Naruto: I am Uchiha Shirou

By the Hospital Bed.

"Kushina, you!"

While Tsunade was examining Mikoto, behind the translucent light-blue curtain, the silhouettes of the two figures inside could be seen.

However, Kushina, who had just entered, stood nervously in front of Shirou, her eyes darting toward the silhouettes behind the curtain. Trying to appear calm, she said:

"Sister Tsunade, I've completely adapted to the Nine Tails Chakra on my body. You're letting Shirou apply the curse seal on me today, right?"

Kushina's guilty and forced calm demeanor left Shirou, lying on the hospital bed, speechless.

Even though his eyes were currently covered with bandages, rendering him blind, he could distinctly feel where Kushina was guiding his hand.

Through the warmth of her clothing, it rested on that warm, round, and soft skin...

Behind the curtain, Tsunade was carefully examining the Mangekyō Sharingan. Hearing Kushina's voice, she casually responded:

"Yes, your body has adapted, and you can now have the curse seal applied. But remember to choose a discreet spot. After all, the mark of the curse seal is quite distinct, and sometimes, as a ninja, it's best to keep a trump card hidden."

"Got it, Sister Tsunade."

Upon hearing this, Kushina's face broke into an excited smile. Finally! Finally, her body could also bear Shirou's mark.

Ever since she found out that Mikoto bore Shirou's unique mark, she couldn't help but feel envious. Now, it was her turn.

"Shirou, you heard what Sister Tsunade said, right? Your eyes can't see right now. All you need to do is open your mouth."

With her face flushed, Kushina felt a rush of excitement. The thrill of doing something so daring behind a curtain made her heart race.

Although Shirou couldn't see, Kushina could. At this moment, her face was full of excitement, knowing how much Shirou was infatuated with her body.

She could feel it clearly through his touch—his hand constantly exploring her.

"Shirou, do you think this place is secluded enough?"

Suddenly, Kushina pulled Shirou's hand downward. Through a layer of fabric, his hand landed on a warm, soft spot.

Lying on the hospital bed, Shirou's eyes widened (despite being blindfolded). He could distinctly feel the blood rushing to his nose.

"Kushina, this is not okay."

Kushina, who took advantage of the moment for a bold move, was unusually excited yet maintained a facade of calmness, leaving Shirou feeling utterly helpless.

If Mikoto could be described as gentle and subtly manipulative, hiding a yandere personality, then Kushina was the playful, thrill-seeking fox girl, while Tsunade was the mature, dominant older sister type.

The black, red, and gold flowers of Konoha, each with their unique personality and preferences.

"Just teasing you."

Suddenly, a moist sensation brushed against his ear as Kushina playfully teased him. Yet, in response, Shirou's fingers pressed down harder, eliciting a heavy gasp from her.

Blindfolded, Shirou growled softly, "Kushina, don't mess around. The curse seal isn't as simple as you think."

He could feel that Kushina had sneakily climbed onto his bed and was now straddling his neck.

What was she planning to do? What was she planning to do?!

At this moment, Shirou wished he could rip off the bandages covering his eyes and teach this mischievous little fox girl a lesson.

In the lab, Kushina was the only one who could see. The thrill of the situation left her both nervous and exhilarated as she kept stealing glances at the two figures behind the curtain.

Meanwhile, she knelt on the hospital bed, pulling one of Shirou's hands to explore her body, searching for the perfect spot for the curse seal.

"Shirou, how about here? Or maybe here?"

Her constant teasing left Shirou feeling utterly frustrated, while Kushina only grew more excited.

"Kushina…"

A warm, moist sensation suddenly brushed against him, leaving Shirou momentarily stunned. At least she hadn't completely crossed the line. If she had, he would've flipped her over and asserted his dominance right then and there.

"Shirou, what do you think? Here, or maybe here?"

Her hand guided his to various sensitive areas, but Shirou had had enough of this game. It was frustrating to be teased when he couldn't even see her face.

"Shirou, let me help you sit up. How about we put it on my lower abdomen?"

Even Kushina, who loved thrills, knew she couldn't continue teasing. She helped Shirou sit up and guided his hand to her exposed lower abdomen.

Through her smooth, soft skin, Shirou could feel the warmth and firmness of her body. Kushina held his head close to her abdomen, feeling the heat of his breath against her skin.

"Shirou, let's put it here. There's already that fox seal here, so I want your curse seal to go either above or below it."

As his hand ran over her satin-like skin, Shirou smiled and teased:

"What are you talking about? I think the black patterns of the seal look rather charming."

His playful tone made Kushina blush. But the next moment, she almost cried out in surprise.

With a tug downward, a cool sensation spread across her abdomen. Then, warmth—his mouth pressing against her skin.

Sharp fangs pierced her flesh, and the black, intricate design of a three-tomoe curse seal slowly appeared.

As the curse seal formed, Kushina felt an intense heat radiating from her abdomen. Her face flushed red, the sensation overwhelming her to the point where her knees nearly buckled.

"It's done. The curse seal is complete."

