Hashirama Senju suddenly appeared before Mito Uzumaki, carrying Tsubasa, who was drenched from head to toe and had blood all over his face. Mito went deathly pale with fright, her eyes widening as her hands flew instinctively to her mouth. "What happened? How did you get Tsubasa into this state? Couldn't you take it easy? Stop trying your strange ideas on the boy all the time. Uncle Yasuhei entrusted him to you, and you've already put him through this on the very first day!" Frantic with worry, she quickly reached out to examine Tsubasa and treat him.
Hashirama Senju spread his hands helplessly. "Why are you worried about him? He's just fine. Comfort me first-I was scared half to death!"
Mito Uzumaki angrily examined Tsubasa as she snapped back, "At your age, how can you say something like that? Look at the state he's in, and you want me to comfort you when there's nothing wrong with you? I knew you were unreliable, but I never imagined you were this unreliable! I'll teach Tsubasa from now on. If I leave him to you, sooner or later you'll ruin him. He's such a promising genius, but what if you cripple him and send him home like that? How would that look?"
Huh? Why isn't there a single injury on him? It's as though he's asleep. Then what's with all the blood on his face and sweat on his body? After examining Tsubasa thoroughly with her Chakra, Mito Uzumaki was baffled, her brows furrowed deeply.
"What could possibly be wrong with him? The blood all over his face came out when Chakra traveled through his liver meridians. It's good for his body, too. He's covered in sweat because he was too tense while circulating the cultivation technique and focused entirely on what was happening inside him. His body responded to the stress by breaking into a cold sweat. As for passing out, he was too tired. So he's perfectly fine-better than ever, in fact." Hashirama Senju picked up a cup and gulped down some water as he explained.
Mito Uzumaki tilted her head in confusion. "Then why did you want me to comfort you? You weren't injured cultivating. You're perfectly fine."
"I've suffered a severe blow to both body and mind. Even my soul was shaken. Mito, do you know? This kid isn't human at all. He's a monster, a peerless monster!" Hashirama Senju's pupils suddenly contracted, as though he had recalled something terrifying, and he spoke with lingering fear.
"I know. Didn't you test his talent on his first day here and find it was greater than yours?" Mito Uzumaki was utterly puzzled, her eyes full of confusion.
Hashirama Senju then gave her a vivid, detailed account of everything Tsubasa had done in his cultivation that day.
Mito Uzumaki listened openmouthed, as though hearing something utterly incomprehensible. Full of doubt, she said, "You're not joking with me, are you?"
Hashirama Senju anxiously swore up and down. "It's true! Why would I lie to you? Come on, give me a hug and comfort me. I finally understand now. I'm just an ordinary mortal. Little Tsubasa is the real immortal!"
Mito Uzumaki embraced her husband, her heart aching for him, and gently patted his back to comfort him. She knew her husband had been competitive all his life. Apart from acknowledging Madara, he had never truly respected anyone from the bottom of his heart. It seemed Little Tsubasa really had dealt him a blow this time. He had spent his whole life as a "god," only to learn at the end that he was merely a mortal...
Mito Uzumaki asked Mei'er to look after Tsubasa, then returned to her room with her husband. After coaxing him to sleep, she walked out alone and stood in the courtyard. A somewhat crazy idea kept circling in her mind, and she couldn't shake it.
She was a princess of the Uzumaki Clan. At eighteen, she had married Hashirama Senju in a marriage arranged between their clans. Her life had been a happy one, and she had given birth to a son and a daughter. But because of that marriage, her son had gone to serve as a hostage at the side of the Land of Fire's daimyo. Whenever she missed him, she had to travel all the way to the Land of Fire's capital, and every visit felt like receiving an honored guest. She couldn't feel the slightest warmth between mother and son. Her son was effectively lost to her. She carried the Nine-Tails within her and was getting on in years, so she couldn't risk giving birth again. Now all her hopes rested on her daughter.
Thinking of her daughter Biwako Senju's situation, Mito Uzumaki couldn't help shivering, her heart tightening. Biwako Senju had been born seven years before Konoha was founded and was thirteen this year. Her daughter hadn't inherited Hashirama's talent, so she studied the Lesser Yang Art under her second uncle, Tobirama Senju. Biwako took after Hashirama in character: cheerful and lively, sincere and kind to others, but not particularly shrewd. She was now in the Ninja Academy's graduating class. To avoid trouble, she concealed her surname and studied as a civilian. But how could her identity be hidden from Konoha's great ninja clans? Those clans were like a pack of hungry wolves, their eyes fixed on her as they sent their heirs to court her.
Whenever Biwako came home, she would complain to her mother that so-and-so had confessed to her again, so-and-so had written her another love letter, and so-and-so had given her another gift. She was sick of it all, but even after she turned them down, they kept sending gifts every day. She had become the Ninja Academy's first-generation goddess, with a special team dedicated to protecting her. Her friend Utatane Koharu was green with envy. Whenever Hashirama heard about it, he would laugh and say the God of Shinobi's daughter ought to be a goddess.
