Konoha Notes

Chapter 265 Thousand Hands
After returning from the Land of Grass, Tsunade told Shuji some good news: the branch he had been keeping in the nutrient solution had recovered.

Considering that he only had this one seedling, Xiu Si handled it with utmost patience, abandoning all radical catalytic methods and instead adopting the most traditional approach.

Loosen the soil, control the temperature, and prepare the nutrient solution.

Since the start of the cultivation, Shuji's main body has never left the experimental forest. Occasionally, when there is something to do, he uses shadow clones or wood clones to take over, depending on the situation.

Or, like Itachi, they could meet people directly here.

After tending to it so carefully for several weeks, when he used his chakra senses to confirm that a few slender white roots had finally sprouted from the bottom of the branch, his heart, which had been hanging in suspense, finally settled down a little.

But this is just the beginning.

After confirming that the roots have grown, it is maintained and guided to grow using the Wood Release technique.

Several more weeks passed. Once the seedling had stabilized, he used Wood Release again to carefully encourage the growth of new, robust branches, which he then cut off as a new seed reserve.

Repeat this several times.

Once the number of seeds collected reached the predetermined target, Xiu Si immediately stopped this demanding behavior and turned all his energy back to the continued care and observation of the mother plant in his hand.

The planting and maintenance work has temporarily come to an end.

Shuji walked to the edge of the forest, unfurled a scroll, and summoned a Wood Release clone that had previously sealed some of the dragon vein's energy.

After awakening its consciousness, Shuji placed a Flying Thunder God mark on it. After watching the wooden clone disappear into the shadows among the trees, he set up a warning trigger spell nearby.

If a situation arises, this wooden clone, which has sealed the dragon vein's energy, can handle it; if it cannot, he can quickly return once the warning spell is triggered and awakens Xiu Si.

Having been in this place for almost three months, Shuji was getting a bit tired. He didn't go to the Hokage's office; after all, the Hokage was there, and it wasn't time to be working hard yet.

He chose to return to the old house in the Thousand Hands.

As he approached the mansion, a cacophony of voices pierced through the walls and reached his ears. Xiu Si paused, momentarily wondering if he had taken the wrong path.

It wasn't until I came to my senses that I realized today was probably another gathering day.

Since around 1955, he and Hayami Shigeru and others had agreed to meet here once a month, and this has been happening every month.

At first, there were only a few dozen people.

With Tsunade's return, there were about a hundred more people. After the events in the Land of Rivers last year, the gathering, which originally had about two hundred people, suddenly expanded again.

Fortunately, the old house was originally a gathering place for the Senju clan, so the place is still big enough. It's just that some vacant and unused areas need to be renovated.

The original plan for Shuuji to pay for the ingredients was changed after Tsunade's return. Now, the system of participants voluntarily paying a certain fee is operating quite smoothly.

Standing outside the door, listening to the bustling noise inside the courtyard that resembled a marketplace, Xiu Si felt a rare moment of hesitation.

But only for a moment, he still reached out and pushed open the heavy door of the house.

The once bustling atmosphere in the courtyard took an unusual turn the moment he pushed open the door.

First, a few people near the door stopped talking and turned their gazes over. Then, like ripples spreading, one group of people after another turned their heads.

The noise, the clinking of cups and plates, and the laughter gradually subsided and quieted down.

Silence spread like a tide.

Someone called out, "Lord Shuji."

Then the calls gradually rose, and then became unified. "Lord Shuji!"

Shuji stood at the door, his gaze sweeping over the people calling his name. He saw some unfamiliar faces, as well as many familiar figures—Shigemasa Hayami was waving his arms vigorously, and Atsuki Kachi was holding a wine glass high, his face flushed with alcohol and excitement.

He didn't speak, but stepped into the sea of ​​people, which had been silent because of him, yet had also been ignited by his presence, meeting their gazes.
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Besides the Jiegang incident, the old house gathering also made him feel that things had gone off track.

Shuji's initial intention was simply to gather the former Senju clan members who had scattered to various places and changed their surnames, forming a loose alliance that could speak out and support each other.

With these people around, the village's mundane affairs that needed to be handled by trusted individuals became much more convenient.

But he never expected things would turn out this way a few years later.

As the banquet ended, the people who had helped clean up gradually left. Shuji stood alone under the veranda, gazing silently at the courtyard, now empty but still seemingly radiating the sweltering energy and aroma of alcohol.

Thousand Hands Peach Blossom walked slowly to his side and sat down on the edge of the corridor.

"Are you done with your work?" the old man asked.

"For now."

Following his gaze, Granny Taohua seemed to be able to see the bustling crowd just now.

She sighed softly: "With your Wood Release, you didn't hide your power and even managed to kill a Kage. It's no wonder things have turned out this way."

"The deeper the roots of a tree grow, the wider its branches and leaves spread, and naturally, the more people will crave its shade and rely on it for growth."

After saying that, she stood up, looking slightly tired.

Even though other people were organizing the gathering and she didn't have to lift a finger, dealing with the constant stream of people coming to greet her was still a considerable burden for someone her age.

Senju Momoka gently patted Shuji's arm, turned around, and went back to the inner room.

"How does it feel? We defeated Sunagakure and dealt with Lord Shuji of Iwagakure."

A slightly mocking voice came from above the roof.

“You skipped work again,” Shuji replied.

Tsunade's figure landed lightly from the eaves, her feet making a soft sound as she stepped onto the wooden floor of the corridor.

She put her hands on her hips, her face instantly contorted with rage: "Look at the time! Doesn't the Hokage get off work?! You bastard!"

After she finished being angry, she started laughing again.

"I told you when I came back that I would hand over the Hokage position to you, and I let you become Hokage last year. With your abilities, you can shirk responsibility and run away like me in three or four years at most. Isn't that great?"

"Back then, besides you, only Kakashi could barely fill in. Now look what's happened, you refuse to go, leaving me stuck here too!" Her anger flared again, and she grabbed Shuji by the collar, shaking him back and forth. "Whose fault do you think this is?!"

Xiu Si let her shake him, maintaining a cold expression on his face, unmoved.

The current situation is difficult to manage in the short term, but it's much better than getting in by deception and then finding it hard to come down.

"What's your expression!"

Princess Senju released her grip, as if suddenly remembering something. She crossed her arms, raised her chin slightly, and struck a Hokage pose: "I heard you just now, you've finished dealing with things in the woods, haven't you? Very well, your vacation is over!"

"The Bamboo Village of the Forest Kingdom will send someone tomorrow. You will be responsible for receiving them!"

(End of this chapter)