After Tsunade left with Nawaki, the first thing she did was take him to meet her teammates.
He was her younger brother, so of course, she had to introduce him to her companions.
These past few days, Hatake Sakumo and Hattori Hanzō had been at the training grounds, and today was no exception.
As the two were practicing, they saw Tsunade pulling a boy over.
"Tsunade, could he be Nawaki?"
Hatake Sakumo knew that Tsunade's mother would bring her son to the Hidden Leaf Village.
Tsunade wasn't someone who usually liked to play with unfamiliar children, so seeing her holding the boy's hand, he figured the boy might be Tsunade's relative.
"That's right, he's Nawaki."
Tsunade smiled and nodded, then said to Nawaki, "Nawaki, these two are my teammates.
This is Hatake Sakumo, and this is Hattori Hanzō.
You can just call them big brothers."
"Okay, Big Brother Sakumo, Big Brother Hanzō."
Nawaki obediently replied.
"Hello, Nawaki."
Hatake Sakumo wiped his sweat and smiled at Nawaki, while Hattori Hanzō next to him nodded slightly in greeting.
"What are Big Brother Sakumo and Big Brother Hanzō doing?" Nawaki asked curiously.
"They're preparing for the third stage of the Chunin Exams.
You should know a little about it," Tsunade said.
"Hmm, it seems like an exam for outstanding ninjas from each village.
Big Brother Sakumo and Big Brother Hanzō have already reached the third stage? That's amazing!" Nawaki's voice was filled with admiration.
"It's alright.
Our opponents are also strong, so we all have to practice hard and not slack off," Hatake Sakumo said gently.
"Since they're your teammates, why aren't you practicing with them, Big Sister? Did you not pass the exam?" Nawaki seemed to think of something and turned to ask Tsunade.
"That's not it at all!
Grandpa Tobirama stopped me, so I can only watch from the sidelines.
Otherwise, I could also be in the third stage of the exam!" Tsunade pouted, showing her resentment towards Tobirama.
"Grandpa Tobirama, huh."
Although Nawaki had never met Hashirama or Tobirama, he knew that both of them were Hokage of the Hidden Leaf Village, and the Hokage's faces were carved into the rock wall, visible upon entering the village.
Therefore, Nawaki knew what Hashirama and Tobirama looked like.
"The Second Hokage is a bit unfeeling in this regard."
Hatake Sakumo didn't know what to say about such a family matter.
"However, it's also for safety reasons.
Tsunade, you are, after all, the granddaughter of the First Hokage."
"I always feel like Grandpa Tobirama is overly protective of me.
I wonder how Nawaki will be treated in the future," Tsunade said with a sigh, squatting down and stroking Nawaki's head.
She found it very comfortable to touch and couldn't get enough of it.
"I'm going to be as strong as Grandpa!
Father and Mother both said I have the potential to use the same secret techniques as Grandpa!"
To his sister and her teammates, Nawaki straightforwardly revealed his talent.
The three, of course, knew what Hashirama's proud secret technique was and were surprised.
Tsunade quickly looked into Nawaki's eyes and asked, "Nawaki, can you really use the same secret techniques as Grandpa?"
"Mother said so.
I can show you."
Nawaki walked to the side, squatted down, and aimed his hands at the weeds on the ground.
The three of them gathered around, watching Nawaki's actions.
Unless chakra undergoes nature transformation or is perceived by abilities like the Byakugan, it is invisible to ordinary eyes.
The three didn't see any obvious abnormalities, but the weeds on the ground seemed to be stimulated by something, beginning to twist and grow, becoming lush in the blink of an eye.
"A secret technique that makes plants grow.
Without a doubt, it's the First Hokage's Wood Style secret technique," Hattori Hanzō said in a deep voice.
"Because it's just a simple chakra stimulation, it can only manifest like this.
If he had learned the orthodox Wood Style secret technique, he might very well reproduce that legendary secret technique.
I never thought…"
The First Hokage Hashirama's Wood Style secret technique was formed by combining Water and Earth chakra.
This secret technique is usually called a Kekkei Genkai because it can be inherited through bloodline, allowing the combination of two chakra natures without deliberate training, which is a huge advantage for ordinary people.
Although it can be inherited through bloodline, it still requires an awakening process.
The longer the lineage, the higher the chance of awakening, and the more stable the Kekkei Genkai's inheritance.
To date, Kekkei Genkai families have typically needed over a dozen generations to stably inherit their Kekkei Genkai.
Nawaki, at only three years old, could manifest the Wood Style Kekkei Genkai, indicating that he fully inherited Hashirama's bloodline, and his talent is evident.
