A few weeks had passed and now it was nearing the end of March. Mito was finally ready and everything she needed to do was complete. Everything from finding the general area of Madara's grave to saving the remaining Uzumaki to helping Soutarou master his wood release. After 2 weeks of working with Soutarou, Mito had to say she was impressed by his work ethic and studiousness. Soutarou most definitely wasn't someone who understood everything on his first try, but he constantly adapted and adjusted and took everything as a learning experience. Moreover, he always acted as if he knew nothing and that everything the teacher said was correct, which honestly made for the best teaching experience Mito had ever had. Then it came to wood release, water, and earth release bluntly Mito was running out of things she could advise him on. In two weeks he'd mastered almost all the basic wood release jutsu ranging from one of the versatile jutsu: the Wood Clone Technique, to something as crazy as Secret Wood Style Jutsu: Deep Forest Emergence, albeit at a much smaller scale than Hashirama. She even saw him create a few techniques that he called landscaping style. Building houses, even rapidly creating spikes to be honest his genius is frightening. His talent with other elements was no worse either… everything from Lightning, Wind, Water, Earth, Fire, and even some yang chakra applications. To be frank all the Mito had left to teach him was genjutsu, sealing techniques and cursed sealing techniques. Everything else was best left to him to grow and explore himself. That wasn't even the worst part, as the most absurd portion of his talent was taijutsu, fortunately Tsunade helped her out, but even Kushina, Mikoto, Naori, and Tsunade herself were getting depressed over how fast he was improving.
'It's a good thing he's graduating soon from what I gathered from the Uchiha and Saru. There are undercurrents brewing in Ame… it seems Hanzo is on the move. Iwa's also been moving their anbu around as well. Sungakure on the other hand openly began wartime practices… It's not looking any better on the Kumo and Kiri sides either. Both have been more active with their undercover movements… Kushina and Soutarou need to graduate so they don't get thrown into the thick of it without preparation… something tells me there's someone else behind these recent movements… could it be? Madara? You old frog… plotting against Konoha even after 'your death.' Tobirama should've killed you back then… I have no clue as to what was going on in Hashirama's mind to try to stop him… forget that now that I've gone back through our records and thought about certain things, why did I let Hashirama give away the tails beasts? That's quite literally why Uzushio fell because all four other villages needed those sealing techniques… That idiot. Thankfully Soutarou is much more like Tobirama, once he gets strong enough and deals with Madara I'll finally relax and retire.'
Mito clutched her head before thinking, 'My only worry with those kids graduating now is that'll be thrown on the battlefield first… though from what I've seen with Tsuna's new strength improvement and how she's modified the yin seal I think they'll be fine with Soutarou backing them up… not to mention how absurd his chakra reserves are. Sigh… well the good thing is I should have completed all the requirements for that 'quest'.'
[Quest Completed: "Protect Konoha's Future!" Distributing rewards… 25% Control of the Nine Tails, and 5 Stat UP card… Information on Zetsu]
'What is a Zetsu?'
[Complete ??? to find more information on Zetsu.]
'Hmm…'
Inside of Mito in a caged area a fox was literally shaking as it felt itself lose control over 25% of Chakra in one go.
'Hohoo? 25% of the Nine Tails total chakra pool is completely at my control… I've noticed that fox being a lot quieter after I regained my youth and it saw Soutarou. This'll help significantly… Now for those stat UP cards… Status.'
[Status
User: Mito Uzumaki
Affiliation: Uzumaki Clan & Konohagakure, The Village Hidden in the Leaves
Potential: SSS Rank
Elemental Affinities: Wind, Fire, Earth, Water, Lightning, Yang, and Yin
Bloodline: Uzumaki's Sage Body (Partial)
Comprehensive Rank: SS+ (Extreme Kage Level)
Stats:
Chakra- SSS Rank (Nine Tails Included, without SS+ Rank)
Physique- SS+ rank
Mental Power- SS- Rank
Ninjutsu Mastery- SS+ Rank
Fuinjutsu Mastery- SSS- Rank
Juinjutsu Mastery- SSS- Rank
Bukijutsu Mastery- S+ Rank
Kenjutsu Mastery- S- Rank
Taijutsu Mastery- SSS- Rank
Genjutsu Mastery- S- Rank
Medical jutsu Mastery- S Rank → S+ Rank (Tsunade helped improve this)
Kinjutsu Mastery (Forbidden techniques)- S+ Rank]
'In case Madara tries something, it's best to push my combat effectiveness higher… use three cards on Ninjutsu and two on Taijutsu. Oh and use that Fuinjutsu experience card.'
