"To be honest, the Sage's body is similar to his eyes. Each one of them has the capability of awakening the Wood Release and the Sharingan. Now you and Tsunade are the same. You have the treasure box, but you can't open them. Therefore, you have the strength of Wood Release chakra hidden in your body, but you can't actually use them."
"If you want to use the Wood Release, you have to do the same thing when you awaken the Sharingan. Back then, you got the power of the Sharingan, but you couldn't use them immediately. You have to awaken your eyes to use it. The Wood Release is also the same. You have obtained everything from the Hashirama's body, but you have to rely on yourself to awaken it." Wood Release was different from the Sharingan. Ryoha had minimal knowledge about them.
"Until now, only Senju Hashirama can use them, so whether you can finally use the Wood Release was the same as when you're trying to awaken the Sharingan. It depends on your own luck. You could end up like Tsunade for more than 50 years of your life. You have the treasure box, but you can't open it."
"You may only get the enhanced recovery, strength, speed, defense, endurance, flexibility, and toughness far beyond ordinary people from this process, or maybe you will eventually awaken the Wood Release like Hashirama, completely. Inheriting the Sage's body." Bulma said.
"Bulma, you have already done enough for me. If not for you, I might already be dead. Even if I can't use Wood Release for the rest of my life, it is enough. I can protect you with the power I have. You don't need to feel guilty or blame yourself. My own luck is the only thing to blame."
"If the real Wood Release were so easy to obtain, someone besides Hashirama would've been able to use them after all these years. Even the so-called Wood Release used by Madara was limited by the usage of Hashirama's cells. Although he could also be considered the only other Wood Release user, he was still too far away from the real Hashirama. Therefore, in my opinion, Wood Release would definitely not be so easy to obtain."
Ryoha did not want Bulma to feel guilty because of this. He walked in front of Bulma and hugged him in his arms. This was the first time he hugged Bulma in so many years. When he was a child, it was always Bulma who hugged him.
"Well, so you have grown up. The baby in my arms has grown into a towering tree that can shelter me before I could realized."
Bulma buried his head in Ryoha's arms and found that Ryoha, who was twelve years old, was already taller than her.
For a moment, the basement became very warm. It was because this pair of mother and son had been inseparable for more than ten years. They were not real mother and son. They were not like lovers, but they were friends. It was very complicated. But no matter what, the relationship between them was very deep, and they would not be separated even if they were beaten to death.
At this time, the venue of the Exam was full of people, some of which were from the prominent clans of Konoha. Many important guests from the Land of Fire and a large number of villagers were present as well.
"This group of rookies is already troublesome. Now there are two people missing." Shiranui Genma looked at the seven brats in front of him and found that there were still two missings.
"I'm really sorry to ask you to come here, Kazekage-dono." The battle below had not yet begun, but the Third was already sitting on the platform with Orochimaru who had disguised himself as the Kazekage."
"How could that be? Fortunately, the exam venue is here. Although you are still strong, if it was held in the Sunagakure, you may not be able to endure the long journey. In fact, it's about time for you to choose the Fifth Hokage."
Looking at his former teacher at such a close distance, Orochimaru felt very complicated in his heart. There was anger, closeness, hatred, and resentment. In short, all kinds of emotions were suppressed in his heart and he did not show them. He was very cautious with the Third. Although he was old and no longer as powerful as before, he still could not be underestimated.
If he was careless, his disguise could be found by people around. So Orochimaru deliberately showed the hostility between the two Kages of the Ninja Village in order to divert the Third's attention.
"Haha, I may be old, but by bones can hold on for five more years. Well, the exam is about to begin." The Third laughed. Because of Ryoha, he wanted to show his power as a ninja again, but today might be his last time to do so.
"Sarutobi-sensei, you've changed. Why are you so indecisive? You seem to have recovered to your peak, but it just so happens that sending you to hell is the best ending." While thinking, Orochimaru casually said, "I think there are still two more ninjas missing."
"Hey, hey, hey, referee, I have a problem. Sasuke and Ryoha are not here. What if they don't come?" Naruto asked.
"If they hadn't arrived at the start of the competition, they would be disqualified," Genma replied.
"No way!" Naruto shouted.
"Where did Ryoha go? Did he oversleep?" Sakura said worriedly.
"Do you think Ryoha is Naruto? How could he possibly oversleep?" Ino retorted angrily. Before she could finish his sentence, Ryoha had already appeared.
"Ryoha is here." Sitting on the side, Hinata blushed. She felt guilty and happy when she thought of how Ryoha was furious about her a month ago.
"Sorry, I met an old woman who needed my help to cross the road today, so I came a little late." Ryoha casually threw some excuses out of Kakashi's book, which made Naruto, who was very familiar with these excuses, speechless.
"It seems that Sasuke's match can only be postponed first." The third Hokage glanced at Ryoha below and signaled with his eyes that Genma could start.
"Before I start, I want to tell you that because the number of people this time is not even, there will be one lucky person. He doesn't have to fight from the beginning. After the winner of the first round of the battle has been determined, his battle will take place." Genma took out a piece of paper with the name list of nine participants written on it.
"No way, then isn't it unfair?" Naruto was the first to jump out and said unhappily.
"Sorry, ninjas do not have the so-called fairness, and luck is also a part of strength."
Genma announced the list of the matches. Naruto vs. Neji, Temari vs. Shikamaru, Shino vs. Kankuro, Ryoha vs. Sasuke, and Gaara, got a bye in this round, which meant that he didn't need to battle in this first round.