Shangguan Yue set the scroll aside and studied his Sharingan. His pupils turned bloodred, leaving only a black dot in the center, surrounded by a black ring.
A One-Tomoe hung on the black ring, radiating an ominous aura. Shangguan Yue could feel the evil within it.
It was an urge that seemed to press on his nerves at any moment, driving him mad. Fortunately, his mental strength had greatly increased through his cultivation of the God-Slaying Art.
With a thought, the negative emotions vanished instantly, leaving his mind clear. Shangguan Yue felt as if he had broken through a restraint as he watched the One-Tomoe spin in the mirror.
"Hmm? Why do I feel like a second Tomoe is about to appear, like a faint shadow?"
Shangguan Yue held his breath and tried to spin the Tomoe with all his might, but naturally, nothing came of it. It wasn't that easy. A while later, he grew a little discouraged.
"Why isn't it working? I definitely saw it just now. There was a shadow of a second Tomoe. Which part am I getting wrong..."
Shangguan Yue turned his One-Tomoe as he paced around the room, looking here and there. Then he left the house and headed to the training ground.
He pulled out a Ruowu and hurled it with all his strength. It sliced through the air and shot toward the target.
This time, Shangguan Yue saw everything clearly. As the Tomoe spun, everything slowed down.
"This feeling is like bullet time. Too bad it's just a visual technique, not the ability to control time.
"But I can definitely see details that would normally escape me. Let's try this."
Shangguan Yue threw two Ruowu in succession. They collided in midair and flew along fixed trajectories.
The Tomoe in his eyes tracked their movement. The collision angle and flight paths all played out in slow motion, etched into his mind.
The training ground rang with the clatter of metal. At first, the sounds were sporadic, but soon they came without pause. Shangguan Yue grew more and more skilled.
"I didn't expect throwing techniques to be so easy to learn with my mental strength and the Sharingan's boost.
"Uchiha Itachi's Ruowu throwing technique is practically mine for the taking."
Shangguan Yue filled the gaps between all ten fingers with Ruowu, then swung both hands and sent them all flying toward the target.
Just as they were about to hit, a series of clatters rang out. Every Ruowu changed its trajectory.
It looked as if they had all missed, but Shangguan Yue's Tomoe stayed fixed on the collision points. "It should be fine."
The Ruowu collided wildly with one another in midair. It looked like a complete mess, but in the end, they all changed direction and shot behind the target.
Shangguan Yue went behind the target and saw that every Ruowu had struck the back of its bull's-eye. Only then did he nod with satisfaction.
"Clap, clap, clap."
Suddenly, applause came from behind him. Shangguan Yue turned around and saw Tsunade watching him from a tree branch.
"When did you get here?"
"I've been watching for ages. That was some impressive Ruowu throwing. With that skill alone, you'd be one of the best among the Genin.
"Even some of the weaker Chunin would die to your Ruowu if they let their guard down."
Shangguan Yue clenched a Ruowu in his hand and hurled it with all his might. With a whoosh, it embedded itself right in the center of the target.
"I still prefer it this way. Straight and direct, pressing forward without hesitation."
"Both styles have their merits. Come with me. We're going to see Grandma. Ruowu throwing is useful against anyone below the Jonin level.
"But against Jonin, it lacks finishing power. Ruowu are too brittle, and it's hard to kill with them. They're only good for feints."
"Tch, you don't get it. As long as it looks cool, that's all that matters."
"Haha, yes, yes. You're the coolest."
"Hey, hey, I'm not a kid. Don't try to placate me like one."
"Fine, fine. You're a big kid, not a little kid."
Tsunade led the way. The two bickered as they took turn after turn, passing under the watchful eyes of guards dressed in tight black outfits before arriving at a mansion deep within the Senju Clan grounds.
"Are all these people from the Senju Clan?"
"Some of them are the Hokage's guards, too. They're all here to protect Grandma."
The two entered the inner room without announcing themselves. Uzumaki Mito was the only one inside. Tsunade closed the door, then walked over to her.
"Grandma, Shangguan Yue is here. Look."
"Grandma knows. I'm looking."
Uzumaki Mito stared at Shangguan Yue, the corner of her mouth twitching. "You really are as small as I expected."
"Should we wait another two years?"
During this time, Kaguya-hime's bloodline hadn't brought him much of a change in strength, but his body had definitely been growing faster.
His pants had already become much shorter, and soon he'd need new clothes.
"Forget it. It is what it is. The truth will come out eventually. Are you sure you want to get involved in this mess, little one?"
Uzumaki Mito looked serious, as if she were conducting an interrogation, but Shangguan Yue felt no pressure at all.
"Can people outside hear us talking in here?"
"There's a sealing barrier around this room. They can't hear us."
"Then that's fine. As Tsunade's fiancé, how could I back down? Besides, the Senju Clan has a large household and no one at the helm. As its son-in-law, I have to keep things in order."
"Haha, you're quite confident, little one."
"You bet. As long as I'm alive, the Senju Clan will stand firm."
Uzumaki Mito looked at Shangguan Yue's lively, boyish face. The seriousness faded from her expression, replaced by nostalgia.
"You really are so much like him. Hashirama, I never thought I'd see a boy so much like you in my twilight years. Just as thick-skinned, too. Haha."
Suddenly, a violent surge of energy came from Uzumaki Mito's stomach. A whirlpool of energy swept through the entire room, sending everything into disarray.
Shangguan Yue was nearly blown off his feet. Tsunade looked at Uzumaki Mito with concern.
"Grandma, are you all right?"
"I'm fine. The Nine-Tails is throwing a tantrum."
Golden chains burst out behind Uzumaki Mito, like the tentacles of an octopus. Her hair floated around her face, making her look like a raging lion.
Shangguan Yue was rooted to the spot by the sudden upheaval. Is this the strength of a Kage Level shinobi?
The overwhelming pressure made his entire body stiff. He couldn't control it at all.
The next second, just as Shangguan Yue was struggling to hold on, he suddenly felt the pressure disappear. He toppled to the ground.
"Roar! Uzumaki Mito, just you wait! Don't let me get the chance to escape!"
Hearing the sudden roar, Shangguan Yue looked up and saw the Nine-Tails, several stories tall.
It was pinned in place by the golden chains that stretched out behind the tiny-looking Uzumaki Mito, unable to move. The sight was utterly shocking.
"Nine-Tails, we've been together for so many years. Do you think I don't know you?
"But tell me, why did you suddenly let your chakra show this time? You know you don't stand a chance with me here.
"Yet you did it anyway. That means something happened that you couldn't accept. Can you tell me about it?"
The Nine-Tails' head was pressed to the ground. It looked at Uzumaki Mito disdainfully, then turned its gaze to Shangguan Yue behind her.
"Kid, who are you really? Why do you have the old man's scent?"
Uzumaki Mito glanced behind her. "Oh? Yue, how did you end up in here too?"
Shangguan Yue stood up and curiously pinched himself as he looked at the Nine-Tails, held down beneath the sealing chains.
"Guess."
Before you continue