Wood Release, Three Rooms and One Hall Technique

As school let out, the setting sun painted the Ninja Academy's roof a warm gold. Children's clamor filled the streets.

Qianyu had just followed the crowd out through the gates when a steady, gentle voice cut clearly through the noise. "Cangshu Qianyu."

He turned toward the voice and saw a figure standing beneath a tree across the street. Short dark hair, an animal mask commonly worn by ANBU operatives, and a standard uniform—he looked young, yet his bearing was exceptionally calm.

A suitably bewildered look, along with a trace of wariness, immediately appeared on Qianyu's face. He stopped walking and looked at the other from afar without approaching right away.

Seeing this, Yamato took the initiative and crossed the street. He stopped a few steps away from Qianyu and removed his mask.

It was meant as a gesture of friendliness, to ease the child's nerves. The face beneath the mask was young, with gentle features and kind eyes that carried a faint, barely noticeable weariness and detachment.

"Hello, Cangshu Qianyu. I am a member of the ANBU directly under the Hokage, code name Tenzo." Yamato's tone was calm, without the usual coldness of ANBU operatives. "By the Hokage's order, I've come to repair your home."

"Grandpa Hokage sent you?" Qianyu blinked, seeming to relax. A trusting, slightly embarrassed smile appeared on his face. "Thank you, Big Brother Tenzo. I'm Qianyu. Sorry to trouble you."

After briefly introducing themselves, the two headed together toward the desolate area at the edge of the village. Along the way, Yamato deliberately slowed his pace and brought up light topics such as school life and Qianyu's favorite foods, trying to make the atmosphere feel more natural.

Qianyu cooperatively played the part of an ordinary child who was somewhat shy but gradually lowering his guard, letting his replies reveal gratitude for Grandpa Hokage's thoughtful concern.

Before long, that familiar, dilapidated little wooden shack came into view. Under the fading glow of the sunset, it looked even lonelier and shabbier.

"This is it." Qianyu pointed at it.

Yamato nodded and walked into the open space before the house, carefully examining the old building's structure and the surrounding environment. Then he turned to Qianyu. "This house really has seen better days. Repairing it would be troublesome. The Hokage's intention is to build you a new one directly—safer and more comfortable."

Without waiting for Qianyu's response, Yamato had already formed hand seals with both hands. His seals were not especially fast, but they were extraordinarily steady and fluid. A chakra fluctuation entirely different from Qianyu's own spread through the air—heavier and more tranquil.

Wood Release: Connected Pillar House Technique!

At Yamato's low declaration, a faint but rhythmic tremor passed through the ground. The old wooden shack seemed to be gently dismantled by an invisible hand.

Then, from the spot where the old house had stood, thick, sturdy wooden beams and pillars burst from the earth. Like living things, they intertwined, grew, and assembled themselves. The walls swiftly closed in.

Window frames formed naturally... In just a few dozen seconds, a brand-new three-story wooden residence, complete with walls around a small courtyard, rose from the ground! Its structure was exquisite, even carrying a touch of simple Japanese-style elegance.

The whole process was quiet and swift, filled with the sense of power that created rather than destroyed.

Qianyu stood frozen in place, eyes wide and mouth slightly open, looking utterly stunned. Yet inside, a flood of speechless commentary was racing through his mind:

Good grief... the First Hokage's Wood Release was used to quell a chaotic age and hand-build Gundams, but in this guy's hands... it's seriously become an ultimate civil engineering technique. A green, eco-friendly construction master, huh?! The difference in style is way too huge!

Though he was endlessly snarking inside, Qianyu's outward performance was flawless. He seemed to "snap out of it" at just the right moment, and an explosion of incredulous delight filled his face. He was even a little incoherent. "Th-this is... a new house? For me? Wow!!!"

With a cheer, he ran straight past Yamato and dashed through the front door of the new house like a child who had truly received an unexpected gift.

The house was empty, containing only brand-new wooden walls, floors, and ceilings that gave off the pleasant scent of fresh timber.

New activity soon began outside. A group of people dressed in ordinary work clothes, though their movements were unusually sharp and efficient, pushed several carts loaded with supplies into the courtyard.

After showing Yamato some form of identification, they silently got to work: measuring the window frames, installing glass, carrying in simple beds, tables, chairs, cabinets, and other basic furniture. There was even a brand-new set of cookware, along with basic bedding and daily necessities.

They worked with astonishing efficiency. In less than half an hour, the empty house had become a simple yet warm little home, completely ready to move into.

Yamato quietly watched the entire process. Only after the workers had cleaned up and left did he enter the house and speak to Qianyu, who was touching this and examining that. "The Hokage instructed that these are only basic living supplies. If you need anything else in the future, or have any special requests, you may bring them to the Hokage through me."

He walked over to Qianyu and crouched down, bringing their eyes level. His voice grew even gentler. "Also, the Hokage asked me to tell you that starting next weekend, I'll make time to come by once every weekend.

"It isn't to monitor you. It's just... if you have any curiosity or questions about Wood Release or chakra control, we can discuss them together. After all..." He paused, revealing the faintest smile, one that seemed to come from shared experience. "Exploring this kind of power alone can sometimes be lonely, and it's easy to take the wrong path."

Qianyu looked into Yamato's eyes. There was concern there, understanding, and a gentle guidance that felt like sympathy from someone in the same situation. He knew this was Hiruzen's second step: using a gentle mentor close to his age to maintain contact and subtly guide him, firmly tying him to the Hokage's side.

He immediately summoned every ounce of his acting skill. His eyes reddened slightly as he nodded hard, his voice full of restrained excitement and gratitude. "Thank you... thank you, Big Brother Tenzo! And thank Grandpa Hokage too! I'll definitely cherish this and study hard!"

The Hokage's office.

Within the crystal ball, the image froze on Qianyu looking up at Yamato with a trusting, grateful smile, and on the new home that appeared especially warm and sturdy beneath the sunset.

Hiruzen Sarutobi slowly exhaled a plume of smoke. For the first time in days, a truly relaxed smile appeared on his face. With a wave, he dispersed the image in the crystal ball. His gaze shifted to the deepening twilight beyond the window, as though it could pass through the walls and see that gloomy figure somewhere underground.

"Did you see that, Danzo?" he murmured, his voice carrying a faint, barely perceptible fatigue and certainty. "Your methods of fear, control, and plunder are already outdated. For a child like this, giving him sunlight, soil, and appropriate guidance—letting him grow toward the light on his own—is the lasting path."

"Konoha's future... needs more than sharp blades. It also needs great trees capable of spreading their shade."