[Ding! Congratulations user for breaking through to SSS rank Fuinjutsu Mastery!]
[Ding! Congratulations user for breaking through to SSS+ rank Ninjutsu Mastery!]
[Ding! Congratulations user for breaking through to SSS+ rank Taijutsu Mastery!]
[Ding! User has broken through a major realm. Stat up cards will no longer be offered. Balancing user, Mito Uzumaki…]
[Congratulations user on breaking through to the realm of the Gods, the Super Kage realm (SSS- Rank). Kages are mere ants before your might.]
[Main Quest Assigned:
Protect the Shinobi World!
Requirements:
Defeat Madara Uchiha (Rated: Mid SSS+ Rank (Weakened to SSS Rank possess the capability to return strength to Low SSS+))
Information:
As you suspected Madara Uchiha didn't die in the Valley of the End and was the reason behind Hashirama Senju's death. In the Valley of the End Madara's goal was not to destroy Konoha, but rather to acquire a piece of Hashirama Senju's flesh, the purest sage body to combine with his purest sage eyes. In doing so using the nine tails and many strategies as diversions Madara ended the battle by taking a physical bite out of Hashirama that wounded his chakra source permanently and later led to his death. More importantly after being 'killed' by Hashirama using a dummy corpse via a modified shadow clone jutsu and reviving himself via Izagani Madara fled the scene and purposefully flamed the sparks of war igniting in the First Great Shinobi War. Using the chaos and peace sought afterwards by a fearful third generation of kage Madara fused the Sage Eyes and the Sage Body into the True Sage Eyes or the Rinnegan, the evolution of the Eternal Mangekyo Sharigan. At current Madara possesses the ability to use a power beyond even that of a prime full power Hashirama Senju. The System notes Madara Uchiha is the only being other than the Sage of Six Paths to touch the power of ultimate ???-???? release. At present Madara is suspected to possess a fully powered Rinnegan (For the readers at this point in time I'm adjusting it so the 2 or 3 year old Nagato does not possess the Rinnegan yet). For the sake of this quest, the user is allowed to gather allies and fight together. The System advises maximum caution. Good Luck user.
Rewards: Absolute control of the Nine Tails, Perfected Sagemode, Bloodline Refinement Potion, Nine Tails Sage Mode, and ***** Trapping Seal
Side Quests:
Find out the truth behind the Shinobi World
???
Rewards: ???
Become the Goddess of the Shinobi World
Defeat the Demigod of the Shinobi World (SS++), Defeat the Third Raikage (SS++), Defeat the Third Kazekage (SS+), and Defeat the Third Tsuchikage (SS++).
Help Konoha win with absolute confidence for the next 5 years
Rewards: Limit Break card (allows a random stat to break through world limits)
Allies Needed (I)
Help Soutarou, Kushina, and Mikoto reach Jonin Level
Rewards: + 25% Control of the Nine Tails
Allies Needed (II)
Help Soutarou, Kushina, and Mikoto reach Kage Level
Rewards: + 25% Control of the Nine Tails and Special Sage Summoning Contract
Allies Needed (III)
Help Soutarou, Kushina, Mikoto, Naori, and Tsunade reach Super-Kage Level
Rewards: + 25% Control of the Nine Tails
Master of the Elements
Perfect your craft. Hone all your elements to the maximum.
