Yūshin arrived near the Senju Clan's village with a four-man medical ninja team, led by the elderly Kurokime Yakushi himself.
There was no choice—setting aside his medical skills and lifetime of experience, the old gentleman's appearance alone was quite intimidating... He truly embodied the demeanor of a "Shinobi World veteran doctor," radiating an aura of benevolent healing from within and without.
"Lord Yūshin, please wait a moment."
As Yūshin's group approached the Senju village, a two-man Senju ninja patrol came out to meet them.
"My lord, I am Senju Okagoshi, the clan's defense captain. Please wait here while I fetch Lord Hashirama to greet you."
Yūshin's mind worked quickly—he immediately reached out to shake hands with the man: "Mr. Okagoshi, hello. Is it convenient for Lord Hashirama to come greet us?"
"Of course. We Senju are not ignorant of proper etiquette," Senju Okagoshi replied.
After their hands clasped, Yūshin indeed felt the other's knuckles tighten slightly... This confirmed the man's identity.
Regardless of whether the Senju had five or six heroes, this Senju Okagoshi was most likely one of them.
Having Hashirama Senju come greet Yūshin was ostensibly a matter of courtesy—when a leader like Yūshin arrived at the Senju village, the Senju should receive him with someone of equal status.
But in reality?
Yūshin had been invited by Hashirama Senju, so Hashirama should naturally be responsible for his safety. Given Hashirama's straightforward sense of right and wrong and his stubborn nature, this was beyond doubt.
If the Senju had any conspiracy against Yūshin, Hashirama Senju could stop them... Even if it came to a falling out, Hashirama would be standing on moral high ground.
With both strength and righteousness, as long as he stayed near Hashirama Senju, Yūshin would be safe.
After all, someone comes to help you treat illness, and you turn around to eliminate them?
That wouldn't make sense. If such a situation truly arose, Hashirama Senju wouldn't hesitate to slap his own father's face.
Moreover, Yūshin had people feeding him information. Watching Senju Okagoshi's departing figure, he felt the power of popular sentiment.
With Hashirama Senju openly and the Five Heroes of the Senju secretly, Yūshin's arrival at the Senju was almost like returning home.
After a while, Hashirama Senju hurried to Yūshin's side, with Senju Okagoshi and another Senju ninja still following behind Hashirama.
"Yūshin, your timing is excellent."
"Just military efficiency... How is Tobirama's condition?"
Yūshin couldn't very well say he'd received intelligence and prepared to depart before even getting Hashirama's letter.
"Not good. His injuries are quite severe."
"No problem. The medical ninjas I brought are all highly skilled, and this elderly gentleman is Yakushi, clan head of the Kurokime Clan."
The moment Hashirama Senju heard their background, his eyes immediately lit up:
"Mr. Yakushi and all the medical ninjas, thank you so much for your willingness to help... Yūshin, you've been a tremendous help."
Hashirama wasted no time and immediately led Yūshin's group into the Senju village.
Yūshin naturally didn't need to conceal his whereabouts. After entering the village, many Senju clansmen pointed and whispered about the group. Senju Okagoshi kept greeting familiar clansmen while subtly introducing Yūshin and his team's background.
Tobirama's injury was classified information, but publicizing that Yūshin had brought a medical team to the Senju posed no obstacles.
Ordinary Senju ninja had favorable impressions of Yūshin—many appreciated the Fireflies organization's ideals, knew that during their previous cooperation the Fireflies had worked hard to rescue Senju ninja, and both future Senju successors maintained good relationships with Yūshin.
Saying their relationship was friendly and developing toward quasi-alliance or full alliance was perfectly accurate.
Therefore, after understanding the situation, Senju clansmen naturally welcomed Yūshin's arrival.
Hashirama walked quickly, and Yūshin couldn't stop to chat with other ninja, so he simply smiled and greeted those welcoming him while heading directly to Tobirama Senju's sickroom.
Upon reaching Tobirama's room, Hashirama quickly cleared it. Only after the room contained just Yūshin's group did he invite the medical ninjas forward.
Hashirama Senju, relying on his extraordinary physique, had never feared injury, but he wasn't a medical ninja after all. Different professions were like different mountains—he lacked the ability to treat Tobirama.
Tobirama's face was pale and his condition looked genuinely poor, though his consciousness seemed relatively clear.
His gaze first fixed on Yūshin, then swept through the medical ninjas, but since he didn't find the person he wanted to see, disappointment appeared on his face.
Yūshin instantly understood this person's thoughts and felt somewhat speechless, but then spoke to Hashirama Senju beside him in a decisive tone:
"Don't worry, this guy definitely won't die."
