The sound of several footsteps echoed. Tsunade and Kairen turned their heads to see Yūhi Kurenai's squad, along with an Aburame clansman wearing an innocent expression.
Sarutobi Asuma spotted the unharmed Kairen. His teeth clenched hard, then he let out a cold snort and turned away with Nara Yūji.
Yūhi Kurenai quickly ran forward, stopping in front of Kairen and grabbing his shoulders.
"Kairen, are you okay?"
Kairen shook his head. His wounds hadn't fully healed yet. He wanted to find an opportunity to reset with head rebirth, but first, he had to deal with Tsunade.
Yūhi Kurenai noticed the scar across his chest. Her small hand reached out to touch it, heart aching.
"Such a long scar... it must have hurt so much!"
Kairen shook his head.
"Don't worry. It'll completely vanish by tomorrow."
So what if a man carries a scar?
Even women endure scars that large without complaint!
Tsunade and Yūhi Shinku stepped aside, leaving the two children some space.
Yūhi Shinku bowed respectfully.
"Tsunade-sama!"
Tsunade waved her hand dismissively before speaking.
"I already examined him. That child really does carry the blood of the Senju Clan. Your intel was correct this time. Thank you. If I had arrived any later, he would've been framed by the Sarutobi and Shimura clans!"
Yūhi Shinku shifted his gaze toward Kairen.
"His talent as a ninja is the highest I've ever seen. Before you arrived, he was already surrounded and attacked by Sunagakure's special squad!"
Tsunade was startled.
"Sunagakure's special squad?!"
"Yes. Twelve ninjas, four Jōnin, and the rest all Special Jōnin."
"Those… those people…"
Yūhi Shinku hesitated for a moment before finally answering calmly.
"They were all killed by Kairen."
"Impossible!"
Tsunade stared in disbelief at the ten-year-old boy.
A tiny brat, barely tall enough to reach an adult's chest—how could he possibly wipe out a squad of Jōnin?
Yūhi Shinku explained his reasoning.
"Kairen being of Senju blood is beyond doubt. His chakra level is outstanding, even compared to the Senju of the past. I don't know if the First Hokage himself could have matched this much talent at his age."
"Also, he possesses a unique Kekkei Genkai. He can transform into smoke to evade any physical attack. And his ninjutsu talent is remarkable—he can even form hand seals with one hand and release jutsu rapidly."
The more Tsunade listened, the more shocked she became.
From her earliest memories, Senju Hashirama's glory had already faded. She only knew of his legend from hazy stories passed down.
But the talent Kairen now displayed… it rivaled that of Senju Hashirama himself.
In fact, in true history, both Hashirama and Uchiha Madara had been nowhere near Kairen's level at this age. At ten years old, they were still competing over who could pee farther!
Tsunade clenched her fists, a rare sense of relief and excitement stirring in her chest.
"The Senju Clan… the Senju revival may finally be possible!"
Yūhi Shinku, however, frowned and added with some concern.
"That child is not without flaws."
"Oh? What flaw? Is it that he likes causing trouble?"
Tsunade recalled the letter Shinku had sent, mentioning that Kairen had arrogantly trampled on two sons of the Sarutobi Clan.
Yūhi Shinku nodded.
"He doesn't just like trouble—he thrives on it. His temperament is extremely troublesome. He's fearless, acts without restraint, and his words are infuriating."
"Tell me in detail."
Yūhi Shinku recounted the incidents he had seen or been involved in with Kairen.
The Aburame clansman stood quietly to the side, ignored by everyone.
Why isn't anyone noticing me? I've been standing here the whole time—am I invisible? The Aburame Clan are insect-users, not Stealth specialists, damn it… hey!
After hearing everything, Tsunade curled her lips.
"And that's all? Sarutobi Asuma provoked him first. Same with Shinnosuke. They were the villains. The boy simply retaliated. Repaying in kind is only right."
Yūhi Shinku tried again.
