"Where is Tsunade?"
Hours had passed, and when he saw that Tsunade had not emerged from the Hyuga Clan for a long time, Hiruzen Sarutobi entered the clan compound with Shizune.
Hiashi Hyuga led them into a room.
"Tsunade-sama is resting here. Some of our clansmen were injured—once she saw the blood, she became like this..."
Inside the room, Tsunade was crouched against the wall, sitting on the floor with her arms hugged around herself, curled up tightly.
"She's in this state, so why haven't you sent her back yet?" There was an unintentional tone of accusation in Hiruzen's voice.
Because the Hyuga Clan had been secretly gathering supporters behind his back, Hiruzen already felt displeased toward them, and now his bias naturally showed through.
"...," Hiashi hesitated, not knowing what to say.
It was precisely because the Third Hokage was so suspicious by nature that they dared not return Tsunade directly.
If they let him see Tsunade entering the Hyuga Clan perfectly fine but leaving in a daze, who knew what the Third Hokage would think next?
In the end, it was Shizune who gently lifted Tsunade into her arms and carried her back to the Senju estate, murmuring comforting words like soothing a frightened child—"Tsunade-sama, don't be afraid. Everything will be alright."
After Hiruzen and the others had left, Hiashi called for Hiroki Hyuga and asked, "Did Tsunade-sama come specifically to see you?"
"I'm not sure either."
The next day,
Hiroki Hyuga made his way to the usual meeting spot for his former squad.
Hana Inuzuka appeared first, followed by Itachi Uchiha.
Hidekazu Ueno also arrived.
Looking at the three before him, he cleared his throat and said seriously, "Our village hosts the Chunin Exams twice a year. The March exam has already passed, so if you plan to join, you'll have to wait until September."
"We still have more than four months left. Itachi has already completed enough missions to qualify for the Chunin Exams. As for Hana and Hiroki Hyuga, both of you still need a bit more preparation..."
"Teacher, are you saying we should take the Chunin Exam this year?" Hana interrupted.
"Is that a problem? If you're serious about this, I'll start giving you more missions right away."
"I'm in," Hana nodded eagerly.
Hiroki Hyuga voiced no objection.
Being a Chunin was far more independent than remaining a Genin. Once Hiashi reported to the village, as the heir's personal guard, Hiroki Hyuga could easily meet the annual mission quota and still have plenty of time at home.
"Good then," Hidekazu Ueno nodded slightly.
It was actually Hiruzen Sarutobi who had instructed him to arrange for his students to take the Chunin Exam. His real purpose was to separate Itachi Uchiha and Hiroki Hyuga.
Among the three, once one became a Chunin, Hiruzen could assign them to different teams accordingly.
Itachi Uchiha was the most likely candidate to become a Chunin. In Hiruzen's eyes, the other two—Hana Inuzuka and Hiroki Hyuga—were just along for the ride.
The Uchiha Clan's ambitions were obvious—they sought power. Meanwhile, the Hyuga Clan also appeared to be moving quietly now.
Worried about the possibility of collusion between the Uchiha and the Hyuga Clans, Hiruzen decided to reduce all forms of contact between them.
Back home, Hiroki Hyuga summoned a White Zetsu and let it absorb his chakra to take on his appearance.
Then he removed his forehead protector and tied it onto the head of the now identical-looking White Zetsu in front of him.
"Work hard, complete more missions, and bring me some profit," he said, patting the other's shoulder.
The White Zetsu disguised as Hiroki Hyuga: "…"
After one night passed, Tsunade had recovered her strength.
Although recalling yesterday's sight of blood still left her face pale, she could now move around normally.
She recalled her conversation with Hiroki Hyuga and Kaguya.
They knew her past inside out and clearly understood her weaknesses.
Tsunade became even more convinced that those two — Hiroki Hyuga and Kaguya (Yagura?) — had come prepared.
This made her want to know more about Kaguya's background.
There's no trail without a trace. If those old men don't know, there must be someone who does.
Thinking thus, Tsunade looked at her own palm before extending her hand toward Shizune.
"Shizune, help me perform the Summoning Jutsu."
With that, she closed her eyes.
"…" Obediently, Shizune cut Tsunade's finger.
Biting back discomfort from the sight of blood, Tsunade focused, formed hand seals, and slammed her palm onto the ground.
[Summoning Jutsu]
With two 'puff' sounds, two smoke clouds appeared, revealing two palm-sized Katsuyu whose voices sounded soft and gentle.
"Tsunade-sama, how can we assist you?"
It was only after Shizune helped wipe away the blood from her hand and the ground that Tsunade opened her eyes again.
"I beg you, Slugs. Take me to meet the Slug Sage."
Even though all the Katsuyu from Shikkotsu Forest were technically the Sage's extensions, meaning she could directly ask anything she wanted to know, Tsunade still decided to go to Shikkotsu Forest personally out of respect.
Upon hearing Tsunade's words, one of the Katsuyu vanished in a puff of smoke.
Then came another 'pop' sound, and Tsunade vanished before Shizune's eyes.
She was transported back by the returning Katsuyu through the Reverse Summoning Jutsu into Shikkotsu Forest, standing before the Slug Sage.
A giant slug as tall as a mountain appeared before her, blocking the sky like an umbrella, dimming the light in front of her. Tsunade couldn't help but feel startled.
She didn't know exactly how large the Sage's true body was, but this version certainly was the biggest one she'd ever seen.
"Tsunade, long time no see. What brings you here?"
"A long time indeed, Slug Sage. Hmm, suddenly I feel the environment of Shikkotsu Forest has improved. Did you do something special?" Tsunade sincerely remarked.
From the moment she arrived, she felt the air was much fresher than usual—more comfortable than past visits to Shikkotsu Forest. Even her very cells seemed to rejoice, pulsing along with some invisible rhythm.
"The Shikkotsu Forest hasn't changed for centuries."
"But I really feel it's more refreshing now, my very cells seem more energetic, like dancing together with something."
"Is that so?" After a brief silence, the Slug Sage asked in return, "Tsunade, are you now able to sense natural energy?"
"You mean... this feeling is from natural energy?" Tsunade's expression turned confused.
"Tsunade, have you awakened the Wood Release?" The Slug Sage asked again.
At that question, Tsunade felt as if struck by something, completely stunned.
She couldn't even remember what she had come to do in the first place, constantly recalling the changes happening to her body, her eyebrows alternately furrowing and relaxing.
The Slug Sage quietly waited for her to continue speaking.
Two hours later, the slug that had stayed behind in Konoha performed the [Reverse Summoning Jutsu] as agreed, returning Tsunade to Konoha.
As soon as she returned to the Senju estate, Tsunade retrieved the Wood Release Scroll that had been left behind by the Senju Clan.
Molding the chakra within her body, Tsunade caused a small wooden sprout to grow from her palm. Tsunade gawked at the sight, completely stunned.
Seeing this, Shizune felt happy for her. "Tsunade-sama, is this the Wood Release? Is it really the Wood Release?"
Just as Tsunade snapped out of her shock and started feeling delighted, a familiar female voice echoed inside her mind.
"What do you think? Isn't this incredible?"
Immediately afterwards, Tsunade sensed the scene before her eyes changing once again.
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