Naruto: Wood-Wood Fruit

"Whoosh… Whoosh..."

In front of an unremarkable hillside.

Kiyoshi led Tsunade, Shizune, and Karin to this place.

"Is it really here?"

Tsunade was surprised.

With her current sensory abilities, she should be able to detect most things.

Yet she hadn't sensed anything unusual.

Shizune, who inherited the sensory abilities of the Hagoromo clan, was equally astonished.

"I can't feel anything at all."

Karin, too, was a bit puzzled.

Her sensory abilities, which had reached new heights since obtaining an artificial devil fruit, were now further enhanced by her mastery of Kagura's Mind Eye, but she couldn't detect anything unusual.

"Place your hand here and try sensing again," Kiyoshi smiled, encouraging her.

Karin, trusting him, reached out and placed her hand on the surface.

Soon, her expression shifted slightly. "Wait. there is something… a strange feeling."

In an instant.

Karin's eyes sharpened.

She quickly formed hand seals, then called out, "Adamantine Sealing Chains."

"Clang... clank."

Her red hair flowed, and from her back, golden chakra chains shot forth.

They plunged into the unremarkable hillside.

"Rumble..."

The ground trembled.

Under the astonished gazes of Tsunade, Shizune, and the others, the ten meter tall hill split down the middle, slowly opening up to reveal a dark, underground passage.

"This is..."

"It seems this barrier was created by the ancestors of the Uzumaki clan and requires their Adamantine Sealing Chains as the key," Kiyoshi explained with a shrug. 

"It was meant to prevent outsiders from getting in."

Without hesitation, he entered first.

From his palm, a bright flame emerged, illuminating the dark passage.

Tsunade, Shizune, and Karin followed closely behind.

Before long, they had traveled down a long, dim corridor and reached a depth of several hundred meters underground, where a sealed chamber awaited them.

"This is..."

Tsunade, Karin, and Shizune widened their eyes.

The chamber was vast.

Rows upon rows of shelves lined the room.

They were filled with all kinds of scrolls and documents.

Some familiar names of sealing techniques caught their attention immediately:

The Three Directions Seal, Four Violet Flames Formation, Four Symbols Seal, Five Elements Seal, Iron Armor Seal, and the Four Red Yang Formation.

"To think... this is the true legacy of the Uzumaki clan," Tsunade took a deep breath, stunned. 

"It seems the sealing techniques seized by other nations back then were only a fraction of what was here."

"Not only the sealing techniques themselves," Kiyoshi noted, picking up a nearby scroll. 

"These documents also include research notes, insights from generations of Uzumaki, and other details invaluable to fully understanding these techniques."

Opening the scroll, he discovered detailed notes on the Five Elements Seal, even explaining the method and theory behind its creation.

Kiyoshi's eyes gleamed, a smile appearing on his face.

This was exactly what he needed.

"With these resources from the Uzumaki clan, Tsunade-nee, the forbidden technique I mentioned to you before." Kiyoshi's confidence grew. 

"With this, I can perfect it within three months."

He was so sure because he wasn't working alone.

The Wood Clone Technique, which shares training progress, was designed specifically for developing such jutsu.

"What?"

Both Shizune and Karin were stunned, eyes wide.

Kiyoshi's ambitious plan had left a deep impression on them from the start.

Now, the seemingly impossible goal he spoke of—developing a forbidden technique in just three months—was almost hard to believe.

"You want to stay here, don't you?"

Tsunade raised an eyebrow, looking directly at Kiyoshi.

"Yes..." Kiyoshi nodded, looking at her seriously. "You understand, right, Tsunade-nee?"

"Indeed, there's little more you could learn from me by staying nearby."

Tsunade nodded.

She had anticipated this for a while, so it didn't surprise her. "Keeping you with me would only hold back your growth."

"At first, I was worried you'd go down a dark path, but you're much more exceptional, mature than I'd expected. I trust you won't end up like Orochimaru."

She reached out and touched his face, smiling.

This bold young man—daring, maddening, and so dear to her—was even more impressive than she had imagined.

Though she was reluctant, she couldn't hold him back from his future.

"Kiyoshi."

For a moment.

Shizune and Karin both gazed at him, unable to mask the sadness in their eyes, as his words had come so suddenly.

"Relax... It's not like I'm disappearing,"

Kiyoshi gently patted their cheeks, laughing softly.

"Don't forget, I've mastered the Flying Thunder God Technique. With my chakra reserves and my control over it, I can reach you anywhere in the shinobi world."

Though he sought strength.

He didn't intend to be a hermit.

He'd have no joy without the people he cherished, nor did he intend to suppress his desires.

Whether it was Shizune, his senpai, or Tsunade, his teacher, over the past two years, he had deepened his relationships with both.

He'd never intended to give up halfway.

"Considering the future threats we may face, I just need to dedicate more time to training and developing forbidden techniques. I won't be traveling with you all for now."

"Take care, Kiyoshi."

Karin looked at him, nodding slightly.

Though she didn't know the full weight he bore.

She refrained from making a fuss.

"No need to worry. I'll visit whenever I can."

Kiyoshi's smile widened as he looked at Tsunade and Shizune, his words carrying a double meaning.

"How could I ever leave you, Tsunade-sensei and Shizune-senpai?"

"...." Tsunade and Shizune blushed.

They couldn't help but glance away.

Yesterday's events.

Had broken the last barrier between them.

They'd stopped shying away from their connection to Kiyoshi, accepting it wholeheartedly.

"What about me?"

Karin quickly raised her hand, asserting her presence.

"You?"

Kiyoshi's gaze softened, scanning Karin with amusement. "You're still just a brat—wait a bit before you think about that."

"You jerk, what's with that look?"

Karin was furious, glaring at Kiyoshi, gritting her teeth.

In a fit, she leaped forward, flailing her arms, and growled, "Stop underestimating me. One day, I'll grow up too."

One day.

She'd grow up to be as impressive as Lady Tsunade.

And then, she'd captivate Kiyoshi, that flirtatious fool.

Did he think she hadn't noticed the way he'd steal glances at Tsunade's grand figure?

And Shizune-senpai's smooth, slender legs.

This guy had all sorts of peculiar tastes.

"Knock it off."

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