"Natsuhiko… I never imagined you would reach this point."
Night had fallen, and inside Natsuhiko's new home, Senju Shoma sat across from him in the living room.
In truth, Shoma had arrived much earlier.
At dawn, they had all been released from the evacuation shelters. What had happened the previous night was something the entire village of Konoha would never forget—and for Shoma, the impact ran even deeper.
In his youth, he had witnessed the Nine-Tails run rampant.
He had even seen, with his own eyes, how Senju Hashirama subdued that very beast.
And now…
It felt as though he had witnessed it all over again.
But time had changed everything.
The one who stood against the Nine-Tails this time was no longer Hashirama—
But a young man he had personally nurtured. A boy who seemed to embody everything that defined both the First and Second Hokage.
During the evacuation, Shoma had seen it all.
He had seen the summoned creature Natsuhiko brought forth, watched as he used Earth Release to block a Tailed Beast Bomb, and witnessed the towering forest of colossal trees he conjured.
He had even heard the Nine-Tails roar—
A roar laced not with fury alone, but unmistakable wariness.
As for what happened afterward, he didn't know. By then, everyone had been escorted into the shelters.
But that only made him more eager to find out.
So the moment they were released, he came straight to Natsuhiko's home.
Senju Renge and her daughter had returned with him as well. Neither of them were combatants, so they had been among those evacuated for safety.
Natsuhiko, however, had not been home.
The events of the previous night had clearly left him with no time to rest in his role as an ANBU division commander.
And so, Shoma chose to wait.
At the same time, he had people gather what information they could about what had transpired.
The reports were fragmented, but enough to form a picture.
Natsuhiko had fully revealed his strength.
The entire village was in an uproar over the reappearance of Wood Release, celebrating it almost fervently.
And beyond that—
It was said that the Nine-Tails had been sealed through the combined efforts of Natsuhiko and the Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze.
Minato, however, had suffered severe injuries and was now confined to the hospital.
Natsuhiko, on the other hand… seemed completely unharmed.
As he waited in silence, Shoma's thoughts churned relentlessly.
The Wood Release Natsuhiko had displayed was far beyond anything he had anticipated.
And then came another piece of information—one that unsettled him even more.
When Hiruzen Sarutobi personally led a team outside the village, every shinobi present had witnessed Natsuhiko unleash an even more terrifying technique.
The Wood Dragon Technique.
One of the most fearsome abilities within Wood Release.
"Have you really grown to this extent…?"
The mere thought of Natsuhiko using the Wood Dragon to restrain the Nine-Tails sent waves through Shoma's heart.
After all—
How old was he?
Fourteen.
Only fourteen years old.
And yet he had already reached such heights.
If he continued to grow… if he reached the peak age of a shinobi…
Just how powerful would he become?
Especially considering that Wood Release was not his only strength.
He had also mastered the Flying Thunder God Technique.
"It's as if the First and Second Hokage have been combined into one," Shoma murmured to himself, a faint unease creeping into his expression. "Not just in power… but in temperament and methods as well."
Natsuhiko's demeanor had always been gentle, refined—like sunlight warming those around him, like a spring breeze that put others at ease.
And yet…
That was precisely what unsettled Shoma the most.
Because Natsuhiko had entered the ANBU at a very young age.
And the ANBU was not a place where such warmth was preserved.
It was one of the darkest institutions in Konoha.
Back when Natsuhiko first mastered the Flying Thunder God Technique and rose to the position of division commander, Shoma had already begun to worry.
After all, this was a boy who had once resisted joining the ANBU.
And now, at his age—
He was right in the middle of his most rebellious years.
Back then, he had personally sent Natsuhiko into the ANBU. Now that the boy wielded such overwhelming power, Senju Shoma realized he needed to be far more cautious than before.
And yet, as time passed, he came to understand something even more unsettling—
Even his caution had not been enough.
Natsuhiko's disguise was simply too perfect.
To the outside world, he appeared like Senju Hashirama—warm, radiant, someone who inspired trust and admiration. But the methods he employed… those were unmistakably reminiscent of Senju Tobirama.
