Chakra Mode

The next day, Genma and Kakashi skipped class right on time.

Kakashi studied Lightning Release, while Genma headed into a lush, grassy grove, plopped down on the ground, and tried out his new Chakra Refinement Technique.

He spread out his senses and lowered his eyes, carefully feeling his way around.

A moment later, he sensed the energy contained in the plant cells of the weeds all around him.

He grabbed hold of it and refined it!

But it failed!

There was too little energy in the cells of a single weed.

Genma opened his eyes. After thinking for a moment, he got up and leaped onto a branch of a large tree.

He pressed his right palm against the trunk and spread out his senses.

Compared with the weeds, the cells of these towering trees contained an abundance of energy, especially now, in spring, when all things were growing.

He refined the chakra!

This time, there was no doubt that he succeeded.

The refined chakra flowed out of the tree and through Genma's palm into his body.

He was careful not to use up all the energy in the tree's cells at once. He refined only fifty percent.

And the chakra he gained from that fifty percent, by his rough estimate, was only about one-tenth of his own chakra.

It wasn't much, but it wasn't exactly little, either.

How many trees like this were there in Konoha and the Land of Fire?

That meant that in places with lush vegetation, Genma could quickly replenish his chakra.

But that wasn't actually what concerned him most at the moment.

Chakra had an inherent quality: apart from with Sealing Technique, it couldn't be stored for long. If left unused, refined chakra would break back down into stamina and spiritual energy.

Genma deliberately let the "plant chakra" inside him break down.

He sensed carefully. His spiritual energy returned, while the other part—the energy from the tree's cells—didn't flow out of his body. Instead, it merged into his flesh.

Genma felt his stamina recovering.

It worked!

This was exactly what he'd wanted.

But did it simply restore stamina, or could it promote physical growth?

Or did it only restore chakra, or could it raise his chakra capacity?

Genma leaped to another tree and created a Shadow Clone. The clone refined plant chakra, then broke it down, and his stamina continued to recover.

They repeated the process over and over.

Before long, the Shadow Clone had "eaten too much." Once it passed a certain threshold, its body began to turn to wood, little by little, right before Genma's eyes.

Genma's pupils contracted. "Just as I thought. This can happen!"

Poof!

Genma struck and dispersed the Shadow Clone. Its remaining strength returned to him, but his real body didn't turn to wood from the plant-cell energy.

Judging from what had just happened to the Shadow Clone, the energy from the plant cells only caused woodification when it exceeded the clone's own strength.

Besides, this didn't prove that the energy from plant cells couldn't promote his physical growth. He'd need to observe it for a longer time.

He moved to another tree.

This time, Genma tried something else.

He refined chakra using spiritual energy, physical energy, and plant-cell energy in a ratio of one to one to one.

That was right—he was imitating Sage Mode!

To be safe, Genma created another Shadow Clone and had it try first.

A moment later, Genma saw blue markings appear around the clone's eyes.

"It really works!"

Genma was secretly delighted.

Once the Shadow Clone stopped, he immediately said, "Let's see if this chakra has any special effects on plants."

The clone nodded, leaped down from the tree, and landed on the ground. Then, under Genma's watchful gaze, he pressed his hands together.

In the next instant, a sapling less than a meter tall, some distance away, suddenly grew at an astonishing speed. Its branches writhed like serpents and coiled toward Genma.

With a hum, Genma raised his hand. Chakra covered his palm, forming a Chakra Scalpel, and a few swift swings cut the branches apart.

The Shadow Clone quickly stopped its attack. "Looks like it worked just as you hoped."

Genma was all smiles. "There's a pattern to it. Just as expected."

"This mode can be called... Wood Release Chakra Mode!"

The Shadow Clone suggested, "There should be more to explore with this Wood Release chakra. I only made an existing sapling grow and controlled it. That's very different from the First creating trees outright."

Genma knew that too. He nodded. "I understand."

He dispelled the Shadow Clone and picked another tree.

This time, he refined Wood Release chakra himself, entered Wood Release Chakra Mode, and carefully sensed the Wood Release chakra within his body.

Just as the Shadow Clone had said, this special chakra was worth exploring.

Perhaps he could use it to develop Wood Release.

After all, chakra had a very special quality: it carried the body's genetic information and could also carry memories and spiritual consciousness.

So whether it was plant chakra or the Wood Release chakra that came after it, naturally, both carried the genetic information of plants.

In that case, theoretically, it was entirely possible to do what the First did with Wood Release and create wood and trees directly from chakra.

Day after day passed. The emergence of Wood Release Chakra Mode had Genma pouring all his energy and enthusiasm into developing it, to the point that he'd stopped practicing Genjutsu and Medical Ninjutsu.

Before long, summer vacation arrived.

After leaving Kakashi's house, Genma bought another chilled watermelon and made his way to Tsunade's house.

The insects chirping outside didn't disturb Tsunade's afternoon nap.

At the desk, Shizune saw Genma and immediately smiled with delight. But just as she was about to speak, she covered her mouth and cautiously glanced at Tsunade, who was still asleep.

Genma smiled without a word, gestured to her, then went to the kitchen, got a knife, and cut the watermelon into slices.

When he came back with the plates, Tsunade was yawning and stretching.

The moment she saw the watermelon, her eyes lit up. She didn't hesitate to say, "Bring it here."

"Aren't you one of the Konoha Sannin, Lady Tsunade? Shouldn't you maintain a little dignity?"

Genma couldn't help teasing her. He set one plate of watermelon down by Tsunade, then brought the other over to Shizune.

Tsunade took a slice and ate without a hint of restraint. Shizune was much more polite and smiled as she thanked him.

The cool watermelon refreshed Tsunade at once. She wiped her mouth. "Kid, you're too stiff."

Genma rolled his eyes and sat down across from Tsunade. Shizune came over with her plate and sat beside him, then casually offered him a slice of watermelon.

"Lady Tsunade, have you made any new progress with Yang Release nature transformation?"

Genma took the watermelon and thanked her before asking.

Tsunade ate as she answered, her words muffled. "No."

Shizune spoke up softly to explain. "Lady Tsunade has been working on a new technique lately."

A new technique?

The Yin Seal?

Or was she developing the Strength of a Hundred Technique or Creation Rebirth?

Genma asked curiously, "What technique?"

Tsunade tossed away the rind and let out a satisfied breath. "An S-rank Medical Ninjutsu. Once I master it, advancing further with Yang Release nature transformation will be easier."

As she spoke, Tsunade glanced at Genma. "How is your training going?"

Genma replied, "About the same as Lady Tsunade's. I've reached my limit."

Shizune exclaimed, "Amazing!"

Tsunade was surprised, too. "You really do have a talent for it."

"But from here on, you'll need a huge amount of stamina to support you. You should be prepared."

She knew Genma fairly well by now. When it came to chakra reserves, the kid's talent was only average.

Genma nodded. "I understand. That's why Medical Ninjutsu isn't my main focus."

"But I've worked out a way to train chakra control that should suit Shizune. Lady Tsunade can try it, too."