"Tsunade is perfectly healthy."
"Just wait for her to wake up."
Not long after, Orochimaru walked in with good news.
He still held the blood test results in his hand.
"Let me see that."
Kawaki snatched the report away. One glance left him utterly baffled.
"Hem hem."
"Hey Misaki, help Brother-in-law interpret this."
Kawaki was too embarrassed to ask Orochimaru directly—after all, he had just snatched the report from him.
"Haha, sure thing."
Misaki chuckled at Kawaki's antics and took the report, quickly scanning several key indicators.
Indeed, just as Orochimaru claimed, Tsunade was as strong as an ox.
"So, what's your take?"
As Misaki looked at the report, Kawaki watched her closely.
"Everything looks normal."
"Actually, make that healthier than most people."
Misaki corrected herself slightly.
"You've gotta be kidding me."
Orochimaru rolled his eyes—he didn't usually resort to swearing.
"My bad, my bad..."
"How about I drop by for dinner sometime?"
Kawaki showed absolutely no sign of apology. Apologizing? No way—inviting himself over was better.
He sure had some nerve!
Just moments ago looking anxious, now he was already smiling again.
Needless to say, Kawaki bounced back faster than expected.
"I don't feel like dealing with you."
Orochimaru felt like he'd just met a lunatic.
"Come on, don't say that—I only brought Ginji along to visit Aoi."
Kawaki forced his way closer with a cheesy smile.
"Please leave—preferably without causing a scene."
Orochimaru clearly saw right through Kawaki's intentions.
Trying to get close to his daughter? Not in this lifetime!
"How could you say something like that?"
"I've always considered you my closest friend."
Kawaki played the role to perfection, wearing a mask of disappointment.
"Hahaha~"
Misaki couldn't hold back any longer and burst into laughter.
The last traces of gloom in the room vanished into thin air.
...
The three men joked and laughed inside while Tsunade remained undisturbed, peacefully asleep.
At noon, Misaki voluntarily went out and returned with food.
Kawaki specifically reminded her to buy plenty of meat dishes.
It was all based on experience—to make it easier for Tsunade to replenish her strength once she woke up.
Kawaki couldn't tell how long had passed before he heard a soft groan from Tsunade.
He immediately hurried over.
"Did she wake up?"
Kawaki asked with a look of deep concern.
"I'm so hungry."
Tsunade drowsily opened her eyes as her stomach let out a loud growl.
"Does anything feel uncomfortable?"
Orochimaru, right behind Kawaki, started asking questions too.
"Nope. Just hungry."
Tsunade carefully checked her condition and found nothing else wrong.
"Just eat first."
Misaki didn't even let Tsunade get out of bed, handing over the prepared food.
"Let me help you sit up."
Seeing Tsunade looked weak, Kawaki moved forward to assist her into a sitting position.
"You go inform Big Bro that I'm fine now."
Accepting the food from Misaki, Tsunade remembered what she promised Sakumo yesterday.
She knew Kawaki had probably forgotten.
"Ugh, look at my forgetfulness."
Kawaki patted the side of his head. He had completely forgotten.
"Thought so. Hurry up and go."
Tsunade smiled softly and resumed eating delicately.
"Hold on. I'll be right back."
Kawaki snapped his fingers and disappeared instantly.
He couldn't afford to waste time walking slowly now.
"Fortunately, this fusion was successful."
"Do you still remember using Wood Release?"
Orochimaru wore a faint smile—this success gave him more confidence than ever.
"No memory of it at all."
Tsunade shook her head, completely forgetting how she nearly destroyed that entire operating room.
"We'll talk after you finish eating."
"You must have awakened your Wood Release."
After all, Orochimaru had seen it with his own eyes, so he sounded extremely certain.
...
"Big bro! Big bro!"
The moment Kawaki arrived at the office, he shouted loudly, only realizing afterward that many pairs of eyes were glaring at him.
He gave an awkward smile and chose not to add anything else.
"This mission isn't easy, so treat it seriously."
"That's all. You're dismissed."
Sakumo saw the joy on Kawaki's face and immediately deduced that Tsunade must be alright.
"Yes, Director."
Several Anbu quickly accepted the orders and left, clearly understanding the situation.
"So reckless. When will you ever mature?"
"How come you're always like this?"
Sakumo put on his big brother act, lecturing Kawaki.
While pretending he knew nothing, though he clearly knew everything.
"Tsunade's okay."
"I came straight here to tell you the second I found out."