Shoma still remembered clearly how Senju Ryota had fallen.
Natsuhiko had not only demonstrated overwhelming strength, but had also forced Ryota into a desperate corner—coldly giving him the choice of deciding which of his family members would be allowed to live.
That moment had been a chilling blend of cruelty and calculated precision.
At times, Shoma couldn't help but think—if he hadn't raised Natsuhiko himself, and if the Senju clan didn't still possess some influence…
Would this boy even consider the Senju clan his home?
"He's even colder than Lord Tobirama… and far more ruthless in his methods."
With that thought weighing heavily on his mind, Shoma had waited for Natsuhiko's return.
And when the sun finally set, Natsuhiko came home.
Yet the moment he stepped inside, his demeanor was unchanged.
Gentle. Polite. Warm.
Exactly as he had always been.
But to Shoma, that only made things worse.
Looking at that familiar face, he felt an indescribable discomfort rising within him.
So he wasted no time asking what had truly happened.
And what he learned… left him shaken to the core.
Through calculated schemes, Natsuhiko had maneuvered the former ANBU commander into an untenable position—then personally eliminated him.
More than that, even though Hiruzen Sarutobi was fully aware of what had happened, he had been unable to intervene.
And then there was Minato Namikaze.
Shoma learned that Minato had used the Reaper Death Seal to seal away the Nine-Tails, effectively choosing to perish alongside it.
Yet Natsuhiko had somehow used the method to undo that very seal—something he himself had provided—to bring Minato back from the brink.
And by revealing that act openly, he had secured the position of ANBU commander.
But that wasn't all.
To establish his authority and purge the remnants of the Third Hokage's influence, Natsuhiko had gone even further—killing the commander of the Second Division and outright dissolving the entire unit, only to begin rebuilding it from scratch.
Shoma sat there, utterly stunned.
No matter how he looked at it, all of this had taken place within the span of a single day and night.
And yet, the scale and impact of those actions were almost beyond comprehension.
What frightened him most, however, was something else entirely.
None of it felt accidental.
Every step… every move… had been deliberate.
A carefully laid plan, executed with precision.
And even if others came to understand what he had done—
There would be no fault to find.
Shoma let out a silent breath, his heart filled with a complicated mix of awe and unease.
He didn't even know what kind of monster he had raised.
Or perhaps…
What kind of place the ANBU had become, to forge someone like Natsuhiko.
"Yes… I've reached this point," Natsuhiko said calmly, unaware of the storm of thoughts running through Shoma's mind. His gentle smile remained unchanged. "It was dangerous, but overall, the results are satisfactory."
He paused slightly before continuing.
"And I think… it's time for the Senju to step back into the open. After all, what I did last night can't be hidden."
"You mean… you want me to visit the clans on your behalf?" Shoma asked.
Though age had dulled him in some ways, at this moment, his mind was sharp.
Natsuhiko had dissolved the Second Division. Even though it had only numbered around thirty members, there were undoubtedly shinobi from various clans among them.
Rebuilding meant recruiting again.
And bringing in clan members would be essential.
More importantly, Shoma understood something else—
Natsuhiko now stood behind the Fourth Hokage.
Any move he made could easily be interpreted as the will of Minato himself.
Whether the clans were willing or not… they would have little choice but to cooperate.
And if Senju Shoma were to express things a bit more subtly—guiding those clans into believing that the dissolution of the Second Division had actually been the Fourth Hokage's intention—
Then the pressure on Natsuhiko, as the ANBU commander, would be significantly reduced.
After all, Shoma already knew that Minato Namikaze would soon be stepping back to recover.
Such a convenient shield would be a waste not to use.
"Yes. If possible, I'd like you to handle this, Elder."
Natsuhiko nodded with a faint smile. It was a relatively new idea, but one he found increasingly practical.
As the head of the Anbu, there were many matters he didn't need to personally attend to. Of course, doing so himself would demonstrate sincerity—but it also came with drawbacks.
