Tamaki Says: In This Chapter, I'm Seriously Thinking About How to Get Stronger

"I'm bored."

Tamaki sighed as he refined Chakra. With help from his two other selves, his Chakra had increased enormously compared to before.

His days recovering from his injuries were uneventful. Asuma and the others had visited him over the past few days.

While recuperating in the hospital, Tamaki hadn't been completely idle. He had written down the training methods for both the Rasengan and the Six Powers, and would start practicing once he was discharged.

For now, the simplest way to increase his strength was the Rasengan. It was a super A-rank Ninjutsu. If he was fast, he could learn it in a day, like Naruto; if he was slow, he should still be able to learn it in six months to a year.

The greatest requirements for this Ninjutsu were Chakra and fine control over it.

Besides that, he needed to train his body. Physical conditioning was the most important thing for practicing the Eight Gates Released Formation.

As for how to obtain the technique, Tamaki already had a lead.

His Chakra had also increased enormously, so it was time to lay his cards on the table with his uncle.

"Your wound is healing very well. You'll be able to leave the hospital in a little while."

Ichite Ki had come with nurses on his rounds to check on Tamaki's wound.

"Uncle, about what happened this time..." Tamaki gave him a meaningful look.

"Go check the other rooms first."

After sending the nurses away, Ichite Ki closed the door, then went over and sat down by the bed.

"The village will compensate you for what happened. First, when you graduate, they'll assign you a strong instructor. Second, you'll get a B-rank Ninjutsu. I haven't chosen one; you can exchange it yourself when you become a Chunin."

As he spoke, Ichite Ki pushed up his glasses, clearly dissatisfied.

That made sense. Neither an instructor nor a B-rank Ninjutsu was something Tamaki could use right now.

All in all, the compensation was mediocre.

"What happened to that spy? Did he escape, or was he captured alive?"

"He died."

"How did he die?"

"That's classified."

"Who were those people wearing animal masks?"

"You don't need to know about them for now. We'll talk about it in a couple of years, after you graduate."

Tamaki fell silent for a moment, and Ichite Ki got up to leave.

"Uncle, I want to know, do we have any connection to the Senju?"

"What makes you think we have any connection to the Senju—"

Ichite Ki stopped and turned around as he spoke, but when he saw the look in Tamaki's eyes and his serious expression, he couldn't continue.

"Why do you think that?"

"Our surname, medical skills, and the amount of Chakra I have now."

Ichite Ki didn't ask Tamaki much about where he had gotten this information. He knew it, and that was that. There were plenty of sources: the library, Asuma, members of other bloodline clans.

"The amount of Chakra..." As he pondered, Ichite Ki stepped forward and reached out to carefully sense Tamaki's Chakra.

Previously, because of his injuries, Tamaki hadn't been allowed to refine Chakra, and Ichite Ki hadn't paid it any attention. Now, after checking carefully...

Ichite Ki was somewhat shocked. Thanks to his Senju bloodline, his own Chakra reserves were already at an upper-middle level among all Jonin and Special Jōnin.

Now Tamaki's Chakra reserves were nearly two-thirds of his own, already on par with some young Jonin.

This could no longer be explained by a pure Senju bloodline alone. Thinking of the relationship between the Senju and the Uzumaki,

Ichite Ki felt he needed to report this to the Hokage.

"You haven't told anyone else about your Chakra reserves, have you?"

"No."

"Good."

With that, Ichite Ki hurried out of the hospital room.

Watching his uncle leave, Tamaki felt he had made the right choice in coming clean today.

For one thing, the village's compensation had left his uncle dissatisfied;

For another, his uncle had refused both of his attempts to probe for information. Whether it was a sense of owing him, guilt, or embarrassment, he had to feel at least a little of it.

Wang Chuan had learned this while working in sales in his previous life. After being refused several times, asking a lightweight question would always get an answer. It was a kind of application of the broken windows theory.

Meanwhile, Ichite Ki headed straight for the Hokage Building.

Ichite Ki went to the Hokage's office and, after announcing himself and waiting briefly, met with the Third.

Inside the office, Hiruzen Sarutobi sat behind his desk, which was covered with scrolls of all sizes.

Two Anbu stood nearby, helping pass documents along.

"Isshi, what brings you here at this hour?"

Although Hiruzen Sarutobi knew Ichite Ki had most likely come about Tamaki again, he wasn't about to bring it up himself.

The Senju Clan's situation was delicate. The First had passed away, and the clan members had scattered and changed their names, but the elders of the older generation and the clan's former mainstays had not all died out.

Though only a few remained by now, most holding sinecures and having little contact with the younger clan members,

they had not all died out!

