Chapter 197: Tsunade's Path to Wood Release
The years flew by, and in a flash, it was Konoha Year 52.
The stubborn Hidden Cloud Village finally chose to hold peace talks with Konoha, completely ending the war. They simply couldn't fight anymore. After Konoha made peace with the Mist, they had deployed Minato Namikaze and Sakumo Hatake to the north, which made things difficult for the Cloud. The Fourth Raikage had to personally go to the battlefield to hold the line against the White Fang and the Yellow Flash; otherwise, their losses would have been enormous.
With this, the ninja world finally fell completely silent, far from the influence of war. The great ninja villages all entered a period of recovery and accumulation of strength, until one day, war would break out again due to a conflict of interests.
And this year, Kinoshita Genichi was 16 years old.
For the past two years, he had not taken a single step out of Konoha. No, for others, it was two years, but for him, it was 22 years. This year, Uzumaki Ina was 24, Pakura was 25, Minato was 25, and Tsunade was 39.
After the end of the war with the Cloud, his teacher, Sakumo, had entered a state of semi-retirement. He usually worked in the advisor's office in the Hokage's tower, becoming one of the Fourth Hokage Tsunade's resident advisors. The other was Hiruzen Sarutobi. As for the also-retired Akimichi Torifu, his health was not good, and he usually did not appear unless there was a situation like the Six-Tails rampage.
Genichi, who had finally gotten a chance to relax, had secretly taken Shizune and Ina to a hot spring, but he had been caught by Tsunade just as he was leaving. It felt like being caught red-handed. And so, he had been dragged to the Hokage's office to work. For no other reason than to give Tsunade guidance on her Wood Release training at a moment's notice.
Currently, in the entire village, the only ones who had truly mastered Wood Release were him and Yamato. As for Kakashi, he could still only use a little of its power. And Yamato, now 12, was in the Anbu under Kakashi. And since Genichi was stronger and more familiar with it, Tsunade naturally chose to have him guide her.
However, for the current him, he no longer needed to be cooped up in a lab. He could train anywhere. And having three beautiful women of varying ages with him was also very nice.
Hokage's Office.
Tsunade, with her twin ponytails, still maintained the appearance of a woman in her early thirties. Her increasingly mature aura gave her a different kind of charm. And since she had completed the Strength of a Hundred Seal last year, her overall aura had also become more vibrant. The potential of the Senju clan was being gradually excavated under the cell activation secret technique he had created. And her chakra reserves, which had long since stopped growing, had actually shown a slight increase in the past year.
But at this moment, she was frowning at a Wood Release scroll. This was not one left by Hashirama, but one personally written by Genichi, its contents more detailed.
To the left, at what was originally Ina's desk, he sat cross-legged, his eyes downcast in training. In the natural world, a vast amount of natural energy was continuously entering his body. It was then divided into two parts. One part, the magnetic field and electromagnetic energy, was absorbed by his cells. The other part was refined into senjutsu chakra and stored in his Yin Seal.
This was the process of sage transformation. It was a feasible path that he had gradually researched over dozens of years of effort. Based on his own Electromagnetic Release Kekkei Tōta, he absorbed the Earth's magnetic field and the electromagnetic natural energy of the world to sage-transform his body's cells.
As his cells gradually became saturated, he slowly opened his eyes, ending his training.
Looking at the frowning Tsunade, he said, "How about you temporarily switch directions?"
"Switch directions?" she looked up, a little lost.
He floated up from the desk and landed beside her. "Treating chakra as the source of life, you can do that, right?"
"Of course I can do that with Yang Release," she pursed her lips.
"Water is the source of life," he smiled, "and the earth is where life is sustained. A person will die without drinking water. A plant will die without water and nutrients from the earth. Hmm, perhaps that's a bit abstract, but… then just use what you're best at. Use Yang Release to imbue an object with life." He stomped on the wooden floor. "Try using your Yang-natured chakra to imbue this dead wood with life and make it sprout and grow again."
"Is… is that still Wood Release?" she asked, confused.
"Just do as I say," he smiled coolly.
At the desk on the right, Shizune looked up at this moment and smiled. "Lady Tsunade, Wood Release doesn't necessarily have to be achieved by combining Water and Earth. Just like Magnet Release, you know that it can be mastered by fusing either Earth + Wind or Earth + Lightning, although the manifestation is a bit different. And Wind + Water isn't necessarily just Ice Release. Water + Earth isn't necessarily just Wood Release; it can also be Lava Release."
"I know that, of course!" Tsunade said, flustered and annoyed. These were all theories he had mentioned in his On the Theory of Kekkei Genkai. For this brat Shizune to remind her like this, was she saying she hadn't been reading carefully? Following this little pervert Genichi, she was really getting out of line.
Shizune covered her mouth and giggled.
Tsunade huffed and fell into deep thought.
Genichi silently floated over to Shizune's side, and the two of them began to whisper. Suddenly, a knock on the door interrupted Tsunade's thoughts, and Genichi and Shizune also fell silent.
