A Friendly Chinese Greeting to the Slug Sage!

"Ahhhhh!!! No, I don't want this!!!"

Liuxia opened his eyes once again, only to see that all-too-familiar ceiling. At the same time, he felt a heavy weight pressing down on his arm. He didn't even need to think; he turned his head and, sure enough, Kushina Uzumaki was sleeping by his bedside, pinning his arm down.

"What the hell!!! Did I get reincarnated again? Don't tell me that wretched old slug hag actually killed me!!!"

Liuxia was fuming, even blurting out a string of colorful Chinese profanities that he rarely used. He cursed that insufferable, thousand-year-old spinster in his heart, wondering why she couldn't just stay in Shikkotsu Forest. If she couldn't leave, couldn't she at least learn from the toads or snakes and raise a clan or something?

She had to play around all by herself, and that would be fine if she were just roleplaying, but he wasn't her toy! Why did she have to torment him like this? Look at how miserable she'd made him!

Just then, Liuxia heard a gentle call: "Brother Liuxia, what's wrong? Did you have a nightmare?"

Liuxia grabbed Kushina's arm in a panic and asked urgently, "Kushina! Tell me, what day is it today!"

"It's Sunday, Brother Liuxia, what's wrong with you? You suddenly disappeared yesterday, and then you were brought back unconscious last night by that nice-sounding Lady Slug! You scared us all to death. Luckily, Sister Tsunade was here and diagnosed that you had just fainted. What happened?"

Kushina Uzumaki blinked her beautiful, large eyes, looking at Liuxia with a face full of worry.

Liuxia cursed that wretched old hag in his heart, but he wore a gentle smile on his face and comforted her softly, "Ah, it's nothing, nothing at all. I just had a small accident while practicing a special ninjutsu, don't worry."

After chatting briefly with Nawaki and the others, Liuxia arrived at the door of Mito Uzumaki's room. He knocked gently, the sound echoing "thump, thump, thump."

"Is that you, Liuxia? Come in." Mito Uzumaki's gentle voice came from inside.

"Grandma Mito's sensory perception is still as sharp as ever; you knew it was me right away." Liuxia pushed the door open and walked in with a smile.

Grandma Mito was sitting by the window, the sunlight bathing her in a way that made her look exceptionally kind. She looked at Liuxia with a smile, her eyes revealing a hint of doting affection as she asked, "Little Liuxia, is there something you need from Grandma?"

Ever since Mito had caught a glimpse of her late husband, Senju Hashirama, in Liuxia during his spar with Tsunade, she had grown increasingly fond of him. This affection wasn't just because of the similarities between Liuxia and Hashirama, but also because she felt a sense of familiarity radiating from him.

To this woman who had witnessed the glorious history of Konoha, Liuxia felt like a bridge connecting the past to the present, reminding her of those beautiful years.

"Well... it's like this, Grandma Mito. I've suddenly felt a strange power in my body recently." Liuxia extended his palm, a seed resting in the center. Just as Mito Uzumaki was looking on in confusion, a shocking scene unfolded.

The seed began to tremble slightly, as if it had a life of its own. Then, the skin of the seed split open, and a tender green sprout emerged.

The sprout grew rapidly, turning into a slender stem, followed by several emerald-green leaves. The entire process was so dazzlingly fast that Mito Uzumaki couldn't close her mouth in astonishment.

"This... this is!" She widened her eyes, staring in disbelief at what was happening before her. The seed that had been resting quietly in Liuxia's palm had taken root and sprouted into a small plant right before her eyes at an astonishing speed!

"It's the power of Wood Release! That's right, it's the power of Wood Release! There's no mistake, this is Hashirama's power!" Mito Uzumaki said excitedly, her eyes flashing with fervor. She knew the strength of Wood Release all too well; this miraculous ability had once belonged to her husband—Senju Hashirama.

"Liuxia, tell Grandma when you realized you possessed the power of Wood Release!" Mito Uzumaki asked urgently.

Liuxia hesitated. He couldn't exactly tell Grandma Mito that he had gained Wood Release because of a mysterious system. So, he told a white lie: "After I went to Shikkotsu Forest yesterday, I felt it when I returned."

He felt a pang of guilt toward Grandma Mito, but he felt it was better not to tell anyone about the secret for now. After all, the mysterious system was too bizarre, and he didn't know what risks or secrets might be hidden within it.

Mito warned Liuxia with a serious expression. She knew very well that the current Konoha was no longer the Konoha of Hashirama and Tobirama's era.

The "monkeys" were no longer the youths they once were, especially Danzo, who had revealed his deep-seated malice in front of her several times. Little did Danzo know that the Nine-Tails within her possessed the miraculous ability to sense good and evil!

She herself had never expected that power would change the youths who once embodied the Will of Fire so drastically.

"Little Liuxia, listen to Grandma. Before you become Hokage, unless it is an absolute last resort, you must never! Never use the power of Wood Release in front of others! If someone does see it, then kill them! Do you understand?"

This woman, who appeared so kind-faced but had lived through countless wars and upheavals, was, after all, a member of the powerful Uzumaki clan!

"I promise you, Grandma Mito!" After Liuxia shouted this without hesitation, a satisfied and kind smile immediately appeared on Mito Uzumaki's face.

"Good child! Come, follow me." Mito Uzumaki stood up slowly, reached out a warm, strong hand, and gripped Liuxia's still-youthful hand tightly. She led him slowly toward the secret chamber of the Senju clan.

Upon entering the chamber, Liuxia was stunned by the dazzling array of precious documents and secret scrolls. Here lay not only the immensely powerful Wood Release techniques of the First Hokage, Hashirama, but also various ninjutsu created by the Second Hokage, Tobirama, as well as the invaluable experience and wisdom left behind by countless predecessors.

"These are the treasures our Senju clan has collected over many years..." Mito Uzumaki said softly, her eyes shining with pride and nostalgia. She gently touched the ancient scrolls and books, as if caressing the history and glory of the Senju clan.

"From today on, this place is open to you. You may come to read and study at any time. I hope you can draw strength from this, become an outstanding ninja, become a powerhouse, and eventually become Hokage to carry out the true Will of Fire!" Mito Uzumaki gazed at Liuxia, her eyes filled with earnest expectations.

Liuxia's eyes welled up with emotion; he knew what these treasures meant for a ninja. He swore to himself that he would train hard and not let Mito down!