Chapter 21: An Unexpected Harvest
Masahiko had used all his Witness Points at once, and his strength had finally taken a qualitative leap.
"I finally have 'Clan Head-level' strength... and I even have a Sage Mode. This has been an enormous harvest." Masahiko thought for a moment. He had essentially achieved all his goals for this trip. He decided to wait for Hashirama to finish his training, and then they would head back together.
Two days passed. Masahiko had grown accustomed to his massive power-up, and Hashirama had just finished his Sage Mode training.
The current Hashirama couldn't instantly enter Sage Mode like his future self, but he had already shortened the transformation time to under one minute. Furthermore, the duration he could maintain the mode was far longer than Masahiko's. It was clear he would completely master it soon.
The two of them finished their training, discussed it, and decided to bid farewell to the Slug Sage.
"Before you leave, I have one more item I wish to give you." The Slug Sage was not surprised to hear they were leaving. Instead, she presented them with another scroll.
"This is my, the Slug clan's, summoning scroll. After making a contract, you can summon my clones. Although I cannot be of much help in combat, I am... rather skilled in healing," the Slug Sage said slowly.
The two men looked at each other, not having anticipated this extra bounty.
Masahiko was especially puzzled. In his memories, Hashirama had never used the slug summoning.
'Is this because of my influence? Or did Hashirama get the scroll but never sign it, saving it for Tsunade instead?'
Masahiko couldn't figure it out. But an even more unexpected event was about to happen.
After leaving Shikkotsu Forest, Hashirama stubbornly refused to take the slug summoning scroll.
"Great-Uncle, I already accepted the Rashomon summoning scroll. No matter what, this one must be yours," Hashirama said.
"I... No! You must keep the slug scroll! Your granddaughter..." Masahiko was so anxious he nearly let the truth slip.
"My... granddaughter?" Hashirama's face was a mask of confusion.
"Nothing, nothing! A slip of the tongue... Fine, I'll take the slug scroll." Helpless, Masahiko had no choice but to agree.
'At worst, I'll just give the scroll to Tsunade in the future. Maybe I can even snag the title of "Tsunade's Esteemed Teacher"?' Thinking of it this way, Masahiko felt that accepting the scroll wasn't a bad outcome.
A familiar line of text then appeared, confirming that taking the scroll had been the absolute correct decision.
"Witnessed and slightly changed a major Naruto world side story: The Summoning Animal, Katsuyu. Received 2 (*2) Witness Points."
Another 4 Witness Points in the bank. He had just spent them all, and now he had a small emergency fund. Masahiko did not use them and saved them for later.
Masahiko and Hashirama, having finished their training in Shikkotsu Forest, decided to stop by the Tenbin clan's territory to bid them farewell.
When they arrived, they discovered the entire clan was preparing to migrate. After Masahiko had sealed their bloodline, he had also told them that the unnaturally dense natural energy of the area was the cause of their mutation.
So, over the past three months, as Masahiko's seal had fully set in, the Tenbin clansmen had not had a single incident. To avoid being influenced by the natural energy again, they had decided on a mass migration.
When Masahiko and Hashirama arrived, the Tenbin Clan Head came out to greet them personally, followed by the same stout man who had fought Hashirama.
The man glanced at Masahiko and Hashirama, his expression still a little bitter. Clearly, having his transformation forcibly sealed still bothered him.
However, he had been thrashed by Hashirama with his transformation. Without it... he didn't dare voice any complaints.
The Tenbin Clan Head, on the other hand, was in high spirits, practically glowing.
Masahiko sensed it immediately. The man had experienced a breakthrough and was now a Peak Jonin.
The Tenbin Head welcomed them enthusiastically, even wanting to hold a banquet in their honor.
Masahiko really wanted to stay for a good meal. In Shikkotsu Forest, he hadn't had to eat bugs like Naruto did at Mount Myoboku, but... slugs ate leaves and grass. He hadn't seen a single piece of meat in months.
But Hashirama, having been away for over three months, had just remembered that he was, in fact, the Senju Clan Head. He was in a hurry to get back, leaving Masahiko with no choice.
The two ate a simple lunch and then began their return journey to the Senju compound. As for Senju Ten'yu and the troops stationed there, they had returned home three months prior. In the middle of the Warring States Period, you couldn't just let an entire unit take a three-month vacation.
On the road, Hashirama said to Masahiko, "It seems sealing the Tenbin's bloodline was a good thing after all. That transformation gave them temporary power, but it must have been limiting their true potential. The Tenbin Clan Head seemed much stronger this time..."
"In the short term, it might even spur their growth, but..." Masahiko hesitated. "It is a bloodline seal. Their descendants... I'm afraid..."
"Afraid of what?" Hashirama asked, seeing him trail off.
"I'm afraid they will gradually lose their aptitude for being ninja and will become civilians. In this chaotic age..." Masahiko continued.
"Their descendants will become civilians?" Hashirama murmured. "Then... I must end this chaotic age... before they lose the power to protect themselves."
Masahiko didn't hear Hashirama's inner monologue and just assumed he was worrying about the Tenbin's future.
"Hashirama, you must not tell anyone else that I can seal bloodlines. That ability is far too dangerous."
"I understand, Great-Uncle," Hashirama promised. After that, the two traveled in silence.
After a day and a half of travel, they finally arrived back at the Senju compound.
"Big brother! You're finally back!" Tobirama, having heard they were approaching, was waiting for them at the gate.
"He looks like an abandoned little wife..." Masahiko muttered, finding the scene inexplicably funny.
Tobirama's head swiveled toward him mechanically. He had clearly heard.
"Great... Uncle," Tobirama said, his voice somewhat strained. "You must be tired from the journey."
"You know, kid," Masahiko said with a grin, "when you call me that, it always feels like you're putting extra emphasis on the 'Great' part. If you don't want to call me 'Great-Uncle,' you can just call me 'Uncle Masahiko.' 'Brother Masahiko' would be fine, too..."
(In his head, he added, 'And then watch your brother and sister-in-law beat you like a dog.')
"I am not unwilling, Great-Uncle!" Tobirama interrupted immediately.
"Well, as long as you're willing..."
The group walked toward the Clan Head's main hall, chatting and laughing.
The moment Hashirama entered the hall, his face went black.
"Tobirama! Why is there still so much paperwork?!" he yelled, sounding as if his very soul had been drained from his body.
"Big brother, I am not the Clan Head. There are matters I cannot handle," Tobirama said, his expression looking... just a little resentful. "This... is only a small portion of what's left."
Masahiko felt goosebumps.
He had always thought the Naruto world was full of little-brother-complexes. But after spending the last few years around Hashirama and Tobirama...
"Tobirama... you're a deeply hidden big-brother-complex, aren't you..."