Fortunately, Makoto didn't have the sage face markings; even the sage patterns on his forehead were silver, quite different from the First Hokage's distinctive markings.
Hiruzen and the other two quickly realized they had lost their composure.
The person before them was not the First Hokage, Senju Hashirama, but rather a new-generation ninja of Konohagakure who had already grown to nearly stand shoulder to shoulder with him—Higashino Makoto.
Yes. In their eyes, the only person worthy of comparison was the First Hokage.
The reason was simple: in their understanding, Hashirama represented the absolute limit of a ninja's power. This was also the consensus of nearly all shinobi in the world.
That was why that man had been called the God of Shinobi.
As for the Ōtsutsuki Clan, they were still lurking in the shadows of the world and had yet to appear. Even after Madara awakened the Rinnegan, he had never shown himself openly in the ninja world.
At present, only a very small number of people knew the information about the legendary Rinnegan of the Sage of Six Paths.
"Ahem!" Hiruzen forced himself to steady his racing heart and looked at Makoto. "Alright, that's enough. Makoto, you've done very well—truly worthy of being Konoha's number one genius. Everyone, return and rest."
He didn't remind those present to keep it secret, because there was no need. Everyone here was a ninja; they all had basic awareness of confidentiality.
Besides, Makoto had already grown into Konoha's greatest pillar of stability. There was no longer a need to buy him ti through secrecy—rather, it was now his role to protect everything in Konoha.
With this kind of Wood Release, what were other villages' jinchūriki or tailed beasts worth? Wouldn't they be crushed in a single grab?
Back when Hashirama captured the tailed beasts, he had simply used the giant hands of his wooden construct to pat them one by one—and they all obediently fell in line.
On the other hand, the issue of the Uchiha Clan no longer seed so important.
So what if one or two more pairs of Mangekyō Sharingan appeared? Wasn't Uchiha Madara powerful enough back then? And yet he was still pinned to the ground and thoroughly crushed by Wood Release.
At this mont, Hiruzen and the two advisors suddenly felt an imnse sense of relief.
The Uchiha Clan had always been a thorn in their side. From a young age, Tobirama had instilled in them the idea that, because of the Sharingan, the Uchiha were ntally unstable and prone to extres—making them the greatest internal security risk in the village.
Over the years, this had hardened into a deeply ingrained bias.
What if another pair of Mangekyō-wielding Uchiha brothers appeared?
Now it didn't matter anymore. Makoto had mastered Wood Release, knew the Flying Thunder God Technique, and his Water Release was also exceptionally strong. By himself, he was practically the combined embodint of the First, Second, and Fourth Hokage.
As for whether Makoto himself might beco a problem?
On that point, the three of them also held a stubborn bias.
Soone who could use Wood Release, who entered a sage mode similar to the First Hokage's, and who possessed a firm Will of Fire—how could a child like that possibly be a bad person?
See, this was how things worked in Konoha. Once you were wrapped in the aura of the First Hokage, people would naturally look at you through the lens of a good-hearted saint.
After Hiruzen finished speaking, Makoto suddenly said, "Um, Third Hokage-sama, Fourth Hokage-sama—because of the instability in my chakra transformations, I might need to take a long leave."
Minato smiled. "No problem on my end."
Hiruzen was even more direct. "Makoto, there's no need to request leave. Focus on your training—everything is up to you."
"I see." Makoto thought for a mont, then pointed to a mountain peak in the distance. "I plan to build a few houses there for secluded training. Is that alright?"
"That's fine. Though—should I designate that area as a restricted zone under the na of a special training ground? The back mountain behind the Hokage Monunt has many people training there regularly. Would they interfere with you?"
"Oh, that won't be necessary. I know many people are used to training here. I shouldn't cause them trouble just because of myself."
The three elders of Konoha were very satisfied with this answer.
Look—such a strong Will of Fire. Already this powerful, and still thinking about his fellow villagers.
What was this?
This was the spirit of Hashirama shining once more!
As for the Hokage's generosity, Makoto's teammates and family were no longer surprised.
This was basic. As one of Konoha's top-tier combat powers, what was wrong with enjoying a bit of privilege?
What they were thinking about now was another new term they had just heard. Their minds were still a bit dazed, having received information they couldn't quite process.
...
The Higashino residence.
If you go by Flying Thunder God, you return by Flying Thunder God.
After the three elders of Konoha and Minato left, Gekkō Kumomi, Uzuki Yūgao, and Gekkō Hayate did not leave. They had so things they wanted to ask.
So Higashino Jirō decided to hold an impromptu eting, because they wanted answers as well.
All along, Makoto's growth in strength had been far too abnormal. As his parents, although the couple was very happy, they always felt a faint unease.
That was only natural.
Just like in his previous life—if Makoto suddenly brought ho a large sum of money, his father wouldn't be happy. His first reaction would be: Did you do sothing illegal, you brat?
Around the dining table, the seven of them sat down in order.
Makoto knew the doubts and concerns his family and friends had carried for a long ti. So today, he decided to explain everything to them all at once.
"Whatever you want to know, just ask. Today, I'll tell you."
