Midwinter.
A cold front surged southward from the north, sweeping across most of the shinobi world and bringing with it a snowstorm spanning thousands of miles.
Today was February 1st, Konoha Year 39. It had been a full month since the Hokage inauguration ceremony.
In the Leaf Village today, a new round of Hokage election voting was about to begin. With Goddess Tsunade gone, the villagers would soon welcome another new Hokage.
Among the four candidates, the one receiving the loudest public support and appearing most likely to win was currently the clan head of the Uchiha—Fugaku Uchiha.
Over the past few years, under his leadership, the Uchiha clan had abandoned its arrogant ways and greatly improved relationships with other clans and villagers. Their police force also made an indelible contribution toward maintaining order and safety within the village.
Next came Hiashi Hyuga. Leading the largest clan in the Leaf, he guided the Hyuga's steady development and gained considerable backing from various shinobi clans for this election.
Then there was Orochimaru.
He was a former disciple of Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi and the current head of Leaf research. On paper, he was the most orthodox candidate. Unfortunately, Orochimaru's sinister and gloomy demeanor significantly lowered his popularity, making him unloved by most villagers.
Finally stood Danzo. His popularity always remained consistently low throughout—he was last place from start to finish. No help for it either; Danzo's poor reputation, combined with Root's covert operations—both within and beyond the village—made him hated by both civilians and shinobi alike.
However, Danzo was not about to accept defeat. To turn the tide, he had also prepared some hidden countermeasures.
In short, the outcome wouldn't be clear until the final vote.
While the Leaf busily selected its new leader, other ninja villages weren't idle either.
The Four Great Ninja Villages—Iwagakure (Stone), Sunagakure (Sand), Kumogakure (Cloud), and Amegakure (Rain)—had formed an alliance. They secretly convened a summit in Ame Village, hatching a major scheme against the Leaf.
After lengthy discussions, Onoki, Rasa, Hanzo, and the others agreed on one critical point: it was Sage Art that had enabled the Leaf to produce legendary figures like Heiyan and Tsunade.
Long before them, at Uzugakure, Heiyan earned his fame through the immense power granted by Sage Art, shocking the entire world of shinobi.
Tsunade herself defeated every powerful ninja across the world using the power of Shikkotsu Forest Sage Art.
Long before that, the First Hokage, Hashirama Senju, rose to supremacy with his unmatched Wood Release Sage Art.
Sage Art, Sage Art, again Sage Art!
So, Onoki and the others quickly realized: if they wished to challenge the Leaf's dominance, obtaining Sage Art had become essential.
At present, among the three sacred locations in the shinobi world, Shikkotsu Forest belonged to Heiyan and Tsunade—an area outsiders had no chance of accessing.
Mount Myoboku maintained generations of friendship with the Leaf. Gamamaru even resided in Konoha as Honorary Elder. Therefore, the Four Great Ninja Villages equally had no chance of acquiring Sage Art from Mount Myoboku.
Hence, all their hopes shifted toward the final holy land—Ryuchi Cave.
Although the location of Ryuchi Cave had always been a mystery, the Four Great Ninja Villages worked together with all their manpower and resources. Soon they discovered the entrance to Ryuchi Cave beneath a cave in the former territory of the Rice Field Country.
Onoki and others were excited and full of hope as they paid a visit, only to be turned away by the White Snake Sage. Moreover, several members of their entourage were attacked and swallowed alive by snakes.
Humiliated and unwilling to back down, Onoki and his group secretly gathered their forces, seemingly preparing for a military operation against Ryuchi Cave.
All these developments across the world of shinobi were well within Heiyan's awareness.
In his study, after reading the latest covert intelligence report, he casually placed the documents into a drawer and walked out of the room.
The smell of something delicious hit him as he walked in—the clatter of pots and pans told him Tsunade was already cooking lunch. Heiyan entered and saw her wearing an apron, busily working at the stove.
"You're just in time. Help me carry these dishes out."
Seeing Heiyan arrive, Tsunade called out to him.
Unexpectedly, instead of moving to take the dishes, Heiyan walked up behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist from behind.
"Wife…" As soon as he spoke, Tsunade knew exactly what Heiyan was after.
"Just now, while I was hanging laundry on the balcony… wasn't that enough already?" Her face flushed red, but she half-heartedly resisted before eventually giving in to his advances.
That was just how newlyweds were—always passionate.
Afterwards.
On the sofa, Heiyan lay in Tsunade's arms, eating fruit she fed him piece by piece.
"Heiyan, I've noticed something strange recently," she said, looking slightly worried as she peeled an apple.
"What is it?" Heiyan asked curiously.
"Tell me, why haven't I gotten pregnant yet? Is something wrong with me?" Tsunade felt deeply puzzled.
After all, over these past two weeks, nothing else seemed to occupy their time besides staying at home together, making love constantly every chance they got. Common sense says she should've conceived by now.
Was it something about her—or was it Heiyan?
"Tsunade, our plan to revive the Senju Clan might be in jeopardy," Heiyan sighed, proceeding to explain his theory under Tsunade's confused gaze.
To put it simply, descendants of Immortal Sages found it extremely difficult to bear offspring.
This was a common natural law: The more powerful a race became, the harder it was for them to reproduce, resulting in fewer numbers within their race. It seemed like this rule had been formed by nature itself to maintain ecological balance.
The most typical example was the Otsutsuki Clan.
Across the cosmos, they stood atop the food chain—long-lived and incredibly strong—but their population remained extremely scarce.
It wasn't that they didn't want children; it was simply impossible.
Take Kaguya Otsutsuki, for instance. Her pregnancy was a mystical event—it occurred only after she received blessings from her people through divine conception—and that's how Hagoromo and Heiyan were born.
"Oh, so that's why…"
Though relieved of her doubts after hearing Heiyan's explanation, Tsunade still couldn't help feeling somewhat disheartened.
She loved children dearly and longed to have their own bundle of joy—a true embodiment of their love.
"Don't worry, love. We'll have our baby eventually. I promise."
"Actually, this natural rule isn't just a limitation—it also has a couple of benefits for us."
Heiyan noticed Tsunade's disappointment and tried to comfort her.
"What benefit?" Tsunade couldn't help but ask curiously.
"First, although it's difficult for us to conceive, once our child is born, they will possess great power. There's also a high chance they'll ascend to the Six Paths Tier once they reach adulthood. So we need to stay patient."
Heiyan said while raising one finger.
"And... what about the second benefit?" Tsunade continued asking.
"Ahem ahem, this second benefit..."
Heiyan deliberately coughed before speaking seriously, "We won't have to worry about birth control—now that's gotta feel good, right?"
"You..."
Tsunade immediately blushed and pushed Heiyan off the sofa, sending him rolling onto the floor.
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