Looking at the interface, it seemed that aside from a plus sign next to the energy bar, nothing else had changed!
Uka's thoughts stirred, and he tapped the plus sign.
[Biological energy collection method upgraded. The host can absorb energy through Wood Release creations, but must ensure the target is dead!]
[Energy storage added. The host can store energy in it and call upon it at will!]
The system had upgraded?
Reading the explanation the system had provided, Uka gave the thing a big thumbs-up in his heart!
Both upgrades were great!
The first meant that from now on, he wouldn't have to use his hands all the time to collect energy. Using Wood Release to collect it would make his purpose more discreet.
Otherwise, going around turning over and touching every corpse would be way too strange.
The second was an issue he'd complained about for a long time. Before, the system had insisted that he choose the ability he wanted before it would collect energy.
Now, with Wood Release of his own, and no shortage of other abilities in the short term, he could store energy until he'd settled on an ability, instead of choosing too early and being stuck with it.
After pricking his finger, Uka put some blood on [Analyze]. As he looked at the many abilities that appeared, he hesitated for a long while, then chose to inspect the Sage Body first.
[Sage Body: A younger, more mortal version of the Ōtsutsuki Clan's immortal body, possessing powerful vitality and physical energy! The host currently possesses 20%. Inject the remaining 80% of the genes to complete the Sage Body awakening!]
[Energy required: 4 million, or 2 million plus the remaining Sage Body gene fragments!]
[PS: The host has currently collected 50% of the Sage Body gene fragments!]
Four million, two million?
Seeing the Sage Body's requirements again, Senju Uka could barely keep his blood pressure from rising!
He'd spent years blasting fish, and had only collected 250,000. Each fish was worth just 1-3 energy!
"Ōtsutsuki... longevity... immortality. It's a long road ahead!"
Thinking of his goal, Senju Uka rubbed his temples, feeling a little exhausted. After sighing to himself, he began planning his next energy-gathering efforts.
The Shinobi World wasn't at the stage it was in during the story, when everyone had just begun to develop.
So he had to consider other sources of energy.
Once things settled down, he'd have to try the beasts and plants in the forest.
Ordinary people, marine life, and the like would have to be looked into once he could leave the village on missions.
With a rough idea in mind, Senju Uka didn't lock in the Sage Body. He simply closed the system. The more he looked at the thing, the more his head hurt.
The ability was powerful, but the requirements were truly high.
Thinking of it, he found himself envying the pay-to-win systems in the novels from his previous life.
He wasn't short on money now. Even if it demanded ten million, he could find a way to get it!
Unfortunately, the things you had the most of were always the least important.
As his thoughts raced, a sudden fragrance wafted out of the kitchen!
Sniffing the air, Uka stood up and followed the scent to the kitchen doorway. Inside, a woman bustled around like a spinning top.
For a moment, all the pain of gathering energy was swept away by the happiness he felt at the sight.
As he watched Sister Chiharu take dish after dish off the stove, he was about to go help when he saw her take several familiar-looking seasoning jars out of a nearby box.
That scene... instantly dispelled the happiness Uka had felt just moments before.
He carefully recalled what he'd done to offend the chef in front of him today.
After a moment, he remembered when Chiharu had learned in the alley that he'd awakened Wood Release.
She hadn't seemed... very happy?
After thinking about why, Senju Uka spoke up with a complicated expression, interrupting her. "Sister Chiharu, believe me this time. I really only awakened it last night. I wasn't deliberately hiding it from you all!"
Chiharu, who was hesitating over whether to put mustard, extra salt, or extra chili in the braised pork, jumped at the sudden voice. She turned to look at the boy by the door, his face full of bitterness.
She considered how trustworthy he seemed. After a moment's hesitation, she said softly, "Mm, I believe you. I won't add any."
Chiharu blinked, put away all the jars by her hand, and gestured to him. "Come take these. Dinner's ready!"
"Okay!" Having narrowly escaped disaster, Uka hurriedly answered and went to help!
Inside a side hall of the meeting chamber.
It was still that familiar place.
After sending Uka away, the Second Elder looked at the three of them with a beaming smile and said with a double meaning, "The room's been cleaned up. The rest is for you three to discuss."
After saying that, he stopped involving himself and picked up the teacup on the table, sipping at it on his own!
If this hadn't been about the Senju Clan's survival, he wouldn't have wanted to meddle in anyone else's affairs!
He was already over eighty. If he meddled too much, people would just complain that he was an old geezer who refused to die!
Fishing, walking his birds, and watching the children every day-what could be better?
The three exchanged glances. Seeing the Second Elder's attitude, Mito Uzumaki knew it was time for her to explain.
Thinking of the idea that had flashed through her mind earlier, she put on her familiar smile.
She spoke to the woman on her left, who was more than ten years younger than her. "I recommend that Senju Toka serve as acting clan leader for ten years!"
Hand the position over to Soratate?
That was a good choice. Soratate was the strongest now, and she also had Wood Release!
But only for ten years? Was she treating this like a joke?
The First Elder furrowed his brow and muttered to himself, but didn't say anything. He wanted to see Soratate's reaction first!
Before Toka could answer, Mito Uzumaki continued, looking at the two of them with their varied expressions. "Ten years from now, the next clan leader will be Senju Hashirama's granddaughter, 'Senju Tsunade.'"
"She will also marry Senju Uka, and their child will become the heir of the Clan Leader's Line in the future!"
"Senju Uka's Wood Release Kekkei Genkai is possessed only by the Soratate Branch. That isn't good for the Senju Clan."
She finished that last sentence while gazing at the First Elder with a pointed look. Then she fell silent, waiting for him to choose!
Hearing this, the First Elder's furrowed brow slowly relaxed.
He understood Mito's plan. She wanted to kill two birds with one stone!
But she was right, too. If only one branch possessed the Wood Release Kekkei Genkai, it would plant the seeds of trouble for the Senju Clan in the future!
How could they allow that?
Before Toka could speak, the First Elder hurriedly nodded in agreement. "Right, right, Toka. Lady Mito is absolutely right."
"It really isn't good for only one branch to possess the Wood Release Kekkei Genkai!"
"We can keep things stable while we're here, but what about a hundred years from now?"
After speaking to Toka with an air of righteousness, the First Elder didn't wait for her to respond. He changed tack and added with a smile, "This old man also has a little granddaughter. You've met her, Toka. She's about the same age as Princess Tsunade."
"I'll make the decision: her child with Senju Uka will also be an heir of the Itayasu Branch!"
"Don't worry. Everyone in the Itayasu Branch will agree with my decision!"