"Little Tsunade, what are you looking for?"
"Aah!"
Mito Uzumaki's sudden voice startled Tsunade.
"Grandma, you scared me!"
Turning to see her grandmother, Tsunade couldn't help but roll her eyes and pat her chest.
"Hahaha…"
Tsunade's reaction made Mito chuckle.
Since the deaths of Hashirama and Tobirama, Mito hadn't seen such a childish side to Tsunade in a long time.
And yet, after just one year, it seemed as if Tsunade had returned to the time before Hashirama had died.
No, it was more than that.
With her keen eyes, Mito could naturally see something deeper.
Tsunade had found her own "ninja way."
And, during this time, she had been consistently practicing it.
When the day came that Tsunade fulfilled the practice of her "ninja way," her strength would undergo a complete leap.
In other words, the current Tsunade already had the potential of a "Kage."
As long as she did not doubt the "ninja way" she had established for herself, the future Tsunade would surely possess Kage-level strength.
This might take ten years, or perhaps twenty.
Everything she was doing now for this "dream" would become her foundation, erupting one day in the future to become the ladder for her great leap.
Of course, if she achieved her "dream" ahead of schedule, the time it took for her to become a Kage-level powerhouse would also be shortened.
"By the way, Little Tsunade, you're so focused. What are you looking for?"
"I'm looking for the Flying Thunder God Technique that Great-Granduncle left behind."
Tsunade didn't hide anything from her grandmother, telling her directly what she was searching for.
"The Flying Thunder God Technique?"
Mito was taken aback for a moment, then she glanced at her granddaughter.
"Little Tsunade, the Flying Thunder God is a space-time ninjutsu."
"Besides needing to be able to sense spatial fluctuations, the chakra it consumes is not a small amount."
"With your current chakra reserves, you don't yet meet the requirements to practice it."
"I imagine that monkey, Hiruzen, didn't want you to view it at this time for this very reason."
Mito assumed that Tsunade had asked Hiruzen to learn the technique and had been refused, which was why she was now searching through the family's collection to see if a copy existed.
As the granddaughter of the First and Second Hokage, Mito didn't find it strange that Tsunade would want to learn their ninjutsu.
However, Hashirama's Wood Release, which had shaken the ninja world, was a "Kekkei Genkai"—no, it should be called a "Kekkei Tōta."
A Kekkei Genkai in the ninja world was when a genius of extraordinary talent fused two chakra natures within their body, causing their bloodline to transform, a trait that could then be passed down to their descendants.
After awakening their Kekkei Genkai, a ninja's chakra quality would transform. When using the associated ninjutsu, a Genin or Chunin could possess offensive power comparable to a Jonin.
And if they were already a Jonin, they would be considered an "elite" among them.
Above the Kekkei Genkai was the "Kekkei Tōta," a fusion of three natures.
There were over twenty types of Kekkei Genkai in the ninja world.
But there were only two Kekkei Tōta.
One was the Stone Village's "Dust Release," a fusion of earth, fire, and wind.
Because it was too powerful, both the Second Tsuchikage, Mū, and the Third Tsuchikage, Ōnoki, did not dare to directly fuse the Dust Release chakra within their own bodies, but instead fused it externally.
Thus, although Dust Release had the name of a "Kekkei Tōta" and its power far exceeded that of many Kekkei Genkai, it was still a far cry from a true one.
Wood Release, from its nature, was a Kekkei Genkai born from the fusion of water and earth.
Decades later, the Wood Release possessed by Yamato, who survived Orochimaru's experiments with Hashirama's cells, was of this type.
But the First Hokage's Wood Release was a true "Kekkei Tōta," a complete fusion of water, earth, and Yang Release within his body.
Unfortunately, in the entire Senju clan, besides Hashirama himself, no one else had ever awakened the "Wood Release" Kekkei Genkai.
This included a genius like the Second Hokage, Tobirama Senju, his own son, and his granddaughter, Tsunade Senju, none of whom showed any signs of awakening it.
