~Back to Mito POV~
After nearly 3 hours of discussion between Soutarou's Clone and Orochimaru, Mito finally got out of her daze and immediately punched the branch that was pumping vitality into her, turning it into dust. Soutarou's main body's jaw dropped knowing just how much chakra and vitality was infused into that branch. While everyone else in the room gulped.
Tsunade was the first to ask anything, saying, "Grandma Mito are you alright?"
Mito smirked and made the same expression Tsunade made a few weeks ago and said, "I had a breakthrough. What can I say Tsunade?"
Tsunade chuckled nervously as she realized her Grandma's presence seemed to make the very air itself shimmer.
On the other hand Soutarou's eyes nearly popped out after getting a system prompt that advised action against Mito.
Mito just waved them all off as if she wanted them to get out of the room before glancing at Orochimaru, who immediately froze, and said, "Whatever Soutarou offered you… it doesn't matter anymore. Soutarou will be revealing his Wood Release at the Final Exam. Though I hope you can keep a secret until then. Orochimaru."
Orochimaru bowed his head slightly while Soutarou tapped his finger on his chin giving Orochimaru a look before deciding it was better to follow Mito's lead if the system was correct about her strength.
After that Mito just asserted that everyone should get out while she's adjusting her strength. Specifically sending Soutarou and Kushina with the Uzumaki orphans.
Mito thought to herself… 'Ridicious. Pushing up my Ninjutsu alone would've been enough to deal with most anyone… Just that improved all my jutsu to the maximum and forced thousands of others into my brain and they call Saru the professor… Taijutsu on the other hand… What is this… the Eight Inner Gates? I've known about the chakra limiters for a long time, but this is just suicide… the system allows me to use up to the 5th Gate with no major problems, but which fool would go beyond the 5th? The Eight Inner Gates and something it calls Mito Style… This system is totally mocking me. Regardless I suppose just these two abilities are enough. What I'm more surprised about is the aftereffects…'
Mito's eyes traveled to a few notifications on the sky blue screen in front of her…
[Ding! Congratulations user for breaking through to SS rank Mental Power! (Due to mass influx of knowledge)]
[Ding! Congratulations user for breaking through to SSS- rank Physique! (Taijutsu synergy bonus)]
[Ding! Congratulations user for breaking through to SS- rank Bukijutsu Mastery! (Taijutsu synergy bonus)]
[Ding! Congratulations user for breaking through to SS- rank Kenjutsu Mastery! (Taijutsu synergy bonus)]
'System does this mean if I were to work on a certain stat others might go up?'
[Yes host.]
'I see well, I suppose I should focus on the easier items now… training Mikoto, Soutarou, and Kushina. Speaking of Kushina… now that I no longer intend for her to be the Nine Tails Jinchurki… should I go on a retrieval mission of the other tailed beasts?'
[Host's intent recognized. Personal Quest Created:
Correcting the First Hokage. Make Konoha Great Again.
-Capture all nine tailed beasts (portion A)
-??? (portion B)
Portion A rewards: Revealing the Nine Tailed Beasts' names, Special Jutsu- Five Element Amenomihashira, and Special Jutsu- Rasengan
Portion B rewards: ???]
Mito's eyes narrowed, but waved it off thinking. 'This system is truly trying to get me to work to the bone.'
[The strong bear the responsibilities the weak cannot. You are the strongest, Mito Uzumaki.]
'You've become much more responsive haven't you?'
[...]
[Work hard host.]
Mito's eyes narrowed as she felt a bad feeling coming from that statement…
~One Week Later, Kushina and Soutarou's Graduation, Soutarou's POV~
'I'd have rather not graduated so early… but if I'm right timeline wise the second great ninja war will break out into a full blown conflict right after or around Nawaki's birthday… which means if I want to have enough combat experience before the war begins in an absolute manner I have to get stronger faster… but for now one step at a time. Mito will be showing up to the Graduation alongside the Hokage, the three elders, and the to-be Sannin. And at the bonus section where we're allowed to show additional jutsu… Mito wants me to use my wood release as a warning to the Konoha Four.'
… The tests went as expected with many civilian and clan Shinobi performing all three academy standard jutsu along with a composite taijutsu and bukijutsu test against pre-selected instructors and targets. …
"Soutarou please step forward."
