It was a new day—Saturday.
Kitazawa arrived at the Hokage's Office at nine in the morning.
"Lord Kitazawa," Haru, standing at the entrance of the Hokage's Office, bowed slightly and said, "Hokage-sama went to greet the Fire Daimyo and hasn't returned yet."
"Then I'll wait for her." Kitazawa nodded.
He walked into the Hokage's Office and sat on the sofa to wait. But he wasn't idle; he continued refining his Medical Ninjutsu for limb regeneration.
If all went well, it would be completed within the next two days. It would make a perfect congratulatory gift for Tsunade's inauguration as the Fifth Hokage.
Half an hour later, footsteps echoed outside. Kitazawa looked up and saw Tsunade and Shizune entering.
"Kitazawa? When did you arrive?" Tsunade sat opposite him.
"Just a little while ago," Kitazawa replied with a smile.
"Is there something you need me for?" Tsunade yawned as she spoke.
After becoming Hokage, she could no longer sleep in. She used to wake up at nine or ten in the morning, but now she had to rise two hours earlier.
Today, with the Fire Daimyo visiting, she had been busy all morning—even having breakfast with the Daimyo's family.
"I discovered a very special ninja in the Anbu," Kitazawa said, his tone turning serious.
"Oh?" Tsunade crossed her long legs and asked with interest, "How special?"
"A Wood Release ninja," Kitazawa said in a deep voice.
"How could the Anbu have a Wood Release ninja?" Tsunade was stunned and asked subconsciously.
Shizune, standing behind her, was also visibly surprised.
"Lady Tsunade, did Konoha Village conduct Wood Release experiments?" Kitazawa didn't answer directly but posed a question in return.
"Indeed, there were," Tsunade frowned, "but the Old Man halted them because of too many casualties. Are there survivors?"
"There are survivors—but not from that particular Wood Release experiment."
Kitazawa explained, "After that experiment, Orochimaru and Danzo conducted another round of Wood Release experiments."
Tsunade was momentarily stunned. Danzo and Orochimaru also conducted Wood Release experiments?
She suddenly realized—Orochimaru's defection might have been related to those very experiments.
"How come I don't know about this?" Tsunade's face darkened in dissatisfaction. "The Old Man actually kept it from me!"
Logically, this survivor should have been in Root. But since he was now part of the Anbu, there was only one explanation—Sarutobi Hiruzen had taken him back.
After all, he was a Wood Release ninja. No matter how much Hiruzen indulged Danzo, he would never let him keep a Wood Release user.
Tsunade's displeasure deepened at the thought that Hiruzen had concealed this from her.
"I suppose he was worried you might clash with Danzo," Kitazawa said after clearing his throat. "His name is Tenzō—the sole survivor of that Wood Release experiment."
"Haru, go call Tenzo over!" Tsunade ordered sharply.
"Yes, Hokage-sama," Haru's voice immediately rang from outside.
"Lady Tsunade, this is Tenzo's file." Kitazawa handed her a scroll.
Tsunade immediately opened it and began to read.
The scroll detailed Tenzo's life—how he was injected with Hashirama's cells as an infant, later rescued by Sarutobi Hiruzen with Kakashi's help, and brought into the Anbu.
"Danzo truly does despicable things!" Tsunade's face showed anger.
Many people had perished during Orochimaru and Danzo's Wood Release experiments. Out of sixty infants, only Tenzo had survived.
"I never thought I'd see a Wood Release ninja again," Tsunade murmured, closing the scroll as her tone softened.
Wood Release held great significance for Konoha—and even more for her, the granddaughter of the First Hokage, Hashirama Senju, the original wielder of that power.
"Lady Tsunade, how do you plan to arrange for Tenzo?" Kitazawa asked.
"From the data, his Wood Release seems to be just an ordinary Kekkei Genkai," Tsunade said thoughtfully.
The scroll listed the Wood Release techniques Yamato had mastered, but it lacked the core jutsu—such as the Wood Golem Jutsu or Sage Art Wood Release: True Several Thousand Hands.
Without these, Tenzo's power was far from comparable to Hashirama Senju's.
Tsunade now understood why Sarutobi Hiruzen had kept Tenzo's identity quiet, letting him serve only as an Anbu operative. His strength was limited, and he couldn't bring about a major change to the village.
