The branches growing from the floor twisted as they rapidly expanded. Before long, they intertwined with one another, completely sealing the hole in the floor.
Then the branches began to merge together. Tender green leaves quickly withered and fell away. In just a few seconds, the hole in the floor had completely disappeared.
Uchiha Yoru nodded in satisfaction. Paying no attention to the nearly hysterical Tsunade, he casually pushed open the door and walked outside.
"Second Lord, I'll wait outside."
"Alright."
At this moment, Tsunade had no mind left for anger. Pointing at the floor, she exclaimed to Senju Tobirama,
"Second Grandpa, th-this... Wood Release!"
Tobirama nodded.
"I know. But right now, what you need is to eat."
Tsunade's eyes widened.
"Eat? Forget eating! He's an Uchiha! The Uchiha have mastered Wood Release! Wood Release!"
"I don't even have it! Why does he?!"
"Because his talent is outstanding. Because he worked harder than anyone else. Because he persevered for ten years without ever giving up."
Tobirama stood up and pulled Tsunade back to the table.
"But right now, the first thing you need is food. Eating is more important than Wood Release."
"You can ask while you eat. Whatever you want to know, I'll answer."
Forced back into her seat, Tsunade caught the aroma of the food. Having gone an entire day without eating, she finally felt hunger hit her.
When she hadn't been hungry, it hadn't mattered.
But the moment hunger returned, she instantly understood what Tobirama had meant when he said eating was more important than Wood Release.
It really was.
So she ate while asking questions, and Tobirama patiently answered every one of them.
By the time Tsunade had eaten her fill, she had also gained a basic understanding of Uchiha Yoru.
She couldn't help asking,
"Second Grandpa... you really admire Uchiha Yoru, don't you?"
"I do."
She cautiously asked,
"Do you want him to become Hokage?"
Tobirama answered without hesitation.
"No."
Tsunade blinked in confusion.
"But don't you like him?"
Tobirama replied seriously,
"Tsunade, I don't like Uchiha Yoru. He's too intelligent, and he doesn't regard Konoha as his home. To him, Konoha is merely a safe and comfortable place to live."
"But at present, he is the only ninja who both has the desire and possesses enough strength to make Konoha a better place. Therefore, I have no choice but to admire him greatly."
The words "have no choice" and "greatly" both carried a sense of reluctance.
In reality, the Second Hokage was subtly hinting that Uchiha Yoru also possessed the ability to make Konoha much worse.
Unfortunately, Tsunade completely failed to catch the implication.
Scratching her head, she asked in confusion,
"The only one? That can't be right."
"I heard Orochimaru has been doing an excellent job. Isn't he universally recognized as the leading candidate for the Fourth Hokage? Isn't he good enough?"
Tobirama shook his head.
"He isn't."
Tsunade's eyes widened.
"Why?"
Tobirama smiled helplessly. Looking at his granddaughter with the same expression an honor student used when looking at a failing student, he said calmly,
"Even if I explained it, you wouldn't understand. So don't ask."
Tsunade: "..."
I really want to punch Second Grandpa... He's an Edo Tensei body anyway. Breaking him apart shouldn't be a problem, right?
"Tsunade."
"Hm?"
"Although I'm not at my peak strength right now... do you really think you can beat me?"
"...Eh?"
Her thoughts had been completely seen through.
Her intelligence had been utterly crushed.
Tsunade slumped onto the table, silently shedding tears in her heart as she complained...
Tobirama glanced at her.
"You're complaining."
"..."
"You're wondering why it wasn't Big Brother who came back instead."
Tsunade's mind went completely blank.
"..."
The Second Hokage suddenly laughed.
Matching wits with Uchiha Yoru was certainly enjoyable.
But after a while, it became exhausting.
The feeling of completely overwhelming someone intellectually like this...
Now this felt wonderful.
Still unconvinced, Tsunade argued,
"Jiraiya has a disciple named Namikaze Minato. I think his personality, strength, and intelligence are all outstanding. Can't he become the Hokage who leads Konoha to a better future?"
Tobirama nodded.
"I know Namikaze Minato. In fact, I learned his detailed background through Uchiha Yoru's investigation. He's one of the three candidates Yoru selected for the position of Fourth Hokage."