"Come in," Tsunade said, looking up.
Minato pushed the door open. "Lady Hokage, this is the plan for the Chūnin Exams."
She took it and began to read.
"Minato-san," Genichi asked casually, "any progress with Ice Release?" He had already given up on Kushina. After getting pregnant and giving birth, all her thoughts were on Naruto. She had basically given up on training.
In the past year, Minato's role in the Hokage's office had also become more and more important. He had basically become the leader of the Hokage's assistant team. A de facto vice-Hokage. Otherwise, Tsunade would not have had so much leisure to ponder Wood Release in her office.
"I'm still a little off," Minato said, a little embarrassed. After all, his student Kakashi had already developed Storm Release on his own, and he had had the Ice Release scroll for several years now and still had no results.
"Perhaps Ice Release doesn't suit you, Minato-san," Genichi said after a moment's thought. "You could also try other Kekkei Genkai. For example, Lightning and Fire, Wind and Lightning, or even Wind and Fire…" Minato's natural affinities were Wind, Lightning, and Fire. Water was something he had learned later; it could be said to be his weakest.
"Actually, I've already had some ideas in that regard," Minato smiled. "I just haven't had time to implement them." Ice Release might not be suitable, but Scorch Release, or a Wind-Lightning fusion… his idea was to use it to improve the Rasengan, or in the direction of the Body Flicker. But he didn't plan to give up on Ice Release either; it could serve as a good reference.
"If you need anything, feel free to find me, Minato-san," Genichi said immediately.
"I won't be polite with you," he smiled and nodded.
With Kakashi and Shinnosuke having successively developed Kekkei Genkai, there was finally an atmosphere of research and development in the village. He just didn't know how long this enthusiasm would last. Genichi hoped that more and more people would succeed, so that this atmosphere could be maintained.
Just then, Tsunade looked up. "The plan is fine. Let's proceed with it. Suna, Kiri, Taki, and Yu. Minato, arrange for someone to notify them as soon as possible. As for Ame, let Kakashi go."
"Is it because the Akatsuki might be hiding in the Land of Rain?" Minato was thoughtful.
"According to the intelligence," Tsunade nodded, "there seems to have been an abnormal rebellion in Amegakure some time ago. The specific situation is still unclear. The Rain is no less reclusive than the Mist."
Genichi, listening on the side, couldn't help but raise an eyebrow. A rebellion? Had Nagato taken control of the village?
After Minato left, Tsunade immediately called for Obito. "Go and get Kakashi."
"Yes, ma'am," the masked Obito nodded and left. About three minutes later, a masked Kakashi appeared in the office.
"Kakashi," Tsunade said, looking at him as he took off his mask, "tomorrow, you will lead a team to Amegakure and deliver the invitation for the joint Chūnin Exams to their leader, Hanzō. Also, while you're there, pay attention to the situation in the village, especially Hanzō."
Kakashi nodded.
"Be careful," Genichi reminded him. "Don't act rashly. If something doesn't feel right, retreat immediately."
"Do you think there's a problem with Hanzō?" Tsunade turned to look at him.
"It's highly likely," he nodded. "You know about those three. The bond between them is very strong. And for the Akatsuki, they also need a better cover for their true identity. They themselves are rooted in the Land of Rain and once called themselves Rain-nin. It could even be said that Hanzō betrayed them."
Tsunade frowned, a little hesitant about whether to send him, but she quickly rejected the idea. He couldn't be easily moved right now, lest the other side become too nervous.
"By the way, Kakashi," Genichi said, "when are you going to learn the Flying Thunder God?"
Kakashi resisted the urge to roll his eyes. "Currently, only you and Minato-sensei have mastered that jutsu. It's not so easy to learn."
"But you're Kakashi," he grinned.
"I'll work hard," Kakashi sighed. Always having someone chasing after you to train… this feeling…
"I'm already learning sensory ninjutsu with Minato-sensei," Kakashi felt like he was reporting his training progress to his father. But his real father basically didn't care about these things now; their conversations were often focused on mindset and mentality.
And so the matter was settled.
After Kakashi left, Tsunade continued to ponder the possibility Genichi had raised. Genichi and Shizune began a quiet office romance.
Just as it was about to be lunchtime, a faint cracking sound was heard in the office.
Shizune looked up, puzzled, and looked toward the sound, then shot to her feet. "This… Lady Hokage, you did it!"
Next to Tsunade's desk, the wooden floor had broken open, and a small green sapling had grown out.
"You really did it! Wood Release!" Shizune was pleasantly surprised. "As expected of Genichi."
Tsunade, who had also been both surprised and happy, her face immediately darkened. "Hey, Shizune, this is the result of my hard work. Although that guy gave me some pointers, there's no need to ignore me."
Shizune gave an awkward smile and quickly tried to remedy the situation. "Of course, Lady Hokage is also very amazing."
Tsunade huffed, still expressing her dissatisfaction.
