When the power of Wood Style acted upon the tree trunk that was on the verge of losing its life, Rakuzakura felt as if her entire body was being filled up.
That's right, this was the power of Wood Style. It just filled her right up!
However, Uchiha Ryo was not yet very familiar with using it, and this was the modern world after all. He couldn't make too big of a scene.
He concentrated the entire life energy of the tree into a single branch, and then split the branch off.
"You're Rakuzakura, right? Your main body is now this branch. Takashi will take your main body home to replant it. Is that okay?"
Her main body had changed from an entire large tree to a single branch. Rakuzakura could feel that her power had been weakened by more than half. But contrary to that, her life force was actually increasing continuously.
Nyanko-sensei narrowed his eyes.
"Oh? Converting one's own energy into plant life force! What a special ability. You could be called a treasure to all plant spirits."
Takashi looked in surprise at Rakuzakura, whose body was becoming more and more solid, and couldn't help but laugh again.
"Let's go home, Rakuzakura. You're coming with us... home!"
Ever since getting the Book of Friends left by his grandmother, Takashi had finally met... a youkai that belonged only to him.
After all, because of the Book of Friends, most of the youkai Takashi encountered were all seeking his grandmother, to get their names back.
The person those youkai were waiting for, the person they longed for, the person they had a bond with, was always only Natsume Reiko.
Rakuzakura nodded, then first bowed deeply to Uchiha Ryo. If it weren't for the immense life force he had given her, she wouldn't even be able to leave with Takashi, and her own life would have soon faded away.
"Takashi, the thing on your shoulder, is that your pet pig?"
"Pig? Hey, you little tree spirit, who are you calling a pig! I'm a cat, Takashi's Nyanko-sensei!"
Rakuzakura was stunned for a moment. "Aren't you a pig youkai? A real cat doesn't look like that, does it?"
With that, Rakuzakura pointed at Enyun beside Uchiha Ryo.
Enraged, cold, and trembling! Why did everyone think Enyun was better looking than him, Nyanko-sensei! He was the cute and lovable maneki-neko...
Carrying the cherry blossom branch, the two humans, along with one cat and one pig? embarked on their journey home.
Looking at the branch in his hand, Uchiha Ryo closed his eyes helplessly. He had almost saved up to three thousand points!
He was so close to getting the Flying Thunder God Jutsu! But in the end, he exchanged it for Wood Style. Although Wood Style was strong, in this world... could he really dare to plant trees on a large scale in a modern city?
So, compared to the more powerful Wood Style, Uchiha Ryo was still more inclined towards the Flying Thunder God Jutsu. And he only had Hashirama's Wood Style, not Hashirama's vast chakra reserves.
But this exchange was the first time... he hadn't exchanged it for himself.
In the past, whether Uchiha Ryo was farming G-Points or spending them, it was mostly so that he could become stronger.
But now, Uchiha Ryo felt honored to be able to help Takashi. So he didn't regret almost emptying his G-Points to get Wood Style. Perhaps he should change his mindset... After all, the original purpose of Wood Style was to protect family, friends, and everyone he cared about.
Returning home, Uchiha Ryo first planted the cherry blossom branch in the yard of Takashi's house, then used Wood Style to promote its growth.
Soon, the branch, which had been just over a meter long, began to take root, grow, and gradually turned into a sapling of about two meters.
"Although I can continue to help it grow, it would be hard to explain to Aunt Touko and the others. But I'll come over periodically. It should take about a year for Rakuzakura to return to her original size."
Takashi nodded in understanding. That was enough.
"Takashi, Takashi, let me be your shikigami! That way I can protect you too!"
Rakuzakura flew a circle around the yard, then landed in front of Takashi and said.
But to Rakuzakura's disappointment, Takashi shook his head slightly. "Rakuzakura, from today on, you are my family, not some shikigami. And I don't need you to fight, okay?"
"Oh....."
Uchiha Ryo breathed a sigh of relief. It seemed that today's events had come to a satisfactory conclusion. Then he should head back first.
"Ryo-nii, I'll walk you out."
Walking out of the courtyard gate, Uchiha Ryo stopped and looked at Takashi behind him.
"You should go back and rest. I need to go back and rest too."
Takashi didn't move, but quietly looked at Uchiha Ryo. "Ryo-nii, Nyanko-sensei secretly told me just now that life energy is one of the most powerful energies in this world. Under normal circumstances, it can't be created, only... transferred."
In Takashi's eyes, Uchiha Ryo must have used his own life force to temporarily sustain Rakuzakura's. So... he was a little worried.
[Takashi's affinity has increased—G-Points +100]
"Hahaha, that's for ordinary people. I just used up my stamina a bit quickly."
Takashi frowned. "But...."
Uchiha Ryo reached out and poked Takashi's forehead.
"Even if we're not related by blood, I'll always be your big brother! You're not the only one who is treated gently by this world."
.....
At the gate of Shuchiin on Tuesday, when Uchiha Ryo appeared again, he was actually surrounded.
That's right, Shirogane Miyuki was very worried about his friend. After learning that he was sick and had taken leave, he wanted to visit him at home. And then he realized he didn't know where his friend lived...
Shirogane Miyuki reached out his hand. "Uchiha...."
On the other side, Chitanda Eru and Amakusa Shino had already come up to Uchiha Ryo. They knew where Uchiha Ryo lived, but to their surprise, Yukinoshita Yukino was also sick and had taken leave.
Chitanda Eru was worried and wanted to go visit, but she was stopped by Amakusa Shino.
["I think it's better not to go. It would be bad if we disturbed them...."] Amakusa Shino said meaningfully. Her thoughts coincided with those of two certain teachers.
After dealing with the two from the Classic Literature Club, just as Shirogane Miyuki was about to step forward and say hello, he saw Hayasaka Ai also come up to Uchiha Ryo with concern, asking if he had recovered.
Coming over with Hayasaka Ai was a pink-haired girl, Fujiwara Chika. And at the entrance of the school building, the sharp-eyed Uchiha Ryo also saw the figure of Shinomiya Kaguya.
Shirogane Miyuki's outstretched hand froze in mid-air.... Was this the gap in academic ability! He had decided. He would also study hard and strive to reach Uchiha Ryo's level!