Fire!

"Next match, Hyuga Nissei versus Senju Dave." Tobirama said nothing more. He was upset too, seeing his sweet Daughter-in-law get beaten up. Yes, it would have been even better if her surname weren't Uchiha.

"Wood Release: Sunflower Array!" "Wood Release: Peashooter Array!" "Wood Release: Repeater Array!" "Wood Release: Snow Pea Array!" "Wood Release: Potato Mine Array!"

Dave clapped his hands together. Five neatly arranged sunflowers appeared behind him, swaying constantly. Dave had discovered another use for the sunflowers: the sunlight they produced could restore not only injuries, but Carat as well.

Dave didn't actually have much Carat yet. He hadn't even reached the level of a Genin, but with the sunlight from the sunflowers replenishing him, any Carat he spent was immediately restored to full.

A moment later.

Rows upon rows of plants appeared in front of Cataract... He stared, utterly dumbfounded...

"Hope you like playing tower defense Game!" "Fire!" Dave gave a wicked grin and swept his right hand forward.

Fifteen shooters suddenly launched enormous peas straight at Cataract.

Veins bulged on Cataract's forehead as he activated his Byakugan.

Cataract desperately dodged the incoming peas. When one struck the wall behind him and brought it crashing down, he knew he couldn't take these things head-on. Absolutely not!

Off to the side, Tobirama Senju's eye twitched as he surveyed the devastated training ground... Hopefully, his big brother wouldn't lose his temper when he asked him to cover the repair bill...

Cataract desperately wanted a breather, but these things fired so damn fast. One shot every second! He was still just a kid. Who could possibly handle that?

No, he had to turn this around. He looked at Dave, standing behind the plants across from him. That was right. He had to take Dave out first.

Cataract suddenly burst forward, charging toward Dave.

When Cataract reached Dave, the look of shock he'd expected never appeared. Instead, Dave was smiling.

"I was waiting for you to come over." Dave smiled and pointed at the Potato Mine Array surrounding him.

Cataract cried out in alarm, but it didn't do him a damn bit of good.

A moment later, everyone saw a shooting star slowly streak across the sky. Still, Dave didn't want to kill anyone.

"Wood Release: Chomper!" Chomper appeared. With its towering body, it caught Cataract out of the air, then slammed him hard into the ground.

A huge cloud of dust rose. Cataract lay covered in blood inside the crater the impact had left. Dave slowly approached, a wicked grin on his face.

Thud! Thud! Thud! Dave straddled Cataract and drove his fists into his face, punch after punch. Only when he'd beaten him beyond recognition did Dave finally get up, his anger vented.

"Dave wins. All right, that concludes today's assessment. Classes will resume as usual tomorrow." Tobirama looked at the swollen, pig-faced boy lying on the ground, his expression unreadable. Then he vanished with Flying Thunder God.

Dave slowly turned to look at his classmates behind him. Every last one of them was too stunned to speak...

Especially Danzo. He'd known Dave could use Wood Release... but he hadn't known he was this strong. And it seemed different from the First Hokage's version, too...

"Kagami, have the people from the Medical Department arrived?" Ignoring his classmates' shock, Dave turned to Kagami and asked.

"No." Kagami shook his head.

"All right, I'll take your sister to the hospital first. Call them and tell them they don't need to come." Dave shook his head, then took Tsukimi from Kagami's arms. Cradling her in a bridal carry, he leaped onto the rooftops and bounded away toward Konoha Hospital.

Word of that day's events spread through Konoha, and Dave's reputation as a genius truly began to take hold. The villagers were also very fond of the Second Hokage's son, who could use Wood Release too.

His classmates also learned something: if you hit Dave, he might not say anything. But if you hit Tsukimi, Dave would beat you within an inch of your life.

"Tsukimi, how are you feeling?" Dave asked, looking down at her in his arms as he leaped between Konoha's buildings.

"I'm fine." Tsukimi's little face was rather pale as she shook her head.

"Nonsense. Your face is so pale, and you're still saying you're fine." Dave gently brushed her little nose with his finger and smiled.

A little color returned to Tsukimi's cheeks, and she grew shy.

"Don't do that again. No trying to tough it out. If someone bullies you, dial 666 on your phone. If 666 can't beat them, call 110. I refuse to believe there's anyone 110 can't beat," Dave said, feigning anger.

"Hehe, okay." Tsukimi smiled. She knew that 110 was Uncle Madara's number.

Tsukimi wrapped both arms around Dave's neck and rested her head against his chest. At that moment, Dave was her whole world. Dave smiled and kissed her fair forehead.

The two hurried toward the hospital.

That night.

Dave sat beside Tsukimi's hospital bed, peeling an apple. Tsukimi watched him tenderly.

There was nothing seriously wrong with Tsukimi. She was still young, and forcibly awakening her Sharingan had put a strain on her mind. On top of that, every Gentle Fist strike from that bastard Cataract had hit her internal organs, causing some damage. After treatment, though, she was out of danger. She just needed to rest in the hospital for a day.

"Here, say ah." Dave picked up the apple he'd peeled and cut, speared a small piece with the tip of his knife, and held it to Tsukimi's lips.

"Mm." Tsukimi opened her little mouth and bit into it.

"Is it sweet?"

"Very sweet."

The two shared a warm smile...

Meanwhile, two figures standing in the doorway watched the scene with smiles all over their faces.

They were Mito and Hashirama, who had just finished their square dancing and dance-off with Madara. Hearing that something had happened to Dave's little wife-to-be, they had hurried over to see her.

As for Dave's father, Tobirama? He was already on his way to the Hyuga Clan. You bullied my sweet Daughter-in-law, and you think you don't owe me an explanation?

Mito watched how tenderly Dave treated Tsukimi, then glanced at Hashirama, who was grinning foolishly beside her, and smiled. There was no helping it... Hashirama was just like his Wood Release: far too straight-laced...

Still, at least he wasn't like Madara and Tobirama, who were as rigid as steel plates...

"Oh, Auntie, Uncle, you're here!" Dave noticed the two in the doorway and called out with a smile.

"Mm." The two nodded and walked in.

"Tsukimi, are you all right?" Mito was the first to ask.

"I'm fine, Lady Mito. I just need to rest for a day." Tsukimi blushed and answered with a smile.

"Dave! You have to tell me how to beat Madara Uchiha today! This is so infuriating! I lost again! Damn it!" Hashirama went straight to Dave, whining like a child who'd lost a game.

"...Uh... Uncle, what could I possibly do...?"

"I don't care! I won't listen! I won't have it! You have to give me a way to beat that guy Madara today!"

A moment later.