Kawaki shamelessly took credit for Tsunade's achievement.
Without Tsunade, he probably wouldn't have remembered this until tomorrow.
"Is that so? Then that's good news."
"I always knew she'd pull through eventually."
Sakumo acted like he'd foreseen everything from the start, maintaining a perfectly calm expression.
Needless to say, they were two peas in a pod.
Now that's a masterclass in humblebragging!
"Listen, Big bro."
"I think Tsunade has also awakened Wood Release."
Kawaki lowered his voice, leaned toward Sakumo, and casually sat atop the desk.
It was only because he was in such a good mood that he wasn't fighting Sakumo right now.
"If you're going to brag, at least let me get a piece of the action too."
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"Really?"
When it came to Wood Release, Sakumo finally showed some emotion.
If Tsunade's Wood Release was as powerful as Kawaki's, it would be incredibly significant for Konoha.
Without exaggeration, Wood Release was one of the rare few Kekkei Genkai capable of turning the tide of war.
"Of course, I saw it with my own eyes."
Kawaki widened his eyes. Could anything he said actually be false?
"Great."
Sakumo slammed his hand on the table heavily, giving Kawaki quite a scare.
"Talk normally—why do you keep slamming the table?"
Kawaki was full of helpless complaints as he gently rubbed his forehead.
"I'm going with you to see her."
Sakumo was eager to drag Kawaki away immediately.
Since he missed witnessing the last one, he absolutely couldn't miss this opportunity.
"Hurry..."
Before Kawaki could finish his sentence, he felt the familiar sensation of being whisked away by the Flying Thunder God technique.
When they reappeared, they were already near the hospital. Who knows when Sakumo placed that Flying Thunder God tag.
"It's inside the lab, right?"
Sakumo released Kawaki's hand and strode past the astonished onlookers.
"Yeah."
Kawaki nodded. Big bro's Flying Thunder God has definitely gotten better.
"Let's go."
Sakumo adjusted his clothes and strode confidently toward the hospital entrance.
Kawaki trailed behind, looking every bit the little brother.
Well, he *was* the younger brother, after all.
Before long, the two pushed open the laboratory doors.
Tsunade was already up and about, flipping through Misaki's experiment records.
"Big bro, you came too?"
"I'm fully recovered now."
As soon as Tsunade saw Sakumo, she put down the scroll she was holding and slowly walked forward.
Orochimaru and Misaki also greeted Sakumo.
"I just wanted to check on you."
Sakumo didn't want to admit he came specifically to see her Wood Release.
"How is it? Are you busy?"
"Go test your Wood Release."
Kawaki wasn't as tactful. He got straight to the point.
"Nothing important going on."
"Of course I was just waiting for you!!"
Tsunade wasn't lying. Now that Kawaki was here, she could use his guidance.
After all, she really wasn't very talented in elemental techniques.
If she couldn't even use Wood Release, she'd probably want to crawl into a hole.
"Let's go. It'll be interesting to see how it stacks up against Kawaki's."
Orochimaru approached this with a research mindset.
He knew Tsunade's Wood Release should be weakened, but just didn't know how weak it would be.
That's something he needed to witness personally.
"Let's find a more secluded spot."
After the mess Kawaki caused last time, Sakumo suggested a more secluded spot.
"Just like big bro says."
Tsunade didn't argue — she didn't want to cause any trouble either.
Last time Kawaki summoned the Great Buddha scared off the patrolling ninja.
She probably wouldn't cause that much chaos,
But using Wood Release would definitely create considerable disturbance.
"I know a good spot."
Kawaki quickly recalled an old abandoned training ground. That should work perfectly.
"Move out!!"
Tsunade took Kawaki's hand, connecting all five of them together.
Snap!
With the sound of a finger snap, everyone instantly vanished from the lab.
They reappeared near the village outskirts.
"You actually found this spot?"
Looking at the training ground that had clearly been abandoned for at least ten years, Tsunade was somewhat speechless.
The wooden practice dummies were so rotten they were barely recognizable.
Guess Kawaki really has scoured every corner of Konoha!!
"Aww, that doesn't matter."
"Just try creating some branches first."
Kawaki urged. Maybe even more excited than Tsunade.
"I'll try."
Tsunade closed her eyes, sensing the flow of chakra within her body.
As her Water and Earth-natured chakra fused, a slender branch sprouted from the center of Tsunade's palm.
The other four watched in silence, holding their breath in anticipation.
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