Chapter 15: Unusual Chakra

"Wood… Wood Release?"

It wasn't only Tsunade who was left stunned.

Shizune, who had been quietly observing, was equally shocked, her mouth hanging open in disbelief, and even the small pig she held slipped right from her grasp onto the floor.

Both women stared in astonishment at Azumi, the elder before them. 

Over the years, nobody from the Senju clan, apart from Hashirama Senju himself, had ever awakened the power of Wood Release.

Not even Hashirama's direct descendants had managed to awaken this bloodline limit—Tsunade herself, the granddaughter of the First Hokage, being no exception.

To resurrect this once-peace-bringing power, Konoha had even resorted to harsh human experimentation. 

Numerous capable ninjas with Senju blood were selected by high-ranking officials, led by Hiruzen and Danzo, to undergo trials. 

They even transplanted cells from the First Hokage in a desperate attempt to obtain the Wood Release ability.

Yet, without exception, every subject fell victim to the overwhelming power of the First Hokage's cells, succumbing to a gruesome fate. No one ever succeeded in acquiring Wood Release.

Eventually, due to high casualties and the inhumanity of the experiments, the project was abandoned by the top brass.

"Are you telling the truth?"

Tsunade's face grew solemn as she looked straight into Azumi's eyes.

"Absolutely… Tsunade-sama, as old and frail as I may be, I wouldn't lie about something this serious," Azumi said firmly.

"No wonder that when I examined you, I detected traces of an unusual chakra, laced with a remarkable, life-giving essence…"

This kind of deception would be easy to uncover, and even if Azumi wanted Tsunade to take on her grandson as a disciple, she wouldn't need to fabricate a lie. 

Tsunade, who knew Azumi's character, nodded in realization. It indeed seemed miraculous that Azumi, with her frail body, had even managed to survive this long.

For a moment, this famed Sannin, the medical legend, found herself increasingly intrigued by Azumi's grandson, Kiyoshi.

"Incredible…"

Shizune, standing beside her, was similarly shocked. 

She had left Konoha with Tsunade as a young girl, journeying across the shinobi world under her guidance, and fully understood the significance of Wood Release.

….

At that moment, footsteps echoed from the hallway outside.

Sensing the arrival of guests with his powerful perception, Kiyoshi unlocked the door and entered the house. 

"Grandma, I'm back!"

Tsunade and Shizune instinctively turned their heads toward him.

As the door opened, Shizune couldn't help but stare in awe at the young boy.

"What a beautiful child!"

Even Tsunade, sizing him up, was slightly taken aback. So, this was Kiyoshi?

"Kiyoshi, you're back…" Azumi waved, beckoning him over. "We have guests—come say hello!"

"Though you never mentioned it, Grandma, I had a feeling…" Kiyoshi's gaze fell on the group. 

His eyes lingered briefly on Tsunade—a stunning woman draped in a long green cloak, with a dignified appearance and a striking physique—and then on Shizune, a young woman with short hair, somewhat rustic in dress, holding a small pink pig.

"You must be Lady Tsunade, one of the legendary Sannin?" Kiyoshi spoke with a polite smile even before Azumi could introduce them. 

"I sensed the immense chakra presence when I was still in the academy!"

"No other woman in Konoha wields such power—only you."

As he spoke, his gaze momentarily drifted to the crystal necklace around her neck, its shimmer weighty and dazzling. 

Indeed, it was said this necklace alone could buy three mountains containing gold mines if it was ever sold, and that it was a crystal gem from the First Hokage himself, emanating an intense energy that he could feel resonating within.

"Impressive!" Tsunade couldn't help but be amazed. 

Was this boy really capable of such keen chakra perception, enough to identify her by it alone? 

Such perception reminded her of her great-uncle.

And he was only eight years old.

However, noticing Kiyoshi's gaze, Tsunade narrowed her eyes and smiled. "Hmm… have you had your fill of looking?"

"Ahem… the necklace on your neck is rather unique," Kiyoshi said, withdrawing his gaze. "It seems to contain quite an astonishing amount of chakra."

"…" Tsunade.

Is that necklace all you're looking at?

That sly glance hadn't escaped her… Hmph, little pervert.

"Amazing…" 

Shizune was equally taken aback. 

She hadn't expected Kiyoshi to recognize the significance of Tsunade's necklace, which was rarely seen without her and held an incredible legacy. 

She couldn't help but exclaim in admiration. 

"Tsunade-sama's necklace is said to be a chakra crystal of Lord Hashirama, the First Hokage. It's rumored that selling it could buy several mountains containing gold mines!"

Pausing, she looked at Kiyoshi, who stood calmly, and then she asked, "Azumi-san told us you have indeed awakened the Wood Release that only Lord Hashirama possessed?"

"Kiyoshi, she is Tsunade-sama's student," Azumi interjected, coughing slightly and patting Kiyoshi on the shoulder.

"No need to hold back; you can trust them!"

Azumi was fully aware of her condition. Despite Kiyoshi's efforts to care for her, the end was inevitable.

Medicine had reached its limit.

She couldn't bear the thought of leaving her precious grandson, whom she'd raised alone, without any family. Nor could she bear to let his incredible talents go unfulfilled.

"I see…" Kiyoshi nodded, glancing at his ailing grandmother. He sighed inwardly, knowing that Tsunade's presence in Konoha was likely at Azumi's request.

Her health was beyond saving.

But he hadn't expected that his grandmother intended to find him someone he could rely on before her passing.

In truth, remaining in Konoha had little appeal to him. The constraints and limitations were overwhelming. 

Even his daily training felt restricted. If it weren't for his concern for Azumi, he might have already left.

Who cared if they branded him a rogue ninja?

Traveling the shinobi world under Tsunade's guidance… Now that was a promising option.

"Is that so?"

His mind was already made up, so Kiyoshi didn't hesitate. He didn't want to disappoint his grandmother's expectations.

Of course, it had nothing to do with his fascination with Tsunade's legendary, weighty crystal necklace…

"Swish…"

Raising his right arm, he transformed it into a verdant branch, sprouting countless green leaves in a matter of seconds. 

Blooms of vibrant colors emerged from his arm, their sweet fragrance filling the air.

"This is…"

The miraculous sight left Shizune speechless, her eyes wide in amazement. 

Even Tsunade, who had been standing with her arms crossed, observing Kiyoshi, couldn't help but widen her own eyes in shock.

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