Shinji completely gave up struggling, allowing himself to sink into the soft embrace that carried a faint fragrance.
Shizune couldn't bear to watch any longer. Blushing, she quickly rushed forward, grabbed Shinji's arm, and desperately tried to pull him out of Tsunade's "clutches."
"Lady Tsunade, Shinji is a man! You should at least pay some attention to your image!"
She hurriedly tried to persuade her.
Tsunade pouted, tightening her grip on Shinji's arm instead of loosening it.
"Stop nagging, Shizune. What's there to worry about? Shinji isn't an outsider."
Shinji felt like he could barely breathe, his neck and arm being pulled in two different directions with increasing force.
Even though he had become the object of contention between Tsunade and Shizune, he didn't feel the slightest bit of joy.
He quickly raised his right hand and gently patted Tsunade's arm:
"Teacher Tsunade, that's enough! I can't breathe!"
Tsunade let out a dissatisfied "tch" before finally releasing the arm that had been pinning his neck.
Seizing the opportunity, Shizune pulled Shinji out.
Shinji thanked Shizune, feeling slightly relieved as he somewhat awkwardly straightened his disheveled hair and collar.
His gaze inadvertently shifted, and he noticed Tsunade carefully tucking the blood collection tube containing his blood into her bosom.
Seeing this, Shinji couldn't help but take a few more glances.
Tsunade's eyes flickered as she said:
"It'll probably take about a week to get the results from this blood sample. Come back then."
Shinji quickly nodded in agreement. The purpose of his visit had been accomplished.
After chatting with Tsunade and Shizune for a bit longer, he stood up to take his leave.
Tsunade and Shizune saw him to the door. Watching Shinji's gradually receding figure, a thoughtful glint slowly surfaced in Tsunade's eyes.
She raised her hand and patted Shizune's shoulder:
"Shizune, pack our things. We're leaving."
Shizune looked puzzled. "Lady Tsunade, where are we going?"
"The Hokage Building."
Tsunade went straight upstairs, changed into her tea-green, black-trimmed coat, and casually brushed back her long hair.
Seeing Shizune still looking confused, she casually explained:
"We still need to inform the Third Hokage about Shinji's matter. With his help, things will be easier."
Tsunade paused, gently stroking the blood collection vial in her bosom, her tone suddenly turning somber:
"Besides... I'm afraid I won't be able to handle the testing of this sample myself."
She looked up at Shizune and gently patted her shoulder:
"Shizune, I might have to trouble you with this matter."
"Lady Tsunade!"
Shizune looked at her, her eyes filled with heartache.
Such a strong and gentle person like Lady Tsunade, yet she suffered from Hemophobia.
For a Medical Ninja, this was almost like destroying her own career with her own hands.
Shizune silently prayed in her heart, hoping someone could save Lady Tsunade.
Tsunade smiled self-deprecatingly:
"As for my condition... let nature take its course."
She patted her cheeks, forcing herself to perk up:
"Let's go, to the Hokage Building."
With that, she strode out of the house first.
Shizune immediately quickened her pace to follow.
...
Hokage Building.
The door to the third-floor office was kicked open with a loud "bang," slamming heavily against the wall.
"Old man, I need to talk to you!"
Tsunade walked in with a nonchalant expression.
Sarutobi Hiruzen sighed helplessly, rubbing his temples in exasperation:
"Tsunade, can't you show a little more restraint?"
"I'm in the middle of discussing something important. Is your matter urgent?"
Tsunade entered the office with Shizune, her gaze immediately falling on the man sitting opposite Hiruzen, who exuded a gloomy aura.
She frowned. "Orochimaru? I didn't expect you to be here."
Orochimaru let out a sinister chuckle:
"I just came to request some budget from Teacher Sarutobi. I'm planning to set up a few laboratories recently."
"What brings you here?"
He knew Tsunade had been staying in the village recently and had even heard rumors that she had taken someone from the Uchiha Clan as her student.
At first, he thought it was just a rumor, but having just confirmed it from Teacher Sarutobi, he couldn't help but feel surprised.
He couldn't help but think of his own student, Tsunade's deceased younger brother, Nawaki.
"What kind of change has come over Tsunade?"
Orochimaru licked his lips, a strong interest flickering in his eyes.
Tsunade glanced at Orochimaru, then turned to Sarutobi Hiruzen, her tone serious:
"This matter concerns my newly taken student."
She didn't avoid Orochimaru. In her view, both men before her were still trustworthy.
Thus, she explained Shinji's suspected awakening of Storm Release in detail.
"Storm Release?!"
Sarutobi Hiruzen abruptly stood up, looking at Tsunade in shock:
"Are you telling the truth?"
