Chapter 347: Good News and Awakening
Start of Ninja World Year 46.
The Cloud-Thunder Federation's "Thunder Roar Super Lariat Hot Sun Chiyo"—shortened to the Thunder Roar Plan—was in full swing.
The top-tier combatants and geniuses of Kumogakure temporarily put aside their mundane tasks and focused on improving their strength.
Whether it was Kumogakure or the Cloud-Thunder Federation, both were forces built on the identity of ninja. Even if they transitioned from a ninja village to a nation, and then from a nation to a federation, this fact wouldn't change.
And for ninja, strength matters.
Although the powerhouses of the Federation were already unrivaled in the ninja world, who would complain about having too many trump cards?
Coincidentally, the preliminary preparations for the agricultural reform were basically complete, waiting for the experimental fields to be opened around April. So Dana had time to focus on practicing the Eight Inner Gates.
He opened the first gate quickly because he switched to Lightning Release chakra for cultivation, causing his Eight Inner Gates manifestation to differ from others. Of course, the first gate was also the simplest.
The Third Raikage, Nagato, Arashi, and Blue Bee also completed the first gate on the first day.
However, according to Might Duy, it was best to consolidate and master each gate thoroughly—achieving "instant opening, painless opening, open at will"—before attempting the next gate. Thus, everyone's progress slowed down.
After all, with Tobirama Senju's self-detonation as a precedent, and them not being Yoshitoki who could ignore physical damage...
So a week passed. Dana and the Third Raikage had reached the Third Gate and were working toward the Fourth, while Arashi and Blue Bee were still attempting the Third.
The only exception was Yoshitoki, who left the training group on the second day.
Not because he didn't want to train anymore, but because he had finished training.
In just two days, relying on his decades of familiarity with human acupuncture points and perfect control over his body, Yoshitoki opened up to the Seventh Gate...
He demonstrated on the spot what "blue chakra flames" looked like.
At the time, Dana and the Third Raikage were speechless, and Might Duy was streaming tears.
Comparisons are odious; some people truly aren't human!
More importantly, Yoshitoki had modified his body to meet the minimum requirements for opening the Seventh Gate.
In his words, since he didn't have a high-quality body forged through thousands of trials, he could only use quantity to replace quality. So on the first night, Yoshitoki "consumed" a large amount of food and performed unknown modifications on his body.
Then, the next day, everyone had the privilege of seeing a bald muscle monster.
Approaching 2.5 meters in height, his muscles looked like mutated hyperplasia. He had 16 abs alone, and his "Demon Back" triggered trypophobia.
Nagato shouted on the spot, "This is the God of Muscles! You! Are! My! God!!"
In terms of actual strength, this body naturally couldn't compare to Dana or the Third Raikage, but the visual effect...
Dana felt like... Wherever this guy sits, that place becomes Gotham.
Fortunately, Yoshitoki only tried it once before retracting his divine power.
"This body is unfavorable for scientific research! I have to adjust it back later. So... I'll leave first. after all, I don't want to open the Gate of Death yet... But I think there must be more than eight acupuncture points in the human body limiting chakra flow. I'll research it when I have time."
The monster Yoshitoki left, and Tobirama exploded. After that, everyone's training returned to normal. Dana also began to enjoy this atmosphere of focused cultivation.
Honestly, after his strength matured, he had more and more things to do. A whole block of time for cultivation, especially collective cultivation to improve strength, was precious.
One day, after finishing the day's training, Dana, the Third Raikage, and Arashi returned to the clan grounds together. As soon as they entered, they saw the front hall packed with people.
His mother Satomi and Natsu were there, along with Kayo and Maki. Dana even saw many Yotsuki clan elders standing there, trembling with excitement...
The father and sons were confused.
"What's going on? Did something big happen?"
A trembling elder said excitedly, "Good news! She's pregnant! She's pregnant!"
The Third Raikage froze, then looked tenderly at his wife. "Satomi... thank you for your hard work... You aren't young anymore; you must take care of your health!"
Arashi said excitedly, "I didn't expect to get another little brother at this age... A sister is fine too!"
Satomi stepped forward, stood on her tiptoes, and slapped both of them on the back of the head. "Not me! It's Natsu!"
Now Dana was stunned...
He hurriedly looked over and saw Kayo and Maki surrounding Natsu, whispering curiously and cautiously.
Sensing Dana's gaze, Natsu returned a gentle smile.
Dana felt a mix of emotions...
Federation First Research Institute, Special Area.
A blonde woman wearing glasses was observing a microscope and recording data.
The room door opened. The woman turned to see the highest person in charge of the entire research base, Yoshitoki.
Given her special status, she recognized him and was awed by his technology and wisdom.
By now, Yoshitoki had restored his body to normal levels.
Yoshitoki appearing here was already surprising, but before she could greet him, Yoshitoki stepped aside.
Another figure appeared behind Yoshitoki, completely stunning Tsunade.
