Tsunade rose to her feet and pressed her palms together. The fluctuation of Chakra made the air in the room seem to freeze.
Neji keenly noticed that the flow of Chakra when Tsunade formed hand seals differed subtly from Hashirama's, incorporating her own understanding of medical ninjutsu.
"Wood Release: Palm Tree Realm!"
With Tsunade's soft shout, countless tender green branches surged from her palms, weaving into a miniature forest in midair. The leaves rustled, giving off a fresh scent. Most wondrous of all, several branches even bloomed with tiny white flowers that carried a faint fragrance.
Shizune and Xiao Xi stood dumbstruck, unable to speak for a long while. Neji nodded slightly as well—unlike Hashirama's overwhelming Wood Release, Tsunade's Wood Release brimmed with vitality and even carried the distinct warmth of medical Chakra.
"This... this is too..." Tears suddenly welled up in Shizune's eyes. "Too beautiful..."
Xiao Xi threw herself at the miniature forest, carefully touching the leaves. "They're real leaves! Lady Tsunade is amazing!"
Tsunade withdrew her jutsu, unable to hide the pride on her face. "It's all right, I suppose. It's nowhere near as good as Grandpa's." But the joy in her eyes gave away what she really thought.
Neji smiled as he watched the scene. In the halo of the oil lamp, the three girls excitedly discussed the details of Wood Release, their laughter echoing through the shabby inn room. He walked to the window and looked out at the rolling dunes in the distance, his heart peaceful.
Over the following days, Neji and the others continued resting in the small town. Nothing major happened in the Ninja World, which seemed unusually tranquil. This was a rare period of peaceful development for the various nations, though none of it had anything to do with Neji.
With both