Facing a shocked Senju Hashirama, Kamitsuki's mind was in a turmoil. For no other reason than, the sense of closeness that Hashirama had just spoken of, one even closer than blood relation, she had truly felt it too.
This feeling of closeness originated from the resonance of the soul, emitting a huge roar within her flesh and blood body. This feeling was incredibly wonderful; the world in Kamitsuki's eyes seemed to burst into giant flowers at this instant, and everything shone brightly in her heart.
Like being immersed in the sweet darkness of amniotic fluid, under this dreamlike sensation, her consciousness uncontrollably sank until it reached the deepest part of her soul.
In a daze, she saw a desolate and lonely land, like the silent bottom of the sea, isolating all light and hope.
This dark and quiet space was Kamitsuki's consciousness sea. Here, a small sapling was firmly rooted.
Before she was named Kamitsuki, its seed had already resided there, growing with her, and when she was born into the world, its sprout also broke through the soil. It could be said that this sapling was one with her life.
Looking at the entire Naruto series, there is only one such miraculous plant, and that is the alien being brought from outside the planet by Ōtsutsuki Kaguya, the origin of all Chakra, the source that produces all phenomena—the God Tree!
When Kamitsuki first discovered the God Tree's existence, she was very excited, thinking that her golden finger as a transmigrator had finally arrived. But soon, she discovered that this damn plant was completely useless except for bringing her endless trouble!
The God Tree's growth required Chakra nourishment. Before Kamitsuki could autonomously extract Chakra, she could only instinctively demand nutrients from her mother. But even then, when it was just a seed, the God Tree already had an almost infinite appetite. Touka and Kakka's Chakra was directly absorbed, and even their own life force was being extracted by the insatiable seed!
If Uchiha Madara hadn't appeared in time, then Kamitsuki's family's ultimate fate would likely have been to wither and die after all their life force was extracted by the God Tree seed, and Kamitsuki would have had the honor of becoming the first transmigrator to be stillborn in history.
In fact, until the God Tree grew into its current sapling form, Madara, Touka, and Kakka had continuously supplied Kamitsuki with Chakra. It could be said that it was truly a miracle that she was able to grow smoothly to her current size.
Aside from draining her and those around her of their Chakra, the God Tree sapling brought Kamitsuki no benefits whatsoever. Logically speaking, such a large plant, and one that had a slight connection to Asura and Senju Hashirama, should at least be able to use Wood Release, right? However, Kamitsuki despairingly discovered that no matter how she manipulated Chakra, whether it was the plants in her consciousness or those in the ground, they all completely ignored her.
And this is the mental journey that every Senju Clan member, except Hashirama, must go through.
The Senju Clan's obsession with Wood Release had reached a frantic degree; they truly wanted to replicate a second Wood Release at all costs. But Wood Release is something that, throughout history, only Hashirama and those who had Hashirama's cells implanted could use. Hashirama's son, grandson, and granddaughter couldn't use Wood Release, let alone anyone else.
Although Kamitsuki was barely half a Senju, she was not destined to learn Wood Release. In this era, Senju Hashirama was the only one who possessed Asura Chakra.
So, since the Wood Release path was blocked, acting as a Chakra battery like the Nine-Tailed was also an option, right? After absorbing so much Chakra from Kamitsuki, it would be perfectly reasonable to provide some back, but that didn't happen either.
Are you kidding? This plant has always only plundered Chakra. As for spitting Chakra back out, that's basically as impossible as expecting capitalists to give out money or Danzo to do good deeds.
After all these troublesome matters, Kamitsuki was completely despairing. She also realized that this broken thing in her body was simply a ticking time bomb disguised with God Tree skin! There were absolutely no benefits, but plenty of trouble, and she had no way to deal with it at all. In the end, she could only pretend it never existed.
But now, this little sapling, which usually showed no signs of life, was happily stretching its branches, with layers of dense, verdant new sprouts forming a continuous expanse. There was no wind in the consciousness space, but the God Tree's pliable branches gently swayed on their own, weaving a fresh and moist song of life.
Senju Hashirama's Wood Release Chakra was resonating with the God Tree!
Damn it, that accursed God Tree, it's messing with me again!
Kamitsuki was on the verge of tears. The problem was, how was she going to explain the source of this resonance to Senju Hashirama? She couldn't possibly tell him:
"Hokage-sama, you may not know, but I am actually your long-lost distant niece!"
Kamitsuki didn't even dare to look at Hashirama's current expression. She was now terrified that Senju Hashirama would mistakenly think she also possessed Wood Release.
Leaving aside how astonishing and unheard of it would be for a Uchiha to possess Wood Release, in the Ninja World, which highly values bloodline inheritance, this would already be a scandal that threatened the very foundation of a clan, enough to ignite a new round of conflict between the two clans. Once the two great clans, who had just established the village, started fighting again, Konoha, which had only been founded less than six years ago, would very likely fall apart.
