Tsunade noticed something amiss on the third day of their secret experiments: "What's wrong with you two? Why do you look so weak?"
Seeing that neither of them spoke, Tsunade frowned and looked at Tonton.
Tonton was sweating profusely, head bowed, unsure whether to fess up.
Shizune finally couldn't hold back and revealed the contents of their experiment.
"How foolish!" Tsunade reprimanded sharply. Both of them lowered their heads, admitting their mistake, and even Tonton looked very well-behaved.
"Why didn't you tell me about this? Do you still consider me your teacher? This experiment is very interesting, count me in!"
Tsunade forcefully joined the experiment team, then immediately took over the lead.
Ino's morbid method was half-discarded by her. According to Tsunade's hypothesis, even if she used Shizune's body to perform Flower Release, once her spirit withdrew, Shizune still wouldn't be able to use Flower Release. A Bloodline Limit is a brand solidified into cells; how could it be awakened in just a few tries? You're underestimating the Ninja World's predecessors too much.
"We still need to start from the cells," Tsunade said, scrutinizing Ino, which made her uneasy: "But you are also very valuable. First, draw ten tubes of blood; let's research it together."
A massive blood draw ensued.
Tsunade not only drew Ino's blood but also her own for research and comparison.
As a direct descendant of the First Hokage, she naturally had inherited Hashirama cells in her body, which also contained a very small amount of Asura Chakra.
Theoretically, her chances of developing Wood Release were the highest.
The reason it hadn't been developed yet.
After studying Ino's cells, Tsunade came to a conclusion: her own path was wrong, or rather, not wrong, but simply a path entirely different from Wood Release.
As a Senju descendant, she absolutely deserved the saying 'great capacity holds much'; she was naturally born with abundant Chakra. The reason her Chakra volume now only seemed slightly more than an average Ninja was because she hadn't developed herself enough in this area.
Spending all her time researching refined Medical Ninjutsu was equivalent to stifling the abilities in her bloodline from the start.
What was the First Hokage's style? Clapping his hands, he relied on a massive amount of Chakra to brute force it! What refinement?!
Tsunade's talent was entirely allocated to another talent tree; how could she awaken Wood Release? Even in terms of Chakra volume, she wasn't considered abundant within the Senju Clan.
For a Medical Ninja, more Chakra isn't necessarily better; less is actually easier to control. The main reason Ino was a third-rate doctor was her excessive Chakra.
It could be said that the more proficient one is in Medical Ninjutsu, the further away one is from Wood Release; that thing isn't about refined control, not at its root.
Tsunade studied the blood samples of the two for two days, losing hair in the process, but didn't come up with anything.
Shizune was preparing to return to the village to discuss with Yamato, who was said to be able to use Wood Release, and draw some of his blood for research.
Tsunade thought it was unnecessary.
Ino also thought it was unnecessary. She hadn't met Yamato, but estimated he had a Chakra level similar to Asuma's. After seeing the First Hokage's Chakra, Yamato's was simply too ordinary! There were several orders of magnitude between them.
"I think experience is still very important, right? Perhaps if you personally experience it, you'll get new inspiration? Just like how we researched the Spirit Transformation Technique, can we deduce it backward from the result?"
Ino's words moved the deep-thinking Tsunade. She thought seriously about it and had to admit there was sense in them. Orochimaru and Danzo didn't have the conditions for the Spirit Transformation Technique. Since she did, there was no need to waste it.
Tsunade was also a decisive person and immediately nodded: "Then I'll trouble you."
The three people and one pig found a desolate, uninhabited island near the Land of Tea.
Ino sat cross-legged and quickly formed hand signs. This time, Tonton didn't need to be on guard; with Shizune watching, she could confidently draw out most of the Chakra from her body. After the technique, her spirit body looked extremely solid, almost identical to a real person.
Then, following the method of Flower Release, she covered her entire body with Chakra imbued with Flower Release nature transformation.
She lightly placed her hand on Tsunade's shoulder: "Teacher, get ready, pay attention to your breathing rhythm, clear your mind, and absorb my Chakra with all your might!"
The surrounding plants began to grow wildly just from the radiation of her Chakra. Shizune and Tonton were inhaling deeply; both the person and the pig found the scent extremely pleasant, feeling dizzy, almost like being drunk.
Tsunade began to receive Ino's tidal wave of Chakra. This method of external infusion made her body very uncomfortable, and she frowned deeply.
Ino was also uncomfortable. As Chakra was continuously transmitted, no matter how much Tsunade relaxed, her cells still autonomously resisted the invasion of outsiders. After such a transmission, the "en route" loss was almost over eighty percent.
Fortunately, Ino's Chakra was indeed much more than Tsunade's, so she could pour it in without concern for depletion at this moment.
"Teacher, don't slack off. I'm responsible for guiding; your Chakra volume is essential. To use Wood Release, you must extract more Chakra."
"Less talk! Don't I understand such a simple principle? I just haven't used it this way before."
"Teacher, free your mind, think about the grandeur of the First Hokage and the Second Hokage. You should be more familiar with them than I am. I have a lot of say when it comes to Flower Release: big is good, more is beautiful. You need to release even more Chakra... Teacher, you haven't reached your limit. I can't be the only one exerting effort; you also need to use force. Yes, cooperate with me! The First Hokage made it very clear that the first step of Wood Release is to use force. You're always holding back; that won't do. Loosen up a bit, yes! Loosen up even more!"
Shizune hugged Tonton, and the person and pig hid far away.
It turned out Tsunade still had potential.
As Ino urged her, Tsunade's entire body was enveloped in pale blue Chakra. Sweat that just emerged was vaporized by the Chakra. A large amount of Chakra accumulated in her body, and these energies transformed into torrents, entering the Chakra pathways throughout her body.
"Teacher, next we'll use Flower Release for the first time. I'll guide you through your Chakra pathways once. Try to remember this feeling, remember the key points the First Hokage mentioned: force, half-squat, spring! You can also visualize that muscle in your mind; it might be useful," Ino's words echoed in her mind.
Tsunade really didn't know how to complain. What could she say? These were Ino's words, relayed from her grandfather. She couldn't very well say her own grandfather was talking nonsense, could she?
She closed her eyes tightly, stood up, maintained a half-squatting posture, and mobilized all her Chakra. Ino controlled her hands to form hand signs, guiding her Chakra to operate according to the Flower Release method, quickly completing the springing step.
"Now listen to my command, release it all at once! Three, two, one! Now! Wood Release: Flower World Advent!"
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