Genichi looked at the sapling on the floor and smiled. "This isn't quite Wood Release yet. It's just Yang Release." Tsunade had just used her Yang chakra as a life source to make the dead wood sprout again. It was clearly different from real Wood Release; she had not formed a new nature transformation. Just like Gaara's sand manipulation and Konan's paper jutsu could not be called Sand Release or Paper Release. Their abilities were, in essence, a means of controlling ninja tools.
"It is indeed just an application of Yang Release," Tsunade also nodded.
"But it's also a very big step forward," Genichi stood up and came to the sapling, pinching it off. "I'm sure you have a different understanding of life force now, Fourth Hokage."
"Indeed," she nodded thoughtfully.
"Then next, will you still be combining Earth and Water?" Shizune asked curiously.
"It's time to eat," Genichi didn't answer. "Let's talk about it when we get home."
"You guys go ahead," Tsunade waved her hand. "I'll think about it some more. Shizune, bring me back a portion when you come back."
Just as Shizune was about to nod, he said, "Don't you want to complete Wood Release quickly, Fourth Hokage? You also don't want to be surpassed by so many of your subordinates, right?"
Tsunade frowned. She felt there was something strange about his words.
"Sometimes, choice is more important than effort," he smiled. "Let's go. I have a better way for you to comprehend the mysteries of Wood Release."
Tsunade stood up and stretched. "So mysterious," she muttered. "Then let's go."
The next moment, the three of them vanished from the office and appeared in his house.
In the kitchen, Ina was busy. Shizune quickly ran over to help.
"Come with me," Genichi said to Tsunade, and then led her to a completely unadorned, quiet room.
Sitting cross-legged on the wooden floor, he pointed to the spot opposite him. Tsunade sat down, puzzled.
"You know about Yin-Yang Release, right?" he asked.
"So," she nodded, then asked, "are you trying to say that I should use Yin-Yang Release to synthesize Wood Release?"
"Why not?" he chuckled. "Yin is to create form from nothingness, and Yang is to imbue that form with life." He pointed to his head. "Don't limit your thinking, Lady Tsunade."
"That may be so," she frowned, "but I am not proficient in Yin Release." Her natural affinities were Yang, Fire, Water, Earth, and Lightning. But in reality, everyone had a Yin affinity, just not necessarily the talent for it. After all, if you could refine chakra, how could you not have a Yin affinity?
He didn't say any more, but extended his hand to her.
"What are you doing?" she asked.
"Letting you experience the power of Wood Release." His eyes were as deep as the sea.
She extended her hand. Clap.
The two hands met. The next moment, their spiritual consciousness appeared in a mental space constructed of chakra. At this moment, their chakras blended, and their minds were closer than ever before, linked together, able to obtain information from the consciousness level without the need for verbal communication. Of course, they could also occasionally feel some other things.
Damn little pervert! she huffed to herself.
"Lady Tsunade, don't curse me in your heart. I can sense it," he said solemnly. "And concentrate your mind. Carefully feel the change in my chakra." It was as if he wasn't the one who had improper thoughts about her.
Even more shameless than that bastard Jiraiya, she thought, and then cleared her mind and lowered her eyes. She didn't want to be looked down upon by this perverted brat.
He nodded with satisfaction. The next moment, in the mental space, one sprout after another broke through the earth and began to grow. The grass and trees did not grow quickly, but slowly spread throughout the entire space, turning the originally empty space into a green forest.
She lowered her eyes and carefully sensed. She could clearly feel the process of the chakra fusion, how to create the plants, how to use chakra as life, and make them grow rapidly. It could be said that he was clearly showing her the answer to the Wood Release problem, and had even attached a very detailed explanation of the solving process.
"Your Wood Release… is a Kekkei Tōta, a fusion of three nature transformations!"
Opening her eyes, she looked at him in shock. She had just sensed the fusion of Water, Earth, and Yang.
He nodded calmly. "It is three." This was also why he had suggested she start with Yang. Precisely because he had mastered the Wood Release Kekkei Tōta, he had the experience and confidence. And she was a smart person; she understood at once.
"You felt it just now, right?" he said. "Whether it's creating water or wood, or any other substance, it is a conversion of energy and matter. But I see it as a part of Yin-Yang Release." All things contain yin and yang. The essence of chakra comes from them.
"Yin nature transformation is actually very simple. Come, feel it." He once again demonstrated the process of Yin nature transformation for her. "Of course, you don't have to fuse Wood Release with Yin and Yang. I was just proposing another possibility."
She nodded.
At lunchtime, she was a little absent-minded. Genichi, having dug the pit, didn't bother to fill it, and just enjoyed the delicious food with Ina and Shizune.
In the afternoon, he did not train in the Hokage's office, but stayed at home, busy in his study. He had gained a lot this year and had not yet fully sorted it out.
At the same time, Minato was also studying at home, but this was just a clone. His real body was still busy at the Hokage's tower. The Zero-Tails' chakra allowed him to handle his official duties and his training at the same time.
(End of Chapter)
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