shadow hokage dark moon

Chapter 9: Mastering Wood Release

At the center of Konoha's growing turmoil, Uchiha Tsukiko remained unaware that his name had already been repeatedly discussed at the highest levels of the village's leadership. His awakening of Wood Release had become a major topic in every clan meeting, sparking intrigue, concern, and political maneuvering.

However, even if Tsukiko had known, he wouldn't have cared.

For him, the opinions and debates of others were meaningless.

His focus remained absolute—his goal was to become stronger, and he would not be swayed by external noise.

Only through his own efforts and strength could he survive in the dangerous ninja world. And so, he would continue forward, pushing his limits without hesitation.

In the days that followed, Tsukiko repeatedly tested his Wood Release abilities, seeking to understand its true nature and limitations.

What he discovered shocked him—his Wood Release was vastly different from Senju Hashirama's.

The first major difference was power.

Tsukiko quickly realized that his Wood Release lacked the overwhelming might that Hashirama had demonstrated.

When he tried to use large-scale techniques like 'Wood Release: Advent of a World of Flowering Trees', he found that he couldn't even activate them.

After several attempts, he concluded that he could at most create strong trees and vines to bind enemies or form barriers. However, these trees lacked the rapid growth and destructive force that made Hashirama's Wood Release so terrifying.

This realization was frustrating—while he had awakened a legendary power, it was far from reaching its full potential.

The second major difference was chakra absorption.

It was well known that Hashirama's Wood Release could drain chakra at an astonishing rate, even killing opponents by completely exhausting their chakra reserves.

Yet, when Tsukiko attempted the same, he found the process painfully slow.

He tried binding a target with vines, focusing on extracting chakra, but the rate of absorption was so sluggish that it was practically ineffective.

In fact, even against a low-level genin, it would take over ten minutes to drain them dry—and that was assuming they didn't resist.

Tsukiko frowned.

Why was his Wood Release so much weaker?

Had he only awakened a portion of its potential?

Or was his chakra and control still too underdeveloped?

As he contemplated, a possible answer surfaced—Hashirama's unparalleled mastery of Wood Release was not just due to the bloodline, but also because of his monstrous chakra reserves and deep connection to natural energy.

It was becoming clear—his Wood Release was limited by his chakra levels, control, and his connection to natural energy.

At his current state, his power was closer to Yamato's rather than Hashirama's.

Unwilling to accept these limits, Tsukiko turned to the system for answers.

"System, why is my Wood Release so weak compared to Hashirama's? Even my chakra absorption is practically useless."

After a moment, the system responded:

[Host's Senju Physique is far weaker than Hashirama's. As the reincarnation of Asura's chakra, Hashirama possessed an almost perfect Senju Physique. The strength of the Senju Physique directly impacts the power and nature of Wood Release. To reach Hashirama's level, Host needs to attain at least 80% Senju Physique.]

Tsukiko's mind cleared instantly.

So that was the answer.

The Senju Physique was not just about physical endurance—it determined chakra quality, the ability to absorb natural energy, and overall vitality.

Hashirama's Wood Release was so powerful because his Senju Physique was near perfection, allowing him to maximize the power of Wood Release.

However, his own Senju Physique was far from that level.

Standing at the edge of the training grounds, Tsukiko silently opened his system's status screen, eager to analyze his current capabilities.

---

[Character: Uchiha Tsukiko]

[Affiliation: Ninja Academy Student]

[Bloodline: Senju Clan, Uchiha Clan]

[Kekkei Genkai: Senju Physique (21%), Sharingan (Unawakened) - Ocular Power 66%, Wood Release]

[Chakra Reserves: 1,500 (1.5 'Kakashi' Units)]

[Special Abilities: Ninja World Dance King]

[Ninjutsu: Three Basic Techniques, Body Flicker, Uchiha Flow Combat Style, Uchiha Flow Throwing Techniques]

[Heaven's Mandate Points: 2,260]

---

Tsukiko's eyes scanned his stats carefully, absorbing every detail.

First, he noticed that his Senju Physique had increased from 20% to 21%.

It was a small improvement, but every bit mattered.

Even a 1% increase meant that his chakra reserves and control over Wood Release would improve.

The second major change was his ocular power—his Sharingan had increased from 60% to 66%, signaling that his Uchiha bloodline was gradually awakening.

Even though his Sharingan had yet to activate, this meant that once it did, he would have stronger visual perception and combat abilities.

The most gratifying discovery was that Wood Release was now permanently listed in his Kekkei Genkai section.

This confirmed that he had fully inherited the bloodline ability—even if it wasn't yet at its peak potential.

His chakra reserves had also increased significantly.

Previously, he had only 1,000 chakra points (1.0 Kakashi unit), but now it had grown to 1,500 points (1.5 Kakashi units).

This meant that his stamina and jutsu output had expanded, allowing him to sustain battles for longer periods.

Then, there was his Heaven's Mandate Points—which had increased by over 1,000 in a short time.

Tsukiko was surprised.

He hadn't actively completed any major quests—so where had these extra points come from?

After some thought, he reached a conclusion—his fame was growing.

"The village's higher-ups and the major clans must be watching me," Tsukiko speculated.

The increase in Heaven's Mandate Points was likely a result of his name spreading, gaining the attention of influential figures.

With newfound determination, he asked the system:

"System, how do I increase my Senju Physique?"