Then he said solemnly,
"My conclusion is that Minato isn't suitable either."
This time, Tobirama actually explained.
"Minato is an excellent young man. But he's still too young. More importantly, his teacher, Jiraiya, is far too unreliable. That alone has practically cut off his road to becoming Hokage."
"If Orochimaru becomes the Fourth Hokage, then the Fifth Hokage is much more likely to come from Orochimaru's disciples."
"Unless Hiruzen Sarutobi starts playing tricks and forcibly elevates Minato to replace Orochimaru as the Fourth Hokage, Minato will never have the opportunity as long as he's burdened with an unreliable teacher like Jiraiya."
Grinding her teeth, Tsunade asked,
"Then why couldn't Minato lead Konoha to become better if he replaced Orochimaru?"
Tobirama answered,
"Because Namikaze Minato is only one man."
"He doesn't have enough powerful subordinates beneath him."
"He doesn't have a reliable clan backing him."
"He doesn't have comrades from his own generation who share deep bonds with him."
"And his students haven't had time to grow."
"Minato himself is undoubtedly strong. But governing Konoha isn't something one person can accomplish through hard work alone."
"He'd simply be bullied to death by the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi."
Tsunade clenched her teeth.
"Teacher Hiruzen wouldn't do something like that. He's not that kind of—"
Tobirama raised a hand, cutting her off.
"Tsunade."
"I know exactly what kind of man Hiruzen Sarutobi is."
"Far better than you do."
"If I weren't already dead—if the dead interfering with the living wouldn't be even worse for Konoha—do you really think Hiruzen Sarutobi, Homura Mitokado, and Koharu Utatane would still be in power?"
"None of those three would still be alive."
"Hmph."
Tsunade no longer dared defend her teacher.
Then another question occurred to her.
"Second Grandpa... what about Danzo? You didn't mention him at all."
"He's already dead."
"...What?"
"Tsunade, even if you've been wandering outside the village, you shouldn't completely ignore news from Konoha."
"That's still your home."
"One day, sooner or later, you'll return."
Tsunade fell silent, lowering her head.
Tobirama said nothing further.
Instead, he gently stroked her golden hair.
His voice softened.
"Little Tsunade."
"My elder brother asked me to ask you..."
"Have you been doing well all these years?"
Hearing Tobirama's unusually gentle tone...
And hearing that it was actually her grandfather asking after her...
Tsunade's eyes reddened once more.
But she'd already broken down several times today.
This time, she forced the tears back.
She looked up with a smile.
"I've been doing great."
"I don't have to worry about missions anymore."
"I don't have to worry about treating patients anymore."
"I get to gamble every day to my heart's content."
"And I can drink as much as I want."
"I'm happier than ever."
Tobirama looked at the smile on her face—
A smile more painful than crying.
His heart ached so much that he could no longer say a single word.
...
Uchiha Yoru wasn't especially concerned about what Tobirama and Tsunade were discussing.
He could already guess.
It wasn't because Tobirama was simple.
It was because Tsunade's personality was too straightforward, and her wisdom had its limits. She simply couldn't process too much complicated information. Saying more would only make things worse.
So Tobirama could only explain Konoha's current situation, make his own stance clear, reveal part of Yoru's information, and finally ask Tsunade to keep an eye on him.
On one hand, it was to place restraints upon himself.
No matter how small the effect, some restraint was better than none.
On the other hand, it was meant to draw Tsunade's attention back toward Konoha and gradually pull her home.
She had wandered outside for far too many years.
In outsiders' eyes, her ties to Konoha had inevitably weakened.
And as those ties weakened, so too did the deterrence the village provided.
As the greatest medical ninja in the world, there would always be people coveting both Tsunade herself and her medical expertise.
As long as she resumed frequent contact with the village, even if she never truly returned, her safety would increase enormously.
Still...
The fact that he had become the bridge connecting Tsunade back to Konoha gave Uchiha Yoru a headache.
Women were troublesome.
Cats were much better.
A gentle talking tabby cat...
Was even better.
Ah... I'm starting to miss my Rika-chan.
