Whoosh
Sousuke directly used the Leaf Body Flicker Technique and left the training ground.
He paid no attention to anything else.
About twenty minutes after his departure a ninja wearing a Root mask appeared at the place where Sousuke had been training.
After carefully inspecting the surroundings the masked ninja turned around and left.
Only after that Root ninja disappeared did Sousuke's figure slowly emerge from within one of the giant trees he himself had created.
A helpless expression appeared on his face.
"As expected…"
Sensing the Root ninja leaving, Sousuke sighed somewhat helplessly.
"Danzo, that old scheming bastard, really has his eyes on me now."
"The news that I've awakened Wood Release probably won't stay hidden for much longer."
"Before long, quite a few people will know about it."
"And that's going to bring me some completely unnecessary trouble…"
If this had happened in the past it would have been nothing less than a bolt from the blue for Sousuke.
But now it was merely a tiny inconvenience in everyday life.
Besides even if Root came to investigate, Sousuke had already planned to tell Tsunade about it and openly acknowledge the fact that he possessed Wood Release.
Shaking his head Sousuke made no attempt to stop the Root ninja from leaving.
Bang!
His body suddenly exploded into a puff of white smoke and vanished.
Because the one standing there had never been his real body to begin with it was merely a Shadow Clone he had left behind.
Inside the Hokage Tower standing outside Tsunade's office, Sousuke wore a rather strange expression.
Just moments ago he had already received all the memories transmitted back from the Shadow Clone.
"Well played, you old bastard Danzo…"
A dangerous glint flashed through Sousuke's eyes as he thought inwardly:
"I haven't even gone looking for trouble with you yet, and you already dare to investigate me in secret…"
"Looks like I'll need to pay closer attention to you from now on."
With that thought settling in his mind Sousuke raised his hand and knocked on the office door.
"Come in!"
The instant his knock sounded, Tsunade's energetic voice rang out from inside.
Without hesitation Sousuke pushed open the office door and entered.
At a glance, he saw Tsunade buried in paperwork.
Lifting her head, Tsunade looked at Sousuke and froze for a moment.
"Sousuke? So it's you."
"What's wrong?"
"Did your new jutsu development run into difficulties?"
"Or have you already succeeded?"
Hearing her questions Sousuke shook his head with a smile.
"Neither."
"The development was already successful."
"Only… what I developed isn't an ordinary ninjutsu."
"It's a bloodline limit."
"And if I want to completely transform this bloodline limit into actual combat power…"
Leaning against Tsunade's desk, Sousuke fixed his burning gaze on her.
"Tsunade nee-san, I need your help."
"More accurately…"
"I need you to give me something."
"To most people, this thing would be nothing more than utterly useless trash."
"But to me…"
"It's extremely important."
Now genuinely interested Tsunade put down the documents in her hands and curiously looked at Sousuke before asking,
"Developed a bloodline limit? Not bad!"
"So then, what kind of bloodline limit did you develop?"
Bloodline limits aside from those related to bodily organs most bloodline limits were essentially special abilities formed by combining two or more chakra nature transformations.
Although developing them was extremely difficult in Tsunade's eyes, for a monstrous genius like Sousuke, who had already reached the level of the Five Kage at such a young age, developing his own bloodline limit was perfectly normal.
Even if Sousuke suddenly told her he had developed a Kekkei Tota Tsunade would still think it made sense.
Because the meaning of a genius was no one truly knew where their limits lay.
At the same time Tsunade was also very curious.
Exactly what kind of bloodline limit had Sousuke developed?
"Go ahead and tell me."
"With your current status, there aren't many things in the village that you can't obtain."
Tsunade smiled as she spoke generously.
"Of course, that doesn't mean absolutely everything."
"After all, there are certain things the elders guard very tightly."
"So even if you asked for them, I might not necessarily be able to casually agree."
Sousuke nodded in understanding.
He was very familiar with those old troublemaking elders of Konoha.
After remaining silent for a moment Sousuke decided not to beat around the bush any longer and spoke directly:
"Tsunade nee-san, what I want… are the Wood Release scrolls left behind by the First Hokage."
At the same time Sousuke gave Tsunade no chance to interrupt or question him.
Clap!
He raised both hands and suddenly slammed them together.
Rumble as an enormous amount of chakra surged outward, Sousuke activated his power.
"Wood Release!!"
The instant the words "Wood Release" left his mouth Tsunade's expression instantly became incomparably serious.
But immediately afterward something happened that left her completely frozen in shock.
A vibrant, life-filled giant tree suddenly burst upward from beneath the floor of her office.
In an instant, it grew into a flourishing massive tree, directly smashing apart the Hokage's office from the inside.
Yet compared to the shock brought by Wood Release itself the destruction of the office meant absolutely nothing to Tsunade.
"Wood Release…"
Tsunade stared blankly at the lush giant tree filling her office, disbelief written all over her face.
"This is real Wood Release!!"
She slowly walked up to the massive tree, dazedly sensing the overwhelming life force emanating from it.
Raising one hand, she formed a seal.
A faint green glow appeared over Tsunade's palm as she gently pressed it against the tree.
Very quickly she sensed everything contained within it.
"This feeling… this power…"
Tears welled up uncontrollably in her eyes, hot streams running down her beautiful cheeks as she spoke emotionally,
"There's no mistake…"
"This is true Wood Release…"
"The same Wood Release bloodline limit as Grandfather's!"
When Tsunade was young she had personally experienced Senju Hashirama's Wood Release before, so she clearly understood what true Wood Release felt like.
It was absolutely different from the imitation possessed by the ANBU ninja Tenzo, who had obtained his Wood Release through transplanted cells from her grandfather.
Sousuke's Wood Release was genuine.
Pure.
Natural.
To put it simply Yamato's Wood Release was nothing more than dry wooden structures.
But Sousuke's Wood Release was a real, living tree.
The giant tree currently piercing through Tsunade's office if transplanted, it would continue growing naturally.
But the trees created by Yamato's Wood Release did not possess that capability.
That was the difference.
Seeing Tsunade's emotional state, Sousuke did not disturb her.
When Shizune and several ANBU rushed over, Sousuke stopped them as well, preventing anyone from interrupting Tsunade's memories of the past.
About ten minutes later Tsunade finally recovered from her long recollection and turned toward Sousuke with blazing eyes.
"Sousuke, tonight, I'll visit your house."
"I know exactly what it is that you want."
"I'll bring it with me."
"As for now… give me some time to deal with these troublesome matters first."
Hearing Tsunade's words Sousuke nodded knowingly and smiled.
"I understand."
"Then I'll wait at home for Tsunade nee-san's grand arrival."
It seemed Hashirama Senju's Wood Release scrolls were finally within reach.
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