Late at night, Nobuhiko lay in bed, tossing and turning, unable to sleep.
Who would have thought? I thought I'd transmigrated as a civilian, so I've spent these past few years training hard, just hoping to scrape through the coming Third Shinobi World War, the Night of the Nine-Tails, Pain's invasion, and the Fourth Shinobi World War alive.
Only now did he learn that he was no civilian.
Not only was he no civilian, but his father belonged to the Senju Clan, living under an assumed identity and blending into Konoha, while his mother carried the Uchiha Clan's bloodline.
He had spent all that time worrying about surviving the wars, yet now he carried two of the strongest bloodlines in the entire Shinobi World. Didn't that mean the future peace of the entire Shinobi World rested on his shoulders?
With that thought, Nobuhiko decided to start training hard tomorrow and strive to become invincible in the Shinobi World as soon as possible.
Then he would marry a wife. No, two wives. No, that wasn't right either. By then, he would be invincible in the Shinobi World, so Nobuhiko could marry as many as he~wanted.
But the position of head of his harem had to be reserved for Tsunade. After all, until he gained the strength to protect himself, he would still need her to look after him.
Nobuhiko declared that a person must never be ungrateful!
After getting tangled up in the question of how many wives to marry in the future, Nobuhiko drifted off to sleep.
Early the next morning, Nobuhiko got up and found no one in the living room. After some thought, he still didn't dare push open Tsunade's bedroom door.
Are you kidding? What if I really saw something I shouldn't? Jiraiya's cautionary example is still fresh in my mind!
Although his mental age was greater than Tsunade's, that couldn't change how young this body was.
The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak! So weak!
Nobuhiko lamented inwardly with regret.
After washing his face, brushing his teeth, and forming hand seals to release a Shadow Clone and send him to school, Nobuhiko took the money his father had left him and went out to buy breakfast.
When he returned, he happened to see Tsunade push open her bedroom door and come out. She raised a hand to rub her eyes, looking half-asleep. Nobuhiko stared so hard that his eyes nearly popped out.
Tsunade was beautiful to begin with, with delicate features, clearly defined contours, fair skin as lustrous as jade, and long, slender legs. Her feet were planted directly on the floor-what a waste of such beauty.
On top of that, she had just woken up and wore only a white nightshirt that reached her thighs, displaying her figure to the fullest.
Seeing his dumbstruck expression, Tsunade instantly woke up and sank into deep bewilderment.
Is this brat really only five?
How could a five-year-old brat make that kind of face?
Even Jiraiya wasn't this outrageous back then, was he?
Sensing a trace of danger, Nobuhiko immediately snapped out of it.
I'm done for. I think I just accidentally exposed some rather alarming tastes.
He hurriedly put on an obedient expression and greeted her eagerly. "Morning, Sister Tsunade! I thought you might still be resting, so I brought breakfast back. I'll be counting on you to look after me from now on."
With that, he quickly arranged breakfast on the table and waited for Tsunade to grace it with her presence.
As they ate, Tsunade recalled his earlier expression and asked irritably, "Brat, what are your plans for the future?"
"I want to get stronger."
"Why?"
"I never want to experience that helplessness I felt yesterday a second time. Only by becoming strong enough can I take control of my own fate and change the fates of my family and friends!" Nobuhiko said firmly.
This was also something he had thought of on the way back to the old Senju residence from his home last night.
The Shinobi World would still be very dangerous in the future. Only by becoming strong enough could he protect his future wives!
His words startled Tsunade. Seemingly reminded of something, she lowered her head and focused on eating without saying anything more.
Seeing her like this, Nobuhiko knew she was thinking of Nawaki.
Nobuhiko gritted his teeth, thinking that if he missed this chance, he wouldn't get another. He immediately stood up and bowed in request. "Sister Tsunade, could you please teach me how to become stronger? I believe you can definitely do it!"
Hearing this, Tsunade fell into thought.
"All right. I'll regularly prepare material for you to learn, but since the war isn't over yet, I can't teach you all the time. You'll have to study on your own most of the time."
"I can't thank you enough, Sister Tsunade!"
Nobuhiko sincerely expressed his thanks to Tsunade.
Tsunade gazed closely at the excited boy before her.
He had short brown hair, thick black eyebrows, bright, lively eyes, a high nose bridge, full lips, and healthy, fair skin. He was also taller and more powerfully built than others his age.
He looks so much like him! Tsunade sighed inwardly.
The Hokage's office.
The Third Hokage held a pipe in his mouth as he carefully read a document.
It recorded detailed information about Kihara Nobuhiko.
His father was a descendant of the Senju Clan, and his mother came from a small shinobi clan that had moved into the village after its founding. His own talent was also relatively high, and he placed first in his year on every exam.
However, although he ranked first, nearly all the students in his year were civilians or from small shinobi clans, and their overall strength was relatively poor. Thus, Hiruzen Sarutobi did not consider that ranking particularly meaningful.
What pleased Hiruzen Sarutobi most was Kihara Nobuhiko's thorough understanding of the Will of Fire. His written reflections on the Will of Fire had been very satisfying. He was a promising seedling.
His father had entrusted him to Tsunade's care yesterday, and there appeared to be no issues.
"Let's leave it at that. Let him stay with Tsunade and take Nawaki's place for a while. Hopefully, he can ease the pain in her heart!" the Third Hokage said with a sigh.
Meanwhile, in Root's office.
Konoha's king of taking the blame-Shimura Danzō-was listening to a subordinate's report.
"Lord Danzo, Kihara Nobuhiko was entrusted to Tsunade by his father yesterday."
"We have confirmed that his father, Kihara Yusuke, is a Senju descendant, so the blood of the Senju Clan flows through Kihara Nobuhiko's veins as well."
A Root shinobi wearing a mongrel-dog mask knelt on one knee as he reported to Danzo.
"So he has the Senju Clan's bloodline."
Danzo, who had only one eye remaining, rubbed his chin in thought.
"What about his potential?"
"Based on his performance at the Ninja Academy, he has a chance of becoming a Jōnin in the future."
"His talent is quite good. It seems he has the honor of becoming a member of Root," Danzo declared.
"But..."
The wearer of the mongrel-dog mask hesitated.
"Speak," Danzo said with displeasure.
"But Kihara Nobuhiko has a very deep understanding of the Will of Fire. The reflections on the Will of Fire that he once wrote on an exam paper even earned Lord Hokage's praise."
Is that so? Another promising seedling brainwashed by Hiruzen's foolish Will of Fire. I'm afraid Hiruzen won't let him go easily.
Danzo wrestled with the matter inwardly.
The boy already had the Senju bloodline and good talent. With the Wood Release Cells Danzo had secretly stashed away, once the fusion succeeded, he would become the sharpest blade in Danzo's hands.
He would definitely play a tremendous role in forcing Hiruzen to step down and allowing Danzo to become Hokage in the future.
After thinking for a long time, Danzo decided to go ask Hiruzen for the boy.
He believed that, given the bond between them, Hiruzen would surely agree.
Once I become Hokage, I simply won't make Hiruzen take the blame for me!