Little Naruto, learning Wood Release?

"Little Naruto, look down at your feet."

Hashirama's voice interrupted little Naruto's laughter. He lowered his head and discovered that a lot of little blades of grass had grown beneath his feet.

"Huh? What's going on?"

Little Naruto curiously watched the swaying grass and stroked its tips.

A feeling of closeness linked little Naruto and the grass, as though the grass were a part of him.

"Congratulations. You've awakened the same Wood Release Kekkei Genkai as your teacher."

Hashirama explained to the curious little Naruto, his voice full of joy.

Hehe, my disciple awakened Wood Release. Hehehehe.

That's my disciple for you. So much better than Monkey and the others.

"Wood Release? Is that the ninjutsu you used to grow trees in there, Teacher?"

Little Naruto remembered the lush forest inside the seal space and immediately made the connection.

"That's right. You're so clever, little Naruto. From now on, you can learn Wood Release from me."

Hashirama was absolutely delighted. Not only had he resolved little Naruto's emotional problems, but he had also gained a Wood Release user.

Someone could finally inherit all those ninjutsu of mine!

Hashirama had no idea that Danzo had used his bodily tissue to create a boy named Kō.

That was what you called having your student help give you an illegitimate son several years after your death.

Such filial devotion, it could kill you.

"Really? Awesome! I'm going to plant trees all around the doorways of those villagers who bad-mouth me so they can't get out."

Kekeke, that's my Jinchūriki for you. Such wicked ideas at such a young age.

Kekeke!

Kurama opened his huge mouth in a grin and let out a cackling laugh.

"Hey, hey, hey, Naruto, where did you learn such a terrifying idea?"

Hashirama was shocked by Naruto's idea.

You could take my Wood Release and use it to fight people, Tailed Beasts, or aliens. You could even use it to build houses.

But you couldn't use it to block the way.

Leaving aside whether it was civil, Madara would laugh me to death if he saw that.

"Huh? I thought of it myself. Those jerks insult me. Can't I fight back?"

Hashirama fell silent.

"Kekeke, little Naruto, you're absolutely right."

"I, Kurama, acknowledge your will."

Hashirama remained silent.

He didn't know how to explain it to Naruto. With the Will of Fire?

No, that would be going too far with Naruto. Was he supposed to ask Naruto to repay malice with kindness?

Then how would he repay kindness?

All Hashirama could do was try his best to give little Naruto the warmth of family.

"Ah, little Naruto, let's... talk about this later."

Just as he had with Madara back then, Hashirama's approach had always been to put things off on his own, unwilling to face the problem.

In the end, it had led to a falling-out.

"Kekeke, Hashirama, you're speechless too, aren't you?"

Kurama deliberately said this only to Hashirama, just to annoy him and stop him from brainwashing Naruto with that Will of Fire spiel.

"Oh, Teacher, don't worry. I'm the man who's going to become Hokage. How could I be that petty?"

Naruto sensed his teacher's unhappiness and took the initiative to comfort him.

"Boo-hoo, little Naruto, your teacher is so moved."

Hashirama covered his face, tears of emotion trickling between his fingers.

Tch.

Kurama gave a disdainful chuckle, but he didn't add any more fuel to the fire.

I'll go see Hinata tonight.

That was what little Naruto thought.

Meanwhile, what was Hinata doing?

"Lady Hinata, Lady Hinata, stop eating, please stop eating. You're scaring me."

(oT-T)shi

Neji looked at Hinata, who had already eaten three times her usual amount, and no longer dared to watch her.

"Ahem, Hinata, awakening your eyes is a good thing, but surely you don't need to eat this much."

Hiashi cleared his throat and gently reminded little Hinata.

Little Hinata's face was very red, but she didn't want to put down the bowl in her hands.

As the food entered her mouth, a pleasant sensation spread throughout her body.

It felt like soaking in a hot bath, wonderfully comfortable.

The color of her eyes gradually grew deeper as well, though the change was very subtle.

"Father, but... nom, munch... I feel like I'm still not full."

Little Hinata spoke as she ate, her mouth never stopping even as she answered.

This is so embarrassing.

That was what Hinata thought, but her body was completely beyond her control.

Her hand simply reached for the rice paddle on its own and served another bowl of rice.

It's so embarrassing to have my respected father and Neji looking at me so strangely.

Would I have fainted by now if I were still the way I was before?

But now, as she ate, little Hinata only felt her mind growing clearer and clearer.

That made little Hinata's face even redder.

And her improved constitution increased how much blushing little Hinata could withstand.

Accompanied by a sound like water coming to a boil, Hiashi finally stepped in and stopped little Hinata.

Little Hinata promptly fainted.

"Ah, I wonder where all that food went."

Hiashi was very worried as he looked at his daughter, whose stomach remained unchanged despite having eaten twice as much as he had.

But through the Byakugan, not only was there nothing wrong with Hinata's body, her chakra had actually increased.

If Hinata hadn't been his biological daughter, complete with the Byakugan, Hiashi might really have thought she was a child of the Akimichi Clan.

"Clan Head, is Lady Hinata all right?"

Looking at Hinata, who had fainted again, Neji asked Hiashi worriedly.

"Ah, Neji, we're all family here. Just call me Uncle."

Hiashi sighed. Ah, could even my nephew not escape the influence of the main and branch family system?

"Hinata was simply too embarrassed. Not only is there nothing wrong with her body, it's actually healthier."

Neji sighed in relief, but still didn't call Hiashi Uncle.

"You jest, Clan Head. As long as Lady Hinata is all right, I'm relieved."

A cold winter wind blew through the window into the warm living room, lifting the short hair over Neji's forehead and revealing a green mark.

The Caged Bird Seal. Just as its name suggested, like a bird trapped in a cage, deprived of freedom for life.

Hiashi lamented sadly to himself.

Who knew when this system could finally be abolished?

If he hadn't had any other choice, how could Hiashi have been willing to place the shackles of the Caged Bird Seal on his own younger brother?

Everyone should be a free bird, not bound.

At the very least, they should have the right to choose for themselves, rather than being forcibly shut inside a cage.

Hiashi fell silent for a while, then called a maid to clear the table and carried Hinata back to her room himself.

"Clan Head, I'll take my leave now. My father still needs my company."

Neji said goodbye to Hiashi, his tone carrying a sense of distance.

"Go on. Give Hizashi my regards while you're at it. If I have time tomorrow, I'll go have a chat with him."

Hiashi nodded and saw Neji off.