Note: If you are interested, you can read up to chapter 518 nearly completed at patreon.com/Betek.
"Hiashi-sama, Lady Tsunade left on her own; please don't speak recklessly!"
Shizune, hearing Hiashi Hyuga's words, angrily raised her delicate eyebrows.
As Tsunade's disciple and close assistant, Shizune held a special status in Konoha, so she wasn't afraid of Hiashi Hyuga.
After Tsunade left, rumors spread throughout Konoha that she had left because of a man—the Flying Thunder God user. These rumors significantly damaged Tsunade's reputation, making it harder for her to become the Fifth Hokage.
Shishou deduced that the one who benefited from this was likely the mastermind, quickly narrowing it down to Danzo.
Danzo was probably the only one who didn't want Tsunade to become the Fifth Hokage.
Thus, Shizune was furious when she heard Hiashi's words.
"Hiashi, leave the room!" Even the usually gentle Rimei Hyuga was upset by Hiashi's words, directly ordering him out.
Hiashi, despite being the head of the Hyuga clan, respected Rimei, who was the daughter of the Hyuga clan's elder. Normally gentle and virtuous, when Rimei got angry, even Hiashi feared her.
Hiashi opened his mouth, regretting his words. He had been investigating Tsunade's whereabouts and had just heard the rumor today, which caused his slip of the tongue.
"Sorry, I misspoke," Hiashi bowed to Shizune and left the room.
After Hiashi left, Rimei smiled at Shizune and said, "Miss Shizune, Hiashi misspoke just now. Please forgive him."
"Let's continue our conversation."
"Alright."
Seeing Hiashi apologize, Shizune couldn't pursue the matter further and began recounting how Shishou had saved her.
Rimei was stunned when she heard Shizune describe how her internal injuries were healed by the Flying Thunder God user, her eyes filled with hope.
"Miss Shizune, how can we find this Flying Thunder God user?"
Shizune hesitated. She couldn't say that the Flying Thunder God user was waiting at home for her to return for dinner. Following Shishou's instructions, she passed the responsibility to the Third Hokage.
"The Third Hokage might know."
At the Hokage's office.
"Shizune, you're saying the Flying Thunder God user can save Rimei Hyuga?"
The Third Hokage looked at Shizune in surprise.
"Yes, Third Hokage."
"Since Lady Tsunade has left the village, he's the only person I can think of. He saved me when I was gravely injured."
Shizune spoke calmly.
"Tsunade did mention this before," the Third Hokage nodded, acknowledging Shizune's words.
"Third Hokage, do you have any way to contact this Flying Thunder God user?" Hiashi Hyuga asked urgently, looking hopeful.
"Ahem," the Third Hokage awkwardly coughed, "I don't have a way to contact him."
Thinking about how he had driven away the Flying Thunder God user, leading to Tsunade's departure and Rimei's untreated condition, the Third Hokage felt very uncomfortable.
Seeing Hiashi's disappointment, the Third Hokage quickly said, "I'll send a message to the Mist Village to see if they know how to contact him."
"I'll also issue a mission to have Konoha's ninjas look out for him while on their missions."
Hiashi, though still disappointed, knew the Third Hokage was doing his best. He bowed and said, "All mission expenses will be covered by the Hyuga clan."
"Understood. You may go now," the Third Hokage waved them off.
After leaving the Hokage's office, Shizune returned to Tsunade's house.
"Shishou, why don't you just go and treat Rimei Hyuga?"
In the kitchen, Shizune helped Shishou with dinner, drying her hands as she asked curiously.
"People tend to not appreciate things that are easily obtained," Shishou explained while skillfully chopping tomatoes, onions, and potatoes, placing them into the pot. He planned to make tomato beef stew tonight.
"If I go to them, the Hyuga clan will be wary, thinking I covet their Byakugan."
"So it's better to have them come to me. This way, I can gain some benefits."
"I think you just want to mess with the Third Hokage," Shizune laughed, hugging Shishou from behind and pressing her face to his back.
Young lady, where is your Will of Fire?
"Haha, maybe a little," Shishou turned, embracing Shizune with a smile. "Now, there's some time before the stew is ready. Let's do something else."
Shizune blushed, "But it's the middle of the day..."
"What are you thinking?" Shishou teased, "I just wanted you to get the Spirit Transformation Technique scroll so we can study it together. But if you want, I can accommodate you."
The Kato clan's Spirit Transformation Technique was an S-rank jutsu, powerful and versatile, often catching opponents off guard.
Since Kato Dan's death, no one in Konoha had mastered it.
"I wasn't thinking that!" Shizune blushed even more, turning into a steam princess as she ran to fetch the scroll, "I'll go find the scroll..."
Later, Shishou studied the Spirit Transformation Technique while Shizune learned about senjutsu, waiting for the tomato beef stew to be ready.
Half an hour later, after lunch with Shizune, Shishou went to his secret lab.
Shizune stayed at Tsunade's house, studying the senjutsu scrolls from Ryuchi Cave and Shikkotsu Forest left by Shishou and Tsunade.
Not everyone had Naruto's natural talent for senjutsu.
People like Mikoto, Shizune, and Yakumo had to gradually adapt to senjutsu energy with Shishou's help, learning various senjutsu techniques before slowly mastering it.
Of course, if it was just curse mark transformation, they had long been proficient. But the gap between curse mark transformation and true senjutsu was significant.
Lying on a recliner in his lab, Shishou carefully read the Spirit Transformation Technique scroll.
To master it, one needed a strong soul, meaning one had to master Yin Release and use Yin chakra proficiently.
These were not Shizune's strengths, explaining why she hadn't mastered it.
Putting away the scroll, Shishou pondered for a moment, then formed hand signs.
The next second, Shishou's soul floated out of his body.
"So this is the Spirit Transformation Technique."