"I did it."
Tsunade opened her eyes and leapt up with joy. It was a stark contrast to her earlier frustration, when even performing a single ninjutsu felt impossible. Now, she couldn't wait to see if Nawaki would still dare to mock her as a "ninjutsu idiot."
"Very good," Kawakaze said with a grin. "Let's make it a little more challenging."
Rubbing his hands together, Kawakaze seemed deep in thought, clearly pondering what kind of Wood Release technique Tsunade should try next.
"I don't know any Senjutsu, so I can't summon your Buddha," Tsunade remarked, noticing the excitement in Kawakaze's expression. She suspected he wanted her to use True Several Thousand Hands.
"No way," Kawakaze quickly denied, though the thought had admittedly crossed his mind.
"That's fine, then," Tsunade replied with a satisfied nod. Kawakaze was the only person in Konoha capable of teaching her Wood Release.
"You have to take things step by step," Sakumo interjected, his calm voice resonating with Tsunade's own thoughts. "Kawakaze, teach her something easier first."
Tsunade couldn't agree more. Attempting a grand technique right away would only lead to embarrassment if she failed.
"Don't make it too easy, either. Pick something worthwhile," Orochimaru added with a cool, expectant tone. He wasn't interested in watching simple tricks; he wanted to see something with real impact.
"No problem. Let's go with Nativity of a World of Trees," Kawakaze decided. The technique was a hallmark of Wood Release—significant, yet not overly complex. However, it required a considerable amount of chakra.
Kawakaze wasn't concerned. With the power of a Tailed Beast behind her, Tsunade would have more than enough chakra to handle it.
"Isn't that a bit difficult?" Tsunade hesitated. She knew this technique was considered a major one.
"Oh, it's not difficult at all," Kawakaze said, trying to reassure her. "You can do it—you're the best!" His words, full of enthusiasm, were almost infectious. "What? The great Lady Hokage can't handle the Nativity of a World of Trees?"
Fueled by his spirited encouragement, Tsunade's reluctance quickly transformed into determination. "Fine. Let's do this."
She rolled her shoulders and flexed her wrists, preparing herself. While her hand seals were sharp, she rarely needed them, as most of her techniques didn't require complex sealing.
"There's no need for multiple seals. Just one will do," Kawakaze said with a confident smile. The Nativity of a World of Trees only required a single Snake Seal—so simple that even the quickest movement would barely leave an afterimage.
"You think?"
Tsunade shot a glare at Kawakaze, annoyed that the idea hadn't occurred to her earlier.
"Hurry up, don't dawdle," Orochimaru urged, his tone sharp and impatient. The playful exchange between the two was clearly irritating him.
"What's the rush? You're like a wild boar that wouldn't know fine dining from table scraps," Kawakaze retorted casually. The insult hit its mark, and Orochimaru's face darkened at the fresh jab.
This bastard never has a kind word to say, Orochimaru thought, his annoyance simmering beneath the surface.
"Pfft~"
Misaki couldn't help but laugh at the scene, glancing between Orochimaru and Kawakaze.
"Is that so funny?" Orochimaru snapped, glaring at her.
"Not funny. Not at all," Misaki replied, shaking her head, though her bitten lip and lingering smile betrayed her amusement.
"You're the wild boar," Orochimaru muttered under his breath, the remark clearly still bothering him.
At that, both Tsunade and Sakumo burst out laughing, unable to contain themselves.
"Okay, let's begin," Kawakaze said, brushing off Orochimaru's snide remark. He was neither offended nor worried about escalating things.
"You go first," Tsunade said, regaining her composure. Her expression turned serious, and the others followed suit.
"Use your own chakra as the source of life and channel it underground to grow trees. You only need to form the Snake Seal," Kawakaze explained, demonstrating by clasping his hands together. Though he didn't channel his chakra, his movements looked precise and deliberate.
"Okay, I'll try," Tsunade said, nodding. It sounded simple enough.
Before she could act, Chōmei's voice rang in her mind. "I don't like this power. I won't help you."
This time, he was being stubborn, refusing outright.