Even if she took a step back and Kamitsuki was proven to not have Wood Release, the Ninja World wasn't without Ninja arts to ascertain bloodline. After all this, her bloodline would definitely be exposed, and then Senju Tobirama would absolutely secretly make a move to eliminate her!
Thinking of this, Kamitsuki felt her vision go dark, and Senju Tobirama's face, which in her eyes was like that of a demon, appeared before her, cackling menacingly as if to cut her down.
"Waaah, Master, help! The Senju Brothers are terrifying!"
Kamitsuki huddled tightly into Madara's embrace, her small body trembling with fear. Madara's hand rested firmly on her back. He looked up, expressionlessly gazing at the hesitant Senju Hashirama.
At this instant, the two close friends exchanged glances, and everything that could and could not be said was conveyed without words.
In this situation, one person had to give in first, and it was utterly impossible for Uchiha Madara to back down. So, Senju Hashirama showed his trademark honest smile. He laughed heartily a few times, as if everything that had just happened was merely an illusion.
"Ahahaha, that just now, it must have been my imagination!"
Yes, yes, yes, it was your imagination!
Kamitsuki nodded frantically in her heart. At this moment, the strange resonance between her and Senju Hashirama had ended, and everything seemed to return to normal, as if nothing had happened. However, she knew very well in her heart that Hashirama would absolutely not act as if nothing had happened, as he claimed.
Soon, this cunning fellow revealed his fluffy fox tail. He leaned close to Madara, holding a large handful of small white flowers, and still, under Madara's death glare, he relentlessly coaxed:
"Kamitsuki, do you want to go see the Senju Clan land?"
Senju Hashirama smiled very gently. He already had a handsome and lively face and a broad-minded and intelligent, cheerful disposition. With such charisma, few people would dislike him, and even refusing him seemed shameful. But now, Kamitsuki only wanted to stay far away from him. She truly wanted to shout at him:
No, I don't want to!
If I go to the Senju Clan land, will I even come out alive?
"Hey, Hashirama, are you trying to steal my disciple?"
Uchiha Madara's face darkened, and he immediately glared fiercely at Senju Hashirama. Hashirama smiled, not denying Madara's words, but instead looked at Konoha Village below with sparkling eyes, full of radiance:
"We can teach together! Sarutobi was taught by me and Tobirama together. Once the Ninja Academy is established, if you, I, and Tobirama all become teachers, just imagine the children calling us Sensei! Don't you think that would be great?"
Madara pondered for a moment, his brows slightly furrowed, seemingly deep in thought. Undoubtedly, Hashirama had successfully swayed him. But he quickly broke free from that beautiful illusion. There were two things in the future Hashirama described that he absolutely could not tolerate: one was Kamitsuki becoming Hashirama's disciple, and the other was Tobirama becoming his colleague.
"What you said isn't entirely impossible. However, Kamitsuki is my important disciple, Hashirama, even you cannot take her from me."
Madara firmly picked up Kamitsuki. After throwing down this sentence, he glanced at Hashirama and Konoha beneath their feet, then turned and left without a trace of lingering attachment. Hashirama watched his receding back, his worry deepening, and he couldn't help but call out to him from behind:
"Madara, where are you going?"
"I'm going back. You should also hurry back to the Hokage Building. Don't let your good younger brother get anxious and come looking for you."
Seeing their clan leader and precious daughter finally leave that terrifying man's side, an indescribable joy surged in Kakka's chest. He gloated at Senju Touka, then immediately followed Madara and Kamitsuki's footsteps, fleeing at lightning speed.
Poor Touka helplessly reached out. If she could, she too would have loved to escape from Senju Hashirama's side. She didn't know if it was a guilty conscience, but she always felt that he definitely knew something!
"Touka."
On the vast Hokage Rock, only Senju Hashirama and Senju Touka remained. Without outsiders present, Hashirama's authoritative side as the Hokage was revealed. His calm gaze firmly met Touka's, and Touka was so unnerved by his scrutinizing look that she lowered her head first.
Are you hiding something from me?
No words were needed; Touka could perfectly infer Hashirama's meaning just from his gaze, thanks to years of experience as his confidante.
At this moment, Senju Touka's heart pounded like a drum being beaten. She was afraid, afraid that Senju Hashirama would actually ask that question. She knew very well that if Hashirama truly asked, she would reveal all secrets without reservation, even if it would inevitably endanger Kamitsuki's life and her own.
But she had no other choice, because, after all, she was a Ninja belonging to the Senju Clan.
Senju Hashirama also knew this, but in the end, he chose not to ask the question. As the pedestrians on the street returned home one after another, Hashirama also stood up and left. He put on the Hokage robe and hat that symbolized his status, and slowly headed towards the Hokage Building.
As he brushed past the motionless Touka, he stopped and patted his elder's shoulder.
"Touka, after the Ninja Academy is established, you should become a teacher too."