You little rascal, your motives aren't pure.
Honestly, speaking this way about a critically injured patient seemed rather impolite to family members, but Hashirama wasn't particular about such things. After hearing the confidence in Yūshin's tone, his consistently serious face finally showed a hint of smile:
"That's good, that's good."
Three medical ninjas examined Tobirama's chest wounds while Kurokime Yakushi stood aside leaning on his walking stick, squinting as he observed.
After watching for a while, the old doctor finally pulled back his neck and said: "Don't worry, he can definitely be treated. However..."
"To stimulate rapid cellular regeneration, a large amount of chakra will be consumed. The patient alone probably can't sustain it—external chakra will be needed."
"The demand is very large. I wonder if the Senju Clan can manage it."
Huh? This counts as a problem?
Hashirama Senju rolled up his sleeve, exposing his forearm as if preparing for blood donation:
"Elder, however much chakra you need, just take it."
"Just you alone? Will that work?"
"It'll work, elder. Go ahead boldly," Yūshin gave Kurokime Yakushi reassurance.
"Good, saving lives is urgent. Let's begin then..." Yakushi then said to Hashirama: "If you can't hold out, we'll switch people."
Yūshin turned his head away, nearly unable to maintain composure. With Hashirama Senju's chakra reserves, even if Tobirama were whittled down to just a skeleton, Hashirama could rebuild his flesh and blood through pure chakra.
The Kurokime medical ninjas' subsequent actions didn't exceed Yūshin's expectations—they converted Hashirama's chakra into life energy, stimulating rapid regeneration of cells in Tobirama's wounds and damaged internal organs.
Although the chakra was Hashirama's, this treatment was essentially self-repair, a special "3D additive manufacturing" technique where the wool comes from the sheep. Therefore, the Kurokime method was definitely problem-free and could even be considered optimal.
Because the injuries were complex and involved internal organ repair, the Kurokime ninjas worked intermittently. After more than two hours of effort, the "surgery" finally concluded.
After the surgery ended, the medical ninjas showed slight fatigue, and Hashirama arranged for people to take them aside to rest.
Kurokime Yakushi moved while leaning on his walking stick, muttering continuously:
"Live and learn—I've truly broadened my horizons today..."
How strange—how could human chakra reserves be exaggerated to this extent? Was there no logic left?
After one treatment session, the medical ninjas were quite exhausted, Hashirama Senju showed no major reaction, and the injured Tobirama Senju immediately perked up... Though he still couldn't get out of bed and walk, he felt he was already fine.
Yūshin had watched with great interest—this treatment method didn't have the exaggerated effects of Hashirama or Tsunade, but this way of gradually presenting the repair process seemed much more technically sophisticated.
"Don't get carried away either. As far as I know, this artificially stimulated rapid cell division will definitely reduce a person's lifespan."
However, neither brother cared about such warnings. How many ninja die natural deaths? Being able to survive was already good—why worry about lifespan loss?
At this point, only Hashirama, Tobirama, and Yūshin remained in the sickroom. Now Tobirama finally spoke:
"Yūshin, the person who attacked me was that Uchiha ninja we once saw at your place."
Uchiha Sasuke?
Yūshin shook his head and said:
"That guy never had much relationship with us—we just happened to act together at the time. He stayed at Fireflies Village for several days but never joined us... When I went to battle Madara Uchiha, he just went to observe Madara."
"He hasn't shown up for a year. I thought he was dead earlier."
"This person holds hostility toward you—I warned you about this before."
After Uchiha Sasuke went missing, Yūshin immediately informed Tobirama Senju of the relevant situation and reminded Tobirama that the other party's hatred level toward him was very high... Undoubtedly, this was a liability disclaimer, and now the disclaimer had taken effect.
Fortunately, the Senju brothers weren't so narrow-minded—they knew this matter couldn't be blamed on Yūshin... The Fireflies organization had connections with some Uchiha members when it was first established, but Tobirama wouldn't treat accidental associations as subordinate relationships.
He certainly wouldn't think Sasuke's attack was related to Yūshin, because what the other could accomplish, Yūshin simply couldn't do.
"Yūshin, I'm warning you—that guy's current strength surpasses yours."
"Huh?"
Yūshin thought: You can't curse me just because you lost.
"It's Sage Art," Hashirama Senju spoke up at this point. "I'm certain I didn't see wrong—that Uchiha ninja can manipulate natural energy and use Sage Art... In this sense, his talent is even stronger than Madara's."
"Sage Art... what is that?"
Yūshin frowned, thinking he'd almost exposed himself. If he showed understanding of Sage Art, wouldn't that connect him to Sasuke again?
