Naruto: A New Life with Tsunade

---

Natsume wasn't surprised to see Orochimaru's transformation shift from a white snake to a black one, the Curse Mark triggering the change.

Though Orochimaru hadn't relied on the Curse Mark in the original timeline, his experiments with Hashirama's cells and Yamato had pushed his physical prowess to new heights.

Orochimaru's tongue flicked out as he licked his lips, a gleam of delight in his serpentine eyes. The surge of power thrilled him—but he wasn't foolish enough to lose himself in it.

He vividly remembered the last time he faced Natsume. The terrifying moment when Wood Release was used to snatch Shisui Uchiha away with effortless precision still haunted him.

But today would be different.

"Wood Release: Great Forest Technique!" Orochimaru's voice echoed as he rapidly formed hand seals. Thick wooden vines erupted from his extended arm, twisting and expanding like blooming flowers, ready to crush his opponent.

Natsume's Mangekyō Sharingan flared to life, his chakra surging like a tidal wave.

"Binding Illusion." His voice was calm, yet it resonated with absolute authority.

The sky darkened ominously as Orochimaru froze mid-attack. By the time he realized something was wrong, it was already too late.

Large iron spikes erupted from the ground, piercing his body and pinning him down. The pain was excruciating, and cold sweat dripped from his brow.

"How... How is this possible?" Orochimaru's voice trembled, a mix of confusion and disbelief.

His Curse Mark should have bolstered his resistance to genjutsu. Was it the unique nature of the Mangekyō Sharingan?

Natsume observed him with a faint, knowing smile.

"Your fatal flaw is the same as always, Orochimaru," Natsume said, his tone laced with amusement. "To cheat death, you fractured your soul, implanting pieces of it into your Curse Marks. That desperation left you vulnerable."

Orochimaru's fractured soul had weakened his spiritual defenses, making him susceptible to the overwhelming power of the Mangekyō Sharingan's illusions.

The scene was reminiscent of his encounter with Itachi. Once again, he found himself utterly defeated by the crushing weight of a Sharingan's genjutsu.

"How curious…" Orochimaru muttered, trying to suppress the rising panic in his voice.

Natsume approached slowly, pulling a kunai from his pouch. The metallic ring of the blade echoed in the silence.

"What's the reason?" Orochimaru asked, his voice tight with curiosity and desperation.

Natsume's faint smirk deepened as he discarded the kunai, clapping his hands together. A surge of chakra rippled outward as he entered Sage Mode.

Orochimaru's eyes widened in alarm.

"Sage Mode?" he whispered.

Orochimaru recognized the chakra immediately. Having trained at Ryūchi Cave himself, he knew all too well the power Sage Mode granted.

But Natsume hadn't revealed this trump card during their last encounter.

Orochimaru's unease deepened as Natsume vanished from sight, reappearing just as a torrent of water slashed through the battlefield. The Water Release: Water Severing Wave split a nearby wall cleanly in half.

Emerging unscathed, Natsume raised an eyebrow. "Impressive, Orochimaru. You've come prepared."

From behind Orochimaru, the reincarnated Tobirama Senju stepped forward, his lifeless eyes glowing faintly.

"So that's your ace," Natsume remarked.

Orochimaru smirked, though his confidence was clearly waning.

"Water Release: Water Severing Wave!" Tobirama's voice rang out, the reincarnated Hokage launching another powerful attack.

Natsume easily evaded, landing gracefully a short distance away. He examined Tobirama's sluggish movements, noting that Orochimaru had summoned him at only a fraction of his original strength.

"It's not enough," Natsume stated plainly, his tone carrying a finality that made Orochimaru tense.

Still, Orochimaru's mind raced. The battle was slipping out of his control, but he wasn't about to admit defeat. Taking cover behind Tobirama, he smirked.

"How about a deal?" Orochimaru offered, his tone silky yet dangerous.

Natsume tilted his head, intrigued but wary. "A deal? You never give up, do you?"

"I can't defeat you," Orochimaru admitted, his voice calm. "But I can eliminate Uchiha Izumi. Tobirama's mastery of the Flying Thunder God means you won't be able to stop me."

Natsume sighed internally. Orochimaru's resourcefulness was both admirable and infuriating.

But killing Orochimaru now wasn't part of his plan. The chaos Orochimaru created served a greater purpose—one that Natsume intended to exploit.

"What's your offer?"

"You tell me why your genjutsu worked so effectively, and I'll ensure Uchiha Izumi is returned unharmed," Orochimaru said coldly.

Natsume chuckled softly. "It's simple. Your fractured soul is the reason."

Of course, there was more to it—the sheer power of his Mangekyō Sharingan was unparalleled.

Orochimaru frowned, unwilling to press the matter further. With a nod, Tobirama placed a hand on his shoulder, and the two vanished using the Flying Thunder God.

Natsume released his Sage Mode, stepping into the room where Orochimaru had held his captives.

Two figures came into view. Uchiha Izumi was chained to the wall, her chakra nearly depleted. Her Sharingan flickered faintly, the last vestiges of her strength keeping her conscious. Beside her lay a woman with similar features, unconscious but breathing.

"You… who are you?" Izumi asked weakly, her voice laced with wariness.

Natsume knelt beside her mother, placing a hand on the woman's forehead.

"Interested in joining our organization?" he asked casually.

Izumi's eyes widened. "Let her go! What do you want?"

"She's fine," Natsume assured her, infusing the woman with a small amount of chakra. "Just unconscious."

Izumi's anger faltered, confusion replacing it.

Natsume rose, slicing through the chains holding her captive with a chakra-coated kunai.

Though free, Izumi hesitated, her instincts screaming not to trust him.

"You're unsure," Natsume said, his tone softening. "That's natural. After all, I'm a stranger to you."

Izumi glared, unwilling to let her guard down.

"The Uchiha clan is at a crossroads," Natsume continued, handing her a small token. "Think of this as an opportunity. Input your chakra into this when you're ready to make a choice."

Izumi stared at the token, the word Destiny inscribed on its surface.

"The time will come when you'll have no choice," Natsume said as he turned to leave. "When it does, reach out."

And with that, he vanished, leaving Izumi alone with her unconscious mother.

Izumi gripped the token tightly, staring at the destruction left in Natsume's wake. His power was undeniable.

But what unnerved her most was his calm certainty that she'd call for him.

---