In a primeval forest somewhere in the Land of Waves, three people and a pig moved slowly along. They could naturally have traveled quickly by leaping between the tree trunks, but to accommodate Naoki Senju, an ordinary person who had yet to mold chakra, Tsunade and Shizune had to walk instead.
With the Aburame Clan's secret insect repellent smeared on their bodies, they did not have to worry about the many bizarre poisonous insects. But venomous snakes and ferocious beasts lurking unnoticed among the fallen leaves were also deadly threats to Naoki Senju.
This was when their "emergency food" came into play. Tonton's excellent sense of smell could detect perfectly camouflaged venomous snakes, helping everyone find a safe path.
After walking for more than two hours, Tsunade finally discovered a natural cave with her sensory ninjutsu.
"Finally found one. Places like this really are hard to find." After that offhand complaint, Tsunade led Naoki and Shizune into the cave.
The cave was not large, roughly a dozen or so meters deep and four meters high. There were even traces of cooking fires in a corner. Presumably, this was not truly an unvisited forest; hunters entering the forest to hunt had probably left them.
Tsunade looked around and attached sealing tags to the rock walls and tree trunks. These were all trigger-type tags. Even a ninja who accidentally touched one could be trapped for a short while.
Only after completing a series of security precautions did she instruct Naoki Senju, who sat cross-legged on the ground:
"Do everything the way I taught you yesterday. Don't get anxious if it takes a while. Even failing once or twice is fine, but don't rush things, or you could damage your foundation and cut off your room for future growth."
Naoki Senju took a deep breath, suppressed his excitement, and nodded earnestly.
"Big Sis Tsunade, I understand."
Only after seeing Naoki Senju's serious attitude did Tsunade feel somewhat reassured. She had seen his yearning for chakra and ninjutsu. It was a good thing, but also a bad thing.
Clan ninja began learning ninja knowledge at three years old, after which they could try to mold chakra. Civilian ninja could also learn ninja knowledge and mold chakra after entering the Ninja Academy at six. By comparison, Naoki was indeed starting rather late, but pursuing power too obsessively would inevitably leave him shackled by it...
Tsunade shook her head lightly, dispelling those jumbled thoughts. It was far too early to think about such things. Besides, how could she stand by and watch Naoki Senju stray down the wrong path?
"Since you understand, go ahead and begin. Just stay within your limits."
Naoki Senju nodded obediently. He could not help it; Tsunade had been too fierce yesterday, and for the moment he did not dare entertain any inappropriate thoughts. No wonder Tsunade had stayed single for decades despite having such a great figure...
"Gather your thoughts, concentrate, and feel the power hidden within your cells..."
Tsunade offered reminders from the side. Hearing her, Naoki Senju immediately focused, following the method she had taught him to sense the power hidden within the human body's 130 trillion cells.
Shizune's gaze was filled with concern and worry as she watched Naoki, and so was Tsunade's. But molding chakra was not what worried Tsunade. As a member of the Senju Clan, he certainly would not find that difficult. As long as he did not get too impatient, he would definitely succeed. Only the kekkei genkai... there was little hope.
An occasional breeze swept through the forest, the rustling of swaying leaves, the chirping of birds... even the sound of grass growing after the rain became increasingly clear to Naoki Senju's senses.
Tiny points of light appeared before his eyes. Though close at hand, they seemed tens of thousands of miles away, like stars in the heavens. Then countless points of light appeared one after another, engulfing Naoki...
He abruptly opened his eyes. The first thing he saw was Tsunade's pretty face, followed by Shizune's, with no less concern on hers.
"How did it go? Did you succeed?"
Hearing that concerned tone, Naoki Senju felt utterly at ease. From now on, Tsunade would be the only person he could trust without reservation. Without her, no matter how Naoki Senju fled, Danzo's Root would kill him to silence him.
A brilliant smile appeared, and Naoki Senju nodded vigorously.
"I haven't disgraced the Senju Clan. I succeeded!"
Overjoyed, Tsunade could not help taking Naoki's hand to examine him herself. Shizune also knelt nervously beside Tsunade.
A few seconds later, Tsunade's almond-shaped eyes widened, seemingly in disbelief, but her upturned lips held boundless joy.
"Lady Tsunade, did he really succeed? It's only been a little over ten minutes since he started!" Shizune covered her small mouth, as though she had witnessed something inconceivable.
Although Tsunade was delighted, she still assumed an elder's air and sternly cautioned him, "Though the speed at which you molded chakra is indeed unbelievably fast, you mustn't become arrogant because of it. Chakra is only the foundation. Only by learning ninjutsu, taijutsu, and genjutsu well can you turn it into strength."
But to avoid undermining Naoki's confidence, Tsunade added, "Grandpa took just under half an hour to mold chakra for the first time, and my second grandfather took nearly an hour. What you've done really is remarkable."
Only upon hearing that Hashirama Senju had taken half an hour to mold chakra did Naoki Senju belatedly grow delighted. After all, he really had no frame of reference for this. Wasn't molding it something you could do casually?
Surely there weren't actually people who still hadn't molded chakra in their teens or twenties? Surely not, surely not?
Tsunade examined Naoki's body again to ensure he had not left any hidden problems by rushing. Only a medical master like Tsunade could examine cellular damage so easily and casually. Any other medical-nin would probably not even know where to begin.
After confirming that Naoki's body was unharmed, and had actually become stronger than yesterday thanks to molding chakra, Tsunade finally relaxed. Then she did something that made Naoki's face and ears flush...
Tsunade slipped two fingers into her soft, towering peaks and drew a palm-sized piece of paper, still warm from her body, out from that lush, silky softness.
Seeing Naoki Senju's eyes practically bulging, how could Tsunade not know where he was looking? She irritably punched him on the head. Though she used no chakra, she still nearly knocked tears out of him.
"You're so young. Who on earth taught you all this?"
After that laughing scolding, Tsunade did not dwell on it. He was just a little pervert who had not even grown all his hair yet. What could he do at his age?
She instead handed Naoki the piece of paper and explained:
"This is Chakra Sensing Paper made using wood from the First Hokage's Wood Release. Infusing chakra into it lets you test your chakra nature. Wind will split the paper down the middle, fire will burn it, water will make it wet, earth will make it crumble, and lightning will make it wrinkle. Of course, all these natures can also be acquired through training later on."
Naoki Senju accepted the Chakra Paper. Under Tsunade's knife-sharp gaze, he abandoned the thought of keeping it as a collectible and instead infused it with the little chakra he had just molded.
The paper split straight down the middle.
Disappointment appeared in Tsunade's eyes. Wind nature? Though that's good, does he have no affinity with Wood Release after all...
The two halves of the Chakra Paper slowly drifted down. Cracks appeared in one piece, and it crumbled like soil, while the other looked as though it had been soaked through with water.
After the two pieces of Chakra Paper landed, before Tsunade could rejoice over Naoki's three chakra natures, a tiny green seedling broke through the earth beneath the paper. Then it grew the instant it met the wind, shooting upward and piercing through the cave ceiling in moments as countless pieces of rubble rained down.
Tsunade grabbed Naoki and leaped out of the cave, while Shizune fled just as quickly with Tonton in her arms. When the commotion stopped and the dust settled, a towering tree stood before them, having forced its way up through the mountain itself!
Tsunade's bright eyes reddened slightly, and her voice choked up:
"This is... Grandpa's Wood Release!!!"