It could make him appear too accommodating, lowering his own standing. Worse still, there was always the risk of inadvertently exposing weaknesses.
More importantly, he had resources at his disposal—and Shoma was different from him. As a clan elder, Shoma had never concealed his identity.
Natsuhiko's actions were already widely known, and it wouldn't be long before news of his appointment as Anbu commander spread throughout the village.
If Shoma acted on his behalf, it would not only represent Natsuhiko's will, but in some respects, he might even handle the situation more effectively.
"I understand," Shoma said, his thoughts already beginning to turn. "What kind of attitude should I take?"
"Firm, but not overbearing," Natsuhiko replied with a calm smile. "Explain why I made these decisions, and hint at my future plans. I believe they'll understand."
In truth, even without such explicit instructions, Natsuhiko knew Shoma would likely handle things in much the same way.
More than that, he could sense Shoma's growing enthusiasm.
To some extent, the old man clearly wanted to do more for the clan.
After all, he had devoted his entire life to it. Now that the Senju stood once again at a turning point in history, being unable to contribute would be a heavy blow.
Even if this situation had little to do with him personally—even if everything had been orchestrated by Natsuhiko—Shoma could not simply stand by.
"I know what to do. Leave it to me."
Shoma nodded firmly, though a trace of emotion lingered in his voice as he added,
"You've grown far beyond what anyone could have imagined. Your strength alone surpasses all expectations… You truly are the key to the revival of the Senju clan."
"That depends on effort," Natsuhiko said with a soft shake of his head, his smile unchanged. "I've only done what I should."
He paused briefly before continuing,
"After all, I am a member of the Senju clan. And you raised me—I haven't forgotten that."
At that point, he fell silent.
There was no need to say more.
Everything that needed to be said had already been laid out.
As for the finer details… those were not matters he needed to concern himself with.
Questions regarding the current state of the Senju clan, its structure, and its future direction—
Those were things Shoma would handle far better.
After years spent within the Anbu, Natsuhiko's understanding of the clan's internal affairs was limited at best. Aside from Shoma, the only influential figure he had dealt with was Senju Ryota—the same man he had forced into retirement.
Coordinating the clan, negotiating with other families—
Natsuhiko could do it, but it wasn't his strength.
Shoma, however, was perfectly suited for such tasks.
And so, Natsuhiko's role was simple.
He would set the direction.
And leave the rest to those better suited to carry it out.
Before he even realized it, Natsuhiko had, in a certain sense, already taken control of the Senju clan.
After all, Senju Shoma had shown no intention of opposing him.
Perhaps it had begun the moment Natsuhiko laid everything bare after becoming a division commander. Perhaps it was when he awakened Wood Release. Or maybe it was when he forced Senju Ryota into submission.
Or perhaps—
Everything had truly changed after what he did last night.
Whatever the reason, the outcome was clear: Natsuhiko had obtained everything he needed—and now, he intended to take things even further.
"By the way, Elder."
Natsuhiko turned slightly, his gaze settling on Shoma as a faint smile appeared on his lips.
"I think it's time I learned about the true state of the Senju clan, don't you?"
"The true state of the Senju clan…"
Shoma paused for a moment at those words, his body stiffening ever so slightly. But soon, he nodded, a trace of emotion surfacing in his eyes.
"Yes… it is time. After all, you've become the head of the ANBU. From this moment on, everything about you will be different."
He let out a quiet breath before continuing.
"The position of commander… you've already stepped into the very core of Konoha's power structure. And more than that, you now control one of its most formidable forces."
His gaze grew more serious.
"You need to know more. You need to hold more."
"Tomorrow morning, I'll hand over all the information on the Senju clan to you. Everything."
With that, Shoma slowly rose to his feet.
There was a sense of relief in his expression—but also unmistakable reluctance.
Still, he had made his decision.
And once he did, he would not waver.
Perhaps entrusting everything to Natsuhiko truly was the best choice.
Even so… after managing the clan for so many years, letting go was no easy thing.
Because deep down, he knew—
Among the entire Senju clan, the young man he had raised with his own hands had already become the most prominent figure… and the one who held the greatest power within Konoha.