Was it Ryūchi Cave? How could Uchiha Sasuke still establish connections with this era's Ryūchi Cave? Was he destined for snakes? Might as well change his name to Uchiha Xu Xian.
Then Yūshin's attention shifted to Hashirama. If Hashirama could accurately identify Sasuke's Sage Art, it meant this guy had very likely already mastered Sage Mode. Damn, why had he never used it in battle?
Hiding cards, huh? Even this honest-looking guy played mind games?
"It's an alternative combat method combining chakra with natural energy. Hard to explain in a moment, but it's very powerful."
Hashirama wasn't being secretive—such things really were hard to explain quickly. From his perspective, Yūshin didn't even understand what natural energy was, so how could he explain?
Yūshin nodded, indicating his understanding...
Being able to utilize natural energy was one thing, being able to use some Sage Art techniques was another, and being able to enter Sage Mode was yet another matter. From Tobirama's meaning, Sasuke seemed to have reached the final stage.
Sage Mode's enhancement of a ninja was extremely exaggerated—otherwise Tobirama wouldn't have been severely injured, much less think Sasuke's strength now exceeded Yūshin's.
Entering Sage Mode in one year? This seemed somewhat exaggerated... But Yūshin quickly remembered—just because Sasuke seemed weak when first encountered didn't mean one should forget this person was actually a cheat character.
In the final battle, the GM was willing to directly open modification tools to add skills and stats for Sasuke. Compared to that, learning Sage Art in one year was nothing—it was just Ryūchi Cave Sage Art after all.
Then Tobirama began briefly describing his encounter.
"That day we engaged in fierce battle with a squad of Uchiha ninja. After they were defeated and fled, I was somewhat careless and unfocused during pursuit, getting ambushed by that ninja."
"I feel he operates outside the Uchiha clan system, not following the same path as Madara Uchiha, yet tries to rescue ordinary Uchiha ninja... I can't figure out this person's purpose."
"Perhaps he has simple kinship feelings."
Yūshin spoke the truth in a speculative tone, then asked:
"You were only severely injured, not killed. What happened afterward?"
"Later my big brother arrived—you know, he's not as fast as me... but this time he appeared at just the right moment. He..."
With his brother completely out of danger, Hashirama also became optimistic. He laughed heartily while forcefully slapping Tobirama's shoulder:
"I gave that guy a slap with my Wood Human. I'm certain that slap landed solidly, but the opponent was quite good at running and ultimately escaped... It's just a pity he couldn't rescue the other Uchiha in the end."
Being able to escape from Hashirama was already impressive—wanting to rescue people was wishful thinking... "Wood Human" sounded ordinary; those unfamiliar might think Hashirama's "Wood Human" was some kind of figurine, but without seeing it personally, who would know this thing could be used against the Nine-Tails?
Uchiha Sasuke getting slapped by the Wood Human—what an honor. Ordinary ninja couldn't receive such high-level treatment from Hashirama.
He was also truly unfortunate. Having finally caught a time when his strength exceeded Tobirama's, but unexpectedly...
To put it harshly, this time Tobirama's weaker strength allowed survival while Sasuke's greater strength led to severe injury, simply because Tobirama's big brother was still alive.
"Tobirama, what about next time? Will you choose to cower under your brother's protection?" Yūshin asked Tobirama.
"Haha, you make him sound like a little chick. But back when Tobirama was still a child..."
Yūshin's words made Hashirama burst into laughter.
"Big brother!"
Then his laughter was stopped by his brother's rebuke, and the mutual embarrassment-sharing episode ultimately didn't unfold... Logically speaking, even as the older brother, Hashirama definitely had far more childhood embarrassments than Tobirama.
After using the Great Silence Technique to control his big brother, Tobirama finally turned to Yūshin and said:
"Don't worry. I wasn't without gains in that life-and-death battle. Next time I definitely won't lose."
Yūshin opened his mouth but ultimately didn't voice those three words...
Flying Thunder God.
After obtaining all five attributes, Yūshin's strength had grown considerably over the year. However, looking back, Hashirama Senju and Tobirama Senju had already entered complete form.
Uchiha Sasuke's strength growth also far exceeded Yūshin's.
One could only say it wasn't White Zetsu's fault for not working hard. With White Zetsu's help, Yūshin's strength was already approaching his achievable ceiling. However...
Guys like Hashirama Senju simply had no ceiling.
Working diligently and earnestly could never match occasional cheating, much less Hashirama's case—he wasn't occasionally cheating but had been cheating since birth.
White Zetsu, oh White Zetsu—what a miserable death.
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