Senju Nawaki watched the changes in Senju Dōma. It seemed that his plan was successful, and he also gained unexpected benefits.
This transformation was beyond Nawaki's imagination.
In this era, the life expectancy of ordinary people in the ninja world was only around forty.
The stronger the ninja, the longer their lifespan.
According to Senju Nawaki's guess, the more chakra attributes a ninja mastered, the longer their life could extend—of course, excluding injuries suffered in battle.
For example, the Third Hokage, who lived in luxury and survived the longest.
Chakra was an energy that could trigger transitions in life forms.
The strongest of the Ōtsutsuki clan could even achieve immortality.
This time, he vowed to live longer than anyone else.
Nawaki kept his eyes fixed on Senju Dōma's changes, and everything seemed to move in a good direction.
The most obvious sign was the bark-like scar on his face, which was gradually disappearing.
"Open your eyes~"
Senju Dōma suddenly opened his eyes. His aura burst forth, and his armor fluttered.
A chakra aura surged around his body.
He looked down at his hands and realized how much he had changed.
He clenched his fists and let chakra flow through his body.
Swish!
Wooden spikes bent up from the ground, piercing through the soil, forming a cage—then disappeared again.
"Wood Release? Cutting Technique?"
A light flashed in Senju Nawaki's eyes.
This technique was an introductory Wood Release, derived from the Rock Thrust of Earth Release. It was faster, more precise, and extremely practical.
"Nawaki, I'm sorry, I got a little too excited."
Senju Dōma touched his face and found that the scars left behind by his earlier failures with Wood Release had disappeared.
Now, he has fully mastered it.
As he spoke, he walked to the bed and helped Nawaki lie down.
He noticed that Nawaki's chakra was continuously being consumed, sweat pouring down his forehead—a clear sign of exhaustion.
This ability to help others awaken their bloodline must cause considerable strain on Nawaki.
Dōma felt as though he had returned to the days when Nawaki was a child. Back then, the boy trusted him the most—and Nawaki had always been the most important person to him.
That Tobirama could only fuss over Tsunade.
"Granduncle Dōma, how do you feel?"
There was weakness in Nawaki's voice, though he already had the answer in his heart.
With Senju Dōma's current strength and prestige, he was confident he could protect Nawaki.
Some of his plans could now be put into motion. Even if he remained in Konoha, Dōma's strength could still help him reclaim what was his.
The person who had tried to assassinate him must also be punished.
For all of this, he needed Senju Dōma's support.
"Better than ever. Give me some time to adapt, and I'll be able to suppress ordinary Kage."
Senju Dōma's face brimmed with pride.
As he had grown older and accumulated injuries, his strength had continued to decline. At one point, he had even fallen below the level of an average Kage, making him feel like a hero fading in his twilight years.
But now, everything has returned.
The reason he became the inheritor of the Senju clan wasn't only his bloodline but also his immense talent. He was second only to Hashirama and Tobirama themselves.
Now, with his rejuvenated body and mastery of Wood Release, he had regained his edge.
There was no pressure in facing ordinary Kage—and with Wood Release, he was more confident than ever.
He could protect Senju Nawaki from all threats.
"How about dealing with Sarutobi Hiruzen?" Nawaki narrowed his eyes, not bothering to hide his intentions.
"Hiruzen… that boastful pretender. His achievements exist only because of Senju Tobirama's unreserved efforts. He absorbed the essence of countless families—our Senju, the Uchiha, the Sarutobi, the Uzumaki, and many more."
"Only by knowing the secrets of other clans can he deal with them so calmly."
"But now, with Wood Release, I'd say I have a seventy-thirty chance of defeating him."
"It's only because that fool Tobirama passed on all of Wood Release's secrets and Senju techniques to Hiruzen that he has such an advantage."
As he spoke, Dōma adjusted the quilt for Nawaki, tucking it beneath his arm to make him more comfortable.
Perhaps it was because he had regained his youth, but Dōma seemed more talkative and even more aggressive now.
He no longer concealed his dissatisfaction with Senju Tobirama.
After all, that self-righteous genius had always had poor judgment of people.
The only thing unchanged was Dōma's unwavering care for Nawaki.
"Granduncle Dōma, if you wanted to establish your own branch family, how many people could you take from the Senju? Like the Haruno, Takagi, or Sakuragi lines?"
A gleam lit up Nawaki's eyes as he asked.
"What?" Dōma was a little surprised, then quickly replied, "Don't worry, I'm not like the others. I'll always support you."
Those families had once been direct branches of the Senju. But after reaching elite jōnin level, they had followed Tobirama's orders—abandoning the Senju surname, integrating into Konoha, and founding their own clans.
Dōma patted Nawaki's shoulder, thinking the boy feared abandonment.
But he had no children, and Nawaki was the last person he had left to protect.
Even the Senju clan itself mattered less to him than Nawaki.
"Granduncle Dōma, I don't doubt you. My idea is simple: if you establish a family, we can leave Konoha together. That way, we can take more power with us.
I also need a name. I plan to take some experimental materials from Konoha.
There's no distinction between us."
Nawaki shook his head. His respect for the old man only deepened as he explained his plan.
This elder truly deserved his respect.
"Alright. Get some rest—I'll contact them."
Senju Dōma nodded. Just as Nawaki said, if he established a family—especially after awakening Wood Release—he could take away far more power.
Many diehard Senju still scoffed at Tobirama's decision, clinging to the clan name and emblem, refusing to integrate into Konoha.
But Konoha's wealth and land remained tied to its roots.
Leaving Konoha and developing in the Land of Fire was a true path forward—otherwise, they would only be eroded away, piece by piece.