Yoru continued waiting until dawn.
As usual, he climbed to the tallest building in Tanzaku Town, faced east, and absorbed the Purple Qi of the rising sun, allowing the Purple Qi within his Purple Mansion to grow just a little denser.
As the morning sun rose above the horizon, Senju Tobirama appeared beside him.
"What were you doing just now?"
Yoru smiled.
"A secret."
"At least, for now."
Tobirama shook his head.
He understood.
Their mutual trust still wasn't sufficient.
And Yoru himself wasn't yet strong enough.
For both reasons, he had to keep many secrets.
Tobirama didn't dwell on it.
Instead, he held out an emerald-green teardrop-shaped pendant.
"This is for you."
"Consider it my thanks."
Yoru accepted it with delight.
Without the slightest hint of politeness, he immediately raised it before his eyes and carefully examined the Wood Release crystal under the light of the morning sun.
It was actually even purer than the crystal formed from the Divine Tree's roots.
Its vitality was incomparably stronger.
The two weren't even on the same level.
He sighed in admiration.
"As expected of something created by the First Hokage."
"It's truly incredible."
"This is far too valuable."
"It exceeds everything I did today."
"Second Lord, is there anything else you'd like me to do?"
Tobirama replied,
"Nothing for now."
"If the favor isn't enough, just owe me the rest."
"This won't be our last cooperation anyway."
Yoru nodded silently and stored away the Hashirama Crystal.
Its vitality was simply too powerful.
At least for now...
He couldn't consume it.
Yoru understood his own body very well.
At present, it maintained a delicate balance, steadily eliminating the final trace of abnormality remaining within his chakra.
The Winter Solstice was already drawing near.
Under no circumstances could he introduce another massive surge of vitality into his body.
If that upset the balance, who knew what catastrophic consequences might follow?
More importantly...
His opportunity for a major breakthrough was very likely tied to the Winter Solstice his intuition had already locked onto.
Missing that opportunity was absolutely unacceptable.
Seeing Yoru put away the crystal, Tobirama said,
"Let's return to Konoha."
"I should also begin fulfilling the promise I made."
Yoru asked,
"Senior Tsunade isn't returning?"
Tobirama replied,
"Tsunade doesn't want to."
"So let her be."
"She's already an adult."
"As long as she's safe and living the way she wishes, that's enough."
Yoru smiled.
"That's true."
"With everything you and the First Hokage have contributed, Senior Tsunade owes Konoha nothing."
"If anything..."
"Konoha owes her."
"At the very least..."
"It owes her the position of Hokage."
"Heh."
"You brat really do have a black heart."
"You just said Konoha owes Tsunade."
"And yet your idea of repaying the debt..."
"...is making Tsunade work for Konoha as Hokage?"
The two looked at each other and laughed.
Then Yoru placed a hand on Tobirama's shoulder.
Flying Thunder God Technique.
In an instant, both vanished.
Only then did Tsunade, her twin ponytails swaying, silently appear atop the rooftop.
Standing where the two had been moments ago, she looked toward the orange-red rising sun.
"Hokage..."
"Nawaki's dream..."
"Dan's dream..."
"They both wanted to become Hokage."
"...Maybe I also have the right to compete for that position."
"...Forget it."
"It has nothing to do with me."
In the end, she shook her head.
Leaping from the rooftop, she disappeared among the countless buildings of Tanzaku Town.
Meanwhile...
The legend of the casino's "Big Fat Sheep" continued to spread.
...
Several days later, Uchiha Yoru successfully completed another limb regeneration procedure for a jōnin.
After sending the laughing-and-crying jōnin away, he returned home.
The moment he stepped inside, he saw a completely exhausted Senju Tobirama.
Not only was his mental energy severely depleted...
Even the cracks covering his Edo Tensei body had become far more serious.
Yoru frowned.
"Second Lord, what have you been doing these past few days?"
"How did you end up like this?"
Tobirama answered coldly,
"You know perfectly well."
"I've been researching the Wood Release crystal."
"This happened because of an accident during one of the experiments."
He raised the hexagonal Wood Release crystal.
"This object is a condensed form of Wood Release chakra."
"But I've discovered that it contains special information embedded within it."
