Tsunade's perception had been right.
Once the Uzumaki Clan's bloodline truly fused with the Senju Clan's bloodline within him, the changes it brought were transformative.
If the Senju's vitality was like the vast, solid earth that nurtured all things, then the Uzumaki bloodline was like the endlessly surging rivers that ran through it.
Their union was no longer a simple addition. Instead, it formed a complete world brimming with life inside him.
His chakra was no longer energy he had to painstakingly extract from his cells. It recovered extremely quickly, and his total reserves far exceeded those of his peers.
However, high-intensity Wood Release still caused tremendous consumption and placed a heavy burden on his body.
Lying in his bed, Senju Chen slowly raised his right hand and willed it.
A vibrant green wooden shoot, brimming with life, silently grew from his palm and swayed gently in the moonlight.
Cutting Technique.
The Wood Release ninjutsu that had once nearly drained his body with a single use now felt as simple as lifting a hand. He even felt that he could cast it two or three times in succession and feel only slightly tired.
However, high-intensity Wood Release still caused tremendous consumption and placed a heavy burden on his body.
But this was only the beginning.
As he grew older and his body developed, this power would grow exponentially at a terrifying rate.
I've secured the Uzumaki Bloodline, and Konoha's "get-out-of-death-free card," too. A faintly playful smile, at odds with his age, curved Senju Chen's lips. Danzo's been put in his place, the elders are afraid of causing collateral damage, and the entire Konoha High Command sees me as their hope for the future... This "invincible" protective shell will let me develop in peace for a long time.
He opened his eyes and looked at the moonlight outside the window.
Next, I'll build a solid foundation, and then...
He recalled something Tsunade had mentioned in passing during the day.
"In another four months, you'll be reporting to the Ninja Academy, Little Chen. You'll get to make lots of new friends then."
New friends?
Figures both familiar and unfamiliar surfaced in Senju Chen's mind. Kakashi, the genius ninja who was always saying, "What a drag"; Might Guy, the perpetually hot-blooded "rare beast"; Obito Uchiha, who bore his hatred and single-handedly started the Fourth Shinobi World War... And, of course, those gentle, lively, or cool and aloof... young ladies.
The Ninja Academy, huh...
What a wonderful place, positively "brimming with talent."
He still had an empty skill slot, after all.
Four months slipped quietly away like sand through his fingers.
Over those months, the training ground in the Senju Clan compound became Senju Chen's exclusive domain.
"...So, the core of sealing jutsu is using chakra to construct 'rules' and 'fix' unstable power in place. Look, just like this."
Kushina Uzumaki crouched on the ground, her long crimson hair blazing like fire in the sunlight. Dipping her finger in specially prepared ink, she drew a complex sealing formula across a scroll in fluid strokes, patiently explaining it to Senju Chen as she worked.
Senju Chen sat beside her, his little face full of concentration as he nodded frequently. But out of Kushina's sight, several tiny chakra chains, condensed as hard as diamonds, silently coiled, extended, and contracted in his left palm. His exquisite control had already surpassed even Kushina herself, who was teaching him at that very moment.
Adamantine Sealing Chains.
Once the Uzumaki Bloodline and the Senju bloodline had fully merged, this supreme sealing talent of the Uzumaki Clan had awakened within him like an instinct. For the past four months, he had ostensibly been following Kushina around to learn the basics of sealing jutsu. In truth, he was using her explanations to reverse-engineer the older, more powerful bloodline power within him.
Now, neither basic sealing jutsu nor advanced formulas such as the Four Symbols Seal held any secrets for him.
"Little Chen, you really are a genius!"
Seeing that Senju Chen had completed the formula as well, Kushina clapped her hands, then turned and ruffled his hair, her fiery red eyes full of amazement and admiration.
"When I was your age, I was still playing in the mud with the kids at the village entrance. What did I know about sealing jutsu?"
Senju Chen gave a perfectly measured, bashful smile, allowing her large hand to muss his hair as he answered obediently, "It's all because you're such a good teacher, Big Sister Kushina."
Ever since he had "soothed" the Nine-Tails' rampage last time, he could feel that Kushina treated him just like her own little brother.
Whenever he went to her home, she cooked for him and bought him things. Later, she simply came to the Senju Clan compound to teach him so he wouldn't have to travel back and forth, and she was exceptionally patient with him.
If not for her special status, she would practically have moved in. He could feel that Kushina truly regarded him as a nephew and family. The heartfelt joy she felt when she was with him stirred a trace of warmth in his heart as well.
In truth, although things had ended well when he had "soothed" the Nine-Tails' rampage last time, he wasn't entirely sure whether it had really been because of him.
But afterward, he still couldn't help looking at Kushina a little strangely, mainly because the Nine-Tails' curses had been so vicious that they had left him stunned.
Recalling the Nine-Tails' stream of curses, he couldn't help asking Kushina,
"Big Sister Kushina, do you ever let the big fox inside you out for some fresh air?"
"Of course not. That would be very dangerous. It was all thanks to you last time, Little Chen."
"Oh, and Little Chen, you mustn't tell anyone about the monster sealed inside me. That's classified," Kushina told him solemnly.
"Mhm, don't worry, Big Sister Kushina."
"Oh, Little Chen." Seemingly unwilling to discuss the subject further, Kushina immediately changed the topic. "Minato said you're going to the Ninja Academy tomorrow?"
Senju Chen nodded, taking the opportunity to look up at her with childlike curiosity. "Yes. Big Sister Kushina, what's school like? Will it be fun?"
Although he had watched the Naruto anime in his previous life, Senju Chen was still full of curiosity about the Ninja Academy.
"Fun? Of course!" Kushina immediately perked up and began chattering away.
"School teaches you lots of useful ninjutsu, and you can make tons of friends! Though you might also meet some annoying jerks you can't stand. If anyone dares bully you, just tell them you're my student, Kushina Uzumaki's student. Let's see who dares lay a hand on you."
"Also, skipping class is something you absolutely have to experience. Your school life isn't complete without it."
"If you want to get along better with a classmate, you can treat them to a bowl at Ichiraku Ramen. Let me tell you, their ramen is delicious... Hahaha..."
Halfway through speaking, she suddenly burst into laughter herself and waved a hand.
"Actually, with your abilities, you'll probably be the one bullying other people. But don't copy what I did back then and beat your classmates up at the drop of a hat. You won't make any friends that way!"
Her words carried a little of a veteran's pride and warning, but soon her expression softened again. Her gaze drifted into the distance as she murmured, "Still, it was at school that I met Minato..."