So the Senju Clan still wielded considerable influence.

But they wouldn't go so far as to use that influence for a junior like Tamaki, who had yet to come into his own.

Perhaps they would never use it again, even until those older Senju had all passed away.

"Tamaki may have awakened an Uzumaki bloodline."

Ichite Ki didn't beat around the bush. He spoke directly, because he had enough bargaining chips!

Clatter!

Hiruzen Sarutobi shot to his feet, overturning his chair.

"Are you certain?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi didn't say anything about it being impossible. He only wanted confirmation.

"I'm not certain. It's a possibility."

Of the two Anbu nearby, one set the Hokage's chair upright while the other brought a chair over for Ichite Ki.

"Tell me the details." Hiruzen Sarutobi took a puff of his pipe, frowning slightly.

"Tamaki woke up and refined his Chakra. It's nearly two-thirds of mine."

Puff—

After a moment of silence:

"Then it seems highly likely."

"That's what I think too."

"Why would he awaken an Uzumaki bloodline? His mother?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi didn't dwell on the matter of a Senju awakening an Uzumaki bloodline. He was more concerned with where the bloodline came from. If it came from the boy's mother, that would be a good thing.

"No. The source should be intermarriage between the two clans."

Puff—

"I see. What are your plans going forward?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi didn't immediately decide what to do with Tamaki. He knew that even if Tamaki hadn't truly awakened an Uzumaki bloodline, many things would be tilted in his favor from now on.

"The boy wants to become a medical-nin. Perhaps we could consider contacting Lady Tsunade."

Puff—

"Tsunade..."

For a moment, both men fell silent.

Ichite Ki knew what Hiruzen Sarutobi was thinking. They had Tsunade, the First's granddaughter, and Tamaki of the younger generation. There was also a Red Hot Habanero in the village.

Three people were a little few, but as core clan members, together with the retired former Senju clan members, they were enough to support a bloodline clan!

When that happened, would the Senju really count as having dispersed, or would they have changed their name to Uzumaki, or perhaps Ershou?

However, getting Tsunade to return to the village was impossible for now. Nawaki and Dan Katō's deaths, along with Tsunade's fear of blood,

meant that Tsunade would not return to the village, at least not now.

Ichite Ki had only made that request to drive up the price. Tamaki wasn't the only one who knew little sales tricks.

Puff—

"Ki, you teach the boy for now. As for his instructor after graduation, what are the boy's Chakra natures?"

"Wind, water, and earth. His potential for Yang Release can also be developed."

"I see. Jiraiya isn't often in the village, but his disciple Minato is, and he's very close to Kushina. Orochimaru is here too. Oh, right, is White Fang's son in the same year as Tamaki?"

"Yes. Kakashi is in the same class as Tamaki."

"Did Tsunade take Katsuyu's contract scroll with her?"

"No."

Puff—

"Then let's proceed with that for now."

"Lord Hokage, I'll take my leave."

"That's what happened. I'll start teaching you some Medical Ninjutsu next. Also, become a qualified medical-nin as soon as you can and earn Katsuyu's recognition."

"I understand, Uncle."

"Get some rest."

With that, Ichite Ki left. He still had plenty to do.

Tamaki, meanwhile, was thinking back over the information his uncle had conveyed.

First was Medical Ninjutsu, which had been made partially available to him. In the future, no one would hold him accountable no matter what level of Medical Ninjutsu he used.

Second was the matter of his instructor. The Third was most inclined to have Jiraiya instruct him; failing that, there was Minato, who was close to the village's sole remaining Uzumaki. White Fang was probably next, with Orochimaru last.

Although Tamaki didn't know whether the Third had already learned about Orochimaru's research, one thing was certain: the Third didn't want him getting close to Orochimaru.

Lastly, there was the summoned beast. Although this counted as an inheritance of the Senju Clan, the Senju had dispersed, and Katsuyu was also deeply tied to Tsunade.

Tamaki suspected that even if the Third hadn't mentioned it, once his medical skills were sufficient, his uncle would have him sign the contract anyway.

And he would tell the Third about it.

The purpose wasn't to report it, but to protect him!

A guy with enormous Chakra reserves, Medical Ninjutsu, Katsuyu as his summoned beast, and the surname Ershou.

It was practically carved on his forehead: "I have deep ties to Tsunade and the Senju."

Before he grew to Tsunade's level, he needed someone to protect him.

And Tamaki, with that kind of potential for growth, needed the village to invest resources in him all the more!

The medical-nin matter was settled for now. He only needed to proceed step by step.

The remaining priorities were the Rasengan and

the Eight Gates Released Formation!