Chapter 13 Counterpressure against Tsunade, the villa is close to the sea.

"Orochimaru is more than capable, and he's particularly skilled at these situations," Natsume mused, a tinge of disappointment in his tone. "I can't help but wish I could have witnessed Orochimaru's confrontation with Uchiha Shisui."

He was excited at the mere thought of witnessing such a fight. In the original story, Orochimaru's interest in the Mangekyo Sharingan was piqued after a defeat at the hands of Uchiha Itachi. However, due to Orochimaru's inability to best Itachi, his focus had shifted toward Uchiha Sasuke.

The situation appeared to be advancing more rapidly now, raising the probability that Orochimaru might direct his attention toward the still-young Itachi Uchiha.

As for why Uchiha Shisui also contributed to Natsume's destiny points, it made sense upon reflection. Much like Uchiha Itachi, Shisui held a perspective that went beyond his own clan and was aligned with the Will of Fire. However, he was more idealistic and had a stronger sense of moral boundaries. During the Uchiha clan's brewing rebellion, Shisui chose not to support it but instead sought help from Hiruzen Sarutobi and Danzo Shimura, even at the expense of disclosing his Mangekyo Sharingan abilities.

The consequences were clear. Shisui became a target for Danzo Shimura and, ultimately, chose to end his own life to prevent his eyes from being stolen. His demise postponed the Uchiha clan's rebellion by two years. Itachi, who had awakened the Mangekyo Sharingan, then joined forces with the mysterious masked man, Uchiha Obito, orchestrating the Nine-Tails Rebellion and wiping out the entire Uchiha clan, except Sasuke.

Uchiha Shisui had long been a steadfast advocate of the Will of Fire. Now, he found himself under attack by a fellow adherent of the Will of Fire, Orochimaru. Shisui was likely pondering the turns his life had taken, even if he remained unaware of the subtle changes occurring in his destiny.

Nineteen points, isn't it?

In the grand scheme of destiny, it's not much. The ending for Uchiha Shisui probably won't change significantly.

Orochimaru, on the other hand, invested fifty-eight points in destiny, yet his fate only shifted by half, not completely.

This is quite expected. Orochimaru isn't like Yakushi Kabuto; he's a highly capable and independent individual. Completely altering his destiny would be a daunting task.

"Natsume, I have a question. Can you help me with it?" blushed a little girl.

Natsume glanced at her and replied, "I'm not sure about that one either. You could try asking Uchiha Itachi."

The little girl looked surprised. She had deliberately picked a simple and straightforward question, and it puzzled her why Natsume didn't know the answer.

She paused for a couple of seconds, gazing at Natsume's adorable face, before finally saying, "Never mind... I won't trouble him. I'll ask someone else."

Uchiha Itachi was a little isolated because of his personality problems, and he was a member of the rumored Uchiha clan. Of course the little loli wouldn't dare.

Natsume knew her purpose was to strike up a conversation.

Too small!

Small in every sense of the word.

Unlike Tsunade, who is big everywhere.

Everyone knows how to choose.

Natsume didn't need to hesitate.

After a simple episode, his school life passed peacefully again.

The difference is that after school, Uchiha Shisui did not come to pick up Uchiha Itachi today, but Uchiha Mikoto.

["This lady is pretty good-looking."]

Natsume waited for a moment and saw Tsunade being debt-collected again.

This time disguised as an old man.

He raised his eyebrows, it seemed that he had to think of some plan.

A few minutes later, the elderly man removed his disguise, revealing himself to be Tsunade. She came over to Natsume.

"Anything interesting happen today?" Tsunade playfully pinched his little face before taking his hand.

Natsume shook his head. "No. Sister, did you go gambling again today?"

"I played a few games since I had nothing else to do," Tsunade admitted without hesitation. They had been together long enough to not hide things from each other.

"How are Sister's gambling skills?" Natsume inquired.

