Somewhere in the Forest of Death.
At this moment, two people, one adult and one child, were standing there.
The adult was none other than Konoha Hokage Advisor and Root leader, Shimura Danzo!
The child appeared to be a young boy of only six or seven years old, with vacant eyes and shinobi attire.
He was the only test subject to survive the First Hokage's cell transplantation experiments that Orochimaru and Danzo had secretly conducted behind Hiruzen's back.
This was the Root shinobi, codenamed "Kinoe", known as Yamato!
"Very good. You are already much stronger than before."
Watching the Wood Release that "Kinoe" displayed in front of him, which only consisted of a few tree branches rising from the ground and forming several trees just over a meter tall, Danzo spoke indifferently.
"You are the one who inherited the power of the First Hokage-sama, and your future will be limitless."
"In a sense, Konoha was built upon Wood Release."
"Perhaps you cannot compare to the First Hokage-sama, but you can become the 'Root' of this great tree known as Konoha!"
"We, the 'Root', exist for this very purpose. If Konoha wants to develop further, it needs the existence of us, the 'Root'. We are an indispensable part of Konoha. We are the 'Root' hidden in the darkness!"
The brainwashing was constant.
Even for a shinobi who had already been controlled by a Forbidden Jutsu.
Yet Danzo would still use words to deepen his prestige and strengthen his rule!
Because.
He was not content with merely being an Hokage Advisor!
He was not content with merely being a Hokage assistant!
He wanted to sit in that highest position.
And "Kinoe", who had successfully undergone the First Hokage's cell transplantation, was his trump card for becoming Hokage in the future.
A card powerful enough to make anyone shut up!
"I understand, Danzo-sama."
"Kinoe", who was Yamato, heard Danzo's words, and a look of vague understanding appeared on his expressionless face. "I will train hard to become the 'Root' of Konoha and become the sharp blade in your hand!"
His understanding and worldview had not yet matured.
Coupled with Danzo's brainwashing and guidance, he had already come to view Danzo as the only existence worthy of his loyalty.
Moreover.
The other party was his savior, the one who had rescued him.
He was the benefactor who provided him with food and clothing, and bestowed him with power.
He would thoroughly carry out the other party's orders and become the sharp blade in the other party's hand.
His existence, and the meaning behind his existence, had all been given to him by the other party!
"I look forward to the day you grow up."
Danzo nodded with satisfaction.
Although his words were encouraging, his expression did not change much.
It was true that Wood Release was a power capable of sweeping across the shinobi world.
But the other party was still too young and needed a long time to grow.
He could not judge how far the other party could grow.
He merely held some expectations for it.
However.
Even if it meant using extreme measures, or methods that would shorten the other party's lifespan, he would make the other party grow as quickly as possible.
Grow to the point where he could be put to use!
Thinking about these things in his mind, Danzo gave a cold order. "Continue your training. Do not slack off. Your future..."
He wanted to continue encouraging him with a few more words.
But at that moment, it was as if he suddenly sensed something.
Danzo's gaze suddenly turned toward a certain location, his only exposed left eye becoming extremely sharp, and he let out a low shout. "Who!?"
Wood Release and "Kinoe" could not be shown to others.
Therefore, he had set up a barrier here.
It was to conceal the commotion here, and at the same time, it served as a warning.
As long as someone approached, he would be able to sense it.
Someone had touched the barrier he had set up!
Tap, tap.
Footsteps approached from the dense forest.
Two seconds later.
Tsunade's figure walked out, her gaze fixed on the two people in the clearing.
She said in an indifferent tone, "What are you doing here? Hokage Advisor Danzo."
She swept a glance over "Kinoe".
He looked almost identical to the Yamato she had seen before. He was a miniature version of Yamato!
As expected, the Wood Release shinobi Yamato existed in this space-time as well.
"Tsunade..."
Seeing that it was Tsunade, Danzo's heart sank.
Had the other party seen the scene of "Kinoe" displaying Wood Release just now?
And those facial markings.
Could it be Senjutsu!?
Since when did Tsunade master Senjutsu?
Danzo suppressed the heavy emotions in his heart, but his expression did not show it, and he said indifferently, "Why are you here?"
Did the other party see Kinoe display Wood Release?
This was the most important thing!
"Tell me about his origins, Hokage Advisor Danzo. Why can this person use my great-grandfather's Wood Release?"
Tsunade did not want to waste words with Danzo, so she went straight to the point.
Her eyes were sharp as she glared at Danzo, filled with a sense of pressure. "If your explanation cannot satisfy me, you should know my temper."
Her previous guess was correct.
That Wood Release shinobi Yamato was indeed related to Anbu and Root.
