Hashirama Cells

"Duy, what kind of technique is this?"

"I call it the Eight Gates Formation. For now, though, I can only open up to the Sixth Gate."

Duy answered Sakumo's question honestly.

"This technique can grant strength beyond Kage level if the Eighth Gate is opened?"

Nayuki still remembered what Kawafune had said.

Duy nodded and explained the danger of the Eight Gates.

"But the Eighth Gate, the Gate of Death, demands your life as its price once opened."

"Don't use it unless it's absolutely necessary."

Kawafune's expression turned solemn. After all, this guy had died from opening the Eight Gates.

"Haha, it's too early to say that. I haven't trained to that level yet."

Duy laughed heartily, not believing he could reach the point of opening the Eight Gates anytime soon.

"Um... can I learn your technique?"

Sakumo's face had turned bright red before he finally asked hesitantly.

The Eight Gates Formation had caught his interest.

"Sakumo."

Nayuki thought it was impolite, and she also did not want her husband practicing such a dangerous technique.

"It's fine. It's nothing more than an external possession."

"If Brother Sakumo wants to learn it, I'll gladly teach him."

"How can one walk the path of youth without companions?"

Duy agreed with great generosity, which surprised Kawafune. In the original story, he had only taught it to his own son.

"Thank you. Stay for lunch and have some drinks."

Sakumo happily invited Duy to eat. He really liked this man's personality, and now he would have someone to spar with in the future.

Who would want to fight Kawafune for no reason? There was no skill involved at all.

At lunch, Sakumo and Duy drank until their faces were flushed red. Kawafune had no idea how his brother had hit it off with Duy so quickly.

Could it be that the bond between Kakashi and Might Guy had begun with their fathers?

In the end, Kawafune saw the red-faced Duy out through the gates of the Hatake Clan residence. Unfortunately, he did not get to see Duy perform drunken boxing.

Maybe drunken boxing was Rock Lee's exclusive skill.

"Kawafune-kun, no need to see me off."

"I'm fine."

Alcohol really was the ultimate weapon for bringing men closer together. Duy no longer called Kawafune "sir."

"Alright, then take it slow."

Kawafune watched Duy stagger away. It seemed that during the Second Shinobi World War, Konoha would gain another ninja with a title.

The next day, Sakumo began training with Might Duy and learning the Eight Gates Formation.

Nayuki stayed home to rest during her pregnancy, while Kawafune continued loafing around.

Minato had already thrown himself wholeheartedly into developing the Rasengan, but unfortunately, he still had no clue where to start.

Even Orochimaru was beginning to wonder whether Kawafune had merely suggested it to tease a child.

How could someone possibly condense a ball of Chakra in their hand out of thin air, make it attribute-less, and spin it at high speed without any pattern?

If you were so good at figuring things out, why didn't you do it yourself?

Tsunade had arranged to discuss an important matter with Kawafune today and told him to wait at home.

That was unnecessary. Aside from visiting Tsunade, Kawafune hardly went out anymore.

Tsunade arrived before lunchtime. After lunch, the two sat down in the Quiet Room.

The topic of this conversation was both highly confidential and extremely important.

"Kawafune-kun, do you remember how I said I wanted to research my Grandfather's Cells?"

At those words, Kawafune was no longer sleepy.

"I remember. Are we putting it on the agenda?"

Kawafune remembered that Orochimaru had obtained Hashirama Cells by digging up the First Hokage's grave.

Could it be that Tsunade wanted to take him grave-robbing too?

"I couldn't make up my mind, so I came to discuss it with you."

Kawafune was still thinking that if Tsunade asked whether they should dig up a grave, should he agree—or agree?

"Go on."

Kawafune turned serious and did not reveal his thoughts. If he guessed wrong, he would probably get beaten up.

"I told you before that my teacher ordered all research on my Grandfather's Cells in the village to be sealed away."

"There isn't just experimental data inside. There are also my Grandfather's Cells."

"I'm considering whether I should ask my teacher for them."

"I don't know if there would be any bad consequences from doing that."

Tsunade now understood her own shortcomings. She was no match for those old foxes, so she had come to ask Kawafune.

Otherwise, given her personality, she would be in Sarutobi Hiruzen's office right now.

"Let me think."

Kawafune had assumed there were no Hashirama Cells left in the lab. Otherwise, Orochimaru would not have risked so much by digging up the First Hokage's grave.

Danzo was already dead at his hands, so there was no threat.

The Third Hokage's goal was to cultivate a Wood Style expert, which did not conflict with his own interests.

Even including Boruto: Naruto Next Generations, there were only a handful of people who could fuse with Hashirama Cells.

Even Emperor Guy had been left disabled rather than receiving limbs transplanted with Hashirama Cells.

This showed that even if Hashirama Cells could be successfully researched, they still were not something that could be used on a large scale.

The requirements for compatibility were extremely high.

By then, Kawafune had already made his decision. However, the Third Hokage could not be allowed to send people to participate in the experiment.

"You can ask for them. Make it clear beforehand that if the research succeeds, the technique can be used to create Wood Style ninja for the village."

"But no one else may participate in the experimental process. That is our bottom line."

They had researched it for so many years without success, which showed that the Third Hokage had no decent research team under him. Would sending people over to point fingers only hold them back?

"Alright, then I'm relieved. I'll go talk to my teacher."

The equipment for the hospital's Underground Research Lab had already been delivered. That was why Tsunade was so eager to launch the Hashirama Cells research project.

"Don't be in such a hurry. You're already here."

Kawafune reached out and caught Tsunade's hand as she passed beside him.

With a tug, Tsunade fell into his arms.

"What are you doing now? There are people around."

Tsunade pressed both hands against Kawafune's chest, her voice shy.

"What people? I had the butler stand guard after I came in."

Kawafune had planned it out long ago.

"..."

Tsunade had nothing to say this time. This pervert even knew to have someone keep watch.

"Give me a kiss, and I'll let you go."

Kawafune tilted his face and leaned toward Tsunade.

"No."

Tsunade turned her face aside as she refused.

"No means yes."

Kawafune turned and kissed those rosy lips.

"Mm..."

Tsunade's little fists pounded Kawafune's shoulders, but they had no force behind them at all.

Feeling Kawafune's tongue ravaging her mouth, she squeezed her eyes shut, her face flushed.

"You only know how to take advantage of me."

Tsunade stood up resentfully. At that moment, she was even more tempting to Kawafune.

Her hair was tousled, her cheeks were red, and her voice was shy. It struck straight at Kawafune's heart.

Kawafune said nothing. He spread his arms and lunged for Tsunade's legs.

Seeing that things were going wrong, Tsunade realized he was clearly getting carried away and turned to flee.

"I said later means later."

Kawafune lunged at empty air. Tsunade's words reached his ears, but she had already vanished from sight.

"This enchantress..."

Having regained his clarity, Kawafune sat cross-legged lazily and poured himself a cup of tea.

"No matter how you change, you'll still have to bear me children someday."

Muttering to himself, he raised the teacup and drained it in one gulp.

After a while, he also left the Quiet Room. He could not stand staying alone in that kind of environment.

When he arrived at the Training Hall, Nayuki was sunbathing while Sakumo had gone to find Duy again.

The two training maniacs were simply a perfect match.

In his good mood, even Kawafune's rhythm as he petted the Ghost Mastiff slowed down.

The Ghost Mastiff lifted its head in enjoyment, letting Kawafune scratch beneath its chin.

Who would have thought that this terrifying man had such good massage skills? So he had only been tormenting it before.

At that moment, Tsunade had already arrived at the Hokage Building and knocked on the door to the Hokage's office.