Blindfolded, Shirou smirked, his lips curling into a teasing smile. "You like playing around, huh? Was that thrilling enough for you?"

He released her hand, thinking the ordeal was over. But just as he was ready to relax, Kushina's misty eyes glistened with mischief. With her face still flushed, she stole a glance at the two figures behind the curtain before biting her lip and making a bold move.

"Kushina?"

Underneath his bandages, Shirou's eyes widened.

Kushina stepped closer to him, her hands going to his pants. With shaking hands, she undid the clasp and let his pants fall to the ground. Shirou cock sprang free, already hard and ready for her.

Kushina knelt in front of him, taking him into her mouth.

Shirou gasped as Kushina expertly sucked on his cock, her tongue swirling around the head. He reached out and ran his fingers through her hair, feeling the silky strands slide between his fingers.

Kushina moaned softly around his cock, her fingers finding their way to his balls, teasing and massaging them.

In the sweltering summer heat, Kushina's flushed face burned even hotter as she nervously glanced at the curtain behind her, worried that Tsunade and Mikoto might catch her sneaking a popsicle.

… A while later …

After several gulps, Kushina quickly cleaned up the scene as if nothing had happened.

"Shirou, here's the intel you asked me to gather. I've confirmed everything. Kumogakure hasn't made any moves recently, and Sunagakure…"

After finishing her antics, Kushina straightened her clothes and put on the demeanor of a composed ninja, reporting the intel she had gathered to Shirou.

Listening to her report, Shirou nodded internally. He understood her playful nature and her youthful exuberance—it was all part of what made her so endearing. After all, who wouldn't love a fun, playful girlfriend?

"I see."

"Sister Tsunade, now that I've received the curse seal, I'll head back to adapt to its power."

Guilty, Kushina didn't linger as she usually would, sticking close to Shirou.

Behind the curtain, Tsunade nodded and said, "Alright, but remember not to overuse your chakra for the next half month. Let your body gradually adjust to the curse seal."

"Yes."

After listening to Tsunade's advice, Kushina, for once, didn't go to see Mikoto. Instead, she quickly said goodbye and left.

"Sister Mikoto, I'll be heading out first."

Kushina had a guilty look on her face as if she were ready to sneak away. But before leaving, she glanced one last time at the figure behind the curtain and Shirou. Then, taking advantage of the moment, she sneaked quick kisses on Shirou's cheek and immediately bolted.

After a while, the curtain was pulled back. Tsunade wiped the sweat off her forehead and looked at Mikoto, who had just finished preparing. A satisfied smile appeared on her face.

"Not bad. The Mangekyō Sharingan is completely different from the three-tomoe Sharingan. It's a qualitative leap..."

Standing up, Mikoto displayed a respectful smile and nodded. "Thank you, Lady Tsunade."

"Alright. Go stabilize Shirou's situation. Don't let anyone find any loopholes."

"Understood."

Once the laboratory returned to silence and both Kushina and Mikoto had left, only Tsunade remained.

In the quiet lab, the only sounds were the hum of various instruments and the crisp clicking of Tsunade's high heels.

After a while, the scratching of her pen, recording notes, stopped. Shirou lay silently on the hospital bed until Tsunade broke the silence.

"Shirou, what else do you know? Why are you fixated on Kumogakure and Sunagakure? You mentioned before that these villages would target the Senju and Uchiha clans—could there be a connection?"

The crisp sound of her high heels echoed as Tsunade calmly walked over to the bed. She removed her shoes and propped her feet up on the bed as she questioned him.

Lying on the bed, unable to see anything, Shirou felt the pressure and his mouth twitched slightly. He was certain—Tsunade's eyes must be blazing with anger.

After a moment's hesitation, he quietly replied:

"Sister Tsunade, as I said before, the villages plan to act against the White Fang, the Senju, and the Uchiha, but I don't know the exact details. I only know there seems to be some activity in Kumogakure and Sunagakure."

Shirou wasn't lying. Based on the information he had, the trigger for the Third Shinobi World War was the disappearance of the Third Kazekage. If he didn't seize the opportunity to pin the blame on these old fools, he'd be unworthy of the Uchiha name.

Then there was the Eight-Tails rampage in Kumogakure. Orochimaru's current mission was almost certainly related to this. After all, during the war, Killer Bee had already inherited the Eight-Tails.

This meant that before the Third Shinobi World War began, the Eight-Tails Jinchūriki was still Blue B. Based on his knowledge of the future and the current situation, he could deduce that it would happen around this time.

Hearing this, Tsunade frowned. "Kumogakure? Sunagakure? What do they have to do with targeting the Senju and Uchiha?"

At this moment, Tsunade frowned deeply, unable to make sense of it. Shirou, however, shook his head internally.

If these events unfolded naturally, they wouldn't mean much. But if Tsunade became aware of them beforehand, especially with what would happen to the White Fang this year…

Things would get interesting.

The death of the White Fang, the Eight-Tails rampage, and the shocking disappearance of the Third Kazekage—all of these would lead to an inescapable conclusion:

The current leadership, obsessed with power, would refuse to relinquish their positions. To achieve this, they would go so far as to drive the White Fang to his death and ignite the Third Shinobi World War.