Some of the other party's past behavioral habits had that flavor.
She had judged that Yamato was once an Anbu and Root shinobi.
And she had also roughly deduced who might be secretly conducting this kind of experiment!
It was definitely inseparable from Danzo and Orochimaru.
As for whether her Sensei, Hiruzen, knew about it?
At first, she found it hard to judge.
It was not until their conversation in the Hokage Office earlier.
When "Madara and Wood Release" was mentioned, she saw something from the subtle changes in Hiruzen's expression.
The other party perhaps knew about the Wood Release Kekkei GenKinoe transplantation experiments.
But he did not know that there was another Wood Release shinobi in Konoha.
At least, her Sensei did not know about that Wood Release shinobi named Yamato.
"…"
Hearing this, Danzo's heart sank to the bottom.
The other party had indeed seen it!
The most troublesome thing had happened after all.
And it had been discovered by the most troublesome person.
Even if Orochimaru or Hiruzen knew about the existence of "Kinoe", although it would still be very troublesome, there would at least be room to maneuver.
But Tsunade.
Given the other party's personality, as well as her status, she would absolutely not let it go.
Why did he have to run into her at a time like this?
Danzo's mood at this moment was truly terrible!
"As you can see, he is a Wood Release shinobi. He possesses the bloodline of the Senju Clan, and by chance, he awakened Wood Release."
After all, Danzo was a person skilled in scheming, so his expression remained indifferent.
He said calmly, "Although the surname Senju no longer exists today, the bloodline of your Senju Clan has still been passed down, as you know."
Since he could not avoid it, he could only bluff.
The Senju Clan surname did not exist, but the clan was not extinct.
Instead, they had hidden the Senju surname.
They lived in Konoha as "ordinary people".
This was a plan formulated by Tobirama after he became the Second Hokage.
The purpose was to protect those members of the Senju Clan who did not have much combat power.
The meaning represented by the surname Senju was simply too significant.
This was also a helpless move.
Hadn't one seen that even Tsunade, the princess of the Senju Clan, did not have the surname Senju?
Although this excuse sounded somewhat unconvincing, it was not completely unreasonable!
"Hehehe. The excuse you found is truly perfect. If I had not already known about the Wood Release transplantation experiments, I really would have been deceived by you."
Tsunade sneered.
It was quite well reasoned.
However, even she had only successfully awakened Wood Release after mastering Sage Mode and enhancing her own life force.
A child who did not look very talented.
Even if he possessed the bloodline of the Senju Clan, wanting to awaken Wood Release.
It was not entirely impossible, but the probability was far too low.
Coupled with the fact that she already knew about the existence of the Wood Release Kekkei GenKinoe transplantation experiments, how could she possibly be deceived by the other party?
"I have been investigating this matter for a long time, but you hid it very deeply, and I did not find any clues!"
Tsunade spoke frankly, her gaze fixed on Danzo.
She said indifferently, "Now that I have found it, then... you should know what I will do."
Buzz, buzz, buzz!
The Senjutsu Chakra in her body surged and erupted at this moment, and Tsunade's golden hair floated with it.
A powerful sense of pressure radiated from her body.
Activating Sage Mode would greatly enhance all her attributes!
"The old man probably does not know about this person's existence. In other words, you were conducting this kind of experiment behind his back, using my great-grandfather's body and flesh tissue for experiments!"
"If I remember correctly, my great-uncle should have explicitly forbidden this kind of thing, right?"
Tsunade's words were cold, and her voice carried an icy tone.
Although her great-uncle had also used her great-grandfather's flesh tissue to conduct experiments, family was different after all!
For an outsider to do such a thing, to her, it was an intolerable matter.
Moreover, she did not know how many people had lost their lives because of this kind of experiment.
"Hoo..."
Hearing this, Danzo let out a heavy sigh, his tone calm and indifferent. "It seems you already know quite a few things."
Hiruzen and Orochimaru could not have told Tsunade about this kind of thing.
The First Hokage's cell transplantation laboratory was a secret matter that had been sealed away.
Afterward, their continuation of the experiments behind Hiruzen's back was an even more concealed matter.
Then how did Tsunade know about this kind of thing?
Many doubts appeared in his heart.
However, since the other party knew, there was no need to continue hiding it.
"As the strongest power of the First Hokage-sama, Wood Release is also a power that can maintain Konoha's stability. In the First Shinobi World War and the Second Shinobi World War, we paid far too many sacrifices and casualties!"
"In order to avoid even more serious casualties in Konoha, or even its destruction..."
Danzo's expression was calm, but his words were full of righteousness. "We need to let the power of the First Hokage-sama reappear in Konoha to maintain Konoha's stability!"