But whenever Mito Uzumaki heard about it, she got a terrible headache. They weren't interested in her daughter; they clearly wanted the Senju Clan's resources. Marrying her daughter would all but guarantee the Senju Clan's support, which would very likely make a man the next Hokage. If her daughter could live happily for the rest of her life, that would be fine. But today she had seen the even more outstanding Little Tsubasa, and her daughter should marry the most outstanding person. Besides, Little Tsubasa was a member of their clan. They knew his background, his whole family was loyal and honorable, his family upbringing was proper, and he had good character. Now he was also her husband's personal disciple. If her daughter married him, it would be no different from being in her own home. She had to call Biwako back quickly and let them develop their feelings.
The more Mito Uzumaki thought about it, the more workable it seemed. She eagerly beckoned into the air. A shadow guard flashed into view with a swish and bowed to her. Mito Uzumaki quickly instructed him, "Ryūichi, go to the Hokage School and bring the young lady home. Tell her her mother needs her urgently."
The shadow guard Ryūichi acknowledged the order, used the Body Flicker Technique, and vanished in a flash.
Konoha, Ninja Academy.
A group of students were taking a practical combat class on the school grounds. In the sparring arena, a boy and a girl were locked in a fierce fight. The boy was ordinary-looking. He gripped a long staff tightly in both hands, whirling it in an impenetrable defense and smashing the water and earth energy bullets the girl fired at him one after another. From time to time, he also attacked her with Ninjutsu energy bullets of various attributes. The girl was no slouch either. Her hands formed Hand Seals at a dazzling speed, hurling water and earth balls at the boy as though they cost nothing. She blocked all his attacks with a water shield.
The boy began moving quickly around the arena, dodging the girl's Water and Earth Release Ninjutsu while firing the compound Ninjutsu he was best at: water-earth energy bullets and water-lightning energy bullets. In his hands, these D-rank Ninjutsu energy bullets had the power of C-rank Ninjutsu.
The girl refused to be outdone. She unleashed defensive Water and Earth Release Ninjutsu with all her strength, neutralizing his compound Ninjutsu one after another.
Their classmate Shimura Danzō watched from the sidelines with a disgruntled expression and shouted at the top of his lungs, "Hiruzen Sarutobi, what are you doing? Biwako's hardly moved. How is that any different from fighting a stationary target? Why aren't you using your powerful C-rank and B-rank Ninjutsu? Can't bring yourself to hit the goddess, can you? Just use Water Dragon Bullet and Fire Dragon Bullet! Hurry up! We're waiting for the next spar. How long are you two going to keep this up?"
When Biwako heard him, she stopped at once. Her eyes widened with anger, and she pointed at Shimura Danzō outside the arena. "You bastard, Danzo, shut up! Who are you calling a stationary target?"
Of all her many suitors, Biwako had originally favored Shimura Danzō the most. He was handsome and strong, and no one at the Ninja Academy could match his Wind Release Ninjutsu. He had plenty of female admirers. He wrote her a love letter every week, but he had such a foul mouth that he could make her furious the moment he opened it.
Danzo thought, In a fight between ninja, if you stand still and do nothing but fire Ninjutsu, aren't you just a stationary target? If my clan didn't force me to send you love letters and gifts every day, who the hell would like you? Playing with Hiruzen Sarutobi is more interesting, but this guy can't bring himself to hit a pretty girl. It makes me angry just watching. He could end the match easily with a powerful Ninjutsu, but instead they have to keep trading one missile after another. How is this practical combat? They're just playing ninja.
Hiruzen Sarutobi also rebuked Shimura Danzō. "Biwako's strong. She never stopped firing Ninjutsu missiles, and I was busy dodging them. When would I have had time to use a powerful Ninjutsu? What are you yelling nonsense from the sidelines for? If you're so capable, come down here and try it yourself."
Hiruzen Sarutobi was shrewd. This guy was destined to be alone for life, but he was good at setting him up. Hiruzen had been wondering how to show off in front of Biwako without being obvious, and now Danzo had jumped right out. This was the perfect chance to make an example of him and improve Biwako's impression of him.
Biwako snorted. "All you know how to do is stir things up. Do you think forming Hand Seals for a powerful Ninjutsu takes no time? Would I give you time to form them? If you're so capable, come down here and try it yourself."
The other students also began criticizing Shimura Danzō, saying he was disrupting someone else's fight.
Shimura Danzō couldn't stand it. His face flushed red, and he leaped into the arena, shouting, "Fine, I will! Let's see how you're going to stop me from using a powerful Ninjutsu!"
Hiruzen Sarutobi hurriedly stepped in front of Biwako. "You have to beat me before you're qualified to challenge the goddess."
Shimura Danzō thought, You like showing off so much, don't you, Hiruzen? Then I'll beat you down first today. He shouted angrily, "Hiruzen, take this! I'll knock you down first, then deal with Biwako!" He quickly formed Hand Seals with his left hand and swung his right hand out, shouting, "C-rank Ninjutsu, Wind Release: Wind Blade!" A crescent-shaped blade of wind slashed toward Hiruzen Sarutobi as swiftly as lightning.
Hiruzen Sarutobi didn't dare be careless. He quickly formed Hand Seals with both hands and shouted, "Earth Release: Earth-Style Wall!" An earthen wall rose with a boom and blocked the wind blade.
