"You wash and cut the veggies and the meat, while I prepare the broth, okay?" I told Kushina, who was here in my house 'helping' me while I was sick.
"Hey, I told you I would be the one cooking, right?" Kushina grumbled, complaining.
"And you are. I can't just let you do all the work alone now, can I? Besides, I find cutting veggies and doing the dishes the most annoying part of cooking, so you are doing it," I said with a chuckle, at which Kushina grumbled a bit more but agreed.
And so passed one week. I had sent a letter to Tsunade via Katsuyu explaining my condition, and my hypothesis of me awakening the Sage Body. This week was actually fun, to be honest—my first genuine break doing nothing but chilling ever since I arrived in this world.
And of course, since Kushina practically lived here the past week, we were even closer now. Anyway, like all good things, this too came to an end, and now starts the real chore: I need to disclose my Wood Style to Grandma Mito today, and also inform Tsunade.
"Kushina, you know, I am already fine now, right? I'll even be attending classes from tomorrow onwards," I complied at the still over-caring Kushina, who was feeding me.
"Shut up and eat. We will talk about it when you finally start attending classes from tomorrow," Kushina said angrily, but her red cheeks would suggest her thoughts weren't exactly that of anger.
"Alright, but after this, I am leaving with you. We are going to visit Grandma Mito. I have something important to discuss," I replied seriously.
"Ummm, okay... but first, tell me what you're going to discuss with Grandma?" Kushina asked, looking like a curious cat.
"It's nothing. Just my newly awakened Sage Body. My chakra has increased a lot, so I wanted to learn a bit from Grandma Mito, considering that Tsuna-sensei isn't here," I replied with a smile, not telling the truth. Kushina is almost always under surveillance. Although no one should have heard us here, what if they have some special means? In the Senju compound, with Mito Uzumaki alive, they won't dare use any such methods—so better to talk about it there.
"Oh, just that? You acted as if it is some sort of big secret. Grandma already guessed about it," Kushina said with a smug face, for which I just smiled and let her continue feeding me.
Soon, we left for the Senju compound. I had stepped out of my house after an entire week, so the breeze felt quite refreshing. And after a small walk, we were now sitting next to Grandma Mito.
"Grandma, I had something important to discuss with you," I clarified with a serious tone.
"Is it about your Sage Body?" Grandma asked, to which I declined. She understood my meaning and asked everyone to empty the room.
Now, there were only me, Kushina, and Grandma Mito in the room, but I still didn't start talking. Mito understood that what I was about to say was confidential, so she made some hand signs and created a barrier around the room.
"You can speak freely now, child. No one will be able to hear what's happening inside now," Grandma Mito said with a kind smile.
"Grandma, although the thing about me awakening the Sage Body is indeed correct, that is not all. I haven't just awakened the Sage Body, I have also awakened the unique Kekkei Genkai of the Senju clan—Wood Style," I said, with the most serious face I could pull off.
Hearing the words, the smile on Mito's face vanished, morphing into one of seriousness first. Then, as realization dawned, excitement flashed in her eyes—but she just asked a simple question: "Are you sure it's the Wood Style you have awakened?"
I did not reply with words. I clapped my hands instead, and a tree grew in the center of the room, destroying the table. But no one minded the table. Kushina was simply excited, but she didn't understand the significance of the Wood Style. But Mito... she was a different case entirely.
Mito POV
Today, the young kid Mahoraga asked me for a meeting, saying he had to discuss something. Maybe he wants to talk about his Sage Body. Quite the genius that boy is—although he somewhat lacks the innocence kids his age should have—but he is a good kid overall.
Even now, he wants to disclose his Sage Body to me, but he did not publicize the matter. So, both a genius in terms of abilities and brain. Such things are better kept hidden for the longest time possible, so that he can grow more...
I sat there observing him with an amused smile. He was trying to act serious, but on such a young kid, that expression can only be said to be cute.
Hmmm... well, he wants privacy, it seems. I ordered the servants to leave the room, but the kid wasn't satisfied. With a helpless smile, I shook my head and cast an isolation barrier. With my level of Fuinjutsu, there was no one who could watch or hear what was happening inside.
"Grandma, although the thing about me awakening the Sage Body is indeed correct, that is not all. I haven't just awakened the Sage Body, I have also awakened the unique Kekkei Genkai of the Senju clan—Wood Style," he said.
Now this... this broke my amusement. Maybe to someone else, Wood Style is just a symbol of Konoha, but to me, it is like the legacy of my late husband.
But I need to ensure it's the real deal first... "Are you sure it's the Wood Style you have awakened?" This was all I could ask. If it really is Wood Style, he would definitely be considered the successor of Hashirama, and would surely be the future Hokage. And he would also have to change his surname from Enju to Senju...
He did not answer my words—at least not verbally. He simply clapped his hands... just like Hashirama used to...
And a tree shot out from the floor, tearing through the table. A tree so full of vitality that I fell into nostalgia. This was not some fake copy... this was Hashirama's power. Mahoraga... this kid... is the successor of Hashirama. The hope of Konoha.
But he is too young now... not nearly strong enough yet. He needs to grow. He needs more time. Monkey and Danzo can't know about his abilities for now. They will surely come after him...
'I have decided... I will personally teach him all I know. Hashirama... your successor... I will protect him, until he's strong enough to protect Konohagakure, and carry forward your dream of peace...'
A smile crept on my face. It seems I have to hold on a bit longer. I was ready to transfer Nine Tails to Kushina and die soon, to meet you, Hashirama...
But fate seems to have one last task for me...