Clap Your Hands and Whatever You Call for Appears

Yusuke visibly relaxed a little as he answered Tohka Senju's earlier question.

"Sensei, the weapon I mainly use right now is a greatsword. My style leans toward direct combat."

"How to naturally weave genjutsu into intense taijutsu exchanges and create openings for a killing blow is something I've been trying to figure out."

"Switching between taijutsu, genjutsu, and ninjutsu feels a little clumsy. I can't yet make the transitions seamless."

In particular, Incursio was his trump card for survival. How to perfectly blend genjutsu and ninjutsu into its first-stage armor form, with its greatly increased speed and strength, was a problem he urgently needed to solve.

After listening, a trace of surprise crossed Tohka Senju's usually cold face. The intelligence reports hadn't mentioned that Yusuke was skilled with a sword.

This kid seems to have quite a few secrets of his own. Still, the stronger he is, the more he can help Tsunade, she thought.

Tohka Senju looked at Yusuke, her tone touched with mystery. "There is indeed a problem when it comes to combining weapons with genjutsu and ninjutsu."

"But someone has already solved it."

"Oh? Who?" Yusuke asked without thinking.

Tohka Senju rose and walked toward an old-fashioned bookshelf at one side of the room.

Her fingers brushed across several scrolls before she finally took down one with edges worn from age.

She handed the scroll to Yusuke.

"The root of your problem—the integration of techniques, weapons, and taijutsu—lies in the restrictions imposed by hand seals."

"Hand seals are the standard method for guiding and controlling chakra, but for top-tier fighters, they can also become an opening or slow them down."

"That's why people came up with ways to optimize hand seals, and even ninjutsu that requires no hand seals."

Yusuke respectfully accepted the scroll with both hands. His heart stirred; he knew this was no ordinary scroll.

Tohka continued, "Even the First needed to use hand seals when he was young."

"But later, thanks to his unparalleled affinity for and control over chakra, he gradually transcended the limitations of hand seals and developed many ninjutsu techniques that required none."

"Only then could he wield his techniques as naturally as his own limbs in battle, making them appear with a mere thought."

Good grief, Yusuke thought. So this was how "clap your hands and whatever you call for appears" came to be?

A surge of irrepressible excitement welled up in Yusuke.

Incursio was immensely powerful, but using it came with terrifying strain and risks. At its core, it also leaned more toward taijutsu and armored defense.

If he could follow the First's path and unleash genjutsu or even other ninjutsu through the Red-Backed Shrike in his hand—or through his greatsword—the possibilities were almost too good to imagine.

A greatsword pointed forward, ninjutsu bursting forth. It was practically an evolution path made just for him.

Seeing the light in Yusuke's eyes, Tohka Senju gave a slight nod. She knew he understood the scroll's value.

"That's right. This scroll records some of the First's early insights and ideas about chakra transformation and performing techniques without hand seals."

"It doesn't contain specific techniques. It offers guidance on a path."

"How much you can grasp depends on your own aptitude."

"But remember, haste makes waste. The fundamentals always come first."

"Yes, Sensei! I understand!" Yusuke gripped the scroll tightly.

The scroll was worth far more than a forbidden technique. It pointed the way to a higher level.

For the rest of their time there, Yusuke immersed himself in the scroll's vast, profound contents.

Hashirama Senju hadn't laid out a step-by-step training method. His words were more like reflections and conjectures.

Understanding and testing them would require exceptional insight and chakra control.

Fortunately, Yusuke had both. As someone who had crossed over into this world, he showed extraordinary insight.

Yusuke was utterly absorbed, sometimes furrowing his brow in deep thought, sometimes seeming to reach a sudden understanding.

Before long, dusk had fallen, and the day's training came to an end.

Yusuke was mentally exhausted, but inwardly thrilled. On the path Hashirama had envisioned, he had even caught a glimpse of a way to simplify the Flying Thunder God Technique.

Just then, someone knocked at the courtyard gate.

Tsunade appeared in the doorway, carrying a packet of tea that looked quite exquisite.

"Grandma Tohka, I brought you some newly arrived tea."

Tohka Senju glanced at her, the corners of her mouth curling into a knowing smile.

"Oh? Has the sun started rising in the west? Our little Tsunade actually knows to bring a gift when she visits this old woman?"

"You weren't this polite the last time you came to ask me for help."

Tsunade's face flushed in an instant. Her voice took on a plaintive, almost playful note. "Grandma Tohka! I... I was just busy and forgot, that's all."

She sneaked a glance at Yusuke and saw him looking at her with a smile, which only made her more embarrassed.

She'd suffered two mortifying moments in just a few days. Tsunade decided that a crack in the ground was where she belonged forever.

Seeing Tsunade's bashful expression, Tohka Senju stopped teasing her.

She accepted the tea, her tone softening. "All right, I know you do care."

"That's enough for today. Yusuke, make sure you take the time to digest what you've learned."

Yusuke and Tsunade bowed to Tohka Senju and said their goodbyes.

Once they left the courtyard, Yusuke extended his senses and carefully searched the area.

The presence that had followed them all morning was gone. All he could sense nearby was the ordinary bustle of the residents.

He let out a long breath. "Looks like having you as my sensei really does carry weight. Shimura Danzō's faction has backed off for now."

At that, Tsunade proudly raised her chin. "Of course."

"With Grandma Tohka stepping in, that old geezer has to think twice."

"It's all thanks to our Konoha Princess." Yusuke looked at Tsunade, his eyes full of warmth.

Tsunade smiled as they walked side by side down the darkening street. The setting sun stretched their shadows out long—long as a lifetime.

They chatted about this and that.

Yusuke told her how amazed he was by the First Hokage Scroll and how much inspiration it had given him.

Tsunade, meanwhile, complained about some bizarre cases she'd encountered at the hospital and a certain white-haired teammate who was always slacking off.

The mood between them was relaxed and warm. Before they knew it, they had reached the ancestral home of the Senju Clan.

Under a tree outside the gate to Tsunade's home, they stopped.

The ambiguous atmosphere that had hung over them when Tohka teased her earlier seemed to return, quietly, in that moment.

Tsunade lowered her head slightly and unconsciously twirled a golden lock of hair around her finger. The last rays of sunlight traced the elegant lines of her profile.

She seemed less bold than usual and a little more gentle.

Seeing her rare, bashful expression touched Yusuke. He said softly, "Thanks for today."

Tsunade lifted her head, her amber eyes especially bright in the growing darkness. "What are you thanking me for?"

"Thank you for bringing me to meet Sensei Tohka, and even more for trusting me so much." Yusuke's voice grew gentler.

Tsunade's cheeks warmed again, but she tried to play it cool.

"Hmph, don't get all sappy. I just... I just didn't want to see a teammate I respect get set up by those rats hiding in the shadows."

Yusuke smiled and didn't call her out on pretending otherwise.

He slowly stepped closer, close enough to catch the faint fragrance in her hair.