The Nine-Tails chakra receded from Kushina, restoring her original attire.
She looked at the blooming flower in her hand, her small head filled with confusion, metaphorical question marks practically hovering above it.
"I've mastered a technique that allows me to borrow the power of the deceased. Every time I use it, some residual energy remains. Who knows? One day, you might see me suddenly awaken a pair of Mangekyō Sharingan."
Yamanaka Shinno scratched his cheek, casually attributing his newfound Wood Release abilities to his so-called "Borrowed Account Login."
(T/N: [Borrowed Account Login] (Purple): Grants the ability to connect with souls in the Pure Land, temporarily borrowing their peak-level abilities. Each use leaves behind residual energy, permanently strengthening the user.)
"That's amazing~!"
Kushina nodded dumbly, instinctively supporting her boyfriend as always.
After a brief pause, she asked again, "Why did Kurama react like that? And just now—when it said your power was too strong—was it referring to some past event?"
"Are you sure that's what you should be focusing on?"
"Oh? Is Shinno fishing for compliments? I can praise you some more if you want~?"
"...Forget it. I'd rather tell you the story about spiky-hair and bowl-cut competing over who could pee the farthest."
Rolling his eyes, Shinno sighed as they walked toward Uzumaki Clan's Mask Storage Temple, continuing their conversation about the early days of Konoha.
...
Upon arriving at Storage Temple, the two of them sat on the veranda, enjoying breakfast.
Less than ten minutes later, Uzumaki Honoka arrived, carrying a small wooden bucket and a cleaning cloth.
After exchanging greetings, Shinno quickly finished the last of his buns. Leaving a Flying Thunder God seal on the veranda, he teleported to Konoha's riverbank to fetch water.
Meanwhile, Kushina and Honoka gathered tools from the storage room and began efficiently cleaning the Storage Temple, sweeping away dust, fallen leaves, and other debris that had blown in. Slowly but surely, they restored the place to its former condition.
"There are so many masks hanging on this wall. Does each one represent a deity?" Shinno asked casually, voicing his curiosity.
"Mm-hmm! This is the Sea God, this is the Moon Goddess, this is Inari Ōkami, this is the Fire God, and this one is..."
"Do they all have contracts and special sealing jutsu like the Grim Reaper?"
"Not exactly. According to Grandma Mito, most of these deities vanished a long, long time ago. Only three remain, and each has a unique contract and sealing technique."
"Did Grandma Mito preserve them all?"
"She only kept Shiki Fūjin... Honoka, do you know them?"
Kushina turned to Honoka, who hesitated before shaking her head.
"My parents never learned such advanced techniques."
Compared to Kushina, she knew even less about these things. And jutsu requiring a divine contract didn't sound like something just any clan member could master.
"Hehe~ Grandma Mito left behind a lot of interesting techniques. Want to check them out together sometime?"
"Eh? Really?"
"Of course!"
"Kushina, you're the best~!"
"That's because you're the best, Honoka!"
The two girls giggled, linking arms and whispering about who-knows-what.
Shinno, meanwhile, focused on the wall adorned with twenty-seven masks.
A long, long time ago—just how long was that?
He wondered if Orochimaru could reverse-engineer those lost sealing techniques through research.
"Forget it..."
Shinno sighed and shook his head, deciding to let go of his grudge against Konoha's past leadership.
He'd cursed them enough times—he was tired. Whatever.
As the girls diligently restored the Storage Temple, Shinno turned his attention to the purple trait [Borrowed Account Login], pondering whether he should summon Senju Hashirama to establish a contract.
After all, what if Kushina suddenly got the idea to meet her grandmother's husband?
"Kushina, I need to take care of something. If you need me, use this."
He raised his arm, pointing at his wrist.
"Mm-hmm!"
Kushina waved him off with a bright smile, already deep in whispered conversation with Honoka.
...
With a flicker, Shinno teleported into the Root base.
He nodded to his shadow clone, which was sitting at Danzo's desk, processing documents. Sparing a glance at "Danzo"—who was crouched in the corner, reading a picture book—Shinno turned and made his way to the lowest level of the Root's sealed archives.
Ten minutes later, after dispelling layers of seals, he retrieved a storage jar containing a palm-sized piece of flesh.
Once again, he used Flying Thunder God to teleport into a secluded forest—the same place where he had experimented with Wood Release.
Using Wood Release: Four Pillar House Technique, he quickly constructed a wooden cabin.
Setting Hashirama's flesh on the floor, he began drawing an intricate and eerie technique formula around it with chakra.
The moment he completed the final stroke, the complex markings glowed with an eerie blue light.
A dim, ominous door exuding decay and a sinister aura appeared in the center of the formation.
"Tch—So I have to mention something the target cares about to summon them? Such a hassle."
Shinno clicked his tongue in annoyance.
After thinking for a moment about what might get Hashirama's attention, he called out,
"Lord Hashirama, I'm your granddaughter Tsunade's brother-in-law. Wouldn't you like to see her? Or take a look at Konoha now?"
No response.
Shinno frowned and tried again.
"Lord Hashirama, disaster has struck! Your granddaughter Tsunade became the Fourth Hokage! She's gambling away the entire village! You have to stop her!"
Still nothing.
"Lord Hashirama! The Third Shinobi War has broken out! Konoha is being besieged by four Great Shinobi Villages! We're about to be wiped out! Help!"
Silence.
"Damn it!"
"Hey, Hashirama! Madara says he can pee farther than you! That he can skip stones better than you! And that if it weren't for you standing behind him, he would've won back then—"
BAM!
Before Shinno could finish, the decayed door was violently kicked open.
Senju Hashirama stormed out of the Pure Land, his face dark with fury.
"You met Madara? That bastard! He never beat me even once!"
"...Yeah, I met him."
Shinno stared at the legendary shinobi, feeling utterly speechless.
Konoha's destruction wouldn't bring him back, but one mention of Uchiha Madara and he came charging out?
And the first thing he asked was whether Shinno had actually met Madara.
Was this the power of true friendship?
"Your chakra feels unfamiliar. I don't recall meeting you before. And Madara died before I did—how could you have seen him?"
"Madara used Izanagi's transcription seal to rewrite his death and revive himself sometime after he passed."
"Hahahaha! I knew that bastard wouldn't go down so easily! Damn it, I got tricked!"
Hashirama burst into hearty laughter, hands on his hips.
Then, with a more serious expression, he asked, "So, you summoned me because Konoha is truly in danger? War again, huh?"
"Uh… actually, I made that up."
"...Tsunade, then?"
"Also made up."
Hashirama sighed, rubbing his temples. "Do you ever tell the truth?"
"I really am your granddaughter's brother-in-law."
"That's a weird way to put it… My granddaughter's sister isn't my granddaughter?"
Hashirama stroked his chin, processing the implications.
Then, his expression suddenly changed.
"Wait… This sounds like a family tragedy! Even in death, I'm dragged into drama?!"
Shinno deadpanned. "I meant through Grandma Mito's side."
Hashirama went completely still.
After a long silence, he murmured, "Did… Mito… remarry?"
----------------
Pls Drop some Power Stones
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