You Really Understand Me

Unlike Senba, who had kept his composure when faced with the defective Wood Release, Hiruzen Sarutobi, who had just paid an audience with the Feudal Lord of the Land of Fire, could barely hide his excitement.

Knowing how his old comrade operated, he had deliberately tampered with the travel schedule before setting out, having Kakashi Hatake disguise himself as Hiruzen while he rushed ahead at full speed and arrived at the feudal lord's residence early.

Just as he expected Kakashi to bring back the news he wanted, the man instead dropped a bombshell on him. Hiruzen didn't even meet Senju Yunhua; he turned around and raced back toward Konoha through the night.

Wood Release—the technique that had vanished after the First, Hashirama Senju, died—had actually reappeared!

Hiruzen was still reeling as he hurried along. He had never expected Shimura Danzō to get there first, either.

Still, there was time. When Kakashi told him that the child called "Tora" hadn't been completely brainwashed, Hiruzen immediately abandoned the plan to seize him by force.

He decided to win the child over gently. Kakashi was his friend, after all, and could help persuade him from the sidelines.

Most importantly, with Shimura Danzō's dark ideas serving as a contrast, Hiruzen was confident he could give the village another Elite Jonin—not merely a mindless weapon of war.

"Danzō, you really understand me. You know exactly what I need!"

Driven by urgency, Hiruzen sped up once more, leaving the Hokage's bodyguards struggling to keep pace.

Of all the people, Senju Yunhua was happiest to see Hiruzen leave so suddenly. He'd been worried when Hiruzen arrived ahead of schedule, but now he could finally breathe a sigh of relief.

Once he brought Kanae and her daughter back to Konoha and handed them over to his older sister, his mission would be complete. As for Kusagakure, that matter wasn't over. He'd pay them another visit sooner or later.

Senju Yunhua glanced toward Kusagakure and couldn't help snorting. Then he went back to prepare for the return to Konoha.

What Senju Yunhua didn't know was that Kusagakure was being brutalized for a second time. Its new Kusakage was being pinned beneath someone's foot.

The new Kusakage, who had risen by striking from the shadows and overthrowing his superior, was struggling in the dirt as Mei Terumi pressed his head down with her toe. Nearby, his subordinates knelt on the ground, battered and bruised by the Mist Ninja.

"Can you tell me now what really happened back then? You insisted the Mist Ninja attacked you."

Before Mei Terumi had even finished speaking, Haku obediently took out a recording scroll and stood by, ready to take notes.

Senba knew nothing of Kusagakure's second round of misery. With both his mental energy and Chakra completely drained, he was fast asleep.

Beside him, Genma Shiranui sat by the tea table, agonizing over how to write the mission report. He was sure the Third Generation would ask detailed questions about Senba and the Wood Release test subject. How could he make the report sound plausible?

He spent the whole night thinking it over. By the time he was done, it was time for breakfast.

Senba lightly lifted and turned his bamboo chopsticks. The handmade alkaline noodles coiled around them, firm and springy, without a hint of mushiness.

He popped the chewy noodles into his mouth, savoring the broth clinging to them and their springy texture. Senba was in an exceptionally good mood.

Then he took a sip of the fragrant soup and silently compared it with Teuchi's ramen. Hmm, they're evenly matched—each has its own merits.

The next second, he began wolfing it down. In no time, seven or eight ramen bowls had piled up beside him, and the chef making noodles in the distance could feel his fingers cramping.

"We'll reach our destination in another day," Genma Shiranui said, slurping up a mouthful of ramen. "Then this mission will be complete."

"Because something unexpected happened during this mission, its rank will probably go up a little, though it likely won't reach A-rank."

Senba understood what Teacher Genma meant. Wood Release had appeared during the mission, but this specimen was defective. The village had suffered countless failures in its experiments over the years.

Besides, according to Senba's memories, if nothing unexpected had happened this time, the Third Generation would have acquired the only successful Wood Release test subject in the Shinobi World: Yamato.

As for the person who had experimented on him, it was probably Hiruko—the classmate of the famous Sannin and the creator of the Chimera Technique.

Senba remembered being fascinated by the technique back then. Merging all kinds of powerful kekkei genkai into one's own body sounded incredibly cool.

Looking back now, how could a forbidden technique like that not have side effects? Still, it was a testament to Hiruko's talent. He was definitely no less capable than Orochimaru, let alone the other two drifters.

As Senba recalled what little he knew about Hiruko, he finished his twelfth bowl of ramen. It wasn't that he was full; the chef simply couldn't make it fast enough to keep up with him.

While everyone took a break, Genma Shiranui began arranging the next part of their mission. After all, they still had an additional objective to complete.

"Senba, you and I will make some preparations at the rendezvous point." Genma Shiranui took out a map, spread it across the table, and pointed to the meeting place.

After Senba nodded to show he understood, Genma turned to Uchiha Yue and Iruka. "You two will wait here and meet up with us. Remember, don't come looking for us until you see the signal."

"If the rendezvous time passes, leave at once and return to the Land of Fire. Report exactly what happened. Understood?"

The two were reluctant, but they understood how large the gap in their abilities was. Uchiha Yue would probably be all right, but if Iruka ran into an enemy from the Anbu, he'd likely be taken out in an instant.

Seeing their response, Genma Shiranui looked relieved. Having been through war, he feared people who had no clear sense of their own abilities.

If one of them was also a hot-blooded fool who charged in recklessly, it would be a disaster. They could easily bring ruin down on everyone.

With the broad plan in place, all that remained was to work out the details. They would discuss those along the way.

Just then, four steaming bowls of ramen were served. The four teacher and students set everything else aside and began slurping up the noodles. Delicious!

"This style of attack is a little like Tsunade's. Has she really had students all this time, despite being in such a slump?" Hiruko leaned back in his chair, flipping through the intelligence in his hands.

Thinking of Tsunade brought the other two to mind. Based on the information he'd gathered over the years, Tsunade had fallen apart after losing her loved ones.

Jiraiya, meanwhile, had devoted himself to wandering the Shinobi World. He lived a carefree life and paid little attention to Konoha's affairs.

After losing the contest for the Hokage Position, Orochimaru had also become a recluse and stopped involving himself in outside affairs.

Hiruko felt a pang of regret. The people he'd once looked up to had fallen into ruin so quickly. It left him with little sense of accomplishment.

What right did geniuses who had never endured hardship have to call themselves geniuses?