Outside the laboratory, Hiruzen felt sowhat uneasy.
Asuma’s attitude had left him truly at a loss for the second ti in his life—
The first ti was when the Second Hokage had chosen to stay behind as a rearguard.
Why was this happening?
Hiruzen didn’t quite understand.
He stood outside the door, wanting to enter but hesitating and wavering.
Just as he was about to leave—
Creak.
Tsunade opened the door, looking exasperated.
"Old man, either co in or leave. What are you doing pacing outside my lab while I’m working on experints? Optimizing this antidote takes ti, you know!"
"Tsunade..."
Hiruzen realized Tsunade had misunderstood.
He quickly explained, "I’m not here to rush you about the dicine."
He had already heard about the incident with the Hyuga team from his wife, Biwako, and the ANBU. While he took the matter and the improved poison seriously, he wasn’t here to pressure her.
Tsunade was surprised, then puzzled.
If it wasn’t official business, what was the old man doing here?
After a mont’s thought, she nodded. "Wait a mont. I need to give my assistant so instructions."
"Of course, take your ti."
Hiruzen coughed lightly and went to the neighboring office to wait.
After a while, Tsunade changed out of her lab coat and returned to the office, closing the door behind her.
"What’s going on?"
"I’m actually here about Asuma."
Hiruzen hesitated but eventually revealed the reason.
Tsunade was taken aback, then recalled what she had overheard the previous day. She sat up straighter, no longer as casual as before.
After hearing the full story, she was baffled.
"Children don’t ask for much. The tree hollow wasn’t causing any harm. Why did you shut it down?"
"Things like that haven’t been properly tested. Rolling them out recklessly could lead to imitation, spreading negative emotions and behaviors. It’s a potential risk to the village’s stability."
Hiruzen countered, explaining his reasoning.
"How could that be? They just wanted a place to vent, to express things they couldn’t say out loud. Do you really need to control even that?"
Tsunade was utterly shocked.
She didn’t have children, and her only younger relative was her late brother. She couldn’t comprehend Hiruzen’s actions.
"It’s for the stability of the village."
"What?!"
Tsunade looked Hiruzen up and down, her eyes filled with disbelief and astonishnt.
Are you serious?
What does this have to do with the village’s stability?
She sighed in frustration.
Such an old-fashioned mindset...
Truly a relic of the past, unable to keep up with the tis and update his views.
She felt an even stronger sense of responsibility.
If the next generation had to live under the Third Hokage’s rule, Tsunade couldn’t imagine what that would be like.
For the sake of the village!
Tsunade’s expression turned serious.
"Your actions stem from ignorance. In reality, everyone has things they can’t share with others. People might spread secrets, but inanimate objects won’t. That’s the purpose of the tree hollow."
"It’s a silent listener, allowing people to relax and vent their emotions, preventing them from bottling things up and developing psychological issues. It’s beneficial."
"Are you going to stifle the developnt of sothing just because you don’t understand it?"
Tsunade’s tone was firm.
Hiruzen had read Tsunade’s papers and wasn’t entirely unfamiliar with psychology, but without firsthand experience, he couldn’t grasp the concept of the "tree hollow."
Still, he believed it served no real purpose and might even provoke extre emotions.
However, he suddenly realized—
I didn’t co here to discuss this!
"Tsunade, I wanted to talk about Asuma."
"Sensei, we’re talking about the sa thing. Also, you really don’t understand Asuma at all!"
Tsunade’s eyes showed disappointnt. "Then again, that’s typical of you. You don’t understand Asuma, nor do you truly understand Jiraiya, , or even Orochimaru."
Once, Hiruzen had been a hero in her eyes, second only to Hashirama and Tobirama. But now, his image in her mind was crumbling.
Past fifty, the teacher was truly getting old!
"What do you an?"
"Sensei, isn’t it obvious? Asuma doesn’t like being controlled by you. He doesn’t want to be the Hokage’s son—he just wants to be himself!"
Her words left Hiruzen stunned.
The Hokage’s son...
What’s wrong with that?
He didn’t realize that his very existence was a burden to the young Asuma.
Tsunade’s eyes flickered with pity.
"Sensei, I think you should try to communicate with Asuma... Actually, never mind. With your skills, talking to him would only make things worse!"
Her expression turned cold. "Leave this matter to . But don’t interfere with the tree hollow anymore, and don’t even think about sending people to eavesdrop. Otherwise, I won’t be polite!"
"You..."
"If you’re still stubbornly insisting on handling things your way, you shouldn’t have co to in the first place."
Tsunade said, "If you were right, why co to ?"
Hiruzen fell silent for a mont, then finally relented.
"Fine, I won’t stop you."