Kumomi glanced at his old friend: You've got the 'father' buff—go on.
Jirō asked, "Makoto, the pattern on your forehead—is that what you ntioned to the Third Hokage, that so-called Sage Mode? What exactly is Sage Mode?"
Among those present, only he and Kumomi were jōnin, but even they had only heard so surface-level information and didn't understand the deeper details.
Makoto gave a simple explanation: "The chakra that ninja use is a fusion of our spiritual and physical energy. But beyond that, there's another, far more mysterious and powerful energy that exists throughout the world—natural energy."
"The state of being able to stably integrate natural energy into one's body is called Sage Mode. This mode usually forms markings on the face—like the pattern on my forehead."
Kumomi said, "I've heard that Konoha has the inheritances of the Three Great Sage Regions. You can learn senjutsu there. Makoto, yours—did you learn it from the Fourth Hokage?"
"It's not. This is my own unique Sage Mode. It doesn't belong to any of the Three Great Sage Regions."
Jirō asked, "Then where did you learn it? Our Higashino family doesn't seem to have such an inheritance. Could it be that your grandfather died on the battlefield before he had the chance to tell , and instead you discovered the secret he left hidden at ho?"
"Father, you're overthinking it. I awakened it naturally—I was born with it."
"Naturally awakened? Oh, I get it—that ti you first revealed your sensory abilities to , right?"
"Actually, it was a little earlier than that. I awakened it the very night I first extracted chakra. It's just that I didn't know what it was back then. Later, after Minato-senpai explained it to , I realized I had been using natural energy from birth."
gumi finally understood part of it. "Son, so this is the reason your talent is so extraordinary?"
"Yes, Mom. Natural energy continuously strengthens my body. It greatly enhances both my innate talent and the speed at which my strength grows."
The couple finally understood. It wasn't that they had given birth to a monster—it was that their son had been using natural energy since childhood.
Kumomi still felt sothing was off. "Natural energy isn't that easy to use, is it? This doesn't match the information I know."
As the de facto leader of the Anbu, he had access to more classified knowledge than the others.
As for the three mbers of Hayate's squad, this was their first ti hearing such things.
So, beyond the chakra system, there was also a senjutsu system—and natural energy.
It was astonishing.
Most importantly, they finally understood the secret behind why Makoto's talent and strength had always far surpassed everyone else's.
So it wasn't that they were weak—it was that he had been born with cheats. How were they supposed to compete with that?
At this mont, their desire to grow stronger surged intensely.
Hayate said, "Um, Makoto… can we learn it?"
Yamato asked, "If I learn it, will my Wood Release beco as strong as yours?"
Yūgao said, "Hey, it must be really difficult, right? Otherwise you would have taught us long ago. I know you, Makoto-nii—you're not that kind of selfish person."
Makoto laughed. "Oh? Now you finally know to call 'nii,' huh?"
Yūgao: "…"
"But Yūgao, you're right. Just like sensei said earlier, natural energy isn't easy to use. Do you rember that ti on the eastern front when we roasted a wild boar for an extra al?"
Hayate suddenly understood. "Back then—you used natural energy to kill that boar?"
"Yes. I've always wanted to teach you, so I captured so animals for experints. But the result was that with just a trace of natural energy input, the boar died. And the at after it died—you should still rember it."
"Later, when we were on missions, didn't I experint right in front of you? What happened to those ninja? Not a single one survived. Natural energy is extrely dangerous. If you co into contact with it recklessly, there's only one outco—death."
gumi said, "That natural energy is that dangerous? Son, is your body alright? I need to check you later."
"Don't worry, Mom. I'm fine. My physique is special—I can naturally adapt to natural energy."
Seeing how robust her son's growth had been, and knowing he wouldn't joke about sothing like this, gumi finally relaxed. "That's good. As for whether we can learn it—it doesn't matter."
Kumomi said, "Yeah. If it requires a special constitution, then there's nothing we can do. Well, it's not a big deal. As long as you can do it, that's enough."
The others weren't too disappointed either. After all, that was just how the ninja world worked—there would always be people with talents others simply couldn't learn.
Makoto shook his head and sighed. "Oh my, the way you all look, it seems you're not very interested in learning after all. Looks like the thod I found won't be needed."
"…" ×6
There it was again—his terrible personality.
Yūgao said in surprise, "Makoto-nii, you're not lying, right? You really found a thod?"
"Would I joke about sothing like this? In fact, just today, after successfully mastering Wood Release, I really did co up with a possible thod."
"But it still needs so ti for experintation. That's why I asked the Third Hokage for the right to use that mountain. I'm going to build my own training ground there."
Jirō said, "So the reason you want to train in the back mountain is for this?"
"Of course. Once I find a working thod, everyone will be able to learn it. Though… Yamato, I still need to think about you."
Yamato said, "Why ? Makoto, did I offend you?"
"My foolish little brother… you still won't even call 'niisan.'"
Yamato: "…"
---
I will post so extra Chapters in Patreon, you can check it out. >> patreon/TitoVillar
---
User Comments
0 comments from readers