Primal Senju Blood and Sage Arts

"Interesting, truly interesting."

"I must say, you have remarkable talent, to have researched the Byakugan to this extent."

"But what is your purpose?"

After reading the materials Miyoshi handed him, Orochimaru's gaze toward Miyoshi shifted.

His golden pupils stared straight at Miyoshi.

This was a child rich in a spirit of exploration and endowed with extraordinary talent, his ideas brimming with creativity.

Moreover, he had long harbored thoughts about Konoha's Eye Technique bloodlines.

This batch of materials was like a gift of coal in a snowstorm.

"Please continue this research with these materials, Senior, and share the findings with me.

If you're interested, I'd also ask you to keep an eye out for information on the Caged Bird."

Miyoshi showed no fear before those snake-like pupils, remaining calm and unruffled as he stated his requests.

"So you want to break the Caged Bird."

"It's an interesting curse seal, isn't it?"

"Heh, leave it to me."

A slightly cold, sinister voice rang out from Orochimaru.

He didn't probe too deeply into Miyoshi's motives.

"Miyoshi-kun, care to be my assistant?"

"No, Orochimaru-sama, I still have Medical Ninjutsu to research."

"Refused, what a shame."

Orochimaru sounded genuinely regretful. After all, in the vast village of Konoha, people with a research-oriented spirit were truly rare.

They were all fools like Jiraiya. Finally encountering one, and it turned out to be Tsunade's disciple.

What a pity.

"Still, I imagine Lord Orochimaru and I will have many topics to discuss in the future."

"I look forward to it."

"The Dango was good. Thanks for the treat."

With that, Orochimaru left.

Indeed, that was just the kind of person Orochimaru was—decisive and swift. Now that he had the materials he wanted, he naturally couldn't wait to start his research.

"I hope I can crack the Caged Bird before graduation."

Unlike the others, Orochimaru might actually be able to procure materials on the Caged Bird.

That would at least be worthy of the trust of that proud bird trapped in its cage.

After handing two skewers of Dango to Yan, who narrowed her crescent-moon eyes in delight, Miyoshi left.

With Tsunade's return, Miyoshi's long-neglected Medical Ninjutsu and genetic research were about to resume.

"Tsunade-sensei, could I have some of your blood?"

Miyoshi set down the test tube in his hand and stated bluntly.

"Hm?"

Tsunade, who had been pulled in by Miyoshi to guide his experiment, looked puzzled.

"Why? What's the reason?"

"Lately, I've been researching the differences between the bloodline of the Senju Clan and that of ordinary people.

I'd like some of your blood for experiments."

"Aren't you a Senju too?"

"Genes always have diversity. Perhaps you, as the granddaughter of the First Hokage, possess an even more superior lineage."

Miyoshi complimented her.

"You sure know how to talk. No wonder Yan fell for you."

Tsunade laughed, not missing the chance to tease Miyoshi.

"You flatter me."

"Alright, stop being so stiff. I can give you some blood, and I'll have Shengshu bleed a bit for you too, just to satisfy your curiosity."

Tsunade waved her hand, telling Miyoshi to relax. As for these small requests, she agreed offhandedly.

After all, they were just minor demands from her future disciple—Tsunade had no reason to refuse.

And besides, this was a perfect chance to put Shengshu in his place.

That was a true elder sister's love for her younger brother.

"Hell yeah."

Yayoi grinned as she secured the original Senju bloodline.

"By the way, Tsunade-sensei, how much do you know about Sage Techniques?"

Now that Tsunade had agreed to the blood matter, Yayoi finally revealed her true intent.

"Sage Techniques—are those the ones Jiraiya and Grandpa used?"

"Right. I've read some materials—it seems to be Divine Technique Chakra, made by mixing Natural Energy with chakra in a specific ratio."

Yayoi pressed on.

"Yes, you're correct. The power of Sage Techniques comes from blending Natural Energy with chakra to create Divine Technique Chakra.

But there's a prerequisite: you need a massive amount of chakra.

Your chakra is passable, but at your current age, you're still in a growth phase—not suited for Sage Techniques."

Tsunade confirmed Yayoi's explanation but shot down her desire to train in Sage Techniques.

"Besides, training in Sage Techniques is extremely dangerous. One misstep and you'll turn to stone. Don't think just because that idiot Jiraiya managed it, you can follow along."

Tsunade's expression turned serious as she issued a stern warning.

"Jiraiya only succeeded because he stumbled into Mount Myōboku, one of the Three Great Sage Regions. On his own, he never could have mastered Sage Techniques.

Unless you train with one of the Three Great Sage Regions, don't recklessly touch Sage Techniques."

"The Three Great Sage Regions—do you have a way in, Tsunade-sensei?"

"You know quite a bit."

Tsunade puffed out her chest proudly.

"My Spiritual Beast is Katsuyu, representing the Shikkotsu Forest sacred land.

You can enter in the future, but not now. Learning Sage Techniques is dangerous, and you're not old enough.

Your chakra reserves are large compared to an average ninja, but they can still grow. I'll teach you after you graduate."

"Sensei, please, help me out."

Yayoi clasped her hands together and deployed a kid's ultimate skill: acting cute.

Her mental age didn't permit it, but her physical age did.

For Sage Techniques, she'd throw away any shred of dignity.

"Don't even think about it. Focus on learning your Medical Ninjutsu. I'll be staying in Konoha these days—come to me with anything you don't understand."

This time, Tsunade was adamant.

Sage Techniques were too dangerous; she couldn't let Yayoi mess around with them.

"Fine."

Yayoi had no choice but to drop it for now, but that didn't seal off her path.

Her general plan remained researching the Uchiha Gene Fluid.

As for Hashirama Cells, Yayoi steered the conversation there as well.

But it didn't seem to be much of a secret—the village kept them in storage, and even Tsunade needed to apply to get access.

Tch, even the biological granddaughter had to apply?

What a pain.

During this period, Yayoi completely stopped hiding her talent.

Her astonishing learning ability was like a sponge, absorbing everything from Tsunade.

Even Tsunade couldn't help but marvel at her gift.

But Yayoi knew she wasn't some genius—her talent came from opening the Mirror Eye.

Without the Mirror Eye, she'd just be a slightly precocious student, at best a decent medical ninja.

But there was no "without." Yayoi possessed the Word Spirit, Dragon Blood, and the Divine Tree Bloodline.

If she didn't die, she could sense she'd one day stand at the peak of the ninja world.

Daily Dragon Script analysis continued steadily.

As for Orochimaru's research on the Hyuga Clan blood, it also progressed steadily. Sometimes he'd call in two Branch Family members to assist.

Of course, this happened during hospital treatment. With Yayoi's cooperation and Orochimaru's prestige, conning two people was a breeze.

Yayoi couldn't help but appreciate the benefits of authority.

No one suspected Orochimaru's motives—after all, he was the Hokage's disciple and a strong candidate for the Fourth Hokage.

With physical samples in hand, Orochimaru's progress skyrocketed.

But research on the Caged Bird remained like grasping at the moon's reflection in water.

From their shared data, they found that the Caged Bird curse mark wasn't some complex seal.

Yet how it had bound the Branch Family for a century remained a mystery. They could only hope for breakthroughs in the next phase.

"Uesugi Yayoi, the Hokage summons you."