Tsunade's originally serious and stern expression immediately cracked after hearing what Kei Yamanaka said.
Because of the unique nature of ninjutsu, mastering the Hydrification Technique wasn't any easier than awakening a Kekkei Genkai!
How difficult was it to awaken a Kekkei Genkai?
Each of the Five Great Ninja Villages had inherited techniques passed down from previous generations that could lead to the awakening of a Kekkei Genkai.
Magnet Release in Kumogakure, Storm Release in Iwagakure, Lava Release in Kirigakure, Boil Release in Kirigakure...
Yet how many people across the entire ninja world had truly mastered them?
Did Danzo have that kind of talent?
If he did, would he be in this condition?
In the end, Tsunade couldn't suppress the smile tugging at her lips. She raised her hand and patted Kei Yamanaka's shoulder.
"That's quite an idea. Let's not dwell on it next time."
"Kei, secret techniques deeply connected to a Kekkei Genkai are extremely difficult for someone without one to master. Elder Danzo isn't young anymore; he doesn't have the time or energy left to research these things."
Hiruzen Sarutobi tactfully gave Danzo Shimura a way out with his words.
Ninjas appeared glorious on the surface, but in reality, theirs wasn't an easy profession.
Ninjas refined chakra constantly. Frequent injuries drained their physical potential and left them with deep-seated scars.
For most ninja, once they passed forty years old, their physical conditions rapidly declined.
All their abilities and physical conditions started to decline rapidly.
Given Danzo's current age,
mastering such a technique was simply too much to expect.
Danzo Shimura's already gloomy face grew even darker at Hiruzen's words.
What did he mean by "not being young anymore?"
What did he mean by "no longer having the time or energy to study this anymore?"
Wasn't the old monkey just assuming he couldn't learn it anyway?
Hmph!
Danzo inwardly snorted coldly. He saw no point in arguing with Sarutobi over this—better to avoid letting the younger generation hear and laugh at them.
Yet in his heart, he began quietly considering what Kei had said earlier.
Actually, he had always suspected something—he probably hadn't been attacked by a ninja.
Otherwise, he wouldn't have turned to the Fire Temple and shrine maidens for aid.
However, whether checking the ancient scrolls in Konoha's Hall of Records or the treasured texts of the Sarutobi and Shimura clans, none described symptoms matching his condition.
Searching elsewhere probably wouldn't turn up anything either.
But Kei's second suggestion gave him a new idea.
Rather than focusing on curing the root cause of his head being attacked, finding a way to become immune to such attacks might also be a good option.
Ordinary people struggled to master techniques that required a Kekkei Genkai?
Then what if one possessed a Kekkei Genkai?
The experiments involving Wood Release—the Kekkei Genkai of the First Hokage—were hard to succeed because the cells of the First were far too powerful.
They would reject and consume the test subject's own cells, causing the subject to transform directly into a tree and die.
Other Kekkei Genkai weren't nearly as dangerous!
Moreover, half a month ago when Orochimaru requested research funding, he had mentioned achieving a major breakthrough in Kekkei Genkai research—
he'd already achieved partial transplants of certain Kekkei Genkai!
Once one wielded a Kekkei Genkai, what was there to fear when learning techniques that granted immunity to attacks?
And he had learned those secret techniques.
Even if his head was attacked, so what?
"Kekkei Genkai..."
Danzo Shimura's gaze darkened.
There were currently three bloodline limits he could think of that could resist or withstand physical attacks.
Sunagakure's formidable defensive Magnet Release, the Takehira Clan's Shikotsumyaku bone-hardening technique, the Hozuki Clan's Hydrification Jutsu, and the Iburibe Clan's Mistification Technique.
Although the Iburibe Clan lived in the Land of Fire, their bloodline limit had a significant flaw.
Even the strongest member dared only to live within underground caves, fearing being blown away by wind while mistified.
So then...
Which one could Orochimaru transplant?
Don't lose heart yet, Danzo. There's always a way to solve things.
Hiruzen Sarutobi tried to comfort Danzo again.
He knew his friend all too well.
If this problem wasn't resolved, Danzo's state of mind would definitely suffer greatly.
Given the current grim state of the ninja world, he couldn't afford to let Danzo, as Root leader, keep spiraling over this issue.
"You're not leaving yet?"
Danzo lifted his gaze toward Hiruzen.
What good was it to have someone stay and ramble on when the problem wasn't being solved?
"I'll just sit with you for a bit. We haven't properly talked in a long time."
"We don't need this."
"I get it. Anyone in your shoes would feel shaken up. But after walking through all these years together, we've weathered countless storms..."
Hiruzen seemed to recall past turbulent times, his gaze softening once more.
"Take the door with you when you leave."
Danzo pointed toward the twisted, deformed door on the ground, turning his face away with an impatient snort.
Kei Yamanaka listened to their conversation, convinced he was hallucinating.
Of course not...
What kind of script are you two even following?
These lines… why did they sound exactly like the "tender CEO and tsundere wife" romance novels he used to read?
No way!
If you two are gonna go full rom-com on me, all I can do is wish you both eternal love and happiness!
Feeling an intense stare from the side, Hiruzen turned around to look at Tsunade, arms crossed, and Kei counting parasitic bugs overhead.
"You two, if nothing else, go back and rest first. Yeah, take the door with you when you leave."
"Tch～"
Tsunade scoffed.
She picked up the nearly destroyed metal door beside the hospital bed.
With her ridiculous superhuman strength, she bent it back into its original shape within moments.
Though the dents were still visible, it was still usable enough.
"System, hurry up! Deliver [Bro, You Smell So Good] to Danzo! Tsundere arc over—time to bail!"
Seeing the Third Hokage shutting down the spectacle, Kei quickly delivered his blessing.
Since Danzo mentioned taking the door, the Third remembered to assign his apprentices to handle it as well.
It'd be rude not to bless him now, right?
A white glow quickly vanished into Danzo Shimura's body unnoticed by everyone.
Gazing at the walls crawling with parasitic bugs, Danzo hesitated briefly before starting to reflect.
Had he really treated Hiruzen that despicably?
Although this guy was the one who stepped forward to answer the teacher's question first, which caused him to narrowly lose out on the Hokage (Shadow Leader) position, he'd never wronged him over the years.
And it wasn't even Hiruzen who attacked him this time—so why take his anger out on a close friend?
Crash!
The doorframe slightly bent, Tsunade gave it a hard pull, wedging it entirely into the doorway.
Tsunade casually brushed the dust from her hands and strode away.
Kei Yamanaka walked behind Tsunade. Just thinking about the events that might come, along with that infamous image of The Third and Danzo kissing—one that had once gone viral online—gave him chills.
Yet, despite those chills, the grin on his face refused to fade.
As he walked, he felt completely at ease, his mind refreshingly clear!
His eight-catty [Gailiu-zi].
He'd been gone only a few days—yet upon returning, only two taels of ash remained.
If he didn't beat Danzo to death, it was only because he was holding back.
What if Danzo took a bit of a beating?
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