A week had passed since the last sparring match.
The details of the battle between Aoki Yoru and Kakashi had been spread by the Jonin who witnessed it.
Every Ninja and clan with any status in Konoha Village now knew about it.
Afterward, the way people looked at Aoki Yoru became even more affectionate, as if they were looking at a golden nugget.
This irritated Aoki Yoru quite a bit, so he tried his best to avoid them.
'Sizzle— Splash—'
Aoki Yoru was in the kitchen making braised pork.
He had been in the Ninja World for eighteen years and had grown tired of the food here, so he simply started cooking for himself.
Although he hadn't cooked much in his previous life and struggled with the heat at first, he quickly grasped the essentials with his powerful spiritual energy.
So, whenever he had time, he would cook his own meals.
The taste had completely won over Nao's palate, and she no longer pestered him to go eat Ichiraku Ramen or barbecue.
"Bang—"
The living room door was pushed open roughly.
Aoki Yoru sighed and shouted toward the living room, "Nao, how many times have I told you? Don't use so much force. I don't even know how many times you've broken this door."
"Brother Yoru, come quickly! Chino suddenly learned an amazing Ninjutsu; it will definitely give you a huge surprise!"
Aoki Yoru helplessly wiped his hands on his apron and walked out. "Oh? Did little Chino develop a Ninjutsu herself?"
Chino said proudly, "That's right! A few days ago, I suddenly learned how to use a Ninjutsu. Grandma said I will definitely become an amazing Ninja."
"However, she told me not to use it at the Ninja Academy and that I must tell you and ask for your opinion."
"Oh! What kind of Ninjutsu would make Grandma Chizuki..."
Suddenly, Aoki Yoru paused, his pupils shrinking. There was only one technique that could make Grandma Chizuki so cautious.
After all, Grandma Chizuki was from the Senju Clan and had seen the First Hokage.
Chino held out her small hand, and a tiny sapling slowly grew out, eventually blossoming and bearing fruit.
"As I thought, it's Wood Release!"
The reason she hadn't appeared in the Naruto of his previous life was likely because she had died on an experimental table.
Aoki Yoru suddenly felt he had performed a great deed; Tsunade should at least give him a deep bow of gratitude.
This was a genuine Wood Release of the Senju Clan, the kind awakened naturally.
It wasn't like Yamato's, which was obtained through experiments; he didn't even have the Senju Clan bloodline.
Aoki Yoru noticed that Chino's Chakra was now several times greater than before, and in time, she might even catch up to Nao.
Seeing Aoki Yoru dazed, Chino thought he was shocked by her Ninjutsu and said proudly, "How about it? Isn't it amazing?"
"Yes, it's very amazing."
Aoki Yoru patted her head. "After we finish eating, I'll take you to see someone."
Chino was undoubtedly lucky.
Now that Tsunade was in power, even if she awakened Wood Release, she could grow up happily.
If it were during the Third Hokage's era, although the Third Hokage could protect her, there would be no shortage of eyes watching from the shadows.
Especially Danzo; he would surely have their entire family under surveillance.
Now, if anyone dared to cause trouble, Tsunade would just throw a punch.
Plus with Aoki Yoru's deterrence, Chino was very safe now.
Furthermore, by the time she graduated, the Ninja World would have long been at peace, so she wouldn't need to experience cruel warfare.
Aoki Yoru even felt a bit envious of Nao and Chino. If he had transmigrated during this time period, he wouldn't have had to live in fear all day as a child.
He could have just waited to graduate from the Ninja Academy and then honestly carried out D-rank missions, living a stable life.
Hokage Office.
Tsunade looked at the sapling emerging from Chino's hand with a face full of pleasant surprise.
The smile on her face couldn't be hidden.
"Don't make a fuss about this for now. After she graduates, I will arrange for someone to teach her."
After all, the reputation of Wood Release was far too great. If word got out, others would surely try to assassinate her at any cost.
"You're talking about Yamato, right?" Aoki Yoru asked, stroking his chin.
Tsunade gave him a sidelong glance. "Do you intend to teach her personally?"
Aoki Yoru immediately waved his hand. "Forget it, leading a team is too troublesome, and my techniques aren't suitable for her."
"Better leave it to Yamato. With his mastery of Ninjutsu, it will be enough."
Aoki Yoru didn't think Chino could reach the level of the First Hokage; after all, he was the reincarnation of Ashura's Chakra.
Ashura's Chakra played a major role in having a Sage Body.
At most, Chino would be stronger than Yamato, reaching Kage level. Whether she could reach Super Kage Level would depend on her luck.
However, in the sixty-plus years since Konoha's founding, there had been no Super Kage Level Ninjas besides the First Hokage and Uchiha Madara. Even a genius like the Second Hokage was far from Super Kage Level.
Aoki Yoru was also just one step away, and this step was not easy to take.
"Very well, I will instruct her family not to leak the secret."
With that, Aoki Yoru took Chino back.
Actually, with Tsunade's current status, it wouldn't be hard to rebuild the Senju Clan, but she had still given up on the idea.
The Senju fading into Konoha was a decision made by the First and Second Hokage. This decision was undoubtedly correct; it was just that the Third Hokage and the others wanted to replicate Wood Release too much, leading to heavy casualties among those with Senju blood.
Now it was fine; they could live quietly in various corners of Konoha.
Tsunade stood by the window, watching the backs of Aoki Yoru and Chino as they left, unconsciously breaking into a smile.
At least Konoha now had a sense of humanity and vitality, unlike before when it was filled with the scent of decay and was lifeless.
Forest of Death.
Taking advantage of a rare moment of leisure, Aoki Yoru had put together some fishing gear to go fishing.
"Rustle— Rustle—"
A rustling sound came from the bushes.
Before long, a figure emerged from the woods and sat straight down beside him.
Aoki Yoru stared straight at the lake surface without turning his head. "Is there something, Neji?"
"Does Senior know about the Caged Bird?"
"Of course. It's the method your Hyuga Clan's Main House uses to control the Branch House."
Neji nodded. Anyone with some status in Konoha knew about this technique.
Neji reached out to untie his forehead protector, revealing the deep green pattern on his forehead.
In the center was a large 'X' mark, with four ends extending into reverse hook patterns, resembling bird wings and claws.
Overall, it looked like a bird trapped in a cage.
"Does Senior have any way to solve the Hyuga Clan's Caged Bird?"
Neji looked at Aoki Yoru with a face full of expectation.
That previous battle had shown beyond doubt that Aoki Yoru's current strength was at the top of the Ninja World; he might have a solution.
After all, the Caged Bird was also developed by people; the developer's strength couldn't be much higher than Senior's, right?
Aoki Yoru turned his head and looked at the pattern on his forehead with interest. This was arguably the strongest Sealing Jutsu in the Naruto world.
For a thousand years, not only the Hyuga Clan but even others had never been able to break it, showing how powerful the Caged Bird was.
Then, he reached out and pressed his hand on Neji's head, closing his eyes to sense it.
This deep green curse was like countless fine thorns, piercing into Neji's nerves and Chakra pathways along the brow bone. It had long since become entangled with his brain and visual nerves, flesh and blood joined, inseparable.
When Aoki Yoru probed further, he clearly saw that the Caged Bird's pattern was like a cold cage, tightly locking down Neji's soul.