Tsunade suppressed her body's instincts, no longer thinking about the precise control of Medical Ninjutsu, and imagined herself amidst raging waves.
She allowed Ino to guide the Chakra to rapidly merge and converge within her meridians. Then, she clapped her hands, and countless giant vines spontaneously erupted from the ground, trees as thick as cartwheels shot up, and greenery covered the entire desolate island. In the blink of an eye, the place transformed into an endless, dense forest.
It was the same Chakra, the same hand seals. When Ino used it, it was Flower Release, but when Tsunade used it, it was a very standard Wood Release.
The trees grew wildly for about twenty seconds. When she released her hands and leaned on her knees, panting, the Chakra that had been transferred via Spirit Transformation Technique was also exhausted.
She remembered all the Chakra's movement trajectories.
Unfortunately, once this Chakra was used up, it was gone. No matter how much she jumped or exerted herself now, it was useless.
The trial period expired, and she was back to square one.
On the other side, Ino released the Spirit Transformation Technique and returned to her own body. She was also utterly exhausted, having suffered a huge loss. She transferred ten-tenths of her Chakra, but Tsunade ended up using less than one-tenth.
To allow Tsunade to personally experience the Wood Release ability, Ino's Chakra was almost completely depleted.
Both of them collapsed on the ground, exhausted. Shizune and Tonton quickly ran over to give them water and wipe their sweat.
Tsunade, whose physical fitness was clearly better, was the first to stand up.
"Hahahahaha—This old hag finally used Wood Release! I'm so happy, hahahahaha—I should let that idiot Jiraiya see this, hahahahaha—"
A trial period is still an experience.
Tsunade was overjoyed, looking around at the small island that had turned into a primeval forest, her eyebrows dancing with extreme delight.
Many things are truly ineffective if you only scratch the surface. After this one experience, she had many ideas.
Orochimaru was on the first level, only able to research the First Hokage's cells. Ino was on the second level; she could use Flower Release, but her knowledge base was insufficient, often knowing what but not why. Tsunade was also on the first level before, but now, after this experience and with her extensive knowledge, she considered herself to have reached the third level.
This attempt by the master and disciple pair was a pioneering effort in Bloodline Limit research.
Although it was a trial period, it required many prerequisites, making it difficult for ordinary Ninja to replicate.
It was almost cobbled together according to Ino's conditions of Ninjutsu 10, Stamina 10, and Water Release, Earth Release, and Yang Release at Lv5.
Both of their Ninjutsu levels were 10, satisfying that condition.
Tsunade's Yang Release was definitely at Lv5, satisfying that condition as well.
Ino's Water Release was almost Lv5, barely sufficient. Earth Release and Stamina were accumulated by the two of them through sheer effort.
The remaining conditions were Ino's Spirit Transformation Technique, Lv2 Flower Release, her own abundant Chakra, Tsunade's bloodline, and their complete mutual trust. These were all prerequisites, none of which could be lacking.
These conditions, accumulated together, ultimately helped Tsunade use a trial version of Wood Release once.
"Let's go, we're heading back to the village to report the mission! When we reach the village entrance, you'll infuse me with Chakra again. I want Jiraiya to see my Wood Release! Hahahahaha—" Tsunade waved her hand, ordering her two followers and pet pig to set off. "We're going home!"
Tsunade appeared carefree, but in reality, to be able to become Hokage and develop Medical Ninjutsu to such a degree, she was an extremely meticulous person.
Her showing off was more about making a statement.
Iwagakure's Dust Release was passed down between the Second Tsuchikage and Third Tsuchikage, who were not related by blood. Tsunade now wanted to send a signal to outsiders.
This old hag originally didn't know Wood Release, but now, through my research, I finally do. In the future, if my disciples or the branch families of our Senju Clan learn Wood Release, it will all be my credit!
By taking on all the risks herself, Ino, and even Moegi in the future, would be much safer.
On the way, Ino received a secret letter from Kabuto.
Kabuto planned to use her theory of "insufficient vitality, supplemented by machinery" to perform body modifications on Kimimaro. Kimimaro himself had agreed, and according to Kabuto's plan, Orochimaru might be resurrected in Kimimaro's body afterward.
Then a problem arose: modifying a living person into a human puppet is completely different in difficulty from modifying a dead person. Even though Kabuto's Medical Ninjutsu was among the best in the world, several surgeries left him utterly exhausted. Kimimaro's body was simply too weak, and the modification method developed by Ino and Kabuto was too crude.
It was useless even if Kimimaro himself was willing; his body couldn't withstand it. After just two minor surgeries, he fell into a coma for twenty-four hours.
Kabuto was still counting on him to use that 3.0 version of Edo Tensei, so he couldn't let him die.
The human puppet modification could only be put on hold.
Kabuto was not optimistic about Orochimaru's resurrection this time, believing there was a high chance of failure.
Ino then encouraged him.
If it doesn't work once, there's always a second time. Repeated failures, then repeated attempts despite failure—that's the true spirit of Otogakure's men!
Orochimaru has so many subordinates; if each one tries once, he's bound to be resurrected, right?
Kabuto had no other choice. Since it wasn't his own death, he thought this could be done. Isn't it just about tricking people? He was good at that.
The night she received Kabuto's secret letter, Ino sensed that the Mind Disturbance Technique's formula had been triggered. She had an epiphany: this must mean the Shinigami had been summoned by some unlucky soul!
Following the Secret Technique's mental connection, she observed the summoning scene through the Shinigami's eyes.
As expected, the one who summoned Him was Kimimaro.
This fellow's life force was so weak that a gust of wind could blow it out, yet he could still use this forbidden Jutsu. It truly spoke of astonishing willpower.
Kabuto, Kidōmaro, and Tayuya were all present. Ino also saw a young man with short orange hair and a robust build. She guessed that this person was the source of Orochimaru's Cursed Seal, the man named Jugo.
At Kimimaro's feet was also a Ninja dressed in Otogakure attire, whose body was empty; their soul had certainly been drawn away by the Shinigami beforehand.
The buy-one-get-one-free plan seemed to be a success.
Except for Kimimaro, the summoner, no one else could see the Shinigami.
Kimimaro angrily spoke for a long time, but the Shinigami remained unmoved. You want me to release a soul just with empty words? Are you dreaming?
The Senju Clan, Uzumaki Clan, Uchiha Clan, Hyuga Clan, Kaguya Clan, plus the families of Kinkaku and Ginkaku—all six clans were considered descendants of Ōtsutsuki Kaguya.
The Shinigami was pleased to collect another high-quality soul and was in no hurry at all.
While Kimimaro was stalled, Ino used the time he bought to study the Shinigami.
Considering the many masks in the Uzumaki Clan's Mask Storage Temple, and how Orochimaru in the original timeline only cut open the Shinigami's belly to release the Four Hokage and his own arms, Ino estimated that the Shinigami she knew was likely just a clone, similar to the Slug Sage, and the true Shinigami was still deep within another dimension.
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