Shizuka...!
In an instant, it was as if the air had frozen. Senju Fujima felt a terrible presence drawing closer.
"Fujima, what did you just say?"
Mito Uzumaki glared at Senju Fujima, gritting her teeth as she spoke. Her eyes blazed with fury.
"...! Damn it, why is Mom here? I'm done for. I'm going to get beaten again...!"
In the entire Senju Clan, the person Senju Fujima feared most was Mito Uzumaki. Whenever he saw his mother, he was like a mouse that had spotted a cat. But he still hadn't completed his task, so he could only steel himself and charge ahead.
We're playing the Chicano game.
It's all about a mother's love for her child. They say that hitting is affection, and scolding is love...!
"Mom, I want to challenge Dad. Don't stop me. I'm challenging him today, no matter what."
Then Senju Fujima looked Hashirama Senju in the eye and shouted with absolute conviction.
"Old? Am I that old?"
It was rare for Senju Fujima to stand his ground, but when Mito Uzumaki heard him, she was consumed with fury. It was as if flames were beginning to flicker above her head as she walked toward him step by step, each one carrying an immense pressure...!
"...! What is this all about?"
"Didn't I always call you that?"
Senju Fujima was baffled. Why was his mother acting like this today? Hadn't he always called her Mom? Why was she picking on him now?
"Not good. Run...!"
As Mito Uzumaki drew closer, step by step, Senju Fujima felt a suffocating presence. He hurriedly took off, ready to run.
"Still trying to run?"
"Secret Technique: Four Symbols Sealing."
Mito Uzumaki brought her hands together and used the Uzumaki Clan's unique secret technique. It was incredibly powerful, and could automatically lock onto a target. Once locked on, there was practically no escape.
An invisible barrier suddenly appeared within several meters of Senju Fujima. Three chains shot out from each side of the barrier, binding him completely and hoisting him into the air.
"Mo—uh, Mom, let me go! Let me go!"
"I won't do it again...!"
Senju Fujima had tried to run, but he couldn't get away. Mito Uzumaki had lifted him into the air. This was a unique secret technique of the Uzumaki Clan. Unless someone broke through by force, there was no way to escape it.
Mito Uzumaki had used her full power to seal him. Once someone like Senju Fujima was trapped, even Hashirama Senju—without Senjutsu—would be unable to break free. That showed just how formidable the technique was.
This was also one of the reasons the Uzumaki Clan had been wiped out: their Sealing Jutsu were simply too powerful.
"Heh, all right, Mito. Let the boy down."
"I'd like to see how Fujima has grown lately, too."
At that moment, Hashirama Senju hurried over and smiled at Mito Uzumaki.
"Hmph."
At Hashirama Senju's words, Mito Uzumaki immediately released the seal and let Senju Fujima down.
She had been hoping to get home early and enjoy some time alone with Hashirama Senju, but that silly boy Senju Fujima had ruined everything. She was extremely unhappy.
Ever since they'd had Senju Fujima, the two of them had had less and less time alone. They were already in the middle of a war, so they didn't get to spend much time together. Now he'd gone and ruined their plans again.
"Hehe! Hehe!"
"Don't be mad, Mom. You're so beautiful, an absolute beauty. If you get angry, it'll ruin your lovely face."
As soon as Mito Uzumaki let him down, Senju Fujima hurried over to flatter her.
"Hmph, you little rascal. I'll settle this with you later."
Mito Uzumaki gave Senju Fujima a cold snort, then turned and headed home with a frosty expression, leaving behind an awkward Hashirama Senju and a thoroughly dejected Senju Fujima.
"Fujima, didn't you say you didn't want to get beaten? Why did you suddenly come back and ask me to spar?"
Hashirama Senju smiled at Senju Fujima as he asked.
You think I want to? If the system weren't forcing me, I wouldn't have bothered coming here to fight you!
If I'd known Mom would be here, I would've just gone to bed like a good boy. Hmph...!
Senju Fujima thought unwillingly. But life had to go on, and so did the fight.
"I suddenly wanted to test out a new jutsu, so I came to ask Dad for some pointers."
There was no way he could tell the truth—that he was being forced. He could only steel himself and face Hashirama Senju as he spoke.
"Hehe, all right, then. Let's do it!"
"If you can defeat my Shadow Clone, you'll have the strength of an elite jonin."
Hashirama Senju looked at his son and grew interested. He wondered what the new jutsu was, then immediately created a Wood Clone.
"Hmph, bring it on, Dad! I'm going to be the first person to beat you."
Senju Fujima quickly moved away from Hashirama Senju's clone and gave a cold snort.
"Let's see what you can do."
Hashirama Senju leaped onto a nearby branch to watch his clone fight Senju Fujima.
My chakra's going to be completely drained anyway, so I might as well go all out. Taijutsu's out of the question.
Senju Fujima instantly entered battle mode. The system required him to use up all his chakra, so he put aside his plan to close in and fight with a kunai.
Even though Senju Fujima was only ten, his chakra was even greater than Shukaku's. It wasn't something he could use up easily.
