After dinner, Yuto looked at Xingzhuo expectantly. Xingzhuo didn't even need to ask; he knew the child wanted to ride the Ink Wash Tiger out to play again.
To be honest, in Xingzhuo's eyes, Yuto was the one who seemed like a normal child: simple-minded, innocent, and childish, but clever, lovable, and talented, quick to catch on.
Unlike the other children in the Ninja World, who all seemed far too mature for their age.
And unlike those who had suffered so much they'd become mentally ill, each one stubbornly fixated on something.
Take his three-years-older half-brother, Hyuga Yueye. Ever since that time he'd been humiliated, he'd withdrawn into himself. Apparently, after losing Hyuga Yunfei as his bodyguard, he'd gone almost crazy, punching wooden posts every day.
That was why he genuinely treated this child as his little brother, or even as his own son.
Though in his previous life, he'd only been an eighteen-year-old boy himself.
"How have you been doing with Water Walking and tree climbing? I taught you those a while ago."
Xingzhuo asked.
Ever since Yuto's mental strength had reached 60 points, he rarely had trouble controlling his body or suffered from paralysis on one side.
So when he'd been able to stand up a while back, Xingzhuo had taught him Water Walking and tree climbing to train his chakra control.
That way, he'd also be able to attach chakra to the Ink Wash animals when riding them and avoid falling off.
Yuto nodded without wasting words. Still wearing his socks, he walked up the wall, crossed the ceiling, then came down the opposite wall.
"I learned it without any trouble. I haven't had any problems while practicing, either."
After coming down, he said this with a solemn expression.
Xingzhuo ruffled his hair. It felt just like petting a puppy. Then he said,
"Good. I'll let Master Tobirama know, and then we'll try something different today."
Yuto looked eager. "What's different?"
Xingzhuo sent a Clone Technique to the Hokage Building to report to Senju Tobirama.
It was essential to let the adults know whenever they went out to play.
After all, there was no way to know for sure whether there might be danger outside.
Then he took two sealing tags and a roll of drawing paper from his pocket. He unsealed a large paintbrush and a bowl of ink from the tags, set the paper in front of him, and began to draw.
"How about I draw a bird that can fly today? We can ride it outside Konoha and soar through the sky."
Yuto's eyes sparkled. He bounced up and down with delight. "Yay! Let's fly outside!"
Xingzhuo smiled and continued adding details to the bird.
Unlike Sai's drawings, his bird needed to be larger for safety. It also needed Konoha's Uzumaki symbol, so it wouldn't get shot down by their own people. And he had to add a safety harness to secure the riders on its back.
He had to fill in the bird's details carefully, too. Though it was only black-and-white ink, the closer it was to a real animal, the more stable its structure would be and the harder it would be to disperse.
All of this would make the ride much safer, but it also took some time.
When word came from his clone that Master Tobirama had agreed, Xingzhuo finished the last stroke, then infused the drawing with Yin Release Chakra to activate it.
In no time, an Ink Wash Flying Bird seemed to come to life. It flew off the paper and soared into the sky, stretching its enormous wings before descending.
The moment the bird "came to life," it connected with Xingzhuo's mind.
So, in theory, the ink painting hadn't gained a life of its own. Rather, Xingzhuo had gained another Ink Wash clone.
This Ink Wash clone had a degree of simple intelligence and could carry out basic commands. Even if the user lost consciousness, it could still complete its instructions on its own.
After settling Yuto on the bird's back, Xingzhuo sat beside him and secured their harnesses. Only then did he dare to guide the bird into taking off.
Amid Yuto's delighted cheers, the two rode the Ink Wash Flying Bird in a low circle above the Senju compound, then flew up into the sky.
Meanwhile, at the Hokage Building, inside the Hokage Office,
Senju Tobirama watched his student dispel the Clone Technique and smiled with satisfaction before returning to his work.
He wasn't worried about his young nephew's safety at all.
He knew what the two children were capable of.
One had mastered the Sealing Technique and had combat strength no lower than a Chunin's. His physical prowess was on par with his eldest brother's, and even if he fell from the sky, he'd probably recover on his own before long. Tobirama couldn't guarantee the child would become the next God of Shinobi, not with his mental strength holding him back, but he was certain the boy would surpass his own uncle.
The other had also mastered the Sealing Technique, but his true strength was already approaching that of an elite Jonin. He had the Byakugan, had created his own secret techniques, and Sister-in-law Mito had told him the child's chakra was already at the level of an ordinary Jonin. His potential was no weaker than his nephew's.
If the two children really encountered enemies near the village, their opponents would be the ones in danger.
So he was entirely at ease about the children going out to play.
Just as Senju Tobirama picked up a financial report to read, Senju Hashirama suddenly pushed open the door and walked in.
Tobirama assumed his elder brother had lost at gambling again. But when he looked up, he saw a grave expression on Hashirama's face.
It wasn't every day that the cheerful Senju Hashirama looked like that.
Tobirama's heart sank. He quickly set down his work and asked,
"Big Brother, what happened?"
Senju Hashirama said gravely,
"Madara has returned to the village. He challenged me to a duel outside the village. While we're fighting, you need to protect the village and keep everyone away from the battle."
Tobirama furrowed his brow, realizing just how serious this was. "Uchiha Madara has returned?!"
After giving his instructions, Senju Hashirama turned to leave.
At the doorway, he repeated without looking back, "Tobirama, listen to me. Protect the village, and don't come over and try to help."
With that, he disappeared from the Hokage Office doorway.
Tobirama stood there, his mind in turmoil.
Why had Madara returned to the village?
Was he still obsessed with the Hokage Position?
Or did he intend to destroy the village?
Countless thoughts flashed through Senju Tobirama's mind, but he knew there was no time to waste. He had to act immediately.
He quickly summoned the heads of the various departments and began issuing orders.
"Notify the patrol teams: recall the forest patrol units immediately!"
"Notify the guard teams: pull the outer defenses back inside the walls at once!"
"Notify the Barrier Team: prepare a large-scale defensive barrier immediately!"
"Notify the village gates: close them at once. No one is to leave!"
"Notify the Jonin Class: send out the border-relief teams immediately and reinforce the border defenses."
"Notify..."
One order after another went out from the Hokage Office, and all of Konoha sprang into action.
Several major clans sensed that something was amiss and began pulling back their forces in unspoken agreement.
It wasn't until dusk, when things had temporarily quieted down at the Hokage Office, that Tobirama remembered something important.
His young student and young nephew still hadn't come back!
He looked up at the barrier visible above Konoha.
There was no way to open it.
He'd have to go out and look for them himself.
After a brief moment of thought,
Senju Tobirama invited his sister-in-law to take charge at the Hokage Building.
At present, the only Kage Level powerhouse he could entrust Konoha to was his sister-in-law, Uzumaki Mito.
Once he'd confirmed that everything was in order, Senju Tobirama vanished from the Hokage Office.
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