Hashirama Cells Acquired

Mito was just about to strike back.

"Wood Release: Hōbi Technique!"

A deep voice rang out. Then, a wooden shield burst from the ground, and ten finger bones embedded themselves deeply into it, unable to pierce through.

"Hashirama!"

Kaguya Wuzhan's gaze narrowed sharply. There was only one person who could use Wood Release.

He abruptly turned his head and, sure enough, saw Hashirama walking over from behind with a grim expression. Tobirama followed at his side, a faintly mocking smile on his lips.

"Kaguya Wuzhan, you signed the truce agreement just last night. Couldn't hold yourself back this quickly?" Tobirama sneered. "Even your father, Kaguya Izui, wouldn't dare act so arrogantly."

Kaguya Wuzhan's expression flickered. Mito alone was already evenly matched with him, but with Hashirama and Tobirama added to the mix, he stood no chance. He might even be kept here for good.

He quickly made the most advantageous decision. With a cold snort, he said to Shusen, "Uzumaki Shusen, pray I never run into you on the battlefield. You can hide for a while, but not forever!"

After leaving behind that threat, he turned and strode away, doing his best not to look too pathetic. He had come in a rush and left in a rush.

"There's definitely something wrong with that guy's brain."

It was impossible for Shusen not to be angry after being openly threatened, but there was nothing he could do about it. Kaguya Wuzhan was, after all, a genius on Mito's level. Even if he used the Black Zetsu disguise, he might not be able to defeat him.

Unless he could fuse those eyes.

After taking several deep breaths to dispel his frustration, Shusen walked toward the two of them. "Big Brother Hashirama, Big Brother Tobirama, you came just in time. Thank you for helping me deal with that trouble."

"No need to thank us. The Kaguya Clan went too far. They clearly didn't take last night's truce agreement seriously at all."

As Hashirama spoke, he actually grew angry. His greatest dream was to end this chaotic age. Last night's truce agreement had allowed him to see hope that his dream might come true, but Kaguya Wuzhan's actions had just poured a bucket of cold water over him.

Peace was clearly possible, yet there were always people who refused to follow the rules. That was what made them the most hateful.

"You should be more careful from now on. Judging by the way Kaguya Wuzhan looked, he's completely taken a grudge against you," Tobirama reminded him.

"It's fine. I usually stay in Whirlpool Village, so I'm not afraid of him."

Suddenly, as though he had thought of something, Shusen changed the subject. "Big Brother Tobirama, did you know beforehand that Kaguya Wuzhan was coming to cause trouble, so you came to help?"

"No. At first, it was my big brother who wanted to come find you two, right, Big Brother?" Tobirama nudged Hashirama with his elbow.

"R-Right..."

Hashirama secretly glanced at Mito. When he found her looking at him too, he hurriedly looked away, his face flushing unnaturally.

Shusen fell into thoughtful silence at the sight.

Well, well. So he really has his eye on my sister.

"Don't stand outside. Come in and sit," Mito said.

"Alright, alright!"

Tea utensils and tea leaves had been prepared in the side room. Having been influenced by Ryū since childhood, Mito was highly skilled in the art of tea. She gracefully brewed tea for the three of them.

Hashirama sat kneeling opposite Mito, his back as straight as a spear. His hands tightly gripped his pants as he had no idea what to say, and he looked toward Tobirama for help.

Tobirama felt like his head was about to split in two. He thought his big brother was beyond saving.

Back in the clan compound, he was bold and straightforward, drinking from huge bowls and eating great chunks of meat. Whenever he rolled dice, he looked like he wanted to leap onto the table. Yet the moment he stood before Mito, he immediately cowered, like a sealed gourd that could not be pried open no matter what.

How was he supposed to marry the jewel of the Uzumaki Clan at this rate? What a headache!

"My sister had originally planned to take me to find you too. I didn't expect you to come first. I guess that's what they call being in sync," Shusen said with a chuckle.

Mito's hand trembled, and she nearly spilled the tea.

Tobirama, meanwhile, sensed an unusual signal. What did this little brother mean by that?

Could it be that Mito had wanted to find his big brother too?

"Our two clans are allies to begin with. It's a good thing for us to spend more time together in private whenever we can," Tobirama said with a smile, inexplicably finding Shusen pleasing to the eye.

"If we hadn't come to the imperial capital this time, my big brother and I wouldn't have known that Clan Leader Ryū had a second son. That was truly inappropriate of us. We should have met you much earlier."

"Really?" Shusen said enthusiastically. "To be honest, after talking with Big Brother Hashirama and Big Brother Tobirama yesterday, I also felt like we had met too late. We youngsters should interact more often!"

"That's right. In the future, my big brother and I will visit Whirlpool Village as often as possible. When that happens, Sister Mito and little brother Shusen, don't find us troublesome."

"Of course not," Mito said. She looked up at Hashirama and saw him staring fixedly at the teacup on the table, wearing an utterly serious and proper expression.

"We'd be more than happy to have you visit, my sister and I..." Shusen trailed off as an idea suddenly flashed through his mind.

"How about this, Big Brother Hashirama, Big Brother Tobirama? Since we get along so well and feel as though we met too late, why don't we become sworn brothers?"

"Sworn brothers?"

The three of them were stunned.

"Exactly," Shusen said. "We're already allies. If we become sworn siblings too, it'll make our relationship even closer."

Before Mito and Hashirama could react, Tobirama was the first to break into a delighted smile. If he wanted to help his big brother pursue Mito, then naturally, the closer the relationship between both sides, the better.

"Alright. Little Brother Shusen has spoken my mind. I was thinking the same thing!" Tobirama immediately agreed.

"Sure, becoming sworn brothers sounds good." Hashirama naturally had no objection, though he sounded somewhat lacking in confidence.

"Sis, what about you?"

Mito was both annoyed and amused. "We're brother and sister. What are we becoming sworn siblings for?"

"That's different. You can become sworn siblings with Big Brother Hashirama and Big Brother Tobirama," Shusen argued forcefully. "In these troubled times, one person alone is weak. Having a few more sworn siblings brings nothing but benefits."

"Little Brother Shusen is right. My big brother and I have actually admired Sister Mito for a long time. If Sister Mito doesn't mind, I'd like to become Sister Mito's younger brother as well," Tobirama said, eagerly trying to bring them together.

Mito was speechless. She felt that her younger brother and Tobirama had come up with the most baffling ideas. They had even brought out the notion of becoming sworn siblings. Did they think they were children playing house?

Looking at the expectant gazes of the three of them, Mito hesitated for a moment before saying helplessly, "Alright."

Shusen had been waiting for her agreement. He immediately fetched a large porcelain bowl and pulled out a kunai from his pocket.

"Today, the four of us shall swear a blood oath!"

Shusen put on an air of heroic righteousness. Gritting his teeth, he slashed his wrist with the kunai, and a stream of blood immediately flowed down.

"Stop!"

Mito was badly startled by her brother's foolish action and hurriedly stopped him.

"Sis, it's fine. It's only a little blood. For a real man, compared to becoming sworn siblings, this little pain is nothing," Shusen said dismissively. After Mito used medical ninjutsu to stop his bleeding, he handed the porcelain bowl to Tobirama.

Looking at the thick blood in the bowl, Tobirama regarded Shusen with deep respect. Then, unwilling to be outdone, he likewise drew the kunai across his wrist.

For my big brother to get a wife, I'm going all in!