Tsunade paused for a moment, then responded with a high level of emotional intelligence, "I have bad luck."

Natsume thought, *Your luck isn't just bad; it's non-existent. You lose every time you gamble.* But he didn't reveal his thoughts and asked, "Could you take me with you next time?"

Tsunade suddenly frowned and advised, "You're still young, don't get involved in gambling. Wait until you're older."

Natsume found her words sensible, even if he knew that she'd learned gambling from Senju Hashirama since she was a child. If he hadn't known that, he might have believed her.

"I'm not gambling, I'm making money," Natsume clarified. "Since my sister loses more and wins less, I can win it back for her every time I tag along."

Tsunade was initially stunned, but then a spark of realization flashed in her eyes. The allure of making money was too tempting to ignore.

"What a brilliant idea! Why didn't I think of that?" Tsunade exclaimed. She knelt down, kissed Natsume's cheek excitedly, and said, "I'll reward you for being so clever."

"It's all just talk," Natsume replied, pretending to be dissatisfied.

Tsunade laughed heartily and playfully licked Natsume's cheek, leaving him feeling a bit wet.

His heart was not calm! ["Just wait, in a few years, I'll get my revenge for all of this."]

"Tomorrow is Saturday. I'll take you to the street not far from Konoha Village," Tsunade declared. "When the time comes, we siblings will work together to conquer everyone."

In truth, it was only Natsume's idea that seemed useful. If anyone else had made such a suggestion, Tsunade would likely have given them a direct punch for questioning her gambling skills.

  As Natsume enjoyed the care of his sister, Orochimaru grappled with a different kind of agony - one that didn't stem from his body but tormented his mind, offering no easy respite.

Earlier in the day, Orochimaru encountered Uchiha Shisui, and despite Natsume's earlier warnings, he adopted an audacious attitude akin to Jack from "One Piece," declaring, "Who do you think I am? I'll turn the situation around."

In the initial stages of their clash, Orochimaru had the upper hand due to his extensive experience. However, things took a dramatic turn when Uchiha Shisui activated his Mangekyo Sharingan, along with Susanoo and a barrage of illusions that overwhelmed Orochimaru. He was compelled to reveal his true identity.

During the brief moment when Uchiha Shisui recognized him, Orochimaru made a quick escape. Returning home, he had to confront the unsettling realization that Natsume's warnings were entirely justified. Drawing from his own experiences, Orochimaru had to acknowledge the formidable power of the Mangekyo Sharingan, particularly considering Uchiha Shisui's young age. The question loomed: could Uchiha Shisui ascend to even greater heights in the years to come?

With unwavering determination, Orochimaru muttered licking his face, though a fit of coughing served as a stark reminder of the high cost of his unquenchable ambition.

Not far away, Aburame Tatsuma's eyes widened in shock. Orochimaru had been injured? He couldn't believe it. Who else in Konoha Village possessed such formidable abilities to wound Orochimaru?

After a moment of contemplation, Aburame Tatsuma made a decisive choice. He turned and began to make his way back towards the hidden lair, intent on reporting the situation to Shimura Danzo.

Orochimaru, however, had been aware of Aburame Tatsuma's presence all along but chose not to reveal himself. He had been preoccupied with his pursuit of the Mangekyo Sharingan, intending to impress Shimura Danzo with his achievements and expedite his plans.

Shimura Danzo, who was stationed in the roots, reacted with surprise and deep consideration upon hearing the news of Orochimaru's injury.

It was almost unbelievable. Even without factoring in the secret of his Wood Style, it was almost inconceivable that anyone could harm Orochimaru.

With a collected expression, Shimura Danzo inquired, "What about A ?"

Aburame Tatsuma replied, "I haven't found it yet. I was concerned about alerting Orochimaru, so I didn't investigate the more concealed locations."

"In that case, we should go meet him," Shimura Danzo declared as he rose from his seat, the corner of his lips curling into a smile. "Our allies are injured, and it's our duty to offer our support."