Someone from the Uchiha Clan had awakened a Kekkei Genkai like Storm Release?
Unheard of.
This meant that Konoha might soon possess an entirely new Kekkei Genkai, one that could even be integrated into the Uchiha bloodline.
If mishandled, this could easily lead to significant trouble.
Sarutobi Hiruzen slowly sat back in his chair and closed his eyes.
But at that very moment, the name he least wanted to remember suddenly surfaced in his mind.
His old friend, Danzo.
No.
Absolutely not!
Danzo must not be allowed to interfere in this matter in the slightest!
Orochimaru also stood up, his narrow eyes subtly shifting into vertical slits, like a snake eyeing its prey.
"Uchiha Shinji! Storm Release!"
He licked his lips again, his voice hoarse with excitement:
"What a fascinating individual."
For the first time, Orochimaru felt an almost greedy interest in Tsunade's student.
He had long been secretly colluding with Danzo.
Both were obsessed with researching the Wood Release of the First Hokage, Senju Hashirama, but their experiments had been stagnant, making no progress.
The terrifyingly invasive and rejection-prone nature of Hashirama's cells stood before them like an insurmountable chasm. No matter what methods they tried, they couldn't truly master the power of Wood Release.
And now, they urgently needed a large number of ninja with Kekkei Genkai as experimental subjects.
Hearing about Uchiha Shinji now, how could it not excite him?
Possessing the Sharingan and having awakened Storm Release.
The cells of Uchiha Shinji were practically a perfect experimental gift from the heavens.
Of course, Tsunade had no idea that in that brief moment, countless cold, sinister thoughts had flashed through Orochimaru's mind.
She looked up at Sarutobi Hiruzen and said plainly:
"Old man, assign me a few Medical Ninja."
"I took some blood from Shinji and want to run some tests."
This was one of her true purposes for coming here.
Before Sarutobi Hiruzen could speak, Orochimaru slowly stood up. Forcing down the greed deep in his eyes, he maintained a calm facade and proactively looked at Tsunade.
"Tsunade, why not let me help you?"
"Hmm?"
Tsunade frowned, clearly sensing an unusual enthusiasm from Orochimaru.
She hesitated almost not at all, decisively shaking her head in refusal.
"That won't be necessary, Orochimaru. I'll handle this matter myself."
Orochimaru: "..."
Sarutobi Hiruzen took out his pipe from his bosom, casually lit it, and took a gentle puff.
Pale white smoke slowly rose, gradually filling the Hokage's office.
"You may mobilize the ninja of the Medical Corps as you wish, Tsunade."
He looked at Tsunade, his tone growing more serious. "Exactly how many people know about this matter?"
Tsunade waved away the smoke before her eyes, frowning as she replied:
"So far, aside from Shinji himself, only those present here know."
"Oh?"
Sarutobi Hiruzen was slightly surprised.
His gaze swept over Orochimaru, Tsunade, and Shizune, who had been standing behind Tsunade all along.
Shinji hadn't informed the Uchiha Clan Head and elders first, but had instead told Tsunade?
It seemed that in this child's heart, his trust in Tsunade outweighed that in his clan.
The Third Hokage's eyes gleamed with satisfaction as he nodded.
Truly an outstanding ninja he had recognized, one who inherited the Will of Fire.
He cleared his throat and said solemnly:
"Everyone present must keep this matter confidential."
Sarutobi Hiruzen first instructed those present, then looked at Tsunade.
"Tsunade, since you've become Shinji's teacher, you must act like one. Such promising talent requires your dedicated guidance."
Tsunade pouted. "Old man, I know what I'm doing. No need for you to meddle."
"I just hope you can help shield him from some trouble."
She still wanted to leave the village, but as Shinji's teacher, she ought to leave him some protection.
Sarutobi Hiruzen was already used to her attitude, merely feeling a slight headache.
Shinji's potential might not be inferior to that of the Sannin in the future.
Awakening the Sharingan at such a young age, possessing such a reliable character, and now having awakened Storm Release.
Most importantly, Danzo must absolutely not be allowed to lay a hand on Shinji.
Given Danzo's obsession with the Uchiha, he might use this child for some unsavory schemes.
He must secure Shinji firmly under his own protection before Danzo could make a move!
He gently placed his pipe on the table, his expression grave:
"I will personally speak with Shinji later. When the time is critical, I will intervene."
Seeing her objective achieved, Tsunade didn't linger.
"In that case, I'll head to the Medical Corps now."
"Shizune, let's go."
She nodded to Sarutobi Hiruzen and Orochimaru, then turned and left the Hokage's office with Shizune.
Shizune immediately quickened her pace to follow.
