"Traitor?"
There was a look of astonishment and anger in Senju Dōma's eyes.
During the Sengoku Period, when families were the fighting units, traitors were extremely rare—and the most unforgivable sin.
He restrained his expression, nodded to Senju Nawaki, and the kindness on his face became even more intense.
No wonder Senju Nawaki had changed so drastically. Even when looking at him now, he felt a sense of caution. It turned out that Nawaki had experienced such a transformation.
Konoha could not be trusted. Neither could the Senju clan.
"Don't worry, I will always support you and have your back. I will eliminate the parasites within the family," Senju Dōma said, greatly relieved.
He didn't want to let down Senju Nawaki's trust. Judging from his words and actions, Nawaki's trust in him was even greater than in Tsunade.
There was a solemn look on Dōma's face. Though old, he could still wield a blade with strength.
"No. Just find out his identity, and I will personally take action. Most importantly, gather the strength of the clan. Konoha is not a place to stay for long."
Senju Nawaki thought carefully about how to deal with the traitor.
Konoha would not let him leave easily, and he didn't want to leave in a humiliating way.
Keeping the traitor alive could also provide a convenient scapegoat.
Without revealing his mastery of Wood Release, it would be impossible for Senju Dōma to gather so many Senju members, leave Konoha, and establish themselves in the Land of Fire.
Otherwise, the amount of power he could summon would be greatly reduced.
After all, even when Uchiha Madara left Konoha, no one followed him.
The old man before him was always absolutely confident in himself, and Nawaki didn't want to strike at him directly.
Finally, Nawaki's gaze fixed on the wooden scar across Senju Dōma's face—the sequelae of his failed attempt to practice Wood Release.
The fact that he was still alive proved he had been very close to success.
A plan began to form in Nawaki's mind.
If Senju Dōma could awaken Wood Release, then his strength and loyalty would be unquestionable. The main reason he had hesitated before was simply because Nawaki's past performances had disappointed them too much.
"Granduncle Dōma, I remember you also practiced Wood Release. Why didn't you succeed?" Nawaki asked, his eyes flashing with a strange light.
"Wood Release? According to Hashirama, my water-nature chakra was relatively weak. Wood Release is a Kekkei Genkai formed by combining Earth Release, Water Release, Yang Release, and a special constitution."
"Unfortunately, I was just short of that. I could only master some incomplete pseudo-Wood Release techniques. The disguise technique I used just now was to turn myself into a dead piece of wood—that's why I said they didn't notice me."
Senju Dōma answered without hesitation.
He still felt regret. If he had mastered Wood Release, the current state of the Senju clan would not be so pitiful.
Behind his conflict with Tobirama Senju, there was also a hidden reason.
Tobirama's physique, overflowing with water-nature chakra, was exactly what he lacked.
According to Hashirama, his younger brother was qualified and capable of practicing Wood Release—but Tobirama had already chosen his own path and did not need to.
Many of Hashirama's Wood Release techniques had been developed with Tobirama's assistance.
What Dōma hated even more about Tobirama was that the disciples this idiot trained were just as ungrateful and narrow-minded as him, with no respect for the Senju clan.
"Water-nature chakra?"
A gleam flashed in Senju Nawaki's eyes.
In his spiritual space, he still had the corpse of a senior ninja from the Yamanaka clan—who had also been skilled in Water Release. He should be able to extract water-natured blood from him.
If Senju Dōma's bloodline was replenished with it, the chance of awakening Wood Release would become very high.
According to Nawaki's understanding—
The Kekkei Genkai of the ninja world could be divided into categories.
Some were purely physical Kekkei Genkai—for example, the Uchiha clan's Sharingan, the Hyūga clan's Byakugan, and the Kaguya clan's Shikotsumyaku. These were physical mutations, often inheriting traits from Kaguya Ōtsutsuki herself. The Sage Body of the Uzumaki and Senju clans also constituted a special Kekkei Genkai.
Another type of Kekkei Genkai was created through chakra fusion.
The simplest fusions combined two chakra natures—for example, Haku's Wind + Water = Ice Release; Mei Terumī's Water + Fire = Boil Release; and Deidara's Earth + Lightning = Explosion Release.
Then there were Kekkei Tōta, formed from three chakra natures—for example, Dust Release (Wind + Earth + Fire).
At the highest level was the Kekkei Mōra, combining all seven chakra transformations in perfect harmony.
As for Wood Release, it seemed to require at least three chakra types.
With the help of the Bloodline Replenishment System, Nawaki believed he had the chance to glimpse the ultimate Kekkei Mōra.
He took a deep breath, discarded his distractions, and looked firmly at Dōma.
"Granduncle Dōma, give me a drop of your blood."
He stared into Senju Dōma's eyes as he spoke.
"Blood?"
Without hesitation, Dōma drew a kunai and cut his finger.
Blood was precious to a shinobi. In the ninja world, there were strange jutsu that required blood as a medium.
But to him, Senju Nawaki was someone he could trust—that was why he did this.
The blood that dripped from his fingertip was dark.
Nawaki held it in his hand, absorbing it into his palm.
In the next moment, his soul consciousness entered the inner dimension, where it looked as though he had drawn Dōma's blood into himself.
A curious look flashed across Dōma's face, but he didn't ask further. He only observed Nawaki, who had closed his eyes. He trusted that Nawaki would not harm him.
Based on his earlier words, Dōma even guessed what this was about—Nawaki wanted to help him awaken Wood Release.
Inside Nawaki's soul space—
"Since I can absorb the blood of others, I should also be able to replenish theirs."
The instrument—formed of three Boilers and a light-screen of soul energy—gave him the answer.
Senju Nawaki's research talent was unleashed to its fullest.
The Bloodline Replenishment System granted by Mother Earth was like an AI with infinite computing power. All Nawaki needed to do was provide chakra.
The result was clear—Senju Dōma's bloodline could indeed be replenished, granting him a chance to awaken Wood Release.
Activate!
The body of the Yamanaka clan's senior ninja was placed into the instrument.
[Chakra: 890 (continuously consumed)]
Nawaki's eyes fixed on the chakra consumption.
Fortunately, he had awakened his Sage Body, which more than doubled his chakra capacity.
…
[Chakra: 136 (lower than normal value)]
The buzzing sound in the soul space ceased.
Senju Nawaki now held a ball of water-natured blood energy in his hand. It glowed light blue and carried a chilling aura.
Back in the real world, Nawaki suddenly opened his eyes.
He grasped Dōma's healed finger, and the water-natured blood energy merged into his body.
"Be still and absorb this energy."
Nawaki's voice entered directly into Dōma's mind.
Breathe in. Breathe out.
Senju Dōma obeyed, closing his eyes and sensing his body's transformation.
As age advanced, his skin had grown loose, his hair white, and his body frail.
Now, with the incorporation of water-natured blood energy, everything began to change.
His bodily functions recovered. His withered white hair darkened, streaks of black mixing in and regaining luster.
The wrinkles on his face smoothed out, his skin regaining color.
His back straightened, his frame strengthening. Once again, he could carry the armor of the Sengoku era.
In just a dozen minutes—
He had gone from being an old man in his sixties to appearing no older than his forties.
Senju Dōma's aged body had regained its vitality.