...
After seeing Shoma off, Natsuhiko returned to his room alone, instructing Senju Renge and her mother not to disturb him.
He had noticed the look on Shoma's face as he left, but he chose not to dwell on it.
After all, it was only natural.
No one could easily abandon something they had built with their own hands—especially when it came with such immense power.
Just look at Hiruzen Sarutobi.
Even after stepping down as Hokage, hadn't he continued to hold influence over Konoha?
And beyond him, there were figures like Koharu Utatane and Homura Mitokado—people who seemed to linger on, clinging to authority, their interference as persistent as ever.
Power had always been a tempting prize.
No one willingly let go of it.
In Natsuhiko's eyes, Shoma was no different.
It wasn't that he wanted to let go—
He simply had no choice.
Natsuhiko's rise had been too overwhelming, his methods too decisive, too cold.
And after their many conversations, Shoma had likely realized that his own approach had been directionless, like a fly without a head.
So he chose to step back… and instead support Natsuhiko, hoping to guide the clan toward a better future.
"But stepping back doesn't mean losing everything."
Sitting alone in his room, Natsuhiko shook his head lightly, a faint hint of amusement in his expression.
It seemed the old man believed he intended to take over everything completely.
But that wasn't the case.
Natsuhiko had no intention of dedicating all his time and energy to a single clan—no matter how important it was.
His sights had always been set on something greater.
The entire village.
Now that he controlled the ANBU, his priorities were clear: consolidation, training, and removing those who didn't belong.
Beyond that, through Shoma's connections with the major clans, he would begin making the necessary arrangements and adjustments.
This was only the beginning.
Compared to the great clans, dealing with the smaller clans was much simpler.
After all, the survival rule of small clans in Konoha had always been clear—never put all your eggs in one basket.
As for the major clans, Natsuhiko's current focus was naturally on the Uchiha.
Now that his identity as a member of the Senju had been exposed, he was genuinely curious about how they would respond to him.
Especially that old man, Uchiha Shin.
Natsuhiko had personally planted a seed in him, guided him step by step, and during the Nine-Tails incident, Shin had performed rather well.
But now that everything was out in the open…
Would ambition and the desire for power take root and grow uncontrollably within him?
Or would he face reality head-on, following the example of Uchiha Madara and Senju Hashirama—choosing to reach an understanding despite everything?
"Maybe… I should just beat them up first. That might be more effective."
Natsuhiko rubbed his chin lightly, a faint, amused smile tugging at his lips.
The Uchiha were, after all, a warrior clan.
And they had a rather interesting trait—they didn't easily listen to others.
Proud to their core, they wouldn't waste time arguing with those they deemed beneath them.
If you wanted to truly communicate with them, you had to stand on equal footing… or surpass them entirely. Only then would they take your words seriously.
Just like Naruto and Sasuke.
In the beginning, no matter how earnestly Naruto tried to persuade Sasuke—with emotion, with reason—he was met only with cold indifference, as if Sasuke were looking at a fool.
But once Naruto beat him—truly beat him—forcing him to acknowledge that strength, everything changed.
Only then did Sasuke begin to seriously consider Naruto's words.
Later on, he would even stand in Naruto's shoes, thinking from his perspective—and, in some ways, even helping resolve Boruto's problems.
So when it came to the Uchiha…
If your strength was sufficient, a decisive show of force might achieve far more than words ever could.
"…Forget it. No point thinking about that right now."
Shaking his head, Natsuhiko pushed those thoughts aside. For the moment, what mattered more was his own strength.
He had spent a considerable amount of time today collecting seeds.
At this point, he possessed chakra seeds for nearly every attribute—everything except Yin Release.
As for how to obtain Yin Release… he hadn't fully decided yet.
But after his experience with Hashirama's flesh, he already had a rough idea forming in his mind.
Still, that plan would have to wait—at least until he saw how things developed with Uchiha Shin.
As for Yang Release, things were different.