"Oh, is this the Wood Style secret technique?"
At this moment, Fumori Masaki's voice sounded from behind them.
Turning around, they saw Fumori Masaki thoughtfully looking at the lush patch of weeds on the ground.
Nawaki didn't recognize this person and poked his sister's arm.
"It's okay, he's our teacher, named Fumori Masaki.
You can call him Uncle Kazamori," Tsunade patted Nawaki's shoulder, reassuring him not to be afraid, and said with a smile.
"Hmm, just call me as Tsunade does."
Fumori Masaki smiled at Nawaki, then observed him intently for a moment and said, "Awakening a Kekkei Genkai at such a young age.
Perhaps he'll achieve the same accomplishments as Lord Hashirama in the future."
"Really?"
Hearing this, Nawaki showed a very happy expression, obviously liking to be compared to Hashirama.
"Ah, of course."
Fumori Masaki smiled slightly, carefully examining Nawaki's face.
Although he was also named Nawaki, he didn't think this Nawaki was exactly the same person as in the original story.
Names could be fixed by parents' wishes, but physical genes could change due to slight differences in time.
Due to the living environment, his personality might be similar to the character in the original story, or there might be differences.
Fumori Masaki didn't know if the Nawaki in the original story could use Wood Style secret techniques, but at least the current Nawaki had already shown the potential of a strong individual.
Speaking of which, Fumori Masaki wondered silently if Nawaki could be the reincarnation of Asura.
Asura and Indra were fated rivals, and based on this, it could be expected that their reincarnations would be born around the same time, just like the age difference between Uzumaki Naruto and Uchiha Sasuke was only a few months.
In the original story, because Uchiha Madara used Izanagi to escape death, Indra's chakra was delayed in reincarnation until the later stages of the Third Great Ninja War, after Uchiha Madara's death, when Asura and Indra's chakra finally transferred to Uchiha Sasuke and Uzumaki Naruto.
Now, Uchiha Madara had died early, so Asura and Indra's chakra would certainly be reborn within a year's margin.
If Nawaki was Asura's reincarnation, then based on Nawaki's birth month and year, a potential Indra reincarnation could be found within the Uchiha clan.
That being said, Fumori Masaki had no way of discerning who the reincarnations were.
This would surely require special methods.
Before the reincarnations reached a certain level of power, they wouldn't even sense the Asura and Indra chakra within themselves.
Currently, it was known that Black Zetsu and Ōtsutsuki Kaguya had methods to identify reincarnations.
—Ah, what a hassle.
If Sage Mode also had the ability to observe reincarnations, that would be great.
Theoretically, Sage Mode should have that potential.
Fumori Masaki felt a bit regretful inwardly, his expression unchanged, and said, "Nawaki, are you willing to live in the Hidden Leaf Village in the future?"
It should be known that a Wood Style ninja held immense value.
Not to mention the help his plant-stimulating power could provide to agriculture, it could also be used to restrain the Nine-Tails.
Currently, it was uncertain if Uzumaki Kushina would still be born, and if there wasn't a suitable jinchūriki, a Wood Style ninja would be needed to suppress the Nine-Tails' power.
It would be best to keep Nawaki, who was already confirmed as a Wood Style ninja, in the Hidden Leaf Village, rather than leaving him in the tumultuous Land of Whirlpools.
Nawaki's answer, however, was beyond Fumori Masaki's expectation.
He only heard him say, "It seems Father and Mother intend for me to live in the Hidden Leaf Village this time."
"What?" Fumori Masaki was slightly stunned.
He hadn't expected Nawaki's parents to actively propose leaving him to live in the Hidden Leaf Village.
This was truly a strange matter.
Nawaki's mother, Misaki, was married to the son of the Land of Whirlpools' Daimyō.
In the traditional concept of valuing sons over daughters, leaving Tsunade, as a daughter, could be understood, but leaving their son, who could carry on the family, was somewhat incredible.
—No, perhaps there are other reasons.
Fumori Masaki mused thoughtfully, while Tsunade, hearing this, eagerly asked if it was true.
Seeing Nawaki nod, she happily hugged him.
She was extremely fond of this younger brother, whom she had just met, perhaps out of affection for a family member.
"That's good then."
Fumori Masaki also felt relieved and said, "The Hidden Leaf Village is very interesting, Tsunade.
You should take him around and have a good time—as for Sakumo and Hanzō, don't think you can take this opportunity to relax."
"Teacher, didn't you say we should balance work and rest?
