Konoha Notes

Chapter 15 Before the Assessment

Mitarashi Anko, a disciple of Orochimaru, one of the Legendary Sannin of Konoha, originally had a respectable background. However, after Orochimaru used villagers for forbidden jutsu experiments and she became a rogue ninja, her situation became awkward.

Anko and Shuji were both born in Konoha in 40 and were classmates at the Ninja Academy, but not in the same class. The original owner of this body could only say that they had met, but were not close.

After being imprisoned by the Anbu for several months and confirmed to be safe, Anko regained her freedom. However, this was likely just a formality. So far, Orochimaru's crimes are killing his fellow villagers and using them for ninjutsu experiments, crimes that even the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, could not conceal.

The ninja clans gathered and transformed into ninja villages for over fifty years. The initial reason they were able to come together was that each clan had a basic safety principle: they could not harm each other. This was the most basic condition for the ninja clans to gather and survive together.

Orochimaru's actions completely ruined this condition, making it impossible for him to stay in the village.

Orochimaru's situation was complex. As one of the Legendary Sannin, he had rendered great service and had countless former followers in the village. As the Hokage's disciple, he had a decades-long bond with his master. All these factors combined meant that Orochimaru could be killed or spared, but he could not remain in the village. Hiruzen Sarutobi chose not to kill him, gave him a beating, spared his life, and then allowed the village to proceed with the process of hunting down rogue ninjas, leaving Orochimaru to wander the streets.

Since this approach was taken even towards Orochimaru himself, his disciples and former subordinates would naturally be treated leniently as well.

Otherwise, given Konoha's nature as a military group, a thorough purge should have been launched, instead of the current situation of "much ado about nothing."

For Xiu Si, the situation of the squad is now a bit complicated.

The two team members are either too young or have just completed their background checks, and both have complicated backgrounds.

There's no point in dwelling on it now that things have come to this.

The assessment arranged by the third generation is still pending notification, as the personnel responsible for the assessment are reportedly still on duty elsewhere.

Shuji then focused all his attention on his cultivation.

In the old forest behind the Senju mansion, Shuji sat cross-legged. After a period of meditation and experimentation, his perception of the ripples caused by the Wood Release creation—the subtle spatial tremors produced when natural energy is unconsciously disturbed—has become increasingly clear.

It was no longer a vague fluctuation, but a rhythm with the unique texture of primal energy that could be captured by the spiritual tendrils, like a silent undercurrent surging in the deep sea.

Now, it is possible to try practicing the absorption of natural energy.

The threshold of perception has been crossed; the next step is to try to guide this omnipresent power.

But to touch this directly with one's body? That would be tantamount to playing with fire and getting burned. Without other cultivators of immortal arts to watch over them, the slightest carelessness would result in eternal petrification, turning them into a silent statue in the forest.

In the original work, Naruto Uzumaki used Shadow Clones to train and absorbed natural energy through his clones to sustain his Sage Mode, which can be used as a reference. Compared to Naruto, Shuuji has a greater advantage: as a Wood Release user, he can use Wood Clones.

Compared to shadow clones, wood clones are not only more difficult to distinguish from the original body, but they also inherit the original body's power and are more flexible and controllable. Most importantly, the senses of a wood clone are shared with the original body. Shadow clones need to be dispelled for the original body to receive the clone's memories, but wood clones do not require such a complicated process.

This means that when cultivating immortal arts, he can use his wooden clone to absorb natural energy. Even if it turns into a petrified state beyond his control, the loss would only be a wooden clone, and he would not be harmed.

A sudden clarity dawned on him, and the wooden clone separated from Shuji's body. Shuji's main body closed his eyes, his mind highly focused, like a taut bowstring. He transformed his perception into invisible neural synapses, tightly wrapping them around the wooden clone, sharing every inch of its senses. His intention was clearly transmitted: attempt to perceive, guide, and absorb the pervasive natural energy in the surrounding space!

The wooden clone did as instructed. At first, the forest remained tranquil, with only the rustling of leaves in the breeze. But soon, an indescribable sense of heaviness quietly permeated the area around the wooden clone. The air seemed to freeze, and even the dappled sunlight filtering through the branches and leaves seemed to carry a hint of slowness.

Through shared senses, Shuji clearly perceived it!
It is no longer a vague "ripple", but as if you are in an invisible, gentle yet powerful sea of ​​life.

Countless tiny energy particles, imbued with the essence of primal life, flowed slowly around the wood clone, like transparent stardust. The wood clone cautiously attempted to use its own chakra as a guide to "touch" and guide a single wisp of energy within them…

The moment that wisp of natural energy was introduced into the wood element's body!
An indescribable torrent, both brimming with vitality and possessing a strong corrosive force, suddenly erupted within Mu Fen's body!
It was as if scalding life essence had been poured into a cold container. The wood clone trembled violently, and the chakra structure that made up its body fluctuated wildly!
Even more astonishingly, the clone's skin visibly revealed clear wood grain patterns, like ancient tree bark! Its body began to twist and swell uncontrollably, its joints emitting subtle crackling sounds as wood fibers grew, and its entire human form was rapidly transforming into the shape of a tree!
"Ugh!" Xiu Si's brows furrowed, he groaned, and his face paled slightly. The impact of the shared senses was incredibly real, as if his own limbs were being reshaped and woodenized by that violent force!

He suppressed his discomfort and focused intently on "observing" the anomaly.

Just as the wooden clone was about to completely lose its human form and transform into a twisted, grotesque tree, a withered, petrified hue spread rapidly from the woody parts like a plague! A chilling stillness quickly devoured the vibrant life force. It seemed the grayish-white color was about to cover the entire twisted tree...

With a thought, Xiu Si uttered a soft shout:
"untie!"

boom!
With a muffled thud, the bizarre creation, half tree and half stone, transformed into a charred, decaying piece of wood, which slumped to the ground and then dissipated into wisps of energy and dust.

Xiu Si slowly opened his eyes, let out a long sigh, and raised his hand to wipe the fine sweat from his forehead.

It failed, but the gains were enormous.

After absorbing natural energy, the wood clone's inherent "wood" essence was drastically strengthened and highlighted, causing its structure to instantly become unbalanced and unable to maintain its human form. It first became woody and tree-like, and finally, due to loss of control, it was completely devoured and petrified by the natural energy.

This confirmed a key point for him: natural energy is not amplified indiscriminately, but rather amplified and guided according to the fundamental qualities of the practitioner or the creation itself.

The toads of Mount Myoboku and the snakes of Ryuchi Cave are enhanced by natural energy, giving them power unique to their species.

His wood clones are based on the power of Wood Release, which itself carries some characteristics of the Divine Tree.

Therefore, when natural energy flows in, it prioritizes strengthening the essence of this "wood," causing it to grow and mutate rapidly, eventually collapsing because the container cannot bear it.

Shuji stared at the charred remains on the ground, a thoughtful glint in his eyes.

Just as he was immersed in these insights, a jet-black eagle glided silently down like a silhouette in the night, landing steadily on a low branch in front of him. Its eyes were fixed on him, and it held a small, curled-up letter in its beak.

The mailbox was ordinary, made of common wood, with only a simple mark on it—the vermilion sealing wax unique to the Hokage's office.

Unrolling the paper strip revealed Hiruzen Sarutobi's familiar, slightly hasty yet powerful handwriting:
"Shuji, the examiner has returned. Three days later, at noon, at the third training ground."

(End of this chapter)