"His Wood Release, after all, comes from the First Hokage's cells—not through natural means," Kitazawa said, shaking his head.
There were only two legitimate ways to gain a Kekkei Genkai.
One was through synthesis—an almost impossible feat, as no one had ever succeeded. Even Sarutobi Hiruzen, who mastered nearly every jutsu in Konoha, couldn't create a Kekkei Genkai himself.
The other was through inheritance—passed down from parents, like the Sharingan of the Uchiha Clan or the Byakugan of the Hyuga Clan. But even then, awakening it wasn't guaranteed.
Some bloodline abilities, like Yakumo's genjutsu power, appeared only after generations.
"That's true," Tsunade nodded. "Let him continue to stay in the Anbu."
Just then, a knock sounded at the door.
"Come in," Tsunade said, looking toward it.
Haru and Tenzo entered.
"You are Tenzo?" Tsunade asked, her gaze sharp. "Take off your mask."
Tenzo immediately obeyed, removing his mask to reveal a dull, expressionless face.
"As expected of a ninja from Root," Tsunade sighed, shaking her head.
Yamato's demeanor carried that same cold, unapproachable aura—one that made others uneasy.
"Since you possess Wood Release, you must use it well," Tsunade said firmly. "You must remember—Wood Release exists to protect Konoha."
"Yes, Hokage-sama."
A faint ripple flashed through Tenzo's eyes. Though he didn't fully understand her words, he nodded solemnly.
"Lady Tsunade, I think you could give him a name," Kitazawa suggested.
Tenzo was not a true name — it was merely a codename assigned to him by Sarutobi Hiruzen after he joined the Anbu.
Before that, when he was in Root, his codename had simply been "Kinoe."
"A name?" Tsunade thought for a moment, then said, "Yamato it is."
"Thank you, Lady Tsunade," Yamato replied immediately.
Tsunade, as the Hokage and the granddaughter of Hashirama, naturally had the right to name him. After all, his Wood Release originated from Hashirama's very cells.
"You may leave," Tsunade said, waving her hand dismissively.
After a slight bow, Yamato and Haru left the Hokage Office.
"What a pity," Tsunade murmured, withdrawing her gaze.
She had once hoped that Senju Hashirama's legendary Wood Release might reappear in the shinobi world, but reality was harsh.
How could a Wood Release born from mere cells ever compare to the original power of the First Hokage himself?
"Lady Tsunade, do you think it's possible for true Wood Release to be synthesized?" Kitazawa asked casually.
"Theoretically, perhaps. But practically, no." Tsunade took a sip of water and continued, "If it could truly be synthesized, the Old Man would have achieved it long ago."
In terms of mastery over the Five Natures, few shinobi could compare to Sarutobi Hiruzen — not just in Konoha, but across the entire ninja world.
His Five Release Great Combo Technique already surpassed the power of many Kekkei Genkai.
"I think I can try," Kitazawa said seriously.
"You?" Tsunade leaned back, crossing her arms as she scrutinized him. "Do you have the confidence to surpass the Old Man in the Five Releases?"
"Hard to say," Kitazawa replied, blinking. He didn't have confidence in himself — but he had faith in the system.
"You're as bold as ever," Tsunade said with a faint smile. "But don't waste your time thinking about synthesizing Wood Release. It's impossible."
"It's not a waste of time," Kitazawa countered. "My current strength has reached a bottleneck. I need a Bloodline Limit."
Tsunade was taken aback for a moment, but upon reflection, his words made sense.
He had already mastered seven elemental releases. No matter how far he refined them, at best, he would only become another Sarutobi Hiruzen.
But Kitazawa was still young. If he wished to surpass the Third Hokage, he needed to break through the limits of ordinary ninjutsu — he needed a Kekkei Genkai.
Actually, there was another path: Sage Mode and Sage Techniques from the three Great Sage Lands.
But mastering Sage Jutsu was no less difficult than synthesizing a Bloodline Limit. Neither she nor Orochimaru had succeeded — only Jiraiya had learned a partial Sage Mode, and even then, he relied on the assistance of Fukasaku and Shima of Mount Myōboku.
