Under Ryo's overwhelming strength, Kakuzu was captured alive. After sealing his chakra, he became a live specimen for Tsunade's research into the forbidden jutsu Earth Grudge Fear to treat Nawaki.
This was a top-level secret.
Orochimaru showed deep interest in it.
Konoha's interrogation methods were brutal and efficient.
As the shinobi world says, in front of a ninja, especially one from the Five Great Villages, a living person can't hide anything in their mind.
Genjutsu, the Yamanaka clan's Mind Body Switch Technique, there were too many ways to pry open a prisoner's mind and expose all their memories.
Dead people might have damaged memories due to brain trauma, but a living Kakuzu, facing Konoha's interrogation experts, had no chance.
This kind of technical work didn't require Tsunade's personal attention, nor did it need Ryo's involvement.
Orochimaru, one of the Legendary Sannin and a fanatic for forbidden jutsu research, had methods that even an ancient monster like Kakuzu couldn't resist.
Soon, a detailed scroll on Earth Grudge Fear was delivered to Tsunade's desk.
The moment she received the scroll, a massive weight lifted from her heart.
She eagerly began researching this ancient forbidden jutsu from an enemy village.
Her younger brother, critically wounded on the battlefield and declared unable to mold chakra or ever become a ninja again, had pinned all hope on this.
The lab lights stayed on day and night.
Tsunade often worked through the night, brows tightly knit as she read through the scroll, running simulations and theories at her workbench.
Ryo would occasionally visit her, offering a cup of hot tea or simply sitting quietly by her side.
He didn't say much, but his silent presence was comforting.
His hypothesis, that Earth Grudge Fear could replace damaged chakra pathways, was gradually being proven correct.
"Big sis, this chakra flow…" Nawaki sat on a specially made chair, his body connected to a complex chakra-sensing apparatus.
His face was still pale, but a light called "hope" had returned to his eyes. He actively cooperated with Tsunade's research, even though the process was painful and uncomfortable.
"Mm, according to the third section of the scroll, we need to guide the black threads more precisely to replace the blocked nodes." Tsunade was fully focused, her fingertips wrapped in gentle medical chakra. Carefully, she guided the black thread-like substances extracted from a special culture fluid, simulating the structure of Earth Grudge Fear, attempting to merge them into specific damaged areas of Nawaki's chakra network.
Failure was common.
Each attempt brought searing pain and the risk of chakra backlash.
Nawaki bit down hard, cold sweat soaking his clothes, but he never once asked to stop.
Ryo would sometimes steady Nawaki's trembling shoulders, silently offering him support.
Orochimaru also visited several times. His golden vertical pupils flickered with an unusual gleam as he watched the procedure, occasionally offering critical suggestions in his usual cold and rational tone.
His suggestions were always spot-on. Though they made Tsunade instinctively uncomfortable, for Nawaki's sake, she accepted them.
Time passed quietly in the rhythm of failure, adjustments, and retries.
Several months slipped by under the lab's lights, through Nawaki's pain and Tsunade's relentless efforts.
Then came a seemingly ordinary afternoon.
Nawaki sat cross-legged on the training ground's grass, carefully guiding a faint but resilient stream of energy through his body. It was a flow simulated by the black threads from Earth Grudge Fear.
The energy delicately bypassed withered and broken chakra pathways, building a fragile but intricate bridge.
A faint, pale-blue glow of chakra slowly and clearly condensed in his palm.
The light was fragile, like a candle in the wind, but it burned steadily without going out.
Nawaki's hands trembled, not from pain but from pure excitement.
He suddenly looked up at Tsunade and Ryo, lips trembling, tears flooding from his eyes.
"Big sis… Ryo, look… look! Chakra! It's my chakra!"
That faint light reflected in his eyes, filled with disbelief and hope.
Tsunade stood frozen, as if all her strength had left her body in an instant. Months of accumulated fatigue surged over her like a crashing tide.
She stared fixedly at the faint blue glow in Nawaki's palm. Her body swayed slightly before being overwhelmed by joy and release.
Her eyes reddened instantly. Tears streamed silently down her cheeks, but she didn't cry out. She only nodded hard, a bright and relieved smile finally appearing on her face.
"It worked… it really worked." Her voice trembled but remained firm.
Ryo stood beside her, watching the glow in Nawaki's palm, a symbol of rebirth. A gentle smile appeared on his face as he lightly patted her shoulder.
"Ryo's hypothesis was correct." Tsunade took a deep breath, suppressing her emotions. As a master of medical ninjutsu, she immediately began a detailed examination.
Her fingers pressed against Nawaki's wrist, sensing the chakra flow within him.
The simulated Earth Grudge Fear black thread network was still immature, but it was stable, replacing the damaged chakra channels and constructing a brand-new circulation system.
Not only did it solve the problem of molding chakra, it even went further.
"It feels… different." Nawaki closed his eyes, sensing carefully. "My chakra network feels wider. The chakra flow… it's smoother, maybe even denser?"
Tsunade pulled back her hand, her exhaustion replaced by relief. Her eyes lit up.
"It didn't just fix it. Earth Grudge Fear completely reconstructed your chakra system. It replaced the original fragile pathways with a stronger and more promising network."
What did this mean?
It meant Nawaki had turned misfortune into a blessing.
Originally, with Nawaki's talent, even with Tsunade and the Senju clan's full support, reaching Elite Jōnin would have been his limit.