"That information gives this Wood Release chakra an exceptionally high-order nature."
"Just a tiny amount of leaked Wood Release chakra caused my Edo Tensei body to lose an enormous quantity of chakra."
"It drastically shortened the amount of time I can remain active."
Then Tobirama asked,
"I heard from Miwa Masayo that you used one of these crystals."
"How exactly did you use it?"
Yoru raised his hand...
And made the motion of chewing on a sugarcane stalk.
"...You ate it?!"
For the first time in a long while, Tobirama completely lost his composure.
"How could you eat it?"
"How are you still alive?!"
"No."
"I have to examine your body."
"I need to know what makes you so special."
"Even my Edo Tensei body couldn't withstand it."
Yoru paused before quickly asking,
"Wait a second."
"Second Lord, what you just said is fascinating."
"Can you tell me how your experimental accident happened?"
"And how exactly did you make the Wood Release chakra leak out of the crystal?"
This time...
Tobirama fell silent.
To Yoru's astonishment...
The Second Hokage also made a chewing motion.
"...You ate it too?"
"Of course."
"Otherwise, how could that tiny amount of leakage have caused me such severe damage?"
"Haha..."
"I get it."
"The Wood Release chakra leaked out from inside your stomach."
"That's why it caused such serious damage to your Edo Tensei body."
"Exactly."
"But why did you also think of eating it?"
"I had no choice."
"I tried every method imaginable."
"Even grinding it into powder."
"But no matter what I did, the crystal perfectly restrained the Wood Release chakra."
"Not the slightest bit leaked out."
"I exhausted every possible method."
"In the end, I could only try swallowing a tiny amount of powder to see what would happen."
"The results proved that this thing is indeed meant to be eaten."
"But it's definitely not meant for humans."
Tobirama stared fixedly at Yoru.
Word by word, he declared,
"Uchiha brat..."
"You actually ate an entire Wood Release crystal."
"Your body is absolutely abnormal."
"Let me examine you."
"I promise I won't hurt you."
"I'll be very careful..."
"And very gentle."
As he spoke...
A faint green glow actually appeared in Tobirama's eyes.
Yoru didn't believe a single word.
He spat fiercely.
"Not happening."
"Give up already, Second Lord."
"I absolutely... ptoo, ptoo..."
"There's no way I'm letting anyone examine my body!"
As the saying goes...
Everything is subject to Kyouzawa's Law.
People are contradictory creatures.
Their mouths say no...
But their bodies are often surprisingly honest.
In the end...
Uchiha Yoru voluntarily climbed onto the examination table.
He truly wanted to understand his own body.
Only by discovering what made him different could he continue walking the path ahead.
As the first cultivator without any inherited Dao tradition, he had no established path to follow.
Everything had to be explored from scratch.
Many times...
He had no choice but to gamble.
And gambling always required stakes.
For the sake of his future path...
Yoru could only wager everything he possessed in the present.
Fortunately, Tobirama truly was careful.
He didn't choose violent methods such as dissection.
Nor would such methods have had any meaning.
According to Tobirama,
"Except for the eternal exception that is sealing techniques..."
"Only living beings can circulate chakra."
"Even storing chakra requires something that possesses life."
"For example..."
"The seeds of certain plants."
"Or the bones of certain animals."
Holding up the Wood Release crystal, he continued,
"This crystal-like object itself possesses living vitality."
"It isn't a true mineral crystal."
"So of course I wouldn't dissect you."
"I've never studied corpses."
Tobirama had Yoru consume tiny amounts of the Wood Release crystal.
Using every instrument and method available, he carefully observed the changes in the Wood Release chakra inside Yoru's body.
After several days of continuous research...
As he reviewed the accumulated data...
The way he looked at Yoru became increasingly strange.
Finally, he couldn't hold back anymore.
"Uchiha brat..."
"You're truly a monster."
"Among everyone I've met in my lifetime..."
"Only my elder brother, Senju Hashirama..."
"And Uchiha Madara after obtaining the Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan..."
"Can compare with your current body."
"In the future..."
"No..."
"You will definitely surpass both of them."
"You will become the undisputed strongest person in the entire ninja world."
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