"Children are relatively simple. Adult psychological issues are far more challenging, especially for us shinobi... You really should take this seriously, embrace and understand the unknown instead of always seeking stability."
Tsunade spoke earnestly.
Hiruzen stood up to leave.
Maintaining stability was the path to peace. As Hokage, a single mistake or rash decision could push the village toward disaster.
How could a child understand this?
He reached the door but suddenly paused.
"Tsunade, must you compete for the Hokage seat?"
"Yes."
Tsunade’s tone was resolute.
Hiruzen turned back, his gaze piercing. "Being Hokage ans bearing all responsibilities. Do you have the ability to do that now?"
"Of course!"
Tsunade didn’t back down.
She had anticipated this day when she made her decision.
Hiruzen’s expression turned grave.
"Then prove it to !"
"You’re mistaken. It’s not about proving it to you, but to everyone—to every villager of Konoha!"
Tsunade corrected him.
Hiruzen smiled. "You’re right. Every Hokage must answer to the villagers. If you truly have the ability and the ambition, I won’t cling to this position."
"Perhaps I’ve changed, but my intentions are still for the sake of the village, not for my own benefit."
With that, he turned and left.
Tsunade didn’t respond.
The conflict between her and Hiruzen wasn’t personal—it was a clash of ideologies.
Between the old and the new, so friction was inevitable before true change could occur.
But from this day forward, a new "war" might have begun.
Tsunade organized her docunts, pondering the possible moves Hiruzen might make, and then...
She understood.
A mont later, she called for Kurenai.
"Kurenai, I need your help with sothing."
"Tsunade-sama, whatever it is, I’ll do my best."
Kurenai naturally wouldn’t refuse.
Once, she had idolized Tsunade, but now her admiration had faded, replaced by deep respect.
Tsunade spoke solemnly, "I need you to use the ’Hell Viewing Technique’ on . I must overco my psychological barriers as soon as possible!"
The Hell Viewing Technique—a genjutsu that forces one to confront their deepest fears.
She must face her inner demons!
"Tsunade-sama..."
Kurenai’s eyes widened, montarily at a loss for words.
"You said you’d do anything, didn’t you?"
Tsunade smiled.
Kurenai bit her lip. "This is too cruel!"
"It’s not cruel. I’m Tsunade—how can I have such a weakness?"
Then, she tilted her head and added with a grin, "Kurenai, this is also a test for you. If your genjutsu isn’t strong enough, I’ll have to punish you."
"I’m sorry, Tsunade-sama. I... I really can’t do this..."
Kurenai clenched her teeth.
How could she harm soone she respected so deeply?
"I’m the one asking you to do it."
Tsunade’s tone was as gentle as possible.
Kurenai still shook her head, though her expression showed hesitation.
She knew.
Tsunade wanted her to use genjutsu to stimulate her mind, hoping to treat her hemophobia.
But.
If sothing went wrong, it could worsen the condition.
She didn’t dare!
At that mont, Kurenai’s mind involuntarily flashed to Kyohiko.
Among the people she trusted who also knew Tsunade’s situation, aside from Jiraiya-sensei, there was Kyohiko and Kakashi.
Right, Kyohiko!
He also knew dical ninjutsu, and it was Kyohiko who first suggested that Tsunade study psychological conditions.
"Tsunade-sama, let think about it, okay?"
"Alright, I know I’m putting you in a difficult position. But among the people I can trust, you’re the only one with this ability. Kurenai, I believe in you, and I hope you can believe in too."
Tsunade spoke solemnly.
"Understood. I’ll do it, but I want to do it better. After all, this kind of thing... can’t be taken lightly!"
"Thank you."
...
Outside the village, Kyohiko was practicing his swordsmanship.
Single-handed Clone Technique.
Then—
Body Flicker, followed by a slash!
His swordplay flowed seamlessly, executed in one fluid motion.
"My left and right hands are almost perfectly balanced now, very coordinated. With single-handed seals, my abilities are stronger than they were a few days ago!"
A glint of joy flashed in Kyohiko’s eyes.
These improvents were tangible. The only regret was that Hatake Sakumo was dead, and Kakashi’s understanding of the White Fang Swordsmanship likely didn’t surpass his own.
The road ahead was long, and he would have to explore it alone.
Kyohiko sighed.
Just as he was lost in thought, a strange sound ca from underground, followed by—
Buzz buzz!
Insect chirping?
He instantly snapped back to attention. In the blink of an eye, his hands completed six hand seals.
Water Release: Water Wall!
Insects surged from the shadows, but Kyohiko’s Water Wall spread from beneath his feet, covering his surroundings. The swirling water barrier blocked the onslaught of insects in an instant.
Soon, the insects sward from above.
But in that mont, Kyohiko had already pinpointed the enemy’s location—
The insects had a source.
