"Forget it, I'm afraid the construction team will lose their jobs."
Kawakaze waved his hand dismissively, acting as if he hadn't heard the praise.
"Shame on you," Tsunade muttered, covering her forehead with her hand. She couldn't believe she'd followed such a showboating personality.
"Ahem…" Sakumo cleared his throat, trying to defuse the situation. "The design is still quite good. It might even help refine the delicate use of Wood Release chakra. Tsunade, why don't you give it a try?"
Sakumo stepped forward, playing the role of peacemaker. Even so, he couldn't hide his slight embarrassment at Kawakaze's antics.
"Okay," Tsunade replied, removing her hand from her forehead. She was willing to cut Sakumo some slack, even though she found the situation a bit exasperating.
"Did you remember all the seals just now?" Kawakaze asked, already preparing to demonstrate again. He showed no embarrassment, clearly excited about the prospect of teaching. In his mind, having a palace ready to go during a battle was the height of practicality.
"I remember, I remember," Tsunade responded impatiently. The idea that a few seals could stump her was almost insulting.
"Then do it again, and I'll see how it turns out," Kawakaze said, his eyes lighting up with anticipation. He was genuinely curious to see how her attempt would measure up to his creation—and whether her version might leave Yamato's efforts looking amateurish in comparison.
"I know," Tsunade replied curtly. Running through the seals Kawakaze had demonstrated in her mind, she wasted no time getting started.
Her fingers moved quickly and fluidly as she formed the seals, and, unlike Kawakaze, she didn't bother calling out the name of the ninjutsu. With a single hand pressing to the ground, chakra flowed smoothly into the earth.
In no time, a house emerged, rising among the growing trees. Tsunade had executed the technique perfectly on her first attempt. It wasn't difficult for her, and as someone well-versed in the fine control required for Medical Ninjutsu, applying chakra delicately posed no challenge. Even if the technique required more precision, it would still have been manageable.
When the house was fully formed, however, Tsunade couldn't help but feel a pang of disappointment. Compared to Kawakaze's grand villa, her creation seemed small and modest—more of a cozy family home than a luxury estate. It was clearly inferior in terms of size, design, and opulence.
Kawakaze, however, was pleasantly surprised. From his perspective, Tsunade's house was already far better than Yamato's original three-bedroom, two-living-room design.
"This is the best I can do."
Tsunade sighed, her shoulders slumping slightly. She understood now—it wasn't about chakra. For a moment, she had hoped that her lack of finesse with Nativity of a World of Trees was the issue. But after attempting two different techniques, the truth was clear: her Wood Release simply couldn't compare to Kawakaze's.
The reason was obvious. Wood Release derived from the fusion of Hashirama's original cells was fundamentally stronger.
"This level is already good enough," Orochimaru thought. Tsunade's performance had met his expectations. Even though his own Wood Release would inevitably be weaker due to chakra limitations, it was still practical and not merely for show. That was sufficient for his purposes. With his ingenuity and versatility, Wood Release in his hands could be a tool of immense strategic value, far surpassing what Kawakaze could achieve.
After all, there was an inherent gap between a true ninjutsu genius like Orochimaru and someone like Kawakaze. Without knowledge of the plot and its details, Kawakaze wouldn't stand a chance of surpassing him in ninjutsu.
"This is just a supplementary technique. As long as you can use it, there's no need to compare," Sakumo said, his calm tone aimed at lifting Tsunade's spirits. He could see her disappointment and offered a word of comfort.
"I know." Tsunade smiled faintly, though it was clear she was forcing herself to push past the frustration. Being strong-willed as she was, a setback like this was bound to sting.
"Next, you just need to practice and familiarize yourself with it more. That's enough for today," Kawakaze said, waving his hand. His luxurious villa vanished as quickly as it had appeared. Without the comparison, Tsunade's modest house suddenly seemed far more impressive, and Kawakaze's perspective softened as he appreciated her efforts.
"Don't think too much," Orochimaru added, his tone measured and deliberate. "The fusion of Hashirama's cells isn't just about Wood Release. That's not the most important thing for you." He didn't elaborate further, knowing Tsunade would grasp his meaning.
