Nonou Yakushi stood there, stunned. She didn't even notice when Natsume got hurt again.
There are countless Kekkei Genkai in the ninja world. No matter what kind of Kekkei Genkai someone awakened, she wouldn't be surprised.
But Wood Release is different.
Hashirama Senju, the First Hokage, used it to dominate the ninja world and establish a new era of prosperity.
In Konoha Village, the "wood" refers to Wood Release.
Unfortunately, since Hashirama Senju, no other ninja has ever possessed Wood Release.
Not even the Senju Clan.
Nonou Yakushi never expected that she would actually witness Wood Release with her own eyes today.
"Headmistress?" Natsume called out.
"Who else did you tell about this?"
Nonou Yakushi took a deep breath and then reached out her hand to heal Natsume's new wound.
She wasn't an innocent ninja.
Before becoming the headmistress of the orphanage, she was an elite in Konoha's intelligence department. Because she was too outstanding, she was coerced by Tanzo Shimura to work for Root.
That's why she could understand what the appearance of Wood Release meant.
"You, the headmistress, are the first one to know," Natsume said, relieved to see her reaction, which was as he had expected.
After three years of getting along, they were like mother and son.
Nonou Yakushi would never hand him over to Tanzo Shimura.
She wasn't loyal to Tanzo Shimura.
That's also the reason why Tanzo Shimura wanted to get rid of her later.
She knew too much and wasn't loyal.
"Good," Nonou Yakushi said, stroking Natsume's hair. Her brows were furrowed, looking very troubled.
Keeping it a secret couldn't last forever.
Moreover, it would be a huge waste if Natsume had the talent for Wood Release but didn't use it.
Tanzo Shimura was ruthless. If Natsume was handed over to him, he wouldn't be himself anymore but an emotionless tool.
So, should she report it to the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi?
Nonou Yakushi thought a lot in a short time.
Natsume knew it was his turn to speak. He asked, "Headmistress, what kind of Ninjutsu is this?"
"It's Wood Release. It's the Ninjutsu that the First Hokage used," Nonou Yakushi said without hiding anything. "The fact that you have it means that one of your ancestors married into the Senju Clan."
Before the establishment of Konoha, the Senju Clan was a well - known and powerful ninja clan with a large number of members.
But because of Hashirama Senju's ideas, they stopped practicing in - clan marriages and integrated widely into Konoha.
Since then, the Senju Clan, as it once was, no longer existed.
Currently, the only remaining member of the Senju Clan on the surface is Tsunade.
"Wood Release?!" Natsume showed a surprised expression at the right time and then excitedly said, "Headmistress, do you know any Senju Clan ninjas? If I can find out which ancestor it was, I might also find out who my parents are."
Hearing this, Nonou Yakushi paused for a moment.
Natsume was an orphan of war. Due to his young age and the shock he suffered, he had lost a lot of his memories.
And the method he proposed did have a chance of helping him find out about his parents.
At the same time, Natsume reminded her that there was someone more suitable than Hiruzen Sarutobi.
Tsunade.
The only remaining member of the Senju Clan.
Most importantly, Nonou Yakushi knew her personality well and was sure that she wouldn't treat Natsume badly.
"I'll take care of this matter."
Nonou Yakushi opened the closet and took out a new set of clothes. "Go take a shower and have a good rest."
"Okay."
Natsume took the clothes and nodded obediently.
He had done what he needed to do.
The rest was up to Nonou Yakushi.
If all else failed, he'd have to play along with that old coot, Hiruzen Sarutobi.
Judging by Yamato's treatment later, it wouldn't be that bad.
The prerequisite was that Natsume showed the Will of Fire.
He was quite good at that sort of thing.
It was just an imperfect, flawed theory.
He even thought he could turn the tables and deceive Hiruzen Sarutobi.
Another week passed.
In a remote corner of the orphanage.
"Happy birthday, Natsume."
Kabuto Yakushi presented a small cake.
The tables had turned.
Natsume took it with a smile.
It was quite a coincidence that his and Kabuto Yakushi's birthdays were only a week apart.
"Natsume, do you have any birthday wishes? Or what do you want to do in the future?" Kabuto Yakushi asked curiously.
After getting along for three years, he always found Natsume mysterious.
Especially last year, Natsume suddenly found him and earnestly told him not to expose his medical talent. If he did, disaster would befall both him and the orphanage director.
It was like a prophecy.
Kabuto Yakushi was completely stunned on the spot.