A little relaxation shouldn't be a problem, right?" Hatake Sakumo said cautiously.
Fumori Masaki glanced at Hatake Sakumo, who flinched slightly.
Seeing this, he couldn't help but chuckle and said, "Just kidding.
Go spend some time with Nawaki.
I still have confidence in your abilities and self-discipline."
"Okay."
Hatake Sakumo lightly pumped his fist, then asked, "What about you, Teacher?"
"I have other things to do and can't go out to play with you.
I'll be going first.
Ah, don't play too much.
Come back to practice when it's time," Fumori Masaki said.
"I understand."
Hatake Sakumo smiled and agreed.
Fumori Masaki left the training ground and visited a few places first, then received a notification from the Anbu that Tobirama wanted him at the Senju clan compound.
So, Fumori Masaki arrived at the Senju clan compound.
Kana greeted him at the door, calling him "Mr. Kazamori" as usual, then bowed slightly and led him to a room.
In the room, Fumori Masaki saw Mito, Tobirama, Misaki, and an unfamiliar man.
After an introduction, he learned that this man was Misaki's husband, whom he had never met, named Uzumaki Kazuhiko.
He politely greeted him, saying, "I met Nawaki.
He's truly a healthy and lovely child."
"Then do you know that Nawaki actually has talent in Wood Style?" Tobirama's face was smiling, evidently very happy with the news.
"None of the Wood Style scrolls left by my brother could be learned by anyone in the village.
I even wondered if they would have to be sealed away forever.
Now a successor has finally appeared.
It's truly wonderful."
Fumori Masaki smiled.
The problem Tobirama worried about was actually the normal state of Kekkei Genkai of this secret technique nature.
Aside from those with blood relations, it was incredibly difficult for others to learn.
In the entire ninja world, the only person without blood relations who learned to combine multiple chakra natures was Ōnoki.
The ninja world had a bias in its use of chakra.
If Fumori Masaki were to put it in terms of his life in another world, it would be valuing jutsu over dō (the way/path).
Dō could be understood as the cultivation realm of chakra.
In Fumori Masaki's view, it was the stages of combining seven chakra natures, from a single chakra nature to the Kekkei Genkai of two natures, the Kekkei Tōta of three natures, and even the Kekkei Mōra of seven natures.
If someone could reach the Kekkei Mōra of combining seven natures, Fumori Masaki believed they would reach the same chakra realm as the Six Paths Sage.
He called this the Six Paths Realm.
However, due to the ninja world's tradition of secrecy regarding ninjutsu and the ideology of valuing jutsu over dō, no one had yet researched a method for ordinary people to quickly learn Kekkei Genkai secret techniques.
Even if Kekkei Genkai families showed their inherited secret techniques to others, it's estimated that very few would be able to learn them.
After all, even a master like Sarutobi Hiruzen, proficient in five chakra natures, couldn't cultivate Wood Style secret techniques.
"I heard Nawaki is going to live in the village," Fumori Masaki asked.
"Yes, I called you here for this matter as well.
Let Kazuhiko tell you the details," Tobirama shifted his gaze to Uzumaki Kazuhiko.
"Mr. Kazamori, I know you have some concerns about the situation in the Land of Whirlpools, and allowing Nawaki to live in the Hidden Leaf Village this time is also for that reason."
Uzumaki Kazuhiko knew from Tobirama that Fumori Masaki was the next Hokage successor, and that he would take over after the Chunin Exams.
Future interactions with the Land of Whirlpools would happen through him.
Therefore, he decided to discuss his plans thoroughly with Fumori Masaki.
Misaki stood up to excuse herself, indicating that she didn't need to participate in such matters, and then left with her sister Kana.
Watching Kana, who was still looking at Fumori Masaki before leaving, Misaki couldn't help but sigh and say, "Kana, I don't know what you're thinking.
He already has a wife and two daughters.
It's not the Warring States period anymore; ninjas' tolerance for multiple wives and concubines isn't that high."
"I know," Kana said calmly, "I don't have that intention either."
"You're already over twenty, an old maid, and you're not engaged to anyone.
Besides being infatuated with him, what other reason could there be?" Misaki said.
"Sister, you should read the Ninja Sect scriptures carefully.
The emotions that can be maintained between people are by no means only that one kind," Kana said with a smile.
"As long as I can maintain that one, I'll be content; I ask for nothing else."
Misaki looked at her in surprise and said, "Kana, you know, saying that makes you sound like a philosopher from the Ninja Sect."
"Thank you for the compliment."
Kana tilted her head, openly accepting Misaki's statement.