Rewards: Random Kekkei Genkai]
Mito's expression turned grim, 'So even after all of that you're this powerful Madara… even after I've basically begun cheating the Shinobi World itself you're still this far above me… and now that the system's blocked stat up cards I doubt I'll explode in strength again. But I suppose I can work on the elemental quest-'
That moment a thousand thoughts jammed themselves into Mito's head as she cried out in pain. Her chakra became erratic and soon everyone was rushing into her room. The first person to dash through the door was Soutarou who immediately clasped his hands together and used simple wood release chakra to lay Mito down onto the bed at the same time he used that same wood release branch to send pure yang chakra and vitality through Mito in an attempt to stabilize her condition. Seeing this no one else dared help, not even Tsunade who could tell that her grandmother was going through something similar to what she had gone through weeks ago. Seeing this she almost confirmed a thought she had earlier while Naori's sharingan flickered in a cautious glow verifying that there were no wounds or leakage of Nine Tails chakra. At the same time Nawaki who had been training with Orochimaru on the Senju training grounds burst through the door with Orochimaru in tow revealing Soutarou's usage of wood release causing both's jaws to drop in shock. Seeing this Tsunade blocked the exit to prevent Orochimaru from leaving while Soutarou shot off a wood clone using one hand to maintain the flow of yang chakra and vitality and the other to form a hand sign. The wood clone quickly maneuvered to Nawaki's side and made a shushing sign while staring at Orochimaru as if debating how to deal with him.
~POV Switch to Soutarou, Scene Continues~
Staring at Orochimaru, Soutarou sighed before saying, "Orochimaru-san… what you've just witnessed is a Senju secret. I won't be unfair to you, instead I ask for your silence to Konoha's current upper brass and in return you may conduct some non-invasive experiments on me and have permission to utilize my cells granted I receive the results of such research."
Orochimaru's tongue and he smiled as his eyes seemed to find recognition in Soutarou, "Kuku… Tsunade you didn't tell me your Senju clan had such a wonderful boy… even the way he speaks… this intelligence… what a fine specimen you are… very well Soutarou Senju I accept your terms."
Soutarou's clone immediately dropped its guard and walked over to Orochimaru and put out its hand with a gentle smile somehow to Orochimaru looked like a predator gleefully letting a wanted prey into its grasp.
Orochimaru's eyes gleamed with interest, but also a sort of respect (mind you this wasn't the villain who had seen Nawaki's death, but simply one who wished to understand all the ninjutsu of the world).
Soutarou knew this was and was very much interested in gaining Orochimaru's friendship early on so he opened and said, "Orochimaru-san would you like me to explain anything about wood release? I'd like to show my sincerity. I believe a relationship with someone of your… depth and… vision to be quite like minded…"
Orochimaru's eyes gleamed, 'Not a predator searching for prey, but a predator tired of prey looking for… kinship… Tobirama Senju… and Soutarou… what a wonderful clan.'
Orochimaru flicked his ninja tool pocket open and grabbed a notebook before asking a dozen questions, without pause, about how it feels to use Wood Release, what are its gimmicks, chakra consumption, effects, and even composition.
Soutarou's clone expecting this calmly replied, "To begin with and to be blunt, Wood Release at least the one Me and Lord Hashirama use is not a Kekkei Genkai, but rather a Kekkei Tota. This is a misconception many people have, in fact it's a Kekkei Tota of four elements, maybe five. The reason I say maybe five is because the fifth element is unknown to even me, it's not yang, ying, or any of the five elements. I believe it to have to do something with the Sage of Six Paths and no the Sage is not a myth, but quite real at least from my understanding of Wood Release points in that direction-"
Orochimaru interrupted him saying, "Which known elements is wood release made of?"
Soutarou continued, "Wood Release is composed of Water, Earth, Yang, Lifeforce, and of course the Unknown element. Wood Release does not use the user's life force but the nature's lifeforce this is why most wood release users are more inclined to nature chakra as our very bloodline itself reacts with nature chakra. In the future its likely I, like Lord Hashirama, will learn Sage Arts. Now Water and Earth are self explanatory, but life force and Yang are what makes wood release lasting ninjutsu and allows for the trees to continue to thrive and even reproduce like the forests around Konoha have after the First Hokage created them. Yang injects vitality while life force makes it both alive and connected to our planet's chakra itself. This is where I get the idea that the Sage of Sixth paths may have had this very bloodline… you see all trees- no all nature responds to Wood Release…"
Orochimaru finished the sentence, "Meaning that either the Sage of Sixth Paths was real or someone else with this bloodline created most of natural life as we know it."
Soutarou smiled and said, "This is why I love explaining things to smart people."
Orochimaru's eyes flickered with fascination. At the same time both the clone and Orochimaru had basically forgotten about Mito who was struggling in pain on the bed. The two talked animatedly with Tsunade shaking her head, but also taking notes. While everyone else distanced themselves from the two like minded truth seekers….