"What!?"
Kiyoshi was stunned.
He had a faint memory of his aunt whom he'd met a few times in the past.
Sadly, she passed away several years ago. He also had a five-year-old cousin, Moegi Kazamatsuri who hadn't yet enrolled in the Ninja Academy.
If everything went as expected, she would soon be a classmate of Hiruzen's grandson, Konohamaru, when she joined the academy.
What intrigued Kiyoshi more than anything was that, if he remembered correctly, this cousin would eventually become a Jonin instructor in Konoha and, somehow, possess the Wood Release.
Though not especially powerful, it was an extraordinary ability.
Kiyoshi had always found it odd.
He'd quietly wondered if Moegi, like Yamato, had undergone some kind of genetic experiment, possibly merging with cells from the First Hokage, Hashirama, to obtain Wood Release.
With that thought, he nodded in understanding, "So that's how it is…"
It seemed likely that Moegi's future Wood Release might have been awakened through her own lineage rather than being the result of an experiment involving Hashirama's cells.
But since she wasn't a reincarnation of Asura's chakra and lacked the power of yang release, her Wood Release was limited in strength.
It wouldn't be nearly as powerful as that of Hashirama, the First Hokage.
He was different, however.
With the powers of the Wood-Wood Fruit, Kiyoshi had become a true embodiment of nature.
Being the source of life itself, he had acquired an astounding yang release power by extension.
Thus, the Wood Release he controlled, while currently constrained by his chakra levels, was not any weaker than Hashirama's.
In fact, it might even surpass it.
Not only could he absorb chakra and nutrients from others to replenish himself, but he could also perfectly integrate other bloodlines, thus acquiring additional Kekkei Genkai.
Having inherited the Senju bloodline and using the devouring power of the Wood-Wood Fruit to merge perfectly with the Uchiha bloodline,