Now, they could only wait for Nawaki to grow up to see if he had the potential.
As for Tsunade, although she had inherited a bit of Hashirama's constitution, judging from her chakra nature, the possibility of her awakening Wood Release was almost nil.
So, Mito could understand why Tsunade would want to learn her great-granduncle's signature ninjutsu.
However, understanding was one thing; Mito did not want Tsunade to come into contact with higher-level things while her strength was still insufficient.
If she had strong self-control, it would be fine. But if she lacked it and recklessly practiced an advanced ninjutsu, the consequences could range from damaged chakra pathways to death from chakra exhaustion…
"No, it's not for me to learn."
Hearing her grandmother's words, Tsunade quickly shook her head and waved her hands. "It's for An…"
She caught herself mid-word and quickly covered her mouth.
"Oh? It's for that little fellow, is it…"
Mito's eyes narrowed.
Although Tsunade hadn't said his full name, the single syllable "An" was enough for Mito to know who she was finding the Flying Thunder God Technique for.
Little Li Flying Dagger, Li Anshi. The name was not unfamiliar to her.
She had first learned of it when investigating the source of Tsunade's gambling money.
Otherwise, the rent from a single storefront and a person who couldn't even pass the Ninja Academy graduation exam were not enough to reach her ears.
After thoroughly investigating his background, Mito had paid him no more mind.
The second time she had seen him was on the night of Tobirama's funeral.
That day, unable to accept her great-granduncle's death, Tsunade had hidden in Li Anshi's shop and was being escorted home by him when Mito encountered them on the road.
That was the first time Li Anshi had taken out his flying dagger in Konoha.
Although he hadn't thrown it, in that instant, Mito had sensed an extreme danger from him.
It was a powerful offensive technique that could threaten even her.
After hearing from Tsunade what they had talked about, Mito had told her directly that Li Anshi might truly be able to kill Hiruzen Sarutobi.
And then, this year, his fame had spread from the battlefield.
Mito was not surprised that he could make such a name for himself.
For a ninja, as long as you possessed great strength, a "reputation" was merely an accessory. One day, it would push you to the position you were meant to occupy.
Since his attacks could make her feel threatened, then killing other Tailed Beast Jinchuriki and severely wounding the Third Raikage were all within reason.
This was not arrogance on Mito's part.
After the deaths of Hashirama Senju and Madara Uchiha, the strongest person in the entire ninja world was her, Mito Uzumaki.
Even the Second Hokage, Tobirama Senju, could at most only manage to escape from her hands.
As for the others…
A perfect Jinchuriki of the Nine-Tails, combined with her mastery of sealing techniques, it could be said that her strength was in no way inferior to that of Madara Uchiha with his Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan.
"Little Li Flying Dagger…"
Mito merely had to imagine what Li Anshi would be like after mastering the Flying Thunder God Technique, and a chill ran down her spine.
At that time, perhaps even she would not be his match.
"Little Tsunade, are you sure you want to give him your great-granduncle's Flying Thunder God Technique?"
"You are no longer a child; you have your own judgment."
"As a ninja, you should know what kind of transformation his strength will undergo if he learns it."
"Li Anshi with only his flying dagger is terrifying, but other villages can still kill him if they are willing to pay a great price."
"The compatibility of the Flying Thunder God Technique with him is not as simple as 1+1 equals 2. It equals 4, 5, or even 10!"
"Once he learns it, it's likely that even the combined forces of the entire ninja world will not be able to threaten him."
"At that time, the only restriction on him might be to have all blacksmiths forbidden from forging flying daggers, or any throwing weapons at all."
"If he were to bring disaster to the ninja world, no one would be able to stop him."
"Knowing this, do you still want to give him your great-granduncle's Flying Thunder God Technique?"
These words were not baseless.
