Konoha Notes

Chapter 101 Memory
"Shuji, remember, we are the Senju clan."

"The Senju clan founded Konoha, and we gave up our names and privileges for the sake of the village. But as the last people who still remember our roots, we must never abandon the honor that belongs to us."

This is what "Shuji" has been hearing all along.

"From now on, I will take care of you, Shuji."

"Grandma? Where are Mom and Dad?"

"They went to a faraway place."

The two died in battle against the enemy, and Shuji understood this. All he could do was continue down the path his parents had walked.

They trained and fought to become outstanding ninjas. They were the Senju who voluntarily concealed their surnames and were the last of the Senju.

"You are capable of escaping."

Kaito...

"Let's go quickly and take the intelligence back."

Kenta...

Sorry, this is all I've gotten to.

"Grandma, it hurts so much."

"Just a little longer..." the aged voice pleaded.

I'm sorry, Mother-in-law...

Finally, it was my turn...
-
Tsunade abruptly flung her hand away, staggered backward, clutched her chest and gasped for breath, her whole body trembling uncontrollably, her face deathly pale.

"After coming back from the brink of death, I also wondered, was it all worth it?"

"The road to peace is long and seems endless..."

"But if there are no successors, if the successors cannot continue to persevere, then all the sacrifices of the past will have been in vain."

There are no shortcuts to peace.

"Fortunately, there are still people, not just one person, striving to run on this path."

Shuji took off his gold-trimmed red robe and draped it over Tsunade's slightly trembling shoulders, then turned to leave.

"……etc."

Tsunade's voice trembled as she called out to him.

"You came to me not just to cultivate immortal arts."

“Yes.” Xiu Si stopped but did not turn around.

"What else do you want to do?"

“The third generation leader, and the entire team around him… are all too old,” Shuji said calmly. “Given the current situation inside and outside the village, it would be extremely difficult to maintain even this aging team.”

Tsunade raised her eyes, her tone stern: "Do you want a coup?"

"If you put it that way, you're being too extreme. Besides, I already told the Third Hokage before I came out to find you."

"He did not object."

Yes, that's just the old man's personality.

The woman, remembering her own situation, said dejectedly, "Then what's the point of coming to me? Why not just let Jiraiya go back to be Hokage?"

"You are the most suitable candidate."

Jiraiya was strong enough, but he was too obsessed with the so-called "Child of Destiny." Meanwhile, the "Child of Destiny" was still just a little kid, experiencing the hardships of being a Jinchūriki.

Tsunade is more realistic and has the ability to take over the village as quickly as possible.

"I... I can't..."

"If it's just hemophobia, it's just a matter of whether you want to resolve it."

Tsunade sneered: "Do you think I haven't tried? I was trying it when I helped the people of Kumogakure a few days ago. Otherwise, how would the Raikage have found out about my hemophobia?"

Xiu Si smiled faintly, "You've probably lost your mind, attempting to expose your greatest weakness when friend or foe is unknown and you have no safeguards." "You bastard! Get out of here and find someone else!" the woman roared, "Now you're begging me!"

"Yes, please forgive me," Xiu Si replied readily, but his tone betrayed no remorse whatsoever.

"roll!"

Tsunade grabbed the long robe she was wearing from the shuji and threw it over.

"Leave far away!"

Shuji took the clothes and walked away briskly.

Tsunade, still furious, collapsed to the ground, gazing at the boundless sea before her.

Grandpa, your ideals... seem to be continuing...

In the days that followed, Tsunade's attitude toward Shuji became much worse, but the work of assisting with training continued.

Every so often, Shizune would cross the sea to buy supplies. As for the matter between Tsunade and Shuuji, she had heard some of it but said nothing, simply waiting for her teacher's decision.

Shuji no longer attempted any further conversation. He had said what needed to be said, and exhausted all available means.

Besides, that's Tsunade; expecting to force her to submit with words is a pipe dream.

Half a month later, Shuuji was able to stabilize Sage Mode using only the live slug without relying on Tsunade's chakra support. After another ten days, he was able to do so without the live slug's help.

By this point, they had essentially mastered the immortal mode, but lacked the corresponding immortal techniques.

He asked the live slug about this.

"No, Xiu Si." The slug's soft voice was apologetic. "The slug is a single entity, and its attack methods are imbued with immortal energy. There are no immortal techniques suitable for you."

Therefore, we have no choice but to develop it ourselves.

Hashirama Senju's True Several Thousand Hands technique is too chakra-intensive; even the reanimated Hashirama himself couldn't unleash it, so Shuji now can't.

We can only start with other escape techniques.

Adding points to Sage Chakra to Ninjutsu basically creates Sage Art. He knows many ninjutsu techniques, but because the chakra output ratio is different after adding Sage Chakra, he still needs to study it again.

However, the biggest advantage of Immortal Mode is actually the improvement of basic stats. Immortal techniques are not usually used, so there's no rush to use them.

"Shushi."

As she finished her training and was about to leave Uzushio Village, Tsunade finally spoke again, breaking the long silence.

What exactly are you planning to do?

"If you're not satisfied with the old man's approach, you should at least come up with a more feasible solution than theirs."

"Otherwise, I'll take it as you talking big, and there's no need to mention going back to the village again."

Shuji didn't answer directly, but just looked at her quietly.

"There's something I forgot to tell you," he said slowly. "Although the Third Hokage supports my mission to bring you back, he has one condition."

“If the hemophobia issue isn’t resolved, we’ll probably have to resort to some unconventional methods to get him to come down after you go back.”

“So…” Shuuji’s gaze fell on Tsunade’s face, “Are you ready to take care of it?”

The sea breeze ruffled Tsunade's golden hair. She remained silent, her gaze sweeping over the desolate ruins in the distance before finally settling on Shuuji.

"Give me your proposal first." Her tone left no room for argument.

"You're really being willful, Lady Tsunade."

"Shut up! Speak!" The blonde woman raised her fist and waved it threateningly.

Shuji sighed almost imperceptibly: "Do you want me to shut up, or what?"

Seeing that Tsunade's expression darkened further, he promptly followed up: "Where would you like to begin?"

“Last time at Izuku Port, you said you had some opinions about the Uchiha clan.” Tsunade lowered her fist. “Let’s start with the Uchiha clan then.”

(End of this chapter)