When Senju Chen first arrived at the Senju Clan compound, besides begging Tsunade to teach him the Chakra Refinement Technique, he had also used accompanying her to pay respects to their ancestors as an excuse to tour the entire compound, especially the Senju Clan's library.
Only after entering the hidden library on the clan grounds did Senju Chen understand what a great clan's true heritage looked like. Scrolls and notebooks filled the room in dazzling, mountainous heaps. Ninjutsu scrolls classified outside as B-rank, A-rank, or even S-rank were piled up here as though they cost nothing, let alone other ordinary ninjutsu.
Of course, the Second deserved the most credit for this. He had left behind more than anyone else, truly living up to his reputation as the "master of forbidden jutsu."
Many of the ninjutsu Konoha classified as forbidden techniques had actually been selected and transcribed from here. During his visit, Senju Chen had also carried several books back under the pretext of learning to read.
The most important among them was a notebook of insights left by the First. It described numerous Wood Release techniques and situations in which to use them. Because of the Wood Release bloodline within Senju Chen, Tsunade had specifically dug it out and given it to him.
Outside, these would all have been regarded as peerless secret manuals, but to the Senju Clan, they were merely things their ancestors had left behind. It was no exaggeration to say that their family had founded all of Konoha. Even the current structure of the entire Shinobi World had been planned and established by their elders.
Seeing how little importance Tsunade attached to these things, only showing a trace of solemnity when handing him the First's notes, Senju Chen finally began to realize just how precious his identity as a member of the Senju Clan was to him, and just how exalted his status was even within Konoha.
It was just that the First Hokage's writing... really defied description.
Reading the First's notes, Senju Chen felt as though he were reading an epic history of showing off.
Taken as a whole, it was less a collection of insights into ninjutsu than a chronicle of personal boasting. Things like, "Since childhood, my extraordinary gifts have placed me above all my peers," or, "My heroic bearing left that fellow Madara Uchiha in the dust, suffering defeat after defeat yet coming back for more, crying and begging to become my lackey," or, "I brought the light of peace to the Shinobi World," and so on...
Senju Chen simply read it as a novel. After all, it was a book his own granduncle had written. What was wrong with boasting a little about how amazing he was? Yes, absolutely nothing wrong with that.
But setting aside all that self-aggrandizing nonsense, every word of its insights into Wood Release and its applications was a gem, a priceless treasure enough to drive the entire Shinobi World mad.
"Wood Release is not a technique, but an extension of the heart, a manifestation of intent. Wherever the heart turns, all things may become weapons..."
"True Wood Release requires no elaborate hand seals. One need only become nature itself, breathing as one with heaven and earth..."
Yet within Senju Chen's system-enhanced body, which possessed a perfect Wood Release bloodline, these profoundly cryptic descriptions became the clearest of instincts.
After that, he mainly read the sections concerning Wood Release.
The book explained that Wood Release ninjutsu fell into four main categories.
Offensive ninjutsu: Deep Forest Emergence, Sage Art: Wood Release: True Several Thousand Hands, Wood Human Technique, Cutting Technique.
Defensive ninjutsu: Wood Locking Wall, Wood Expulsion Technique.
Control/sealing ninjutsu: Kakuan Entering Society with Bliss-Bringing Hands, Gate of the Great God, Wood Dragon Technique.
Reconnaissance/support ninjutsu: Wood Clone Technique.
The rest consisted of minor specialized applications for particular situations.
Because of the First's Wood Release bloodline stolen by the system, Senju Chen had a natural affinity for Wood Release.
Senju Chen chose to learn the Cutting Technique first. With his limited chakra, it was also theoretically the only ninjutsu he could currently cast, though every practice attempt drained his chakra dry.
After that, he practiced ninjutsu every day, then rapidly recovered through Jiraiya's Advanced Chakra Refinement Technique before continuing to practice, repeating the cycle.
At first, it was only a little sapling, then later one wooden spike, then two.
As the number of attempts increased, he discovered that his chakra reserves rose along with them. At the same time, he grew increasingly proficient with the Cutting Technique.
Konoha's shopping street bustled with voices as always.
Warm afternoon sunlight spilled down, gilding the dazzling assortment of shops. Vendors' cries, children's laughter, and the faint clinking of passing shinobi's equipment wove together into a lively melody unique to an age of peace.
"Big Sister Shizune, that one! I want that three-colored dango!"
Senju Chen pointed his little finger at a confectionery shop nearby, his upturned face filled with a child's craving for sweets. He wore a brand-new kimono of soft fabric that made his already delicate features look even more finely sculpted, drawing repeated glances from many passing village women and young kunoichi, their eyes glowing with maternal affection.
"All right, all right, I'll buy you some." Shizune's face was full of indulgent smiles, and she tightened her hold on his hand.
Lady Tsunade had official business to attend to and had entrusted her with full responsibility for looking after Chen. This left Shizune feeling both honored and immensely pressured. She stayed practically glued to this little lord, terrified he might suffer so much as a bump or a scrape.
These past two days had also finally allowed Senju Chen to eat some normal food. Tsunade's dark cuisine had nearly made him consider going on a hunger strike before. Could you imagine facing a plate of something whose ingredients were completely unrecognizable, while still obediently putting on an expression that said, "Thank you for your hard work, big sister"...?
"Only one skewer, all right? Lady Tsunade will be angry if she comes back and finds out you've eaten too many sweets." Shizune offered the reminder while taking a wallet from inside her clothes.
"Mm! Chen's the best-behaved!"
Senju Chen nodded obediently, his clear eyes curving into crescents. Yet the instant he lowered his head, his peripheral vision swept over the rooftop at the street corner, the second floor of the teahouse opposite, and a peddler in the crowd who seemed to be wandering aimlessly, as imperceptibly as the most precise radar.
Seven gazes-no, eight concealed gazes.
Like a disease clinging to the bone, they had followed them ever since they stepped out of the Senju residence. There was no killing intent, but they carried a mechanical coldness and scrutiny.
The First's Wood Release bloodline gave him an extraordinary affinity for flowers, grass, and trees. At the same time, those trees also provided him with extensive feedback and sensory information.
Senju Chen sneered inwardly, but his face remained as innocent as ever. He accepted the dango Shizune handed him and took small bites, the sweet, soft texture melting on his tongue, while his thoughts spread like a vast net, encompassing everything around him.
Finally unable to hold back?
Danzo's Root, the Uchiha Police Force, or shinobi spies from other nations-any of them could make a move against me at this stage.
Which side will make the first move?
Over the past few days, thanks to the Advanced Chakra Refinement Technique he had stolen from Jiraiya, the amount of chakra within him had already increased significantly.
This was a perfect stage on which to show his "talent" to all of Konoha.
Just as Senju Chen swallowed the last dango.
Boom-!
Without warning, a deafening explosion erupted at the other end of the street!