As far as she knew, ninjas from other villages had already come to Konoha to speak with Hiruzen, wanting Konoha to destroy the more than thirty thousand flying daggers Li Anshi had commissioned and to promise that Konoha's blacksmiths would no longer forge them.
To achieve this goal, they were willing to pay a great price.
Hearing this, Tsunade was stunned.
She truly hadn't thought of that.
When Li Anshi asked her for the technique, all she had thought was that it was indeed the most suitable ninjutsu for him.
Now, after her grandmother's words, Tsunade understood what the Flying Thunder God Technique meant for Li Anshi, and for the entire ninja world.
Although she was still young, having experienced the loss of two loved ones and having her perspective broadened by her conversations with Li Anshi, she had her own thoughts about Konoha and the ninja world.
She also knew that the appearance of an "invincible" ninja was not necessarily a good thing for the world.
But, if that "invincible" person was Li Anshi…
After taking a deep breath, Tsunade looked at Mito Uzumaki with solemnity.
"Grandma, I'm sure!"
"If it's Anshi, I am willing to give him the Flying Thunder God Technique."
"If one day, he does something to harm Konoha, then I will be the one to stop him!"
Mito looked at her granddaughter deeply.
"Alright, since this is a decision you have made after careful consideration, then so be it."
"I will find the materials for the Flying Thunder God Technique for you."
"However, don't get your hopes too high."
"What remains in the Senju clan is only some of your great-granduncle's developmental data. The finished jutsu was recorded by him in the Scroll of Seals."
"Also, obtaining the materials doesn't mean he will be able to learn it."
"If it were that easy to learn, your great-granduncle wouldn't have been the only one in Konoha who could use it."
"After all, he was never stingy with his disciples."
"The Scroll of Seals was completely open to Hiruzen and the others."
"But unfortunately, after all these years, they can't even sense spatial fluctuations…"
"Yes, thank you, Grandma. I'll tell Anshi!"
Seeing the smile on Tsunade's face, Mito shook her head.
This girl…
I hope that little fellow named Li Anshi doesn't betray her trust.
Otherwise, she was still in her prime!
…
"This is a huge help, Tsunade."
Taking the thick stack of documents from her hands, Li Anshi thanked her sincerely.
To be able to get the materials for the Flying Thunder God Technique from Tsunade was indeed good news for him.
"Just don't be disappointed that it's only my great-granduncle's research data."
Tsunade waved her hand.
After her grandmother had found the materials, Tsunade had also glanced through them.
She had discovered that they were the inspirations, developmental directions, and data on sensing spatial fluctuations from when her great-granduncle was creating the technique.
They were fragmented. Li Anshi would probably have to spend a long time just to organize them into a coherent system.
And the final research results of the Flying Thunder God were not recorded in these documents.
Thinking about it, it made sense. Since it had already been successfully developed, her great-granduncle wouldn't have recorded the final product multiple times.
"Ha, for me, this research data is far more precious than the finished product."
Li Anshi smiled.
He wasn't just saying this to comfort her.
In the ninja world, he was just an ordinary commoner ninja.
In all these years, the only ninjutsu he had been able to come into contact with were the Three Basic Jutsu.
The Rasengan and the pseudo-Rotation were just copies.
Of course, while they were copies, in practicing these two techniques, it was undeniable that he had come to understand much about the mysteries of "ninjutsu."
But this didn't mean that if a ninjutsu scroll was thrown in front of him, he could learn it.
The release of a ninjutsu—the sequence of hand seals, the flow of chakra during the seals, the shape transformation, the nature transformation—the slightest error would lead to failure.
Not to mention, the characteristics of his chakra made him incompatible with elemental ninjutsu.
Li Anshi felt that the data Tsunade had given him was probably more precious than the finished Flying Thunder God from the Scroll of Seals he might have asked Hiruzen for.
It was like a math problem. The Scroll of Seals contained the formula and the answer.
What Tsunade had given him was the problem-solving process and the derivation of the formula.