Where the sound ca from was undoubtedly the enemy’s position.
The next mont, the Water Wall vanished.
In the shadows, a masked ANBU ninja controlling the insects was caught off guard.
He imdiately used Body Flicker to reposition.
But.
In the blink of an eye, the insects sensed soone behind him.
What?
How...
Abura Tatsuma was shocked. His body quickly dissolved into a swarm of insects.
Under the cover of his Kikaichu, he swiftly repositioned, but his opponent also split into two, their speed increasing dramatically.
Swoosh!
A blade slashed through the air. Tatsuma blocked it with a kunai, but in the next second, he saw Kyohiko’s left hand strike.
The Kikaichu rushed forward.
But.
The blade twisted, piercing his shoulder in an instant.
The insects surrounded the blade, and Tatsuma’s body crumbled, dissolving into a swarm of Kikaichu that scattered in all directions.
Underground!
Kyohiko’s gaze fixed on the tree trunk as he listened for sounds from below.
The next mont...
Body Flicker Technique!
In an instant, his figure split into three, moving in three different directions through the air.
Underground, Tatsuma controlled his Kikaichu, but before he could determine which figure was real, a terrifying force slamd down from above.
How is this possible?
Tatsuma admitted he had underestimated his opponent.
But.
How could soone so young possess such terrifying strength?
The ground and rocks shattered.
He urged his Kikaichu to devour the chakra-infused shockwave, barely managing to dissipate it before it reached him.
That was...
Too close!
But.
Just as he breathed a sigh of relief, a blade pierced through the earth, stabbing into his shoulder. Even with the Kikaichu’s protection, the blade still wounded him.
Blood flowed.
In the next mont, the Kikaichu surged out like a tidal wave, covering a large area.
Secret Technique: Insect Wall!
At the sa ti, the insects gathered, forming black whirlwinds that ravaged the surroundings.
Even Kyohiko couldn’t recklessly approach—
These insects could devour chakra. If he got too close, he might be consud. Even if he didn’t die, losing too much chakra would leave him immobilized, his life at the rcy of his enemy.
The Abura clan’s secret techniques are truly troubleso!
Kyohiko deeply felt his lack of strength.
Perhaps he needed to learn a large-scale offensive ninjutsu!
Relying solely on taijutsu and kenjutsu wasn’t enough in certain situations.
Tatsuma didn’t dare to underestimate his opponent any longer. He erged from the ground, pressing a hand to his wounded shoulder.
Compared to Kyohiko, he looked far more disheveled.
"Don’t rush to attack. That was just a test."
"A test?"
Kyohiko sneered. "Whose test?"
"The ANBU of Konoha. You’ve passed the test and are qualified to join the ANBU."
Tatsuma replied.
As expected!
Kyohiko wasn’t surprised.
The other party’s attire was clearly in the style of the ANBU. If he guessed correctly, this person should be Abura Tatsuma, one of Danzo’s subordinates.
Abura Tatsuma asked, "So, what do you think?"
"Not impressed. You didn’t inform about this test, so I could have mistaken it for an attack. If I had accidentally killed you, would I also not be held responsible?"
Kyohiko spoke coldly.
Abura Tatsuma felt a surge of anger, but after a mont, he suppressed his rage, though his tone remained sowhat hostile.
"If you had the ability, you could have killed just now! Although I was careless and got injured, it doesn’t an I’m truly inferior to you."
"Everyone who loses says sothing like that."
Kyohiko glanced at him, then used the Body Flicker Technique to leave, throwing back a sentence, "I don’t want to join the ANBU right now. If you want, you can discuss it with my teacher. I’m still technically under Jiraiya-sensei’s command!"
His speed was incredibly fast. In an instant, he was already far away. By the ti Tatsuma thought about retaliating, Kyohiko had already disappeared.
Abura Tatsuma was both frustrated and furious.
His pride had been wounded, and he hadn’t even had the chance to retaliate. It felt like punching air.
So frustrating!
But this guy was truly outrageous. How did soone so young beco so terrifyingly strong?
Clutching his shoulder, Tatsuma headed back to the ANBU base.
...
Kyohiko hurried back to the village, his mind still replaying the earlier battle.
At that mont, Kurenai ran over from an alley, placing her hand on his shoulder.
The next second—
Crack!
Kyohiko’s hand suddenly grabbed hers, about to throw her forward, but he quickly realized they were in the middle of the street and imdiately let go.
Kurenai’s forehead was beaded with cold sweat.
"Sorry."
"N-no, it’s fine!"
She rubbed her hand, trying to ease the pain. "What’s wrong?"
"Nothing, I was just distracted thinking about a technique. Did you need sothing?"
Kyohiko asked.
Kurenai imdiately rembered her mission.