All eyes in the level above the Academy's auditorium sharpened.
"Lady Mito, this is the boy you've adopted, correct?"
"Yes Saru he's quiet talented… if I'm being honest if he doesn't try to improve actively he'll at least reach Tobirama's level and if he's serious like I've seen so far… then even Hashirama can't compare to his talents."
All eyes widened before Hiruzen started coughing and saying, "Lady Mito, surely you jest…"
Mito simply shook her head and said, "Watch the additional segment and you'll understand my meaning. Another thing… his and Kushina's sensei is Tsunade. I won't tolerate anything else. The third member of their squad will be Mikoto Uchiha."
Hiruzen's eyes narrowed and he looked over at the awkwardly shifting elders knowing that Mito had subtly implied that their suppression of the Uchiha would no longer be tolerated. Combined with Naori Uchiha's sudden guardianship of Mito it would be obvious to even an idiot that Lady Mito did not approve of their policy. Hiruzen just nodded his head knowing it was better to follow Lady Mito.
All eyes turned back to the testing floor…
Soutarou effortlessly showed off the academy three before saying, "Teacher I'd like to present additional jutsu's for my Instructor Selection."
The instructor nodded his ahead as if expecting this and soon the floor was cleared out.
Soutarou smiled and said, "Instructor the Jutsu I intend to use is much larger than this room, what should I do?"
The instructor started sweating and looked up to the second floor before several Jonin and the Hokage as well the Elders along with Lady Mito descended. Hiruzen told the instructor to continue the examinations as they'll personally oversee Soutarou's additional segment. With that Soutarou along with the rest walked out of the building towards a nearby training ground before the Hokage asked, "I believe this should be big enough Soutarou-kun."
Soutarou tapped his fingers on his chin mischievously and said, "Alright just don't blame me for the aftereffects… oh and step behind me please."
Mito sighed at his antics while Tsunade and Orochimaru were genuinely curious to see his progress while the others were just curious and so everyone stood a few feet away from Soutarou.
'Here goes nothing… I'll jam all of my chakra into this… thankfully this training ground leads straight behind the hokage mountain… and there's nothing much other than trees back there… let's make a monument worthy of Konoha, shall we?'
At that moment chakra began visibly rolling off of Soutarou as the grass began swaying in waves away from him and the very wind itself began to howl. Soutarou simply brought his hands together and yelled out, "Wood Release Secret Technique: Nativity of a World of Trees!"
At that moment thousands of budding sprouts shot out of the ground like tendrils of a nightmare waking up. They slowly but surely shot upwards with an intense vigor beginning to create a monstrously tall trees that left little space between themselves before all merging together in a twisting spiral upwards that even took a bit a chunk of the Hokage Mountain without of course affecting or touching the faces of the former and current Hokages. Once the slow but enormous jutsu finished, a massive tree that towered over all of Konoha and could be seen from far away formed from thousands of trees stood a staggering 500 Meters tall, as if threatening to touch the sky itself… The branches covered Konoha in a subtle shade. But despite its bold and frightening sight it in an almost endearing way stood as a monument of Konoha itself without affecting the village itself, it became a protectorate tree of sorts. At the same time all throughout Konoha jonin, chunin, and even genin stared at the massive tree in awe, while the civilians looked as if a god had descended, while the few spies throughout Konoha started sweating like crazy as one thought ran through the minds of every competent person… 'Wood Release…' 'Back on the training ground a panting Soutarou was smiling like crazy while Mito grabbed her shinobi sandals and immediately threw it at Soutarou's head causing him to stagger backwards. At the same time everyone else's mouth hung so wide open that forget flies crawling in even a raccoon or two could fit in with comfort.
Mito grabbed Soutarou by the ear and started yelling, "WAIT TILL WE GET HOME YOUNG MAN! I TOLD YOU SHOW OFF NOT TELL THE WHOLE WORLD KONOHA HAS WOOD RELEASE AGAIN! OH HASHIRAMA BE DAMNED IF I DON'T CORRECT A WOOD RELEASE USER ONCE IN MY LIFE! LAST TIME HASHIRAMA WENT TO DIE BECAUSE HIS FRIEND WANTED TO SHOW OFF A BIG FOX AND YOU? YOU WANT TO DIE SHOWING OFF YOUR TREE. GOOD! FINE I'LL BEAT YOU OVER THE HEAD WITH A BAMBOO STICK! YOU LIKE WOOD SO MUCH FINE! I'LL BEAT IT INTO YOUR HEAD!"