"I don't want it. I don't need you," Tsunade shot back, her inner tone blunt and decisive. She could already feel her own chakra surging within her, powerful and untamed.
In the future, she wouldn't need Chōmei's assistance to be recognized as a humanoid Tailed Beast.
"I can still help you in other ways," Chōmei offered, softening his tone when he sensed her firm resolve.
"Heh…" Tsunade's mental reply was brief and dismissive, her attitude leaving no room for negotiation.
Inside her mind, Chōmei stewed in silence, feeling disorganized and unsettled by her unwavering stance.
"Wood Release: Nativity of a World of Trees!"
Tsunade slammed her hands together, her voice ringing out powerfully.
Everyone present felt the surge of her chakra as it poured into the ground. Moments later, the earth began to tremble violently.
Rumble!!
Cracks split across the training ground, and enormous trees erupted from the earth, growing at an astonishing pace. In just a few breaths, the once-barren training area was transformed into a sprawling sea of trees.
"Well done!!" Kawakaze was the first to applaud, a wide grin on his face.
"It wasn't that difficult!!" Tsunade clapped her hands together, her pride evident in her beaming smile.
"It's truly breathtaking," Sakumo murmured, clearly impressed as he took in the scene. Witnessing the Nativity of a World of Trees up close for the first time, he couldn't help but marvel at its scale and potential. He fully understood how devastating such a technique could be on the battlefield.
"There seems to be a difference," Orochimaru noted. He inspected the trees with his usual meticulousness, even breaking off a branch to test its strength. Compared to Kawakaze's, Tsunade's version still fell short in terms of both coverage and the hardness of the trees.
"It's enough," Kawakaze said casually, glancing around at the dense forest. He couldn't help but compare her performance to Yamato's from the original timeline. Tsunade's Wood Release wasn't much stronger yet, though her significantly greater chakra capacity made all the difference.
"That's true," Orochimaru agreed, estimating the technique to be about 30% weaker than Kawakaze's. Still, it was more than sufficient for most combat situations.
Next, his thoughts shifted to Senjutsu. If Tsunade learned Sage Mode, even a slightly smaller version of True Several Thousand Hands would still be devastating—far beyond what ordinary Kage-level shinobi could handle. Orochimaru reflected that his own chakra reserves weren't as vast as Tsunade's. If he used Wood Release, the results would inevitably be weaker. Still, failure wasn't something he acknowledged. As Konoha's top scientist, he had confidence that fusing Hashirama's cells and perfecting Sage Mode would allow him to master even ultimate techniques like True Several Thousand Hands.
"Sister Tsunade is so amazing!" Misaki's eyes sparkled with admiration as she cheered enthusiastically from the sidelines.
"That's nothing," Tsunade said, waving her hand with exaggerated confidence. "Is there any more Wood Release I can practice?" She looked at Kawakaze with a proud grin, her cheerful energy undiminished even as a mother.
"Of course there is." Kawakaze smirked. "I'll teach you a technique that has economic value. Watch closely."
Without waiting for Tsunade to press further, Kawakaze began forming a series of complex hand seals. This time, he wasn't faking it—he was performing the technique in earnest.
"Wood Release: Grand Villa Technique."
Kawakaze slapped his hand on the ground. Instantly, a magnificent wooden villa rose from the earth, its intricate design leaving everyone stunned.
The villa was no simple structure; it was grand and luxurious, easily surpassing anything a conventional construction team could achieve in weeks.
"What do you think?" Kawakaze raised an eyebrow, clearly reveling in his own cleverness. "This villa wouldn't cost you a few million ryo, would it?"
The smugness in his tone was impossible to miss. He had developed the technique out of sheer boredom, inspired by Yamato's practical but modest three-bedroom, two-bathroom constructions. By comparison, Kawakaze's creation was an extravagant masterpiece.
"You should be the contractor for all future Konoha construction!" Orochimaru said, his voice dripping with sarcasm. The idea of using Wood Release for something so mundane left him exasperated.
Why waste your talent like this? Orochimaru thought irritably. Kawakaze's potential could be directed toward groundbreaking offensive ninjutsu—or even advanced defensive techniques!