"I want to use the merits I gained from the battlefield to exchange for Wood Release ninjutsu from the village," Kitazawa stated plainly.
"Since you've made up your mind, then go ahead and try," Tsunade said at last.
Although she didn't truly believe he could combine Earth Release and Water Release to create Wood Release, she admired his determination.
"You can keep those merits," she added. "You're my student, and you already have the right to learn Wood Release. You don't need to exchange merits for it."
"Alright," Kitazawa agreed with a slight raise of his brow.
After all, merits in Konoha were valuable — if not spent on jutsu or tools, they could always be exchanged for money.
"I'll fetch the Wood Release scrolls for you," Tsunade said, standing up and leaving the office.
Kitazawa waited only about ten minutes before she returned. She handed him a scroll, and as he unrolled it, three jutsu were inscribed within:
Wood Release: Wood Golem Jutsu,
Wood Release: Silent Strangle Jutsu,
and Wood Release: Great Forest Jutsu.
They were all foundational techniques of Wood Release — yet, as a Kekkei Genkai, even these were at least B-rank in difficulty.
"If you can master these, come find me for the more advanced ones," Tsunade said with a faint smile. "I truly hope you can learn them."
Neither she, her brother Nawaki, nor her parents had inherited Hashirama Senju's Wood Release. It was a lingering regret deep within her heart.
If Kitazawa — her own student — could awaken Wood Release, it would be a symbolic rebirth of the First Hokage's legacy.
"I'll try my best," Kitazawa replied with a calm smile.
"Do you have anything else?" Tsunade asked, massaging her temples. "If not, I need to get back to work. This paperwork is driving me mad."
"No, that's all. I'll head to the Anbu," Kitazawa said, bowing before leaving the office.
"Kitazawa!" Asuma greeted him with a grin the moment he arrived.
"Look how popular our Anbu's become — we've received over a hundred applications in just one day."
"That many?" Kitazawa stepped forward and glanced over the pile of documents on the desk.
They were all applications from shinobi seeking to join the Anbu, and their abilities were impressive.
The weakest among them were elite Chunin, with many even reaching Jonin level.
"I suppose it's because of Lady Tsunade," Asuma said, flipping through a stack of forms.
"These ones are all from the Uchiha Clan."
"Uchiha?" Kitazawa raised an eyebrow, scanning the pages.
"This is the first time I've seen so many Uchiha applying to join the Anbu," Asuma remarked in surprise.
Though Uchiha had served in the Anbu before, their motives had often been questionable. Take Shisui Uchiha and Itachi Uchiha — both were originally sent as spies under Fugaku's orders, but things hadn't gone as planned.
Of course, there was another reason for the clan's absence in Anbu ranks — Sarutobi Hiruzen had long been wary of relying too heavily on Uchiha shinobi.
"What are your thoughts?" Asuma asked curiously.
"Follow the procedure first. Lady Tsunade will make the final decision on whether to use them," Kitazawa said casually.
Itachi was a useful tool — an exceptional one, even.
But that didn't mean every other ninja from the Uchiha Clan could be treated the same way. Of course, if they met his standards, he wouldn't hesitate to make use of them.
"Besides the Uchiha Clan, there's also the Hyuga Clan."
Asuma pulled out another stack of application forms and sighed. "Lady Tsunade seems more popular than the Old Man."
Between a beautiful woman and a grumpy old man, was there even a question of who people would rather follow? Kitazawa chuckled quietly.
He already understood the motives of both the Uchiha and the Hyuga Clans — they wanted influence and power.
As for why they hadn't competed for it during Sarutobi Hiruzen's rule, the reason was simple: they couldn't.
Tsunade, despite her fiery temper, lacked the political cunning that Hiruzen possessed. Her nature was more straightforward, more reminiscent of Senju Hashirama's warmth and idealism.
And because of that, the clans now saw an opportunity — a glimmer of hope.
Kitazawa, however, didn't care.
In the shinobi world, strength was the only truth. When Senju Hashirama was alive, peace blanketed the world; no one dared to stir conflict, not within Konoha nor beyond its borders.
Tsunade might not be able to recreate that peace — but Kitazawa could. All he had to do was rely on the system's power.