She quickly pulled Kyohiko to a secluded spot, leading him to a small grove. After making sure no one was around, she quietly explained Tsunade’s request.
Kurenai didn’t want to hurt Tsunade.
But.
Tsunade’s request might actually help treat her hemophobia...
She was torn.
Kyohiko was stunned for a mont, then suddenly clapped his hands.
"Right! Why didn’t I think of that?"
"What?"
Kurenai was confused, not understanding why he was so excited.
Kyohiko’s tone was slightly excited.
"The Hell Viewing Technique! The Hell Viewing Technique reveals one’s inner fears. You understand its principles better than I do. Isn’t there a genjutsu that can reveal the beauty within one’s heart?"
He had previously suggested Tsunade seek out ntal health treatnts but had forgotten that the ninja world also had "genjutsu."
Could a reverse version of the Hell Viewing Technique be developed for allies?
He couldn’t say for sure.
Kyohiko’s genjutsu skills were weak. Even though his Clone Technique had reached master level, it hadn’t made much progress in emotional manipulation.
If his grandmother’s notes and scrolls were still around, they might have been helpful, but now...
"It’s a sha. I don’t know genjutsu, so I can only offer this idea. I’m not sure if it can be realized."
Kyohiko sighed regretfully.
"The beauty within..."
Kurenai murmured to herself.
A reverse Hell Viewing Technique.
She had so confidence in genjutsu, and Kyohiko’s suggestion had given her so inspiration.
Perhaps...
With so modifications, it could be done, allowing people to experience the beauty within.
At the very least, she could ask her father for help—
Of course, she’d have to be careful with her wording to avoid revealing Tsunade-sama’s condition.
Kurenai had an idea in mind.
She grabbed Kyohiko’s hand, thanking him repeatedly, then said, "Tsunade-sama is waiting for my response. I’ll go now!"
"Also, it might be better to use the Hell Viewing Technique first. When Tsunade-sama can’t hold on any longer, you can try to awaken the beauty within. That might work better."
Kyohiko offered his advice.
He felt that Tsunade probably didn’t want anyone other than Kurenai to see her vulnerable side.
Besides, he had his own business to attend to.
Finding Jiraiya!
...
As evening approached, Tsunade finished reviewing her research materials and glanced outside, letting out a soft sigh.
Kurenai still hadn’t returned.
Well.
Asking a young girl to do sothing like this was indeed a bit much.
Tsunade chuckled wryly.
After packing up her things and preparing to leave, she turned and heard footsteps running down the hallway.
Then—
Bang!
Kurenai pushed the door open and, seeing Tsunade still there, let out a sigh of relief.
Her face was covered in sweat, and she was panting heavily.
"T-Tsunade-sama! I’ve thought of a way. Please let help you!"
"Thank you, Kurenai."
Tsunade was montarily stunned, then sat down, suppressing her excitent.
Kurenai took a deep breath.
"Tsunade-sama, I’ll use the Hell Viewing Technique first. Although it’s a simple technique, if you don’t resist, it will bring out your deepest fears. You must hold on!"
She had consulted her father, explaining that Tsunade was researching psychology and that she wanted to create a technique that allowed people to see the beauty within.
Yuhi Shinku had offered many suggestions and helped with the research.
After spending the entire afternoon, they finally had so results.
Though it wasn’t perfect, it should be enough for now!
"Don’t worry."
Tsunade nodded, watching Kurenai’s hands.
Then, Kurenai began forming hand seals.
Demonic Illusion: Hell Viewing Technique!
Soon, Tsunade’s body began to tremble uncontrollably.
Kurenai understood.
In Tsunade’s mind, countless terrifying illusions were erging.
These illusions were the things people least wanted to face, and for Tsunade, it was like reopening old wounds, forcing the pain to resurface.
At this mont, Tsunade’s mind was reliving various horrifying deaths.
Dan.
Nawaki.
Kyohiko.
Jiraiya...
One by one, the people she cared about died tragically before her eyes, making it impossible for her to suppress her fear. mories flooded her mind.
"No! No!"
Tsunade shouted in the illusion.
Even though she knew it was all an illusion, she was still losing control.
Then, in an instant, her chakra surged, breaking free from the illusion!
Tsunade was montarily stunned, then looked at Kurenai, who had collapsed on the floor. She quickly rushed over and helped her up.
"Are you okay? I’m sorry, I couldn’t control myself. Maybe next ti?"
She had instinctively broken free of the genjutsu.
Was it still impossible?
Tsunade sighed inwardly.
"I’m fine! I can still do it, Tsunade-sama. Let’s try again!"
Kurenai ignored the pain, her gaze firm.
"Let’s try again, Tsunade-sama. Please believe in !"
"Kurenai... Alright, I believe in you!"
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