"But the people he offended aren't ordinary. He even dared to insult the Third Hokage!"
Tsunade snorted.
"That child isn't alone in wanting to curse him—I want to as well. That old man represents those ancient ninja clans, letting their offspring plunder resources meant for civilian-born shinobi."
Yūhi Shinku fell silent. He didn't dare involve himself in conflicts between figures of such stature.
Tsunade continued.
"You said he has a special Kekkei Genkai that lets him turn into smoke to avoid any physical attack?"
"Correct."
"Then let me see it for myself!"
She slowly walked forward. Kairen and Yūhi Kurenai fell silent, their gazes locked on her.
Tsunade placed a hand on Kairen's shoulder, a soft smile curling at her lips.
"Can you tell me your name?"
The Senju bloodline had become so hidden within Konoha that even Tsunade could barely find a trace. Many descendants' blood had diluted entirely.
Now, at last, she had found an open descendant. She treated him warmly, for this child was the faint light she clutched at amid her hemophobia.
Kairen gazed at the beautiful blonde woman. The night sky was dark, but the starlight seemed to gather upon her alone.
"My name is Moku Kairen!"
"Moku Kairen… Moku… truly fitting for a Senju. Is 'Moku' your family name?"
Kairen shook his head.
"I don't have a family name, only a given name. Moku Kairen is just my name."
Tsunade laughed softly, her chest trembling slightly with the motion.
Kairen was left staring, completely entranced. His greatest wish in life right now was to be buried between that ravine—he was certain the experience points would be immense.
Tsunade's voice was gentle.
"Will you let me see your smoke transformation Kekkei Genkai?"
"Smoke transformation Kekkei Genkai?!"
Kairen muttered to himself. What Kekkei Genkai? That was just his Smoke Transformation Genjutsu! Even the Byakugan couldn't detect the trick.
To him, Tsunade asking to see it was no different from demanding he commit suicide before her.
He rubbed his head, his gaze flicking once again to that overwhelming, heart-stirring presence. If I touch her there, will I be killed?
Yes. Absolutely.
Even Jiraiya had had ribs broken for peeping at her. If he laid hands on her, he'd be pounded into paste.
But wasn't being killed by a Kage-level ninja exactly what he had always longed for?
The urge to court death blazed within him.
Today, I, Moku Kairen, will die beneath this golden peony blossom!
Kairen cleared his throat, barely holding back his anticipation.
"Well, Tsunade-hime, my smoke transformation Kekkei Genkai can only be triggered when I'm injured by someone. You'd have to hurt me first."
Tsunade murmured thoughtfully.
"A passive Kekkei Genkai? Perhaps you haven't fully mastered it yet. Very well, I'll give it a try."
She stepped in front of him, looking down at his small figure. She clenched her fist but added a warning.
"I'll try to hold back my strength."
Kairen smirked, his imaginary tail wagging wildly.
"The harder you hit, the better! Let me help you a little!"
"What do you mean?" Tsunade frowned in confusion.
Before she could react, a small hand shot out, grabbing her chest in one quick squeeze.
Yūhi Kurenai: (||๐_๐)
Rage. Boundless rage. For over thirty years, no one had dared touch those sacred peaks—and today a little brat had molested them.
"You! Little! Bastard! You! Want! To! Die!!"
Fury surged so violently through Tsunade that it nearly erased her conscious thought. Her fist clenched, filled with titanic power.
"Whoooosh—"
A violent wind pressure erupted around her punch as it drove forward.
"This is bad—Tsunade's angry!" Yūhi Shinku's face went pale. He instantly grabbed Yūhi Kurenai and fled with a Shunshin.
The Aburame clansman also immediately dissolved into a swarm of insects and vanished.
Kairen, however, felt no fear. Instead, he stepped forward, grinning madly like Sasuke gone feral.
"Hahaha…"
"Come! Let me receive the full-force strike of a Kage-level ninja!"