Chapter 208: The Trial Run
On the third day of their secret experiments, Tsunade noticed something was off: "What's wrong with you two? Why are you both looking so weak?"
Seeing that neither of them spoke up, Tsunade frowned deeply and looked towards the pet pig.
Tonton was sweating profusely, her head hung low, unsure whether she should spill the beans.
Ultimately, Shizune couldn't hold back and laid bare the details of their experiments.
"How utterly foolish!" Tsunade reprimanded sternly. Both of them lowered their heads in unison, admitting their error, and even Tonton adopted a very obedient posture.
"Why didn't you tell me about this? Do you still even see me as your teacher?! ...However, this experiment sounds quite interesting. Count me in!"
Tsunade assertively joined the experimental team and immediately took the lead.
She discarded half of Ino's rather unorthodox method. According to Tsunade's hypothesis, even if Ino used Shizune's body to perform Flower Style, once her spiritual body withdrew, Shizune still wouldn't be able to use it. A Kekkei Genkai was a brand deeply etched into the cells. Could it really be awakened with just a few tries like this? They were seriously underestimating the predecessors of the ninja world.
"We still need to start from the cells," Tsunade said, scrutinizing Ino so intensely it made her feel uncomfortable. "But you are also quite valuable. Let's draw ten tubes of blood. We'll study this together."
A moment of significant 'blood loss' ensued.
Tsunade didn't just draw Ino's blood; she also drew her own to research and compare. As a direct descendant of the First Hokage's lineage, she naturally had Hashirama's cells genetically passed down within her body, which also contained a minuscule amount of Asura's Chakra. Theoretically speaking, her chances of developing Wood Style were the highest.
The reason she hadn't developed it yet...
After studying Ino's cells, Tsunade reached a conclusion: she had taken the wrong path, or rather, not necessarily the wrong path, but a path completely different from Wood Style. As a descendant of the Senju clan, she could absolutely be described with the phrase 'great tolerance makes for greatness.' She was naturally born with abundant chakra, and the reason her chakra quantity currently only seemed slightly more than average ninja was because she hadn't developed this aspect of herself enough. Constantly focusing on the precise control required for Medical Ninjutsu essentially stifled the potential inherent in her bloodline from the start.
What was the First Hokage's style? Clap his hands together and charge headfirst using massive, absurd amounts of chakra! What kind of precision was that?!
Tsunade had allocated all her talent points to a completely different skill tree. How could she possibly awaken Wood Style? Even her chakra quantity wasn't considered particularly large within the Senju clan. For a medical ninja, having too much chakra wasn't necessarily better; in fact, less was easier to control. The main reason Ino was a 'third-rate' medical ninja was precisely because she had too much chakra.
One could say that the more proficient one became in Medical Ninjutsu, the further away one got from Wood Style. That technique was fundamentally not about precise control. It wasn't designed that way from its roots.
Tsunade spent two days comparing the two girls' blood samples, tearing her hair out, but still didn't manage to research anything conclusive.
Shizune suggested returning to the village to consult with Yamato, who was said to be able to use Wood Style, and perhaps draw some of his blood for research.
Tsunade thought it was unnecessary.
Ino also felt it was unnecessary. While she hadn't met Yamato, she estimated his chakra level was probably similar to Asuma's. After witnessing the First Hokage's chakra, looking at Yamato would feel utterly unremarkable! They were on completely different scales.
"I think having the actual experience is very important, right?" Ino said. "Perhaps if you personally feel it just once, you might get new inspiration? Like how we researched Spirilization Jutsu, perhaps we can work backward from the result?"
Ino's words struck a chord with the deeply contemplative Tsunade. She thought about it seriously and had to admit, there was logic to it. Orochimaru and Danzo didn't have the conditions for using the Spirilization Jutsu. Since they did, they shouldn't waste the opportunity.
Tsunade was also a decisive person and immediately nodded. "Then I'll be relying on you."
The three people and one pig found a desolate, uninhabited island near the Land of Tea.
Ino sat down cross-legged and quickly formed the hand seals. This time, Tonton didn't need to be on guard; with Shizune standing watch nearby, she could confidently withdraw most of the chakra from her body. Her spiritual form after casting the jutsu appeared extremely solid, almost identical to a real person.
Following the method for Flower Style, her entire body became enveloped in chakra infused with the Flower Style nature transformation.
She lightly placed her hand on Tsunade's shoulder. "Master, get ready. Pay attention to your breathing rhythm, clear your mind of distractions, and absorb my chakra with all your might!"
The surrounding plants, simply by being radiated by her chakra, began to grow wildly. Shizune and Tonton were inhaling deeply; both the person and the pig found the aura incredibly pleasant, making them feel lightheaded, almost tipsy.
Tsunade began to receive Ino's chakra like a surging tide. This method of externally infusing power made her body very uncomfortable, and her brow furrowed.
Ino also felt uncomfortable. As the chakra was transmitted, no matter how much Tsunade relaxed, her cells instinctively resisted the intrusion of an outsider. Going through this transmission process, the 'along the way' loss exceeded roughly eighty percent. Fortunately, Ino's chakra was significantly more abundant than Tsunade's, allowing her to pour it in without regard for consumption at this moment.
"Master, don't slack off. I'll guide you, but your chakra quantity is indispensable. To use Wood Style, you must extract more chakra."
"Less talk! Don't you think I understand something so basic?! I just haven't used it like this before."
"Master, free your mind! Think about the grandeur of the First and Second Hokage. You should be more familiar with them than I am. When it comes to Flower Style, I have plenty of say: bigger is better, more is beautiful! You need to release even more chakra... Master, you haven't reached your limit yet! I can't be the only one pushing; you need to exert yourself too! Yes, work with me! The First Hokage said it clearly: the first step of Wood Style is effort! You're holding back; that won't work! Let go a little, yes! Let go even more!"
Shizune hugged Tonton, and both the person and the pig retreated far away.
The truth was, Tsunade still had potential.
As Ino urged her on, Tsunade's entire body became enveloped by faint blue chakra. As soon as sweat appeared, it was vaporized by the chakra. A large amount of chakra was stored within her body, this energy transforming into torrents flowing through all the chakra pathways.
"Master," Ino's voice echoed in her mind, "Next, we'll attempt the first Flower Style technique. I'll guide you through your chakra pathways; see if you can remember this feeling, remember the key points the First Hokage mentioned: exertion, half-crouch, and spring! You might also try visualizing 'muscles' in your mind; it could potentially help."
Tsunade honestly didn't know how to respond to that. What could she say? These were Ino's words, relaying what her grandfather had said. She couldn't possibly say her own grandfather was spouting nonsense, could she?
She closed her eyes tightly, stood up, maintaining a half-crouch posture. Gathering all her chakra in one go, Ino controlled her hands to form the seals, guiding her chakra to circulate in the manner of Flower Style and quickly completing the bouncing motion.
"Now, listen for my command and release it all at once! Three, two, one! Now! Wood Style: Advent of the Flower World!"
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