The reason they had conducted the First Hokage's cell transplantation experiments in the past was simply for Konoha's stability.
This was a fact.
An undeniable fact!
"And then? Is that your reason for desecrating my great-grandfather? Doing this kind of thing without my consent, are you trying to say this is a sacrifice that must be made for Konoha?"
The coldness in Tsunade's words dropped by several degrees!
Danzo's tone was very serious. "That's right. All of this is for Konoha, for the Konoha that the First Hokage-sama built with his own hands!"
"Screw you!"
Tsunade's anger was ignited instantly, and she directly cursed.
For Konoha?
What noble-sounding words!
If they had not hidden it from her, the princess of the Senju Clan, and if they had not conducted this kind of experiment in secret, perhaps it would have sounded somewhat credible!
But using those noble-sounding words while conducting such cruel experiments in secret made it seem more like it was for selfish desires.
To be able to master the powerful Kekkei GenKinoe of Wood Release!
For his own ulterior motives!
That was why he would do such a thing!
"Do not use such words to bluff me. I am not a three-year-old child. I just want to know who exactly participated in this kind of thing. Everyone who participated in this matter must give my Senju Clan an explanation!"
Tsunade stared coldly at Danzo.
This matter required an explanation to her.
Otherwise, it would not be over!
"Watch your status, Tsunade!"
Danzo snorted coldly.
He was a Konoha Hokage Advisor, and his status and position in Konoha were no lower than Tsunade's, and even higher in some aspects.
He said coldly, "You have no right to question me. Do you want to commit insubordination?"
Although his tone was tough, Danzo had a headache at this moment.
If Tsunade really wanted to pursue this, it would truly be a troublesome matter.
Because this was something they were conducting in secret, hiding it from Hiruzen, the Third Hokage, and those test subjects were ordinary people they had taken.
This violated a major taboo of Konoha!
"No right?"
Tsunade laughed.
Her smile was full of coldness. "As long as I nod, the old man can step down tomorrow!"
"I do not even need to hold a Hokage election, nor do I need the Daimyō's approval. With my status, position, and strength, I can directly become the Fourth Hokage!"
"You say I have no right? When it comes to Wood Release, who can be more qualified than me?"
"Now, tell me everything you know, and tell me every detail about everyone who participated in this matter!"
Status?
Right?
Someone actually said such things to her in Konoha?
If she did not have the right.
Who else had this right?
Matters involving her great-grandfather, matters involving Wood Release.
And he actually said she had no right to ask about these things?
What?
Did she need to become the Fourth Hokage before she had that right?
"Regarding this matter, I will go and explain it in detail to Hiruzen. This move... is for Konoha!"
Danzo's face darkened, and his hands clenched tightly.
But he could not lash out, so he could only say coldly, "The current situation in the shinobi world is not stable. You should prioritize the bigger picture, Tsunade."
Hokage!
The greatest wish in his heart, the goal he wanted to accomplish the most.
Yet from the other party's mouth, it sounded like something that could be done so easily.
And he had no way to refute it.
Because the other party really had that qualification!
He also already knew some of Hiruzen's thoughts. He wanted Tsunade to become the Fourth Hokage.
As long as Tsunade nodded, Hiruzen might really step down immediately.
It was unrealistic for Tsunade to become the Fourth Hokage tomorrow, but a few days later, the other party could definitely become the Fourth Hokage.
This situation caused an inexplicable fire to rise in his heart.
Why could the other party become Hokage just because she wanted to?
While he faced heavy resistance when he wanted to become Hokage!?
Thinking of this, anger, grievance, and irritation began growing in his heart.
"Hehehe, trying to use righteousness to force me into compromising?"
Hearing the coercion and threat in Danzo's words.
Trying to use righteousness to make her compromise?
Tsunade just sneered. "Sorry, I do not buy that!"
"Do not make me say it a third time, Danzo! Tell me everything you know, and tell me every detail about everyone who participated in this matter!"
She would get to the bottom of this!
Anyone involved in this matter had to pay the price they deserved!
"…"
Hearing this, Danzo was silent for two seconds.
Then he slightly raised his head, his expression becoming even more indifferent, and his voice was suppressed and low. "Do not make me say it a third time either, Tsunade. I will explain this matter in detail to Hiruzen. You have no right to inquire about this matter right now!"
He could only bypass Tsunade first and talk to Hiruzen in detail.
Perhaps that was the only way to minimize the impact of this matter on him.
(To be continued.)
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◇ One bonus chapter will be released for every 200 Power Stones.
◇ You can read the ahead chapter on Pat if you're interested: p-atreon.c-om/Blownleaves (Just remove the hyphen to access normally.)