"It's all the same. Follow the procedure first," Kitazawa said, glancing over the forms.
"Alright then," Asuma nodded. "I'll select a few and have them take the assessment to determine their strength first."
"Mm." Kitazawa didn't linger any longer. He turned and left the office.
---
The next day arrived — Sunday.
Kitazawa woke up early, and Kurenai was already awake as well. Neither of them slept in. Today, they had to attend a funeral.
"I'm going out to buy flowers," Kitazawa said, glancing at her.
She was dressed in a black kimono, her expression calm yet tinged with melancholy.
"Mm." Kurenai nodded gently. "By the time you get back, breakfast will be ready."
Kitazawa stepped out and made his way toward Konoha Flower Street — a street aptly named for its abundance of florists. The Yamanaka Flower Shop stood prominently among them.
As he walked, he saw villagers and shinobi alike dressed in black. The sky was bright and clear, yet a somber atmosphere lingered over the village.
"Teacher Kitazawa!" A flash of gold caught his eye, followed by Ino's cheerful face.
"Good morning, Ino." Kitazawa smiled as he approached.
Ino was wearing a black dress. Compared to her usual lively demeanor, she seemed subdued — quieter, more reserved.
"Lord Kitazawa." Ino's mother, Yamanaka Rino, rose and greeted him respectfully.
"Teacher Kitazawa, are you here to buy flowers?" Ino asked, looking up at him.
"Mm," Kitazawa nodded. "Two bouquets of white chrysanthemums."
"Ino, go pick two bouquets of white chrysanthemums for Lord Kitazawa," Yamanaka Rino said with a gentle smile.
"Teacher Kitazawa, wait for me!" Ino darted off like a flash toward the flower stand.
"This child is a bit boisterous. Please forgive her, Lord Kitazawa," Rino said, shaking her head.
"I'm just being cute!" Yamanaka Ino turned around, stuck out her tongue, and asked, "Teacher Kitazawa, don't you think so?"
"Yes," Kitazawa said with a smile.
Hearing that, Ino shot her mother a triumphant grin.
"..." Yamanaka Rino could only smile helplessly, though she felt pleased.
She could tell Kitazawa and Ino shared a good bond — and considering Kitazawa's current status and influence, such a relationship could only benefit the Yamanaka Clan.
"Here, Teacher Kitazawa!" Ino ran over with two bouquets of white chrysanthemums in her arms.
"Thank you," Kitazawa said, accepting them. "How much?"
"No need to pay — these are on us," Rino said, shaking her head.
"Alright then." Kitazawa didn't argue. "I'll be going now. See you at the Memorial Stone later."
---
Nine o'clock in the morning.
At the Konoha Memorial Stone Tablet, the crowd was dense — a sea of black attire. The sight reminded Kitazawa of the crowded streets from his previous life's holidays.
"Kitazawa." Kakashi approached, with Might Guy beside him.
Today, even Guy's usual boundless energy was gone; his demeanor was quiet and respectful.
After exchanging greetings, they stood in silence.
Kitazawa looked around and spotted his students — Sasuke, Hinata, Shikamaru, Kiba, and Yakumo. Each stood beside their families and clan members.
Hinata noticed him and gave a small wave.
Moments later, Sarutobi Hiruzen and Tsunade arrived together. Though Hiruzen was retired, there was no way he would miss the funeral of a war hero.
After paying their respects, everyone stepped forward one by one to lay down their flowers.
The ceremony lasted nearly two hours before finally concluding.
Kitazawa was about to leave when Tsunade's voice called out behind him.
"Then we'll be going first," Kurenai said softly, perceptive as ever. She departed with Kakashi and the others, leaving the two behind.
"Come with me," Tsunade said quietly.
Her tone carried a subdued heaviness. Kitazawa nodded and followed her as she walked deeper into the Memorial grounds.
He had a faint idea where she was going.
A few minutes later, Tsunade stopped.
Before them stood a row of gravestones — Senju Hashirama, Uzumaki Mito, Senju Nawaki, Senju Tobirama… the resting places of her family and the Senju bloodline.
Tsunade stood silently before the graves, her head bowed.
Dressed in her rare black kimono, she exuded an aura of quiet sorrow — a side of her that few ever saw.