For Tsunade, the real benefits lay elsewhere. The dramatic increase in chakra reserves and her self-healing capabilities were the true gains. In the original story, she had survived devastating injuries, even with both arms broken. With these enhancements, it wouldn't be an exaggeration to consider her nearly indestructible. No one could mock her anymore for relying on Hashirama's regenerative abilities as a "big move."
"Orochimaru is right," Kawakaze said, echoing the sentiment. "Wood Release is just one part of the whole."
In truth, Kawakaze wasn't worried. If a real fight broke out, he was confident in his ability to handle things. But the stronger Tsunade's survival abilities became, the more reassured he felt.
"It's fine, I'll be fine."
Tsunade had listened to them both, and their words made sense. Being a medical-nin was her primary focus. Having Wood Release as an additional tool, whether for offense or defense, was already a significant advantage. After a brief moment to adjust her emotions, her usual smile returned, bright and confident once again.
"That's good," Kawakaze said. "Let's go back. Ginji must be missing his mother." It had been a long day, and he was eager to return home to see their son. It would also ease the family's minds. Though Mito hadn't commented on their extended absence, Kawakaze was certain she was aware of everything.
"Yes, let's go home," Tsunade agreed, the thought of Ginji bringing warmth to her expression.
"You guys go back. I have some business to handle in the Anbu," Sakumo said, his professionalism evident. Despite the long day, his sense of duty drove him to return to his responsibilities.
"Misaki and I will head back to the lab," Orochimaru added. He didn't expect Kawakaze to offer a ride and didn't need one. The walk would give him time to reflect on some matters that had been occupying his mind.
"Bye, sister, and brother-in-law," Misaki said cheerfully, waving to Tsunade and Kawakaze.
"Bye," Kawakaze replied. He placed a hand on Tsunade's shoulder, and the two vanished in an instant.
"Thank you for your hard work, Orochimaru," Sakumo said. It was rare for him to express personal gratitude, but as a father, he felt it was necessary.
"You're welcome, Sakumo," Orochimaru replied with a faint smile. Their relationship wasn't particularly close, but he accepted the acknowledgment with his usual composure.
"Come visit us sometime," Sakumo offered. "Bring Satsuki with you. The child is very cute." His tone was polite, though there was no mistaking his genuine intent.
Sakumo's demeanor was much more refined than Kawakaze's. At least he wouldn't casually invite himself to Orochimaru's house expecting free meals. Praising Satsuki was just a courteous remark, though his current favorite child was Ginji. Meanwhile, Kakashi had started to test his patience more often than not.
"Okay, I'll definitely drop by sometime."
If Kawakaze had said those words, Orochimaru's reaction would have been markedly different. But coming from Sakumo, there was no reason to doubt his sincerity.
"See you later. I'm leaving too."
Sakumo waved briefly before vanishing in an instant, his movement fluid and precise.
"What a divine skill," Orochimaru muttered to himself. His snake-like eyes flashed with a glimmer of envy. No matter how much he had studied, he could not replicate that level of mastery.
Just as he had failed to progress with the Flying Thunder God Technique, his attempts to understand Scorch Release had similarly gone nowhere. The frustration of hitting those limits lingered in his thoughts.
"Sensei, let's go," Misaki said, unaware of his musings. She waited patiently, expecting him to lead the way.
"Let's go."
Orochimaru gave the sea of trees one final glance. Though the trees had already dispersed, the sight still stirred something within him. His ambitions burned quietly, and his yearning for success was stronger than ever.
If everything unfolded as planned, he would soon be the third person in Konoha to wield Wood Release. When that happened, Konoha would possess an overwhelming edge—one no other village could challenge.
Deep down, Orochimaru harbored an ambition that he had never shared with anyone: achieving peace in the ninja world.
Despite his outward demeanor, he couldn't shake the sense that turmoil was brewing again. The last war had ended far too suddenly, leaving unresolved tensions between the major powers. They would not remain idle for long.
This was why he had poured so much effort into researching Hashirama's cells, and now, his results were promising.
Orochimaru was certain of one thing: the next war would end decisively in Konoha's favor. And this time, he would ensure it was final.
Konoha will bring peace to the ninja world. I'll make sure of it.