"Granduncle?"
Tsunade wondered if she was too tired and hallucinating.
Tobirama Senju looked at the Tsunade before him. Although much older, her features still bore traces of her youth.
But in his memory, Tsunade was always lawless. Now, she seemed melancholic.
"Tsunade... long time no see."
Half an hour later, only Tsunade and Tobirama remained in the room.
"So... Konoha was defeated... and merged with the Cloud Village? A Cloud-Thunder Federation appeared?"
Tobirama said, "You are completely ignorant of the outside situation."
Tsunade said bitterly, "I'm only half a prisoner here. No one tells me about the outside world, and I'm not allowed to leave... Have I been here for three years? Or four? I can't remember clearly."
Tobirama was silent for a while, then said, "But who can you blame?"
He wasn't a kind elder like his brother. Dana had told him the cause and effect long ago. In his view, Tsunade brought this upon herself.
Back then, Konoha and the Cloud were hostile. Tsunade made a deal with an enemy ninja for personal feelings, got played completely, and allowed the Cloud to gain significant benefits, boosting Dana's strength greatly.
Many events in the following years were related to Tsunade's decision back then.
From a standpoint perspective, Dana did nothing wrong; he was even excellent. Instead, Tsunade lost the integrity a ninja should have.
However, the ninja world situation was completely different now. Pursuing past events was meaningless, but Tobirama was indeed disappointed.
After years of confinement, Tsunade had lost her edge. Facing her granduncle, she only lowered her head.
"Tsunade, the ninja world situation has changed. Yotsuki Dana feels there is no need to detain you anymore. He sent me to find you to release you. I'll take you back to Konoha. You can rest for a while and adapt to the changes outside."
However, contrary to Tobirama's expectation, Tsunade suddenly got agitated. "I can't leave yet, Granduncle! Dan... Dan hasn't woken up yet! My research has a lead! This place has the most advanced equipment in the ninja world! Once I leave here... Just give me a little more time... really..."
Seeing the anxious Tsunade, Tobirama suddenly had the urge to use Flying Thunder God to chop that vegetable man to death.
"Tsunade! Why are you so obsessed?!"
"Granduncle! I've confirmed it; Dan's soul is still in his body! He has a chance to wake up! And Granduncle, seeing you just now gave me a new idea! We can use Edo Tensei to anchor Dan's soul!"
Tsunade revealed her flash of inspiration. She knew how powerful her granduncle was. If she could persuade him, Dan's chance of waking up would increase significantly.
After listening to Tsunade's plan, Tobirama was silent for a long time. Finally, he said helplessly, "You have one chance. If it fails, I'll take you back to Konoha. You've been closed off for too long."
The next day, after all preparations were made, Tobirama borrowed a secret room from Yoshitoki.
Comatose for years, despite Tsunade's careful care, Dan Kato had sunken cheeks and was skeletal. Tsunade pushed his hospital bed onto the modified Edo Tensei formation.
Edo Tensei pulled the soul of the deceased from the Pure Land to the living world and attached it to a prepared sacrifice. The jutsu itself had the function of stuffing a soul into a body. Tsunade believed Dan's soul was still in his body, but due to practicing the Spirit Transformation Technique in life, his soul and body were disjointed, causing the prolonged coma.
Unable to withstand Tsunade's begging, Tobirama modified some details of Edo Tensei. Instead of fishing for a soul from the Pure Land, it would target the immediate area in the living world.
Normally, this would be meaningless because there are no ghosts in the ninja world... Dead souls are definitely in the Pure Land, and living souls don't need pulling.
But Dan's situation was special. To make Tsunade give up, Tobirama was willing to try.
"Granduncle... please start... I beg you..."
Under Tsunade's anxious gaze, Tobirama retreated outside the formation and released this customized Edo Tensei.
As chakra flowed along the formation and converged on the hospital bed in the center...
An anomaly occurred.
Faint black flames emitted from Dan Kato's body, as if something ominous was burning.
Tsunade asked nervously, "Granduncle? What is happening?"
Tobirama shook his head. "The jutsu didn't fail. I don't know."
In a vision invisible to the two, invisible chains were attached to Dan, seemingly binding his soul and trying to pull it into his body.
However, in the void, some force seemed to be resisting this process.
Finally, a certain energy flashed, and the chains, no longer obstructed, successfully pulled the soul into the body.
No one saw these changes...
On the bed, Dan Kato's eyelids twitched.
Tears streamed down Tsunade's face. She had waited too long for this day!
She rushed forward immediately. "Dan! Are you okay?! Are you awake?"
Dan seemed dazed for a long time before gradually regaining consciousness. He turned his wooden face toward Tsunade and spoke in a raspy voice. "You are... Tsunade..."
Tsunade looked up excitedly, only to find that Dan's pupils, which should have been emerald green... had somehow turned red...
Dan said expressionlessly, "Who am I... I remember now. Right... I am Dan Kato..."