"Dad, I'm coming at you. Watch closely."
"Ha...!"
"Pa...!"
"Wood Release Secret Technique: Deep Forest Emergence."
To complete his task, Senju Fujima let out a roar and immediately launched into a Wood Release jutsu. He brought his hands together, and a tiny fraction of his enormous chakra was instantly consumed...!
"What? Wood Release?"
Hashirama Senju was stunned when he saw that his son had awakened Wood Release. He exclaimed in shock.
He was the only member of the entire Senju Clan to have awakened Wood Release, which showed just how rare it was.
And now Senju Fujima had awakened Wood Release, too? Even Hashirama Senju, a peerless powerhouse, couldn't help being shocked.
"No wonder you had the confidence to challenge me. Hehe!"
Hashirama Senju's lips curled into a slight smile. No wonder his son had dared to challenge him: he'd awakened Wood Release, too.
"Fujima, even though you've awakened Wood Release, this isn't how you use it."
"Watch closely. You can't just use Wood Release any which way."
"Against someone like me, who also has Wood Release, a jutsu like this is just making things easier for me."
"Ha...!"
Hashirama Senju's clone watched Senju Fujima with a slight smile. Then he brought his hands together, and a huge surge of Wood Release chakra burst out. He immediately seized control of Senju Fujima's Deep Forest Emergence.
"Damn it, Dad! Are you robbing me?"
That was exactly what had happened. Senju Fujima felt his control over Deep Forest Emergence vanish in an instant. His chakra had gone to waste, and he cried out in alarm.
But this wasn't the time to shout. Countless trees swept toward him. Branches sprouted all over them, lashing out at him, and he could only leap quickly through the forest.
"Damn Dad. You're the worst."
"Wood Release: Wood Human Technique."
With no other choice, Senju Fujima had to fight back if he didn't want to get beaten. He immediately summoned the Wood Human Technique. A giant wooden figure, dozens of yards tall, appeared not far from the Senju Clan's grounds.
"Who's there?"
At that moment, Tobirama Senju had just gone to bed. The sudden commotion and surge of chakra woke him, and he immediately vanished from where he stood, appearing at the entrance to the Senju Clan's grounds.
Senju Fujima's Wood Human Technique had caused an enormous disturbance. The Senju Clan's grounds were nearby, so every clan member had been woken up. They came out carrying kunai, thinking they were under attack.
"Who's using the clan leader's Wood Human Technique?"
"Wait, look! The person on the Wood Human isn't the clan leader—it's the young clan leader...!"
"What? The young clan leader? Then where's the clan leader?"
"Lord Tobirama is up ahead. Let's go see."
"As long as no enemies have invaded, that's all that matters. Come on, let's go see what's happening."
It was dark, and no one could see clearly. They all headed toward the entrance to the clan grounds. Young and old alike crowded over to watch.
"What's going on? Fujima? And Big Brother? What are they doing?"
Tobirama Senju's sharp eyes had already spotted Hashirama Senju standing on a tree branch. His clone was fighting Hashirama Senju, and Tobirama murmured to himself.
"Lord Tobirama, what's going on?"
"Yes, Lord Tobirama, why can the young clan leader use the Wood Human Technique? Or is the clan leader up there, too? I just can't see him."
"Lord Tobirama, what's going on?"
Soon, all the clan members came rushing out in a crowd. They looked at Tobirama Senju in confusion and asked him what was happening.
"Big Brother and Fujima are probably training. If you have nothing else to do, go back to bed. This has nothing to do with you. Everyone, go home."
When Tobirama Senju saw all the clan members gathered, he hurriedly told them to go back.
But clearly, nobody wanted to leave. They all wanted to see their clan leader and young clan leader fight. Tobirama Senju eventually gave up trying to persuade them and let them be.
"Big Brother, what are you doing? Why can Fujima use Wood Release, too?"
Tobirama Senju appeared beside Hashirama Senju and asked in confusion.
"Fujima awakened Wood Release. Hehe!"
"The Senju Clan has awakened Wood Release again. This gives me even more confidence that I can bring peace to the warring world."
Hashirama Senju smiled at Tobirama Senju. His desire to bring peace to the warring world had grown more urgent, and his confidence had grown stronger.
"What? Fujima awakened Wood Release, too?"
"Haha, Big Brother finally has someone to carry on his legacy. It would be wonderful if all the special Kekkei Genkai of our Senju Clan awakened."
Hearing his older brother's words, Tobirama Senju couldn't help laughing happily. As the young clan leader, the more capable Senju Shukone was, the better it was for the Senju Clan.
Tobirama Senju hadn't awakened Wood Release, but he was famous throughout the world for his Water Release. Everyone knew his name, and he was hailed as the strongest below the Twin Gods.
"Take this!"
After summoning the Wood Human, Senju Fujima immediately controlled it to swing a fist at Hashirama Senju's clone.
"Wood Release: Wood Release: Wood Guard."
"Bang...!"
Hashirama Senju's clone immediately summoned a wooden shield shaped like a fearsome fanged mask to defend himself, blocking Senju Fujima's attack.
Before you continue