Chapter 349: Nothing Can Be Added
"He's awake? That Dan Kato?"
Dana was visibly stunned when he heard Tobirama Senju's report.
He had been lying there for so many years. Just when Dana said he would let Tsunade go, he woke up immediately? Did he wake up watching a clock?
Tobirama's expression was eternally stoic, but today's stoicism was mixed with seriousness.
"That Dan Kato... there are some changes in him. His memory is confused, and he showed a certain degree of aggression immediately after waking up... Yoshitoki-senpai examined him later and said his condition doesn't resemble someone who has been in a coma for several years at all..."
Afterward, Tobirama followed Yoshitoki's suggestion and used Dan's hair as a medium to perform Edo Tensei again. The result was no reaction.
This indicated that Dan Kato's soul was indeed not in the Pure Land.
Although concluding that the person before them was Dan Kato based on this was a bit crude, Tsunade was firmly convinced that Dan just had traumatic amnesia and memory confusion.
But who could say for sure with these things...?
Actually, from Dana's standpoint, he didn't care at all whether Dan Kato woke up or not. Tsunade's value had long been squeezed dry. Releasing Tsunade was just a favor to Tobirama and Konoha.
However, since both Tobirama and Yoshitoki were suspicious, Dana paid a little attention.
"If that's the case, we can consider detaining him first..."
Tobirama said helplessly, "I thought so too. But Tsunade adamantly refused, citing Dan's weak body needing proper rest as a reason. She even confronted me, her granduncle... I really want to bring my Big Brother here to see his good granddaughter!"
"...How is Hashirama-senpai doing?"
"Teaching at the Ninja Academy every day. Sometimes I go back to see him; he's having a lot of fun."
The two chatted about other things for a while. Tobirama eventually softened his stance, and Dana expressed respect for his opinion. After all, to some extent, it was their family matter.
Of course, the core reason was that Dana didn't take it too seriously. Nowadays, it was hard for the situation of one or two ninja to affect him, especially when he didn't know them well.
Tobirama coming to Dana to talk about this was also a way of reporting it.
Finally, Tobirama stated he would leave Flying Thunder God marks on both Tsunade and Dan, and Dana said he would send people to follow Dan.
"I heard you're going to be a father?"
Dana smiled. "Yes. A little nervous!"
March, Ninja World Year 46.
Since the establishment of the Cloud-Thunder Federation, Thunder Daimyo Natsu, who had moved to Cloud City with her husband, announced she was pregnant.
Simultaneously, she prepared to abdicate the position of Thunder Daimyo to her husband, Prince Thunder Yotsuki Dana.
This news caused a huge uproar. Yotsuki Dana wasn't just the Prince of the Land of Lightning; he was also the Consul of the Cloud-Thunder Federation and an Elder of the Cloud Village.
The citizens of the Land of Lightning were naturally willing and happy about it. Although the Federation hadn't been established for long, the Land of Lightning already considered itself the core of the Federation, and the Daimyo's Office had long been hollowed out, so naturally, no one objected.
Among the four nations of the Federation, leaving aside the Land of Lightning itself, the Fire Daimyo was just a puppet. The Rice Daimyo and Hot Water Daimyo were transparent figures even before the Federation, and now they were effectively wealthy idlers. What could they say?
Thus, the abdication, which was expected to be a storm, turned out to be a gentle breeze and light rain, happening naturally.
Because times had changed. For Dana, the Consul, taking over the Daimyo position was just a downward compatibility and extension of power. Within the Federation system, the Consul already held far more power and authority than a Daimyo.
Dana refused the application for a grand ceremony and only agreed to spare one day to fly to the capital of the Land of Lightning.
On a temporary platform built outside Asuka Castle, Dana accepted the seal representing the legitimate authority of the Thunder Daimyo in front of everyone.
The entire process was solemn, concise, and highly efficient. Many onlookers were surprised; it didn't look like the ascension of a sacred Daimyo, but rather like a standard rotation of duties...
Most importantly, Dana publicly refused to wear the fan-shaped hat unique to the Daimyo and refused to wear traditional Daimyo attire. Everything looked as if it were truly just an ordinary job handover...
Dana wanted to use this behavior to tell everyone in the Federation that the position of Daimyo was not sacred. Like other positions in the Federation, it could be appointed, managed, and even... abolished.
Now that the title "Daimyo" wasn't so important anymore, Dana wanted to loosen the soil a bit more.
After the ceremony, Dana didn't give any special instructions. The Daimyo's Office had already been hollowed out, keeping a few idlers for show. All power had long been reclaimed by the Federation. So Dana simply ordered business as usual and returned to Cloud City.
Just like that, lightly and casually, Yotsuki Dana accomplished something many considered impossible.
For example... From Ninja to Daimyo.
However, he would not be honored by the position of Daimyo; instead, the position of Daimyo would be glorified by him.
Dana arrived at the capital in the morning and took the Heavenly Transfer back in the afternoon after the ceremony ended. Truly high efficiency.
Back in Cloud City, Dana went to the training ground as usual to attempt opening the Fifth Gate of the Eight Inner Gates.
The entire Cloud Village, or rather the Cloud Spire, reacted rather plainly to Dana succeeding as Daimyo. Dana also deliberately suppressed everyone's reaction to it.
However, on the training ground, he couldn't avoid being teased by his Old Man and Arashi.
As the cultivation of the Eight Inner Gates deepened, even Dana's speed slowed down.
Dana decided that once he could open the Sixth Gate, he would temporarily stop and move to the next phase of the Thunder Roar Plan.
The Seventh Gate (Wonder) and Eighth Gate (Death) were special, representing the true essence of the Eight Inner Gates. Even with Dana's physical quality, it wasn't that easy.
Moreover, these two gates caused significant damage to the body. Unlike the first six gates, they couldn't be opened and closed repeatedly to let the body adapt. Not even an immortal could withstand that.
The Seventh and Eighth Gates required patient effort over time.
Fortunately, even opening up to the Sixth Gate provided a terrifying boost for a Taijutsu-focused ninja like Dana. If he met the aged Madara now, Dana felt he could win easily.
Then he would give him a quote: "Among old men, I, Yotsuki Dana, declare you the strongest!"
Since Natsu became pregnant, Dana went home early every day. Although Natsu's body showed no changes yet, she was already treated like a little ancestor within the Yotsuki clan grounds. Even an eighty-year-old clan elder who couldn't take care of himself wasn't nursed this thoroughly.
However, even when he returned home, Dana was a supporting character. After confirming her pregnancy, Natsu called Kayo and Maki over almost every day to keep her company. Who knew why three girls had so much to talk about? From morning till night, seven days a week without repeating topics. Dana often came home only to watch from the sidelines.
The three girls were feeding goldfish. Kayo and Maki occasionally glanced at Dana with blushing faces.
Natsu pointed at a small tree and said, "About like that."
"Oh my!"
"Heavens!"
Leaving Dana completely confused.
A voice came from the Communication Snail.
"Consul-sama, the Ashen Bandits request a connection."
"Put it through."
A moment later, Hiroto's voice came.
"We've locked onto the target. He is in a Suna camp. The Ashen Bandits can't act conveniently; we need support."