But out of trust and a vague premonition, he concealed his amazing talent as a Medical Ninja and acted mediocre.
"What to do?"
Natsume stroked his chin, thought for a moment, then waved his hand and said, "I'll be the man for the Hokage."
He was referring to Tsunade, the Fifth Hokage.
Since he was going to make a move, he'd aim big.
Some people might say she's old.
But she was beautiful.
As long as someone was beautiful, age didn't matter, nor even species.
Right? Just look at Xu Xian, a hero from the common folk.
"The Hokage, huh?"
Kabuto Yakushi wasn't surprised.
Thanks to the excellent propaganda of the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, he had a very lofty image in the hearts of the children and was known as the strongest Hokage.
Becoming the Hokage was almost every child's common wish.
It's like in a past life, when kids would say they wanted to be astronauts or scientists.
Only when they grew up would they understand what cruelty meant.
"Yes! The Hokage!"
Natsume finished the cake in a few bites, put his arm around Kabuto Yakushi's shoulder, and said, "By then, we brothers, I'll be the Hokage, and you'll be the Hokage's advisor. Grow big and strong, and restore the glory of Konoha!"
Oh!
If he weren't worried about scaring Kabuto Yakushi, he'd definitely add one more line.
I laugh at Hiruzen Sarutobi for his lack of wisdom and Tanzo Shimura for his lack of strategy. In today's world, the only heroes are you and me.
He had his reasons for doing this.
Kabuto Yakushi had unlimited potential. Taking him under his wing early was definitely a good deal.
He could fight, heal, and support. He couldn't miss this opportunity.
"Okay!"
Kabuto Yakushi was just a young kid who hadn't been trained by Orochimaru yet. Being coaxed by Natsume, he got excited and said with great enthusiasm, "It's a deal!"
"Natsume!"
It was the voice of Nonou Yakushi.
Natsume was suddenly jolted.
Oh no! If the embarrassing things he just said were heard, wouldn't he be socially dead?
He immediately turned around and was instantly stunned.
Besides Nonou Yakushi, there was another woman.
She was wearing a tea - green long gown, with a head of soft blond hair. She was a charming and mature woman with an eye - catching pear - shaped figure.
In his past life, there was a saying that men like slightly chubby women.
And this woman was definitely the best among the slightly chubby ones.
Just those fleshy legs, paired with black or white stockings, would be enough to drive a man crazy.
Natsume looked up and happened to meet a pair of bright brown eyes that seemed to be smiling but not really.
"Lady Tsunade, the kid doesn't know any better. He's just joking. Don't take it to heart," Nonou Yakushi said quickly, worried that the previous words might anger Tsunade.
"It's okay."
Tsunade withdrew her gaze and asked, "Is he Natsume? He's quite good - looking."
Nonou Yakushi let out a sigh of relief and replied, "Yes. The boy at the front is Natsume, the one I told you about."
Tsunade nodded, walked slowly up to him, and asked, "You want to become the Hokage?"
Natsume showed a hearty smile and said, "Because I want to protect everyone."
Although it was just a fake, polite smile, he knew the impact this scene would have on Tsunade.
"Why?"
Tsunade was silent for two seconds and then said in a strange tone, "Guys who want to be the Hokage are all stupid. They easily give their lives for others."
"I've seen wars, so I hope there will be no more wars."
Natsume gave the standard answer, "If I become the Hokage, I can stop wars and bring peace to everyone."
In fact, he wasn't that noble.
His only wish now was to stay alive.
Tsunade was stunned for a moment and thought of her dead younger brother, Nawaki. He also used to say things like bringing peace by becoming the Hokage every day.
But in the end, he died in the war.
"Little brat, you're not that big, but you've got a big mouth," Tsunade said with a light laugh, reaching out her fair hand to ruffle his hair.
Natsume was speechless.
Did she know what men hated the most?
It was being called "little"!
He'd show her what "big" was all about later.
Tsunade put away her wandering thoughts and said, "Show me your Wood Release."
Natsume stretched out his hand, and several thorns grew out of thin air.
He didn't understand Wood Release yet, so he was controlling it by instinct.
Fortunately, Nonou Yakushi had taught him how to refine Chakra.
Otherwise, he wouldn't have known how to demonstrate it.
Tsunade's face tightened. It was really Wood Release.
She grew up with her grandfather, Hashirama Senju, and was quite familiar with Wood Release.
The Ninjutsu Natsume just demonstrated was neither Genjutsu nor an imitation of Wood Release skills.