Watching Tsunade's departing figure, a glint flickered in Orochimaru's eyes.
Having been directly refused by Tsunade, he naturally wouldn't shamelessly force himself to follow.
After all, he wasn't a thick-skinned guy like Jiraiya.
But there were plenty of ways to uncover Uchiha Shinji's secrets.
Now that he knew of such a special existence like Uchiha Shinji, all he needed to do was gather information properly.
Opportunities would always present themselves, wouldn't they?
Orochimaru let out a sinister chuckle, his long tongue flicking out to lick the corner of his mouth.
For now, he had more pressing matters to attend to.
He turned to look at his teacher. "Teacher Sarutobi, about my application to build additional laboratories...?"
Sarutobi Hiruzen rubbed his temples. "How much do you need?"
"Not much, just a few tens of millions of ryo."
Sarutobi Hiruzen: "..."
...
Meanwhile, after leaving Tsunade's house, Shinji didn't return to the Uchiha compound. Instead, he went straight to Konoha Hospital.
He was greeted by the same receptionist nurse from last time.
"Here to see Rin?" She covered her mouth with a light laugh. "She's on break right now. I'll go get her for you."
With that, she hurried into the hospital interior.
Before long, Nohara Rin walked out quickly, her face slightly flushed.
Shinji smiled and waved in greeting. "Rin, do you have some time?"
Konoha Hospital rooftop, on that familiar bench.
He sat side by side with Rin.
"Rin, have you felt any discomfort since returning to the village?"
Shinji looked at her with concern.
He had wanted to visit yesterday, but Kurenai Yuhi's presence made it impossible.
Today, as soon as he left Tsunade's place, he rushed over, feeling a bit guilty inside.
Nohara Rin met his gaze and smiled softly:
"I'm completely fine now, no aftereffects at all."
She raised her hand and touched her chest.
Even now, she could hardly believe that despite having her heart pierced by a Wooden Spike, she was now completely healed, with even the internal trap gone.
She knew very well that all of this was thanks to Shinji.
Unconsciously, her gaze toward Shinji held a touch more tender affection.
Shinji raised his hand and gently stroked her hair, saying softly, "That's good."
Nohara Rin smiled and began telling him about the past couple of days.
Minato Namikaze had returned to the village. She and Kakashi reported their patrol mission to Minato together.
As agreed, neither mentioned a word about Shinji's involvement.
Aside from the three of them, no one knew what truly happened during that mission.
"Thank you so much, Rin."
Shinji took Rin's hand, expressing his gratitude.
Nohara Rin's cheeks warmed as she obediently rested her head on his shoulder.
The two sat quietly together like that for a while.
Soon, Rin had her shift duties, so Shinji reluctantly bid her farewell. They agreed that later, he would invite Rin to his home.
Over the next few days, Shinji became a master of time management, juggling between Tsunade, Kurenai Yuhi, and Nohara Rin, all while not neglecting his training.
Deep within the Dark Forest.
Deep blue-white lightning suddenly erupted from Shinji's palm. The Chidori trembled violently in his hand, its sound resembling a thousand birds chirping.
His Sharingan precisely locked onto a giant tree ahead. In a flash, he shot forward, thrusting his arm out. The lightning shot straight forward.
Crack—!
The tree trunk, thick enough to require both arms to encircle, was pierced, shattered, and finally snapped in half by the Chidori.
Without stopping, he surged forward again, the lightning intensifying. One, then another giant tree were successively pierced and severed.
Wherever the Chidori passed, wood chips flew, and the air instantly filled with the scorched smell left by Lightning Release.
Shinji gently shook his hand, the electrical light in his palm instantly dissipating.
He took a deep breath.
"Whew, I've finally grasped the basics of Chidori."
After his exchange with Kakashi a few days prior and his own diligent training, he had finally learned this S-rank Lightning Release Ninjutsu.
Now, armed with both Chidori and Storm Release: Laser Circus, one for close range and one for distance, even without activating the Mangekyo Sharingan, he could handle most situations.
Shinji looked up at the gradually darkening sky, turned, and left the Dark Forest, returning to his home.
Midnight.
In Shinji's bedroom, he was already deep in sleep.
At that moment, his bedroom door was silently pushed open a crack.
A small snake slowly slithered in, propping itself up in the center of the room.
The next moment, the snake's mouth suddenly widened. An arm stretched out from within, followed by a head, upper body...
Finally, a figure slowly emerged from the snake's mouth. Covered in sticky fluid, he landed without making a sound.
Orochimaru looked at the sleeping Shinji on the bed, licked his lips, a greedy and eerie smile flashing in his eyes as he slowly approached step by step.
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