Lightning + Water.
The fusion of these two chakra properties creates a new ability — the Storm Release Kekkei Genkai.
Legend says this Kekkei Genkai, passed down in the Land of Lightning, allows the normally straightforward Lightning Release ninjutsu to bend like water at incredible angles.
Hatake Sakumo is a genius.
However, the white-haired boy is still very young, and his chakra is limited by his age and body. He usually prefers swordsmanship and feels a little lost when practicing chakra nature transformations.
Fortunately, Emiya Shihara is a good teacher.
As a ninja who has mastered all chakra transformations and can even see chakra's essence, it is relatively easy for him to guide someone through the transformations of lightning and water.
Compared to other ninja teachers, Emiya Shihara can directly guide Hatake Sakumo, step by step, through chakra transmission until he becomes accustomed to the two nature changes.
This method carries risks. Normally, chakra loss often causes injury, but solving such minor issues is child's play for Shihara.
Hatake Sakumo's training progressed rapidly. Although his Kekkei Genkai was difficult to integrate, his mastery of lightning and water transformations was still remarkable. It often earned him displeased looks from little Tsunade when she returned from school.
"Unhappy…"
Tsunade fumed, watching Hatake Sakumo train while she still struggled with Yang chakra. "Why can't I be as gifted as Hatake-senpai?"
"The requirements for becoming a medical ninja are extremely demanding," Shihara said, noticing Tsunade's annoyance. "But that doesn't stop someone who can't yet become a medical ninja from becoming an excellent one. Tsunade, to become the world's greatest medical ninja, you're already talented enough."
"Really? Hahaha…"
Tsunade beamed, just like Hashirama Senju.
"…"
Hatake Sakumo thought Emiya Shihara was doting a little too much on Tsunade and being a bit unfair toward ordinary ninjas like him.
It was late at night.
That day had seen an unusually high number of seriously injured patients. Only when the first rays of morning sunlight fell on the hospital corridor did Emiya Shihara finally sit on a bench to write his medical records for the day.
"Good news from the front today…"
Hatake Sakumo recounted the victory, his face tinged with excitement. "The Second Hokage led the village's ninjas to defeat the Sand Village's army and forced them to sign a peace treaty."
The war was gradually turning in Konoha's favor.
Senju Tobirama's victory over the Sand Village had greatly boosted the ninjas' confidence. Their near-lightning defeat of the Sand forces proved they were still the strongest village in the ninja world — even without the First Hokage.
The Konoha ninjas still carried on his will and protected their village.
"If you're not too tired…"
Emiya Shihara seemed uninterested in the war news. Looking at the scroll filled with medical records in his hands, then at little Tsunade sleeping soundly on the bench, he whispered to the white-haired boy, "Go get me a few more blank scrolls. Don't wake Tsunade."
"Yes."
Hatake Sakumo quickly left, still excited. Everyone in Konoha was excited by the victory.
Compared to the ordinary ninjas whose fighting spirit was growing stronger, Senju Tobirama's fighting spirit was gradually weakening.
While village ninjas only needed to obey orders and fight for their lives, the Hokage, as the village's leader, had far more to consider.
As the Second Hokage, Senju Tobirama faced the First Shinobi World War at the very start of his succession. The pressure was immense, and defeating the Sand Village only slightly eased it.
After leading Konoha's forces to force the Sand Village into a peace treaty, Tobirama, accompanied by his escort, rushed to the northern Land of Fire. Along the way, he handled military affairs and observed the recovery rate of the seriously wounded.
To minimize Konoha's losses and achieve victory with the least cost, Tobirama, despite his busy schedule, still found time to review intelligence from various locations.
"If possible…"
"I really want to send Lord Emiya to the front lines."
Tobirama finally relaxed after reviewing the data sent from Konoha Hospital. He realized the immense role a formidable medical ninja like Emiya Shihara could play in the war and even felt a hint of regret.
If only he had developed the Impure World Reincarnation technique back in the Warring States period and brought Shihara into the Impure World then — the Senju Clan's casualty rate would have been drastically lower.
How terrifying.
Especially in Impure World form, Emiya Shihara would need no rest, able to provide continuous care for the wounded, even performing surgery in half an hour and rescuing critically injured soldiers from death.
Though tinged with guilt, Tobirama had long resolved to do whatever it took to protect Konoha, the city founded by his elder brother. He was willing to forsake his limited conscience.
"As expected of Lord Emiya…"
"You've even saved so many lives from the rear."
"But Lord Emiya probably wouldn't want to come to the front lines," young Sarutobi Hiruzen said, scratching his head. "I heard he was in a bad mood when the war broke out. He's never liked ninja fighting."
"That might work…"
Young Danzo immediately countered.
He had achieved numerous feats during the war, harnessing the power of the cursed seal bestowed upon him by Emiya Shihara to charge across the battlefield, even appearing to rival Sarutobi Hiruzen at times.
"What Emiya-dono sees in the rear are only the seriously wounded.
"If he saw the corpses of ninja killed on the front lines, even those he had rescued, and witnessed the devastation of this war — surpassing all the wars of the Warring States period…"
As Danzo spoke, his gaze fell on the curse seal on his arm. "If we had persuaded him to help then, we would surely have won this war much faster!"
The power of the curse seal was truly formidable.
When chakra was depleted, it could convert natural energy into chakra for its host, allowing young Danzo to become a prominent figure in the war. Of course, young Sarutobi Hiruzen gained even greater benefits, mastering how to harness the natural energy within it to amplify his ninjutsu even better than Danzo.
In this war, Sarutobi Hiruzen, relying on his terrifyingly powerful Five Essence techniques, could often single-handedly suppress an entire area, practically crushing the older generation of Sand Village ninja. His prestige grew even higher.
He could discern weaknesses in the battle situation, always providing just the right support for the most critical areas. His wide-area techniques quickly alleviated emergencies.
Naturally, the disputes between young Danzo and Sarutobi Hiruzen intensified. They had once been eased by their travels with Emiya Shihara, but after returning to Konoha their status rose rapidly. The Second Hokage placed increasing importance on them both, seemingly entrusting them with the future. This led Danzo to intensify their rivalry, sometimes opposing simply for the sake of opposing.
"Hiruzen!"
"We can gain more!"
"Danzo…"
"We've already gained enough…"
Young Sarutobi Hiruzen wanted Danzo to stabilize the situation and avoid a dire outcome. Now Konoha had achieved victory and received much help from Emiya Shihara. There was no need for extreme measures to strain their relationship with him.
"You know that…"
Hiruzen scratched his head, trying to persuade Danzo: "Emiya-sama doesn't like his power being used in war. We shouldn't force someone who helps Konoha."
"Emiya-sama wouldn't care!"
Young Danzo snorted. "He's already saved the lives of hundreds of seriously wounded soldiers. If his power reached the village ninjas at the front, it would save at least hundreds of squads!"
His tone hardened. "If we fight for peace, we can surely convince him to fully utilize his power for Konoha. This is all for Konoha's victory. We've already decided to win this war at all costs!"
"This will tarnish Emiya-sama's reputation…"
Young Sarutobi Hiruzen felt uneasy. Danzo had a point; the approach was beneficial to Konoha and tempting to many. But Konoha wasn't in such a dangerous situation yet. Why resort to extremes now?
However, these two were only members of the Hokage's Guard. They could not decide; only Senju Tobirama truly had the power.
"You…"
"Look at this first…"
Senju Tobirama picked up a battle report. His face was so dark it seemed water might drip from it. "According to the perception team, Iwagakure has assembled more than 4,000 troops on our side…"
"How can there be so many?"
Mito Kado, a member of the Hokage's Guard, widened his eyes. Konoha had barely gathered fewer than 1,000 on the northern border. How could they fight such a force — more than twice as large? And the enemy might have even more than reported. It was shocking.
"That's perfectly normal."
Young Sarutobi Hiruzen had anticipated this. He spoke of what he had learned traveling with Emiya Shihara. "The Land of Earth is surrounded by mountains and rivers, rarely experiencing war during the Warring States period. Its territory is vast and its population large.
"The terrain means they don't have to waste much force on defense. They have at least five thousand ninja troops available for foreign wars. I hear they even have a special unit made of Kekkei Genkai ninja…"
Silence fell upon the tent.
Clearly, the enemy's forces were too numerous. Unless the First Hokage were still alive, it would be difficult to win a war against the Land of Earth alone.
Furthermore, their ninja were powerful. In this situation, a Konoha ninja would need to fight at least a small team of Land of Earth ninja — far too much to ask.
Young Danzo seemed to find support. "For Konoha, we can let more people receive Lord Emiya's power. Only this way can we win the war!"
"This is one way."
"But we ultimately need Lord Emiya's recognition of Konoha's will for peace, rather than using dark means," young Sarutobi Hiruzen said to Tobirama. "When Danzo and I followed Lord Emiya, the people of Iwagakure owed him a big favor. Can we ask him to use this favor to help us reach a peace agreement? That could also avoid more sacrifices.
"It doesn't matter even if we fail. At least let Lord Emiya see we have worked hard for peace. He who loves peace deeply will also recognize our attitude."
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