He hadn't obtained it as a seed—
He had acquired a complete "fruit," something he could already begin to use.
As for upgrading, he wasn't too concerned either.
After all, he now had excellent materials at his disposal.
"Come to think of it… I've added another name to my list of 'kind benefactors.'"
Reaching into his ninja pouch, Natsuhiko pulled out a scroll. As he looked at it, a faint smile appeared on his face.
Uchiha Obito, in his attempt to play the "good Samaritan," had forced Natsuhiko into a position where he had no choice but to withdraw, leaving Minato and the others to deal with sealing the Nine-Tails on their own.
But in return, Natsuhiko had severed one of Obito's arms.
And that arm…
Belonged to the White Zetsu half of his body.
Natsuhiko hadn't forgotten to retrieve it.
After all, that thing had been constructed using the cells of Senju Hashirama.
"Whether it can compare to a 'fragment of Asura's power'… I don't know."
"But there's only one way to find out."
And if that didn't work, he still had a backup plan.
At worst, he could pay another visit to Danzo's "kindly" little hideout… or find a way to get in touch with Orochimaru.
After all, with the Flying Thunder God Technique at his disposal, as long as his lizard summon could get inside—
He could appear in Danzo's laboratory silently, without anyone ever noticing.
As for Orochimaru, he was merely a backup option—but still one worth considering.
After all, Orochimaru had long maintained a cooperative relationship with Danzo. If there were things Natsuhiko needed, finding them in Orochimaru's laboratory would be nothing unusual.
But before pursuing that route, he intended to properly "plant" the arm he had taken from Obito.
"And then… there's the matter of how to handle these seeds."
As the thought crossed his mind, several seeds appeared in Natsuhiko's hand—each one a different color, each radiating a distinct chakra signature.
These were the fruits of his efforts on the battlefield: Fire Release, Lightning Release, and sealing-type seeds, along with the Wind Release seed he had obtained earlier during the mission involving Yashamaru.
And then—
There was one more.
A seed that even he found puzzling, yet somehow inevitable.
A seed imbued with the chakra of the Nine-Tails.
Among everything he had gathered, this was the one that drew his attention the most—and stirred both anticipation and hesitation within him.
The Nine-Tails.
Its terrifying power had been laid bare just the night before.
Sure, in the future it might seem as though just about anyone could beat it into submission—but who were those "anyones," really?
They were the rarest elites of the shinobi world, individuals who would stand at the very peak in any village.
And strictly speaking, the Nine-Tails of the future wasn't even at full strength.
The Reaper Death Seal had taken half of its power—yet even with only half remaining, it still managed to dominate the other tailed beasts.
That alone was enough to demonstrate just how monstrous it truly was.
"This… is the power of the Nine-Tails…"
Gazing at the seed in his hand, Natsuhiko felt his heart stir.
It was simply too powerful.
Even though he had subdued it this time, the circumstances had been anything but ordinary.
At the time, the Nine-Tails lacked true self-awareness, driven only by its beastly instincts.
It had also been weakened after enduring Kushina's sealing techniques for so long, far from its peak condition.
On top of that, the Wood Release of the Senju clan naturally suppressed the Nine-Tails—and Natsuhiko had even enhanced it further with Sage art, pushing it closer to the level of Hashirama in his prime.
Only under all those conditions had it seemed like he handled the Nine-Tails with ease.
In reality, if not for his exceptional recovery ability, he would have collapsed from exhaustion long ago.
Which was precisely why obtaining a Nine-Tails chakra seed was so valuable—especially for him, right now.
"I didn't get any higher-level chakra seeds… but this might be even better."
For someone currently lacking sufficient chakra to cultivate his seeds, the Nine-Tails' chakra felt like a gift beyond expectation.
In fact, he even considered exploiting the "bug" in his system—using the progress from his so-called "unique mission" to forcibly accelerate the growth of this Basic Nine-Tails seed.
If that worked, it would be more than acceptable.
The real question, however, was—
How far could that progress take him?
Would it be enough… to fully "grow" the Nine-Tails itself?
Hesitation flickered in his mind.