For their selfish desires, they would spark a war. Naturally, during a time of war, Konoha wouldn't easily change its Hokage.

Checkmate.

Breaking this stalemate would be simple—just give the Hokage position to someone else. But would these old fools, barely fifty years old, be willing to step down?

"For Kumogakure. Orochimaru has been sent on a covert mission by the Root there. Before leaving, he even specifically visited Grandma and discussed sealing techniques. This mission is about containing a rampaging tailed beast."

Under Tsunade's calm analysis, Shirou nodded silently. In the world of shinobi, strategies were all about intelligence.

"So Orochimaru's mission this time is likely targeting Kumogakure's tailed beast. However, this seems more like an effort to weaken Kumogakure's strength. Where's the conspiracy in that?"

No matter how hard Tsunade thought, she couldn't figure out a deeper plot. After all, in the shinobi world, creating chaos in an enemy village was par for the course.

Similarly, if other villages had the opportunity to target Konoha, they wouldn't let it pass.

"As for Sunagakure? Recent intel shows some unusual activity in the ancient kingdom of Rōran, which lies within the Land of Wind but is independent of Sunagakure. They've started producing a large number of new puppets, suggesting Sunagakure might be plotting something."

Tsunade's calm analysis left Shirou in awe. As expected of a more composed and mature Tsunade—her mind worked incredibly quickly.

"After all, resources in the Land of Wind are limited. Sunagakure wouldn't want a country with its military ninja force to exist."

If this had been in the past, Tsunade might have avoided saying such things or shown some dissatisfaction. But now, having seen the darkness of the shinobi world, her expression remained indifferent, showing no hint of emotion.

Finding opportunities and taking advantage of them to spark conflict was a common tactic among shinobi.

Listening to Tsunade's analysis, Shirou shook his head and said, "I don't know the specifics either. This is all the intel I have. But with Hatake Sakumo's reputation growing so much recently, what's your plan?"

With a doubtful expression, Shirou wondered aloud. The White Fang's reputation had grown so immensely that even the major clans seemed content to let him overshadow the Sannin. It was clear that, aside from his actual strength and achievements, someone was pushing for Sakumo behind the scenes. Was the plan to raise Sakumo as the next Hokage?

Faced with such a sensitive question, Tsunade showed no hesitation. She directly smirked:

"Those old fossils are all about to turn fifty in a year. You need to understand that in the shinobi world, the lifespan of a ninja usually peaks around forty or fifty. They've already lived long lives.

For most ordinary ninjas, passing forty brings declining physical functions and old injuries, leading to a weakened body. Even if those old geezers are in good shape, without special Kekkei Genkai, fifty is when you start going downhill.

Konoha needs a strong Hokage, not an old man!"

Tsunade's words revealed the harsh reality. While ninjas were powerful, the damage they sustained throughout their lives often shortened their lifespans. Only those with unique constitutions or Kekkei Genkai could defy this.

"Besides, the Hokage has already held the position for more than twenty years. That's long enough to be the longest-serving Hokage in Konoha's history.

Over the past twenty years, they've suppressed the power of the clans. If not for the fact that it was to maintain Konoha's balance, the clans would've rebelled long ago!"

Tsunade wasn't one to sugarcoat. She spoke the unvarnished truth.

Hearing her response, Shirou frowned. "And what about Hatake Sakumo? If he becomes Hokage?"

After a moment's hesitation, Tsunade smiled faintly. "If Sakumo becomes Hokage, naturally, he'll aim to revive the Hatake clan."

"But the Hatake clan is so small now. Even with Konoha's resources, how much can he accomplish? Revitalizing a clan requires population!

The Sarutobi clan thrives on Konoha's resources because it has a large population. How much can the Hatake clan even take?"

At this point, Tsunade's smile grew more confident.

"Given Sakumo's character, reviving his clan wouldn't harm Konoha. And once he becomes Hokage, the smart move would be to maintain the current balance. The clans are already divided, and the Sarutobi clan, after stepping down, would lose its overwhelming influence.

With the clans' infighting and mutual checks and balances, while also recruiting civilian ninjas, the resulting equilibrium wouldn't harm anyone's interests—especially the Root!"

At the mention of the Root, a cold light flashed in Tsunade's eyes.

"The Root might be necessary, but such unchecked behavior needs to be reined in!"

Listening to Tsunade's analysis, Shirou suddenly understood the political landscape after Sakumo's hypothetical rise to power.

Sakumo treated everyone in Konoha well. In contrast, if the Third Hokage and his allies stayed in power, they'd continue draining the clans of their strength—not enough to kill them, but enough to keep them in pain.

In the original timeline, the White Fang's downfall might have been a conspiracy, an impossible mission, or perhaps just something that happened and was then exploited.

After all, power is intoxicating.

Who would willingly step down in their prime, especially when they still believed they could contribute?

For such greedy individuals, Shirou understood them better than anyone. Forget fifty—even if they could sit in that chair forever, they'd do so with unrelenting vigor.