While Mito yelled at Soutarou like a mother disappointed in her child for beating another child up for a silly reason, the others just stared at Soutarou. A formidable image of him formed in all of their hearts, only to be shattered by Mito creating shadow clones and grabbing him and spanking him in front of everyone. Soutarou on the other hand was now on the verge of tears as he thought to himself, 'MITO! YOU OLD HAG! Just you wait I'll spank the hell out of you! I gave you vitality again and you treat me like this! Just wait, you old hag! I'll spank you so good you'll cry out my name! Wait… I feel like it sounded weird…. Eh whatever. JUST YOU WAI-'
Soutarou's line of thought was interrupted by another loud smack on his ass as he looked at Mito with pure hatred in his eyes. Silently forming hand signs with one of his hands, Soutarou created a wood clone and smacked Mito's ass. Soutarou looked triumphant for about one second before Mito literally started beating the shit out of him. At some point everyone grabbed Mito and tried to calm her down with Tsunade tending to Soutarou wounds before saying, "Did you really have to smack Grandma? I won't even say anything about you going overboard for a graduation test… but really Soutarou?"
Soutarou's smile faltered for a second before he simply said, "Hey! It was totally worth it! Now we're really the village hidden in the leaves."
Tsunade ruffled his hair before sighing and saying, "You idiot."
And with that Soutarou and Kushina graduated with Kushina nonstop complaining about not getting to see 'Souta-chan' in action…
At the same time several Kage and a certain recluse received a terrifying report that all followed the same lines in some variation:
"Wood Release has returned to Konoha and the user of wood release is powerful enough to create a massive tree with a height of at least 500 meters tall without damaging Konoha infrastructure. At this time it is suspected the user is still developing control over the Kekkei Genkai due to the slower pace of the jutsu completion. Warning, this may be a sign Konoha is ready and willing to go to war."
Seeing this Kage across the four other villages unanimously and almost at the same time decided to hold a Four Kage summit without the knowledge of Konoha as all four kicked their wartime preparation into high gear even going as far as inviting Hanzo the Salamander to the meeting as the Quasi-Kage of Ame. At the same time in a cave somewhere in the Land of Iron, Madara's eyes narrowed, a slight apprehension and tension could be felt behind his eyes…
'So this is what you've prepared for me Mito.'
"Zetsu speed up the war plan. And find a suitable Uchiha. Quickly. If what you've gathered is correct then not only is Mito lying about her method of regaining her youth, but she's prepared and likely knows that I'm still alive. A new wood release user… truly… nothing ever goes as planned in this accursed world… No matter. No one can replace Hashirama. Let's see how this plays out shall we Mito?"
***Author's note: Yes. Soutarou can use certain jutsu already, but as I've mentioned before he's not Hashirama Senju nor at his level yet. In fact he's nowhere near there. The only reason he was able to create such a large tree is due to chakra expenditure and time. For reference the Jutsu took nearly 10 minutes to complete. Absolutely no combat use/combat effectiveness. Souta's stats are all still the same as the status from before, though his ninjutsu and taijutsu did jump up a bit thanks to the training. And I know, I know what happened to getting bloodlines and strength from the bound characters? Well we'll get there in a bit even though certain characters qualify for 'donations.' Another reason he hasn't already gotten certain things yet is due to the nature of his bloodline acquisition from Kaguya. The system won't allow weaker bloodlines to be acquired if the user already has a purer version. So in theory if he gets a Uchiha bloodline he'll be fine or if he gets a sage eye direct bloodline then he won't get an Uchiha bloodline. At the same time since Kaguya's love is teetering on the edge he won't get anything from her until he stabilizes her.
Additional Information: First ten chapters are now uploaded. I'll post the more as I figure out a schedule. Please note all of this is OC content that I write when I get bored and start daydreaming. There are chapters written in advance as of now so once I figure out a schedule I'll start posting 'regularly.'***