For a brief moment, he didn't move.
But as he looked down at the deep crimson seed in his hand, his expression gradually hardened.
"I have to plant it."
"This is the Nine-Tails' power… there's no way I can let this slip through my fingers."
The hesitation lasted only an instant before he made his decision.
After all, he had spent years in the ANBU.
Beyond mastering stealth, disguise, and assassination, the one thing he valued most—
Was decisiveness.
When you acted, you acted without hesitation.
Delays only invited complications.
The best choice was always to complete the task immediately.
Without wasting another second, Natsuhiko stored the other seeds back into his ninja pouch, leaving only the deep red Nine-Tails seed in his hand.
Now—
It was time.
Taking a deep breath, Natsuhiko clenched the seed tightly in his hand, and a soft green chakra began to flow from his palm.
As the green energy rippled, he felt the seed merge directly with his body. Slowly, the crimson seed traveled along his bloodstream, settling near his heart before embedding itself there. In an instant, it was as if life itself were stirring inside him. Along with that pulse of vitality, his own chakra surged in response to the seed.
"What… is happening?"
Natsuhiko was puzzled. He had planted countless seeds before, yet he had never experienced this sensation of life leaping from within a seed.
"Could it… really grow into an actual Nine-Tails?"
He thought for a long while but came up with nothing, eventually giving a wry smile and deciding not to dwell on it. Whatever it was, the system had yet to fail him, and after all, the Nine-Tails had already been split in two—half within Minato, half within Kushina.
Its chakra could simulate the power of a jinchūriki, but in Natsuhiko's experience, no single fragment of tailed beast chakra had ever developed into an independent entity. If it were really possible, the world would already be overflowing with tailed beasts, considering how much of their chakra had been scattered.
Closing his eyes for a moment, he opened his status panel.
...
Name: Senju Natsuhiko
Gender: Male
Birthday: March 24, Year 34 of Konoha
Level: Elite Jonin (evaluated by system without using abilities; chakra reserves equivalent to Chunin)
Bloodline Development: Intermediate (Senju secret techniques, Basic Yang Release secret techniques)
Seeds: Basic Nine-Tails chakra seed (1%) (not yet planted; unplantable seeds hidden)
Fruits: None
Mission: Become the true final BOSS of the shinobi world (Unique) – Progress: 18%
...
Natsuhiko nodded lightly at the display. Many of his seeds were still unplanted, but that wasn't a problem. The unplantable ones were naturally the intermediate-level seeds—he hadn't skipped ahead to plant them, so that made sense.
However, his chakra had taken a serious hit. It had dropped from the level of a Kage down to a Chunin-level reserve in a single instance. Considering the overwhelming power of the Nine-Tails' chakra, he could only endure it temporarily.
Soon, the system flashed a new notification, and he felt a rush of relief.
Focusing on the screen, he noticed the "Unique Mission" progress bar shifting. His brilliance from last night—the feats other villages' spies had reported, combined with the fact that he was now the ANBU Commander—was finally being recognized. The task progress surged, and when the momentum settled, his unique mission progress had jumped to 30%.
At that moment, Natsuhiko felt an unfamiliar power stirring inside him. The seed itself seemed to pulse violently, growing faster and stronger with every passing second.
When the surge subsided, he sensed something tangible forming in his hand. His chakra began to ripple through him, and beneath the familiar blue hue of his energy, a faint red vortex coalesced in his palm.
The vortex thickened, spinning faster until it solidified into a small, fruit-like object. Feeling the terrifying chakra radiating from it, Natsuhiko didn't hesitate—he swallowed it whole.
The taste was as awful as ever, but almost instantly, a strange energy coursed through his body. He closed his eyes as the sensation spread, and slowly, the unusual aura faded, his body settling into a calm equilibrium.
When he opened his eyes again, his expression was unusual, almost indescribable. His hands rested lightly over his lower abdomen, as if feeling something beyond comprehension.
After a long pause, he finally spoke, his voice a mixture of awe and disbelief:
"So… it really is a Nine-Tails."