Kaguya Palace.
Kaguya regarded Tsunade with interest, who had just appeared out of nowhere.
Tsunade's expression still hadn't fully recovered from the shock.
Her mood was complicated.
Could it be she'd been stuck with this mysterious stranger?
"So that's Wood Release? This is the gift you mentioned?" Tsunade asked.
Actually, she wanted to know more about how this person did it.
The Senju bloodline, Wood Release chakra, and Kaguya's chakra had unlocked the remaining potential within her body.
Kaguya didn't want to get bogged down in too many questions. Calmly, she said, "Since you've already met that slug, why not casually mention learning senjutsu?"
"How do you know who I've met?" At first surprised, Tsunade then blurted out, "You want me to learn senjutsu?"
[Sage Mode], she had learned about long ago when Jiraiya mastered it.
Basically, it enhanced attack and defense capabilities, increasing the power of ninjutsu, taijutsu, and genjutsu. These abilities seemed rather useless to her.
When it came to taijutsu, her monstrous strength was nothing to scoff at. As for ninjutsu or genjutsu, she rarely used them.
Other benefits like improving physical condition and chakra recovery speed were already covered by [Strength of a Hundred Seal]. Sage Mode wasn't particularly important to her.
"So you actually…"
"If you insist on arguing over who I am, just call me Master."
Hearing that, Tsunade almost rolled her eyes right there. There was no way she could bring herself to say 'Master.'
"What exactly…?"
"What you can do—what you hear, what you say, what you sense—is all permitted by me. Whether you're willing or not, you'll follow exactly what I say."
After speaking, Kaguya waved her hand.
Instantly, Tsunade felt herself returned to her original body.
Looking at Shizune, who had always stayed by her side, she asked, "Did I do anything strange just now?"
"No." Shizune shook her head.
Tsunade exhaled in relief.
Then, taking the Wood Release scroll alone to the courtyard, she decided to test the power of this "Wood Release" ability she had acquired.
Hyuga Family.
"White Zetsu, we don't have enough numbers. Go back and bring more clones."
"Roger that."
Hiroki Hyuga envied those with space-time ninjutsu—they could teleport anywhere in a flash.
Unlike him, going anywhere far required riding inside White Zetsu's body as it dove underground.
Sure, it only took a second—but it totally lacked flair.
With the battle between Konoha and Kumogakure concluded and all forces withdrawn, Hidenaga White Zetsu, serving as the Daimyo of the Country of Hot Springs, naturally returned to the temporary palace in Kokuto, the capital city of the Country of Hot Water.
Upon seeing Hiroki's arrival, Hidenaga White Zetsu immediately started complaining bitterly.
"Hiroki, being a daimyo is terrible. So many things to deal with—ceremonies, rituals, routine inspections. Even our bedroom frequency and childbearing—they have demands about all of it…"
"Wait… Bedroom frequency?"
"They're all gone now," he said, "and I've canceled other obligations too. Though they can't detect any flaw from my appearance alone, if this continues, my identity will eventually be suspected."
Hiroki Hyuga inexplicably felt relieved.
Thankfully nothing had happened; otherwise, he would really worry about some bizarre creatures emerging in the future.
Thinking for a moment, he asked, "So you mean we should eliminate all those royal family members and ministers who frequently interact with the daimyo?"
Hidenaga White Zetsu nodded. "We could replace them entirely with our own people."
"But without professionals doing their jobs properly, who'll keep the economy running?" Hiroki questioned thoughtfully.
"What do you mean?" Hidenaga White Zetsu asked in confusion.
"None of grandfather's jutsu are simple...I wonder if I can use them at all."
[Performing hand seals], Tsunade suddenly found herself plunged into darkness. She saw nothing, felt nothing—her five senses had vanished.
She didn't know how long it had been — a moment or an hour — before her senses returned. When they did, the scenery before her was no longer her courtyard, but an unfamiliar place.
"Where is this?" Taking a deep breath, Tsunade asked.
She could roughly guess that Kaguya must've done something again.
Approaching her, Hiroki smiled, "This is the Country of Hot Springs—we're inside the palace of the daimyo now."
Tsunade stared deeply at him, preparing to speak, when Hiroki continued, "Let's go."
Immediately afterward, they walked side by side.
"This isn't me moving on my own at all!" Tsunade inwardly shouted.
She tried to speak, but even opening her mouth proved impossible.
Her body completely beyond control, every organ, every part—even every cell—refused to obey.
Now, she finally understood what Kaguya meant by having no choice.
"My life feels completely out of my control now," Tsunade thought bitterly.
Inside the meeting hall, royal family members and ministers gathered.
Hidenaga White Zetsu sat in the centermost seat at the top.
Below, others stood respectfully on both sides.
"Please wait here a moment while I step out."
Saying so, Hidenaga White Zetsu left under everyone's confused gazes.
Shortly after, Hiroki Hyuga entered alongside Tsunade.
"Who are you?"
"Who allowed you in here?"
At that very moment, Tsunade realized her body had regained control.
Glancing at her, Hiroki exited the hall, sealing all exits and standing guard outside.
Still more perplexed, the royal ministers whispered, "What exactly are they up to?"
"Now. Kill them all." Kaguya's voice rang inside Tsunade's mind.
"..." Tsunade silently observed the group before her.
Still afraid of blood? You really think you can escape from me like that?
"You..."
Outside, Hidenaga White Zetsu and Hiroki Hyuga awaited developments.
"Do you think she can handle this? Tsunade—one of the legendary Sannin—could actually die because of hemophobia at the hands of ordinary people? That'd be hilarious."
"Don't worry. She won't die."
An underground cave doubled as the hidden location of the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path.
A White Zetsu sent by Hiroki Hyuga arrived here and summoned hundreds of White Zetsu clones.
All the noise drew Obito Uchiha's attention.
"White Zetsu, what are you doing? Has something happened or do you have important information?" Obito asked the fused White Zetsu.
The White Zetsu half replied, "We found the Grel Stone at another location. That stone contains strange energy which can serve as an alternative source of chakra, so we're planning to extract more of it."
Watching countless White Zetsu clones disappear before his eyes, Obito's expression turned cold and his tone showed dissatisfaction. "Is it too much to ask for you to actually do something useful for once?"
"Yes, Obito, your personal matters are resolved now," Black Zetsu chimed in. "Why don't you focus on what really matters? Most jinchuriki are still weak — easy prey for us..."
Obito remained silent, clearly irritated.
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