Use the Threads in Your Left Hand to Protect the Grass in Your Right Hand

The Wood Release prophecy that Hashirama Senju had placed such high hopes on had indeed come true—twice, in fact.

Yet neither occurrence had appeared within the Senju bloodline. It was as if the seed had been swapped out, stolen away by an outsider like Toji.

Maki's childish voice pulled Toji back to reality. "Dad, what is this?"

Toji looked at the test paper in her left hand, which had burned to ash along with the exposed Earth Grudge Threads, then at the test paper in her right hand, where grass and plants had sprouted. He placed both hands on her shoulders. "Maki, promise me. No matter what happens, use the 'fire' and 'threads' in your left hand to protect the 'grass' in your right hand! Forever!"

"Unless it's a matter of life and death, don't use the 'grass' in your right hand in front of anyone."

Maki Zenin was clever and understood immediately. "Does that include Mom?"

"—Including her."

The fact that Toji possessed Wood Release was still classified information. There was even less chance he would allow Maki's Wood Release to be exposed to others.

With him around, Maki Zenin would have no chance of encountering a true life-or-death situation. Once the origin of Wood Release had been properly legitimized, revealing it publicly would not be too late.

"Then what are these threads?"

"These are called Heavenly Mercy Threads." Toji stroked her head. "If you aren't afraid, you can use them whenever you want. The same goes for Fire Release."

Maki nodded.

She was still too young to understand the uniqueness of Wood Release or what this ability represented. But she trusted Toji unconditionally and followed his instructions. She occasionally felt rebellious when facing her strict mother, but she had always been obedient before this gentle father.

By now,