The Senju Clan's Sapling!

Outskirts of Tanzaku Street.

At Chiba's words,

Tsunade clenched her fists tightly.

Her long nails dug into her palms, piercing the skin.

A drop of blood slipped through her fingers and splattered onto the cracked stone pavement.

Yet she felt no pain at all, her gaze fixed firmly on the boy before her.

Sixteen years old, with an ordinary face, a Konoha forehead protector tied casually around his brow.

Who would have thought

that such an obscure kid carried such pure Senju blood in his veins?

"You just said..."

"Your name is Senju Qianye?"

Only after a long while

did Tsunade slowly speak, her voice unbearably hoarse.

Chiba nodded calmly.

He showed no sign of backing down and met the legendary kunoichi's gaze directly.

If he wanted to survive,

he had to borrow someone else's influence.

Only with Tsunade's protection

could he live better—and even grow stronger quickly.

"Good. Very good."

Suddenly,

Tsunade began to laugh.

Her laughter grew louder and louder, making the pooled water in the alley churn continuously.

Shizune was stunned senseless beside her.

She had never seen Lady Tsunade wear such an expression before.

It seemed like wild delight, yet also sorrow, mixed with endless mockery toward the Konoha High Command.

"You want me to protect you?"

"Fine."

"Hand over all the money you won just now!"

The next moment,

Tsunade appeared in front of Chiba.

She directly held out her right hand, palm up.

"Huh?"

Chiba froze.

What was with this sudden change in tone?

"What do you mean, 'huh'?!"

"To protect you, I have to risk falling out with all of Konoha!"

"What's wrong with charging you a little protection fee?"

"Be quick about it. Ten million ryo, and not one ryo less!"

Tsunade grabbed Chiba by the collar and leaned in with a ferocious glare.

"Lady Tsunade."

"You're being far too rude!"

Shizune's face turned bright red, and she wished she could crawl into a crack in the ground.

"Shut up!"

Tsunade turned and roared at Shizune.

"Ah..."

Looking at Tsunade so close before him,

Chiba let out a helpless sigh.

This senior's greed and gambling addiction truly lived up to their reputation.

He reached into his clothes and pulled out a sealing scroll.

He had just exchanged it for cash at the casino that afternoon. He had not even had time to warm it in his hands.

"It's all in here."

Chiba handed over the scroll.

Tsunade snatched it away, moving as fast as lightning.

The fierceness on her face instantly transformed into a radiant smile.

"Smart kid."

"From today on, you'll follow me."

With that said,

Tsunade turned around and strode toward the alley exit.

"Shizune, let's go!"

"Tonight, I'm drinking the best wine!"

Shizune gave Chiba an apologetic look, hurriedly picked up her pet pig Tonton, and jogged after her.

Chiba stood where he was.

Watching Tsunade's departing back,

the heart that had been hanging in the air finally settled completely.

His life had been saved.

As for money?

He could earn more if it was gone, but he only had one life.

Ahead,

Tsunade strode down the street.

The streetlights shone across her face.

That greedy, worldly expression from before had long vanished.

In its place was an unprecedented gravity.

Her eyes at that moment were as deep as a cold abyss.

The Senju Clan had not died out.

Not only had it not died out, it had even produced a spark capable of using Wood Style.

No matter the price,

even if it cost her life!

She absolutely would not let those vampires in Konoha destroy this sapling!

The next day.

A barren mountain region.

Bare rocks filled the surroundings, with no sign of human life.

Tsunade stood atop a massive boulder, looking down at Chiba.

Shizune retreated several hundred meters away to serve as a temporary lookout.

"Kid."

"Wood Style is powerful,"

"but that depends on who is using it."

"Today, let me see what you're capable of!"

Tsunade rolled her wrists, her joints crackling like popping beans.

The next moment,

she leaped down from the boulder.

The instant she landed,

"Boom!"

The ground shook violently.

She stomped a two-meter-deep crater into the hard rocky ground.

At the sight,

Chiba's eyes narrowed, and every nerve in his body instantly tensed.

What terrifying Strength of a Hundred!

"Attack me with everything you have."

"Don't hold back."

"If you die, it only proves that the Senju Clan's bloodline is nothing special!"

The moment her words fell,

Tsunade became an afterimage and abruptly vanished from where she stood.

So fast!

Chiba's pupils contracted sharply.

After the system purified his bloodline,

his physical strength had reached the level of an Elite Jonin, and his dynamic vision had improved tremendously.

Even so,

Chiba could still only barely track Tsunade's movements.

Left!

Chiba spun around and crossed his arms before his chest.

"Boom!"

A fair fist smashed viciously into Chiba's arms.

A tremendous force erupted like a tsunami.

Chiba felt as though his arms had been struck by a siege hammer.

He was sent flying like a cannonball fired from its barrel.

"Bang! Bang! Bang!"

Only after crashing through three stone pillars did Chiba barely manage to stabilize himself.

"Hiss..."

Chiba shook his numb arms.

It hurt.

But... he could still endure it!

The recovery ability of the Primary Sage Body revealed itself fully at that moment.

His damaged muscle tissue was repairing itself at an astonishing speed.

In only a few seconds,

the agonizing pain in his arms had lessened by more than half.

"Oh?"

Tsunade stood where she was, a hint of surprise flashing through her eyes.

Though she had held back on that punch, it was still enough to knock down an ordinary Jonin.

This kid's physical strength was even more terrifying than she had expected!

"Again!"

Chiba gave a low shout and took the initiative to attack.

He drove power into his legs, shattering the ground beneath him as he charged toward Tsunade like a cheetah.

There were no fancy movements.

Only the simplest, most direct punch.

"Your speed and strength are both decent."

Tsunade coolly commented as she evaded him.

"But!"

"Your method of exerting force is far too crude!"

"You're completely relying on brute strength and throwing wild punches!"

Tsunade shifted slightly aside, easily dodging one of Chiba's heavy blows.

Then,

she raised her palm and pressed it lightly against Chiba's chest.

Chakra erupted instantly!

"Bang!"

Chiba was sent flying again and smashed brutally into a rock wall.

Rubble came cascading down, burying half his body.

"Your taijutsu is a complete mess."

"Is this how your former team leader taught you to fight?"

"All flaws!"

Tsunade stopped attacking and crossed her arms over her chest.

Very soon.

Chiba crawled out of the pile of rubble and dusted himself off.

He did not argue.

Because Tsunade had spoken the truth.

During his years in Konoha, he had merely drifted through life and never learned any advanced taijutsu.

He had survived until now entirely on luck and instinct.

"Since your taijutsu is no good."

"Then try ninjutsu!"

Chiba rapidly formed hand seals.

Enhanced by God-Level Comprehension.

His understanding of ninjutsu had long surpassed the realm of ordinary people.

Even the most basic ninjutsu.

Could unleash unbelievable power in his hands.

Rat—Tiger—Dog—Ox—Rabbit—Tiger!

"Water Style: Water Wave!"

Chiba took a deep breath and suddenly spewed out a large amount of clear water.

This had originally been nothing more than a C-rank Water Style technique.

When ordinary ninja used it, it was at most a powerful stream of water.

But driven by Chiba's Kage Level chakra.

The situation became completely different!

Combined with the insights granted by God-Level Comprehension.

The instant Chiba expelled the water, he desperately compressed its form.

The originally thick water column.

Instantly compressed into a High-Pressure Water Blade, thin as a cicada's wing and emitting a piercing shriek!

The water blade sliced through the air and slashed toward Tsunade at an utterly terrifying speed.