But now, with a body reconstructed and enhanced by Earth Grudge Fear, his potential had fundamentally changed.
"The last user of Earth Grudge Fear, Kakuzu, was a real Kage-level shinobi." Ryo calmly explained. "Though most of his strength came from age and the technique's abilities, the resilience and chakra potential granted by this forbidden jutsu are real. Nawaki, your starting line is no longer the same."
From a cripple to someone standing at the threshold of Kage-level power, this was nothing short of a miracle.
He clenched his fists tightly, feeling the reborn strength within.
"I'll definitely get stronger. Big sis, Ryo, I won't let you down."
Seeing the fire reignite in her brother's eyes, even fiercer than before his injury, Tsunade felt the final burden in her heart vanish.
The exhaustion of months, all the frustration and worry, became a wave of satisfaction and pride.
"It was all worth it… every bit." She wiped her eyes, let out a deep breath, and felt like she had dropped a thousand-pound weight.
Joy surged in her chest, demanding to be released.
"Nawaki, rest up and get used to your new strength. Don't rush things." Tsunade instructed, then turned to Ryo. A bright smile lit up her face, and her tone was more relaxed and cheerful than it had been in months.
"Come on, drink with me. We have to celebrate today. Where's Orochimaru? Call him too. This is thanks to both of you."
At a familiar izakaya in Konoha, in a private room.
The low table was filled with sake bottles and small dishes.
Tsunade sat in the middle, Ryo on her left, Orochimaru on her right.
Nawaki, still in recovery, didn't attend.
"Cheers!" Tsunade raised her cup first, her voice loud and full of relief. "To Nawaki's new life. Cheers!"
"Cheers." Ryo lifted his cup and lightly drank.
He had clear sake, not very strong.
He didn't have much interest in alcohol, preferring to stay clear-headed.
Orochimaru also raised his cup, golden eyes gleaming behind it. His voice had its usual smooth tone.
"A remarkable result, Tsunade. The application of Earth Grudge Fear offers a new perspective on body modification and potential development. Nawaki's future is promising. And Ryo-kun's precise insight was equally essential." His gaze lingered on Ryo for a moment, probing and curious.
"Less talking, more drinking!" Tsunade tipped back her cup, emptying it in one go.
Her face flushed from alcohol and excitement. Her golden eyes sparkled. She radiated a powerful and cheerful energy.
"Ryo, thank you. If you hadn't captured Kakuzu, Nawaki…"
She looked at Ryo, her gaze sincere and blazing with gratitude.
"Nawaki worked hard too. Your dedication was the key." Ryo replied calmly, his tone soft.
He took another small sip.
"Haha, everything mattered!" Tsunade laughed heartily and downed another cup. She was in high spirits, urging them to drink constantly.
"Orochimaru, stop staring and drink. Ryo, is your tolerance that low? This is celebration sake. Nawaki's back on his feet. Fill up your cup."
She grabbed Ryo's sake bottle and refilled his half-empty cup without waiting.
Ryo frowned slightly. "Tsunade, you know I'm not good with alcohol."
"No excuses. You're drinking today. Be happy." Tsunade firmly shoved the cup into his hand. Her gaze was stubborn and slightly tipsy. "I'm toasting you. You saved Nawaki, which means you saved me. You have to drink this. Otherwise, you're looking down on me." She leaned in slightly, warm breath brushing against Ryo's ear.
Faced with Tsunade's enthusiasm, Ryo looked helpless.
He glanced at the full cup in his hand, then at Tsunade's bright eyes filled with emotion.
He had seen everything. Nawaki's recovery, Tsunade's tireless effort, her pain, her strength.
"…Fine." Ryo gave in. He raised his cup. "To Nawaki."
"To Nawaki!" Tsunade shouted happily, filled her cup again, and drained it once more.
Orochimaru quietly sipped his sake, watching her drink with amusement and watching Ryo drink with interest. A faint, ambiguous smile tugged at the corners of his mouth.
He didn't enjoy emotionally charged gatherings like this. He preferred observation, analysis, and results.
As the rounds went on, Ryo was forced to drink more than he normally would.
His alcohol tolerance wasn't great, but his body's constitution far exceeded a normal person's. He metabolized the alcohol quickly. He only felt mildly tipsy and remained alert.
Tsunade, on the other hand, truly let loose. One cup after another, she drank as if trying to wash away months of tension and pain.
Her blush deepened, her eyes became unfocused, and her laughter more unrestrained. She occasionally slapped the table while talking, her drunkenness fully visible.
The usual authority of the Legendary Sannin faded under the alcohol and relaxation, revealing a rare side of her. Honest, unfiltered, even a little flirtatious.
The room filled with the aroma of sake and food.
Tsunade was pulling Ryo close, insisting on drinking a "cross-cup toast," mumbling things like "Nawaki is my everything. You saved him, so you're my savior."
Ryo laughed helplessly and tried to dodge her sake cup.
At that moment, the door to the private room opened quietly.
A masked Konoha Anbu appeared, bowed slightly toward Orochimaru, and spoke in a low voice.
"Orochimaru-sama, the Hokage-sama requests your presence."
Orochimaru set down his cup, a flicker of curiosity passing through his eyes.
He stood up, offered Tsunade and Ryo a polite smile, and said smoothly, "Looks like I can't stay to enjoy the celebration. Tsunade, Ryo-kun, continue as you please." Then he turned and left quickly with the Anbu.
(To be continued.)
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