The alleyway was dark.

  "I see... So that's why you contacted me," Gato said, raising his chin with a smirk as he eyed the man before him.

  "...Meatball Kanto."

  Meatball gave a stiff nod, his jaw tight.

  "Indeed, Sir Gato. Not only has Sabuko been a rebellious brat tely, but he had the nerve to spit in my and my wife's face after everything we've done for him. Over something so damn silly. He thinks he can just walk out on us like that...! He's sorely mistaken."

  "Haaah... Children, am I right?" Gato chuckled, tongue clicking as he shook his head slowly.

  "I've got a nephew like that back in the Land of Waves. Full of dreams, pride, shinobi talk... They never think about the people they hurt. Must be exhausting, being a father to a failure like that, hmm?"

  Fnking him were two silent Hidden Mist chūnin, masks half-shadowed in the dim alley.

  Gato straightened up. His smile thinned.

  "I'll be honest with you. I've got a small project I'm dealing with back in the Waves. So asking me to—" he waved his hand lightly, "—kidnap a boy from the heart of Konoha and deliver him to you... That's a little resource-heavy at the moment, hm?"

  Meatball stepped forward, breathing hard.

  "I'll pay whatever you want. Just... see it through. Please."

  Gato's eyes narrowed—but his smile returned.

  "That's wonderful to hear. I'm always happy to help a fellow businessman in need," he said smoothly, turning away and signaling for his guards to follow.

  "If you're going to strike," Meatball added, "do it in his time off the Academy. Now that he doesn't have my support, he must be all alone when he's—"

  Gato chuckled, already turning his back.

  "Tch... Logistics, Meatball?" he said with a smirk. "Let the professionals worry about that." He gave a zy wave over his shoulder as he disappeared into the shadows, leaving Meatball alone in the alley.

  ----------------

  'RIGHT. TSUNADE. HOLY SHIT—WHY DIDN'T I THINK OF THAT EARLIER?!' Sabuko thought as he strode toward the cssroom, eyes lighting up.

  'She's like... seventy or something, right? But she always has that fwless, youthful mommy face. I remember—she uses a transformation jutsu to keep herself looking like the hottest babe alive. And she somehow keeps it on constantly. That's it! She knows how to make the transformation jutsu permanent. I have to meet her. If I want to perfect my clone harem, I need her to teach me.'

  He swallowed, suddenly overheating at the thought.

  'But... Jesus Christ… she's the perfect mommy type. The only thing she's missing is a massive futa cock to ruin me… Oohhhh, the things I'd let her do to me… No, mommy...! Enough...!! I... Don't like it one bit...! hehehehe....'

  His eyes gzed over, a giggle escaping his lips as his steps grew lighter.

  Both Koko and Takos stepped at least two paces away from him as they walked.

  "Sabuko-kun looks scary…" Koko murmured, her voice barely above a whisper.

  "Oh, yeah. Ever since his amnes—uh, ever since that time he hit his head really hard, he's been making those weird faces out of nowhere," Takos muttered.

  "Beats me what's going on in his head."

  "…But since it's Sabuko-kun, I don't think he has any wicked thoughts like everyone else…" she added, looking away, clutching her sleeve.

  They kept walking.

  '...Nope. That wouldn't work.' Sabuko sighed through his nose.

  'Even if she looks like a forty-three-course meal at a three-star Michelin restaurant, Tsunade's too broken inside to fall for crap like this. She's been through more than I can even imagine. I doubt she's not the type to tolerate bullshit.'

  He leaned back, arms crossed.

  'If I want her help developing a permanent technique, I'll have to spend real time with her. Days. Maybe weeks. And sooner or ter, she's going to see through me. See the real me. And when she does, she'll either beat the crap out of me or throw me out a window.'

  'Tsk... who's even left that could help with this?'

  He looked down, voice dropping.

  'Not a single person. There's not one sane soul in the Naruto-verse who'd ever want to help me chase this dream.'

  A disappointed blink. Another breath out.

  'Guess I forgot that I'm a freak no one will ever accept.'

  A moment ter, Takos hesitated, then tapped Sabuko on the shoulder. "Uh… dude? The cssroom's back there. You passed it."

  Sabuko blinked, snapping out of his trance. He gnced around.

  "Oh—yeah. Thanks. Sorry," he muttered, turning toward the cssroom.

  'I'll just do it alone. Piece it together along the way, even if it takes years. That was always the pn, anyway,' he thought as he stepped inside.

  For a moment, Koko caught a glimpse of his expression. Bnk. Far-off. Her eyes widened slightly as he passed.

  "See ya ter." He closed the door behind him without another word.

  "Wait—you forgot to introduce me to—!" Takos called out, but the door had already shut.

  "Sheesh, that bastard! What's his deal—"

  "Sabuko-kun..." Koko interrupted softly. "He looked... troubled."

  "You think so? He was all giddy just a second ago."