But Shimura Danzō immediately followed up with Wind Release: Vacuum Sphere. A highly compressed mass of wind slammed into the wall with a boom. The wall shattered instantly, and the mass of wind turned into countless sharp blades that swept toward everything behind it.
Biwako and the other students were stunned. Shimura Danzō cast his techniques far too quickly, and his Wind Release Ninjutsu was far too powerful. Earth countered wind, yet Wind Release: Vacuum Sphere had blasted the earthen wall apart and was still shredding everything behind it.
"Oh no, Hiruzen Sarutobi won't be killed, will he?" someone screamed in terror.
Just then, a cry rang out: "Earth Release: Headhunter Jutsu!" Hiruzen Sarutobi suddenly grabbed Shimura Danzō by the feet and dragged him underground, leaving only his head exposed.
With a pop, Shimura Danzō, trapped in the earth, vanished in a puff of smoke. Ten meters away, Shimura Danzō stood proudly with a Ninja Blade in hand. He said haughtily, "Hiruzen Sarutobi, remember this: I'm not a stationary target!"
Biwako stamped her feet in anger at the sidelines. That bastard's still talking about a stationary target. He's obviously taking a jab at me.
Hiruzen Sarutobi leaped out of the ground, raised his staff high in both hands, and brought it crashing down on Shimura Danzō like a mountain bearing down on him. Danzo hurriedly stepped diagonally aside and slashed across with his blade, meeting the staff with a clang.
Hiruzen Sarutobi then used the staff technique Mad Ape Wild Dance, raining blows down on Shimura Danzō. Shimura Danzō refused to be outdone and used the sword technique Gale Consecutive Slashes, the blade in his hand moving like a blur. Staff and blade clashed, their ringing impacts sounding without pause.
Shimura Danzō suddenly used the Body Flicker Technique to open up some distance. Then he quickly formed Hand Seals and spat out wave after wave of wind energy, shouting, "Wind Release: Vacuum Serial Waves!" Dozens of Vacuum Waves rushed toward Hiruzen Sarutobi at tremendous speed.
Hiruzen Sarutobi was like a nimble ape, using all manner of flips and clever footwork to evade the Vacuum Serial Waves completely. Between dodges, he quickly formed Hand Seals and used the A-rank compound Ninjutsu Fire Earth Dragon Bullet. A fire dragon and an earth dragon intertwined and charged fiercely at Shimura Danzō.
Shimura Danzō's expression changed drastically, and he hurriedly unleashed the A-rank Ninjutsu Wind Release: Vacuum Great Sphere.
But the fire and earth dragons blasted straight through the Vacuum Great Sphere and continued their fierce charge toward Shimura Danzō. At the critical moment, he hurriedly used Wind Release: Tornado, sweeping himself into the air and narrowly escaping the killing blow.
The students watching from the sidelines were dumbfounded. This was nothing like a fight between students; it was more like two Jonin battling.
Seeing this, the teacher at the side hurriedly raised five earthen walls to stop the fire and earth dragons. All five walls were blasted to pieces, and the remaining force of the dragons struck the barrier, making it tremble violently.
The training arena was a mess. Shimura Danzō fell from the air to the side of the arena and spat out a mouthful of blood. He stared at Hiruzen Sarutobi in shock, thinking, That monkey was hiding his strength.
Outside the training arena, Kagami Uchiha, only ten years old, looked up at Hiruzen Sarutobi as he fought, his young face full of gravity and amazement. His eyes followed Hiruzen's every move as he thought, This Hiruzen Sarutobi really is a formidable fighter. He looks approachable and friendly on the surface, but he conceals his abilities and is deeply calculating. I'll have to deal with him carefully in the future. His brows furrowed slightly on his youthful face, revealing a caution beyond his years.
Not far away, the obese Torifu Akimichi leaned against a large tree, a lazy expression on his face but a shrewd glint in his eyes. Looking at Hiruzen Sarutobi in the arena, he tilted his lips into the faintest hint of a smile and said lazily, "That's Hiruzen for you! With skills like that, I'm not even sure I could withstand those fire and earth dragons." As he spoke, he shook his head gently, making the fat on his face wobble.
On the other side, Mitokado Homura stood straight in fine clothes. He raised a hand and slowly adjusted his cuff, his gaze fixed on Hiruzen Sarutobi, a complex light flickering in his eyes. He thought, Hiruzen Sarutobi is so strong. I can only befriend him; I must never become his enemy. I must maintain a good relationship with him in the future. His stern face remained impassive, giving no hint of what he was thinking.
Hiruzen Sarutobi folded his arms across his chest, posing like a peerless master. His ordinarily plain face looked especially handsome at that moment. The girls at the sidelines screamed and cheered excitedly.
Watching Hiruzen Sarutobi in the arena, Biwako murmured without realizing it, "Senior Hiruzen seems kind of handsome too."
Just then, Ryūichi appeared beside Biwako and said, "Young lady, your mother asked you to come home with me now."
Biwako quickly replied, "All right, Brother Ryūichi. Wait a moment. I'll tell the teacher, and then we can go."