodded slightly and replied offhandedly, "Mm. Go back."

The Anbu squad leader made a gesture, and the Anbu behind him withdrew one by one with their spoils. He repeated the Third Hokage's instructions: "Lord Hokage asked me to remind you that Uchiha Qing Xuan must return in two years."

"Got it."

Tsunade didn't even look back this time. As if out for a stroll, she slowly walked away with the two girls, one big and one small, behind her.

Only after their figures had vanished completely into the ancient forest's distant silhouette did the Anbu squad leader turn away and silently leave with the Body Flicker Technique.

[Everyone! Have you misunderstood what it means to be Hokage? A Hokage is human, not some constantly deified god! He has his own concerns and troubles, and there will come a time when he grows old and can no longer do everything he once could! So... please treat your Kage kindly.]

[Story Character: Hyuga Hiashi's outlook has undergone an objective change. Reward: one Silver Treasure Chest. Congratulations, host, you have obtained—Two Tomoe Sharingan Upgrade Card!]

[Ordinary Character: The rogue ninja Yun Tun's fate has changed. Reward: one Bronze Treasure Chest. Congratulations, host, you have obtained—Advanced Konoha Infiltration Experience!]

[Ordinary Character: The rogue ninja Chu Zuo's fate has changed. Reward: one Bronze Treasure Chest. Congratulations, host, you have obtained—the latest edition of Kumogakure Spy Ciphers Compendium!]

[Ordinary Character: Cloud Ninja Scraper's fate has changed. Reward: one Bronze Treasure Chest. Congratulations, host, you have obtained—beginner's edition of Kumogakure Culture and Customs!]

[Story Character: Cloud Ninja Samui's fate has taken a major turn. Reward: one Advanced Silver Treasure Chest. Congratulations, host, you have obtained—Killer B's legacy: Aragami Kirifuda Blade! Super Sonic Shock Raiton Blade! Rari Tōken!]

Golden strands swayed back and forth, brushing across Qing Xuan's vision. When a ray of sunlight carried the damp air against his face, he yawned and opened his eyes, feeling utterly listless.

Weakly, he pushed aside the hair swaying in front of him, but his thoughts were still stuck on the previous night.

He couldn't understand it. He'd clearly prevented Hizashi Hyuga's death, yet the system hadn't said a thing about Neji's fate changing. Instead, Hyuga Hiashi, who had nothing to do with it, had earned him a Silver Treasure Chest...

What the hell kind of plot twist was that?

Qing Xuan yawned again, too weak and headachy to think straight. He could only shift his prone position to get a little more comfortable.

The sunlight felt warm on his body. The golden ends of someone's hair carried a soothing fragrance that made him want to drift back to sleep. And there was a soft sensation, as if he were back in his mother's arms...

Qing Xuan gave another contented yawn, like a child who wanted to stay in bed and catch a little more sleep.

When had he become so lazy?

He wondered as his tired eyes began to close again...

Sunlight, hair, a mother's embrace...?!

Wait!

His eyes flew open. He looked around in bewilderment, his expression eventually settling into sheer confusion.

What the hell... where was he?

"Yo! You awake?"

The teasing voice traveled through the soft, warm sensation and into Qing Xuan's mind through the ear pressed against it.

"Tsunade..."

Qing Xuan glanced sideways at the verdant ancient trees sliding past and asked listlessly, "Where are you taking me?"

Then she gave him a smack on the butt.

"I told you to call me Mother!"

Two chuckles came from behind. Then that spirited, bright voice said, "Of course I'm taking you out to see the world!"

"Ugh..."

Qing Xuan sighed helplessly. He already knew what her answer would be.

"Did you drug me?"

"Just a mild calming agent that affects the nervous system. Don't worry, it has no side effects."

Yeah, right!

Feeling the weakness in his body, Qing Xuan sighed again.

He'd finally been earning the old Third Hokage's trust. Once he grew up, with the support of the entire Uchiha Clan, all of Konoha would be his!

And yet, in the end, this female hooligan had kidnapped him...

I'm so unwilling to accept this!

I hate changing maps more than anything.

"Did the Third Hokage agree to let you take me?"

Tsunade clicked her tongue in disdain. "That old geezer can't stop me."

Qing Xuan didn't even bother answering. Although this woman's strength and status were both top-tier in Konoha, there was no way the Third Hokage would let her take him so easily!

Forget it! He was already out here, anyway.

Qing Xuan sighed in resignation and asked, "What about Haku? Didn't she try to stop you?"

"Heh!" Tsunade seemed even more energized at that. "I didn't expect the person most loyal to you in the entire Uchiha Clan to be this little girl! Did Liu Yun leave her to you? How come I never knew?"

She turned to glance at the girl behind her, who was covering her mouth to hide a smile. "This girl's quite the catch! Once I explained the pros and cons to her, she agreed."

"Huh?" That was something Qing Xuan hadn't expected.

"Lord Tsunade made a very good point. I also think it's too dangerous for Young Master Qing Xuan to stay in Konoha right now," Haku's voice came from behind them.

"You're a grown-up tool now. You've even learned to think for yourself," Qing Xuan muttered, pouting. He reached out to tug Tsunade's hair, but she lightly slapped his hand away.

"Don't mess around! I'm traveling. Keep it up and I'll hit you!"

Not much of a threat.

Qing Xuan listlessly shifted his head on her back, finally managing to turn it toward Haku. He raised his eyebrows at her. "What? Have you suddenly had a change of heart and decided to take things further?"

The unexpected flirtation made the girl blush. She tried to calm her restless heart and replied solemnly, "No! I only want to be Young Master Qing Xuan's tool!"

"Tsk, tsk, tsk."

Tsunade shook her head, thinking that when it came to flirting with girls, this silly son of hers was nowhere near as good as his father.

Qing Xuan could only clear his throat awkwardly and change the subject. "So where are we going, Mother?"

Maybe it was the anticipation of what she was about to do, or maybe it was just that he'd called her "Mother." Either way, Tsunade's voice grew cheerier. She hitched Qing Xuan higher on her back and said, "We're going to collect a debt, of course!"

"Someone owes us money?"

"Yep!"

"How outrageous. Where's our first stop?"

"Sunagakure! We're going to make a deal with the Fourth Kazekage!"