Ninja Are Judged by Deeds, Not Hearts

Twisted black threads surged from Toji's palm.

He had never exposed the existence of Earth Grudge Fear in Konoha.

Tobirama Senju's brows jumped at the sight. Unease rose within him, and he instinctively moved to stop him, only for Hashirama to raise a hand and block him.

"Big brother!" His voice was urgent.

Hashirama glanced at him calmly, his expression utterly composed as he shook his head. "Trust Toji."

Toji ignored the brothers' reaction and focused on controlling Earth Grudge Fear.

At first, only a single black thread separated from his palm. In the blink of an eye, it continuously split apart, becoming more than a dozen densely packed strands. The black threads pierced precisely into Touka's torso, stitching her severed arm back to her body at perfect angles.

But that was far from enough.

Though the severed arm could be stitched back on, the meridians and nerves damaged by Lightning Release could not be restored through Earth Grudge Fear alone.

Toji remained composed as he shouted, "Mystical Palm Technique!"

Pale green Mystical Palm Technique chakra flowed down the black threads, precisely entering Touka's body point by point as it meticulously repaired and reactivated her shattered nerves and chakra meridians.

The entire process flowed without pause.

Less than a minute passed from start to finish.

"Mystical Palm Technique..." Tobirama exclaimed in a low voice. "Big brother, you even taught him that?"

"Hehe, Toji really is impressive. He actually managed to apply the Mystical Palm Technique through that Yang Release creation."

Hashirama crossed his arms, looking as proud as if he were the one standing beside the operating table. "It's equivalent to having ten hands using the Mystical Palm Technique at once. Both the healing speed and precision have improved tremendously."

About five minutes passed.

Toji withdrew his hands, his face full of exhaustion. Looking at his own handiwork, he nodded in satisfaction.

Channeling chakra through Earth Grudge Fear was also a brand-new attempt for him.

"The operation was a success, my lords," Toji said slowly.

"I reconnected all of the injured woman's nerves and chakra meridians. I also replaced the completely necrotic parts with my Heavenly Mercy Thread. However, she absolutely cannot exert force with that arm for at least the next three months."

The Senju brothers looked at each other.

Even someone as knowledgeable as Tobirama.

Could only describe the surgery as miraculous after witnessing it.

Tobirama stepped forward to examine her. Seeing Touka's breathing gradually stabilize, he felt somewhat relieved and asked the question weighing on his mind.

"Heavenly Mercy Thread, what is it?"

"It is an application of my inherited secret technique, Heavenly Mercy Fear." Toji wiped his hands and spoke indifferently. "These are chakra threads containing life force. When necessary, they can replace certain human tissues."

Since Earth Grudge Fear sounded too likely to evoke darkness and resentment... it clashed with his image as a miraculous healer and saint.

Toji simply gave Earth Grudge Fear a temporary disguise he had just come up with.

Fortunately, the injured woman's arm was the only thing damaged. If it had been her internal organs, even he would have been powerless to save her.

Life force...

Hashirama nodded thoughtfully. "It seems you have quite the talent for Yang Release, Toji."

"Yang Release? What's that?" Toji feigned confusion.

"It is the power of Yang derived from bodily energy that governs life, bestowing life upon form. It is also an attribute of chakra."

As Hashirama explained, his gaze toward Toji grew increasingly appreciative. "Toji, you and the Senju Clan are fated to be connected."

"The Senju Clan is also skilled in Yang Release, but no one has yet been able to materialize it and use it to directly repair organs."

After saying that.

Hashirama suddenly called out loudly, "Tobirama!"

"Here!" Tobirama Senju straightened, answering instinctively.

"When it comes to Medical Ninjutsu, you need to learn from Toji! Stop researching strange techniques all day when you can't even heal the people you care about."

"...Yes, big brother."

"And thank Toji."

"Thank you, Toji." Tobirama Senju extended a hand toward him, his expression solemn. "I am Tobirama Senju, the Hokage's younger brother. Thank you for healing Touka's arms. I owe you a favor."

Seeing old Tobirama so thoroughly subdued by the treatment, Toji found it secretly amusing.

But regardless, he had gained a favor from Tobirama.

Hashirama patted Tobirama on the shoulder. "Hahaha, no matter what, this is a happy ending for everyone. Toji, your work for today should be over, right?"

"Yes, it's time to get off work."

"Good! My treat. Let's have dinner at Yakiniku Q tonight to celebrate."

With someone else footing the bill, Toji naturally had no reason to refuse. "Yes, Lord Hokage."

"Outside of work, don't call me by my title. Just call me Hashirama."

Yakiniku Q was one of Konoha's most popular gathering spots.

Inside a private room.

Even the usually aloof Tobirama seemed to have drunk a little too much, babbling nonsense. "Thinking back to those days..."

"Lord Hashirama, I think we've eaten enough. I'll head back first to study Medical Ninjutsu." Toji rose to take his leave. He wanted to continue cultivating Earth Grudge Fear.

After he left, the drunkenness on Tobirama's face instantly vanished, and his expression returned to its usual calmness.

"Big brother..."

"Hm? Tobirama, you weren't drunk?"

"Ninja are never truly drunk." Tobirama shook his head. "Toji arrived in the village half a month ago?"

Hashirama swirled his wine cup, his eyes hazy with drink. "Not exactly. Even earlier than that, I saw him practicing medicine and saving people around Tanzaku Town."

"What about before that? Did he truly just come from some distant country? And Heavenly Mercy Fear—I have never heard of such a secret technique. Those twisted black threads... the chakra I sensed from them was evil and ominous."

"Just like... the Sharingan."

Hashirama's hand suddenly paused, and his tone became calm. "Tobirama, I know exactly what you're thinking. But remember this: ninja are judged by deeds, not hearts. If judged by their hearts, no ninja would be flawless."

"Over the past half month, Toji has helped the village tremendously. Many villagers have received his treatment. I believe a Toji like this cannot be a bad person."

"Big brother, you're being foolish."

Tobirama sighed softly. "Sometimes, saving people is for the sake of killing more effectively. If Toji is a spy and leaks the village's intelligence, or if he has other motives, the people who die because of him may far outnumber those he has saved."

Bang!

Hashirama slammed the table. "Tobirama, you're still as suspicious as ever. You were like this with Madara, and you're like this with Toji."

"For the village, these precautions are necessary." Tobirama stood firm.

"All right, all right." Hashirama softened, waving a hand. "I'll keep an eye on Toji at all times. Besides... with me here, even if Toji truly is a spy from another village, so what?"

So what?

It was a good question.

Tobirama realized that as long as his big brother remained alive, no one in the Shinobi World aside from Madara Uchiha could cause Konoha any real damage.

That was the absolute confidence of the God of Shinobi.

But what if one day, big brother...

Tobirama sighed, unwilling to imagine such a terrifying possibility. He drank a cup of wine by himself. "The problem is mine."

"That's more like it!" Hashirama patted Tobirama.

"Toji joining the village is absolutely a good thing. You need to let go of your prejudice against outsiders, get along well with Toji, and exchange more knowledge about Medical Ninjutsu."

"He's a talented man in this field."