Tempering the Bloodline

Senba never thought about absorbing Hashirama Senju's cells. Perhaps it was due to reading too many Wuxia novels in his past life; he had a strong aversion to techniques like "Star Absorbing Great Method."

It was an undeniable fact that Hashirama Cells carried his spiritual imprint, and given their aggressive nature, they would surely contaminate the purity of anyone who received them.

The most direct manifestation of this contamination was bodily collapse. Alternatively, it could lead to a state like the Hand Ghost before him, barely alive but suffering immense side effects.

As an aside, Shimura Danzō also fell into this category, but he had a powerful support team, so he didn't have to endure such suffering.

Yamato was the best-case scenario, practically winning the lottery. He survived successfully and inherited Wood Release, along with the "Four Rooms and One Hall" technique.

For a ninja of ordinary talent, Yamato's outcome was ideal. Without Hashirama Cells, his potential might only reach Chunin level, though there was also a very low probability of becoming an elite Jonin.

But Senba couldn't afford that. His own innate talent, the external resources, and the Senba of the Forest that had coincidentally manifested within him did not allow him to be contaminated by Hashirama Cells.

Not to mention the eventual arrival of Kaguya Otsutsuki; Hashirama's combat power alone would be far from sufficient.

Therefore, Senba made a reckless decision: he would use his own meager bloodline power to fight against the Hashirama Cells, to temper and conquer them.

The Hashirama Cells within the Hand Ghost were definitely diluted. Although their quality was high, they wouldn't be vastly different, and they operated passively.

In contrast, Senba's bloodline power, while lacking in quality, was manipulated by Senba of the Forest, acting like a sharp blade surging with Senba's Chakra towards the Hand Ghost's body.

To use its sharpness, one must first blunt its edge. The moment Senba's bloodline power appeared, the Hashirama power within the Hand Ghost began to gather autonomously, intending to devour it.

Senba's blade-like bloodline power fought its way through the Hashirama power, but it also suffered wear and tear, even some degree of collapse.

This was where Senba of the Forest came in, carefully managing the degree of tempering and leaving room for the bloodline power to breathe at appropriate times.

Under this controlled clash of bloodline powers, the sharpness of Senba's own bloodline was gradually revealing itself. Simultaneously, as the two powers battled, the Hand Ghost, serving as the battlefield, showed a change in its eyes.

In a daze, the Hand Ghost recalled many past events. He wasn't called Hand Ghost then, just an ordinary person with an unfortunate life.

Beaten by his father as a child, bullied by peers as a youth, he finally found a good friend only to be hunted by the powerful. His own life was worth less than a stray dog's, until he met that bandaged monster.

When he lay in green liquid, enduring hellish pain, thinking he would finally live a decent life, he saw the disappointment in the other's eyes.

"Still a defective product. Is there truly no way for me to possess Wood Release?"

Wood Release? So this power was called Wood Release. It was so strong. At that moment, a cold voice sounded in his ear, "From now on, you will be called Hand Ghost."

Hand Ghost, Hand Ghost, I don't want to be called Hand Ghost. As if remembering something, the Hand Ghost awoke from his memories. He looked at the white-haired youth opposite him, who was showing signs of fatigue. His lips moved, wanting to say something.

Unfortunately, time was up. Under the manipulation of Senba of the Forest, the Hashirama Cells within the Hand Ghost completely collapsed, and his body gradually stiffened.

What was initially just wooden skin instantly transformed into a lifelike wooden sculpture. The Hand Ghost looked at Senba with a hint of relief and a touch of helplessness in his eyes.

I hope in my next life I don't reincarnate into this Hell Realm. If possible, I'd rather be reborn into the Animal Path. Being greedy, I'll be a pet dog.

Amidst this twisted wish, the Hand Ghost breathed his last.

Compared to him, Senba was now also slumped on the ground. A small Slug was perched on his forehead, transferring Chakra to him and gently tapping his forehead with concern.

Senba was still in a brief state of unconsciousness. He needed to check on Senba of the Forest.

"Host, I need to sleep for a few days. When I wake up, your Chakra reserves will at least double," said Senba of the Forest, whose entire body was sitting within a bonfire of Chakra, his voice weary.

"So little? I thought I'd become like a Tailed Beast, spewing out vast oceans with a single breath?" Senba, actually quite satisfied with this harvest, retorted fluently.

"If you want, I can absorb Hashirama Cells too," Senba of the Forest didn't indulge his host, deliberately goading him, "Perhaps in the future, you'll earn titles like 'Little Hashirama' or 'Little Tobirama'."

"Uh, let's pass on that. The name Senju Senba is quite good," Senba politely declined such titles. He wasn't anyone's shadow. "But this time, it has proven that our path is viable, even if the process is a bit slow."

"Don't be greedy, Host. Being able to wield your bloodline power at will puts you ahead of ninety-nine percent of people. This means you can minimize the harm from Hashirama Cells."

"Think about Danzō. His right arm is sealed by forbidden jutsu and special ninja tools. If he knew about your situation, even your Senju Clan identity wouldn't stop him."

"Host, you should know this method isn't without its price. Every tempering of your bloodline is a severe blow to your vitality. If you don't want to become the second Gekko Hayate..."

At this point, Senba of the Forest could no longer hold on. His eyes closed slightly, as if falling asleep. The Chakra flames surged, engulfing his figure.

Even without Senba of the Forest saying it, Senba clearly felt that his internal condition was not good. He could currently only mobilize half a card's worth of Chakra, and his body was extremely weak.

With that thought, Senba's figure quickly faded. The outside matters weren't over yet.

On a pile of ruins, Haku assisted Iruka in setting a fractured bone, then firmly secured it with bandages. Feeling the injuries on his body, Iruka knew he could no longer keep up with Senba and the others.

Meanwhile, Genma Shiranui, after obtaining the information he needed from the Poison Ghost, dealt with the latter and then focused on watching over Haku and Iruka.

However, he was puzzled as to why the fighting on Senba's side had stopped and why he hadn't emerged yet. Had he flipped over in a ditch? Worried, he got up and walked towards the warehouse.

When he pushed open the door, he found a lifelike wooden sculpture standing there. Senba was sitting on the ground, taking large quantities of chocolate from a Sealing Scroll and stuffing them into his mouth.

"Teacher Genma, you'll probably need to hand this wooden sculpture over to the village. Do you need me to help seal it?"

Hearing Senba's words, Genma scrutinized him for a moment before replying, under Senba's somewhat confused gaze, "Alright. I'll go back and bring Iruka. He's injured."

Saying that, he turned and left, seemingly unconcerned about this significant Wood Release test subject.

Seeing this, a smile appeared in Senba's eyes. Although everything was finished, Genma's actions still moved him greatly.