Naruto: Wood-Wood Fruit

"So comfortable."

In the inn, within the warm spring.

Since the disturbance caused by the Jashin cult in the Land of Hot Water had subsided, the country's tourism was gradually recovering as news spread among travelers.

Although business wasn't booming, a few tourists from other nations were now starting to arrive, attracted by the region's renown.

Taking advantage of this, Kiyoshi found himself, after a long time, soaking in the family-style hot spring offered by the inn with Tsunade, Shizune, Karin, and others.

Being allowed to join, he lounged lazily in the spring, sneaking glances at Tsunade and the others. 

Though wrapped in towels, their coverings weren't too tight, giving him occasional, delightful glimpses.

Once again, he marveled at the charm of the shinobi world.

"Kiyoshi, thank you so much."

The beautiful Tsunade, her face slightly flushed from the hot spring, was utterly captivating.

She closed her eyes, enjoying the warmth, smiling as she said, "I feel so rejuvenated, brimming with energy like I haven't felt in ages."

Though her appearance remained youthful, she was still in her forties.

Despite looking young, maintaining such vitality was challenging, especially compared to her prime years. 

Her medical ninjutsu skills had not yet completely countered the natural decline in stamina.

Unless… she could acquire the life-force-infused chakra that Kiyoshi possessed.

However, after inheriting the First Hokage's Wood Style, she felt like she had truly returned to her twenties, as if experiencing a second spring in life.

"Tsunade-nee, I've always been curious about something."

Kiyoshi glanced at the snowy, gleaming sight that occasionally floated up from the hot spring.

He squinted at the blue sky, deep in thought. 

"With the First Hokage's incredible life force, even after that fierce battle with Madara Uchiha, shouldn't he have been able to recover after some time?"

It was hard to imagine the intensity of a battle that would lead to the death of a man like Hashirama Senju.

A man whose cells remained lively even decades after his passing. how could he have died so easily?

"Eh?"

Hearing this—

Shizune and Karin, who had been sitting quietly due to Kiyoshi's presence, stopped their playful banter and looked over curiously.

Kiyoshi's question echoed a thought that had puzzled them, too.

All four in the spring were skilled medical ninjas, highly knowledgeable about healing and cellular restoration.

After all, the First Hokage was known as a man who could heal without hand seals.

Though his healing abilities inevitably drained his cells' regenerative power, the vitality in his cells, even after decades, suggested that he hadn't reached his limit.

"You're asking about that."

Tsunade paused, her brow furrowed as she recalled details.

She was still young when her grandfather passed away, and much of what happened wasn't clear to her. 

However, she had learned pieces of the story from her grandmother, Mito Uzumaki.

"My grandfather passed away at a young age not just because he pushed himself too far in the life-or-death battle with Madara Uchiha, exhausting his chakra and depleting his life force."

"But also because, to protect the village, he had to kill his best friend—someone who meant more to him than a brother. The grief of losing a friend hurt him deeply."

Recalling her grandfather, Tsunade sighed. "So, after returning to the village and handing over the Hokage title to the Second, he gradually lost the will to hold on."

"Is that so?"

Kiyoshi nodded slowly, contemplating.

He remembered that when Hashirama had defeated Madara, he told his friend resolutely, "If you endanger the village, I won't spare you—even if you're my brother, my friend, or my child."

Madara had retorted, "You've changed, Hashirama. This is a path that will only lead the village into darkness."

There was no doubt—

Regardless of who was right or wrong, Madara had stayed true to himself.

But Hashirama had changed. No longer the same man with an open heart who had believed in harmony, he had changed to protect his village. 

He was the man who had selflessly divided the Tailed Beasts among the other villages to ensure peace.

To protect the "village," he would go to any lengths.

He could even bring himself to kill his best friend if it meant safeguarding his vision.

It was clear that Hashirama later realized this. Right or wrong, he had betrayed the very ideals of "Konoha" that he and Madara had founded together.

Confined to the concept of a "village," his ideals of peace and universal love had gradually become narrow.

Yet, he realized this too late.

After all his talk of friendship, he had ultimately betrayed Madara, leaving him to live with the blood of his brother-like friend on his hands.

This self-betrayal must have been unbearable for him.

Perhaps that guilt haunted him, leading him to an early death.

"Oh, Shizune-senpai."

Satisfied with the answer, Kiyoshi dropped the matter, his curiosity quenched.

He turned to Shizune, who was sitting across from him, modestly wrapped up, and smiled.

"Since I'm back now, let's continue our training tonight."

"And I'll teach you the Peacock Technique."

"Ah?"

Shizune's heart skipped a beat.

She thought back to the intimate moments during her training with Kiyoshi, practicing the Yin Seal and Strength of a Hundred Seal. 

Her cheeks flushed as she stammered, "O-Okay, that'd be…. helpful. Thank you, Kiyoshi."

Watching Shizune's shy reaction, a smile crept into Kiyoshi's eyes.

He turned toward Tsunade, a few steps away. "Tsunade-nee, then for you—"

"No rush, I'll focus on mastering Wood Style first," Tsunade replied lazily with her eyes closed.

With the increase in chakra after acquiring Wood Style, she felt no hurry to learn the Peacock Technique.

Moreover, the techniques Kiyoshi had shared with her in the Tsukuyomi world weren't limited to the First Hokage's Wood Style jutsu. 

He had also taught her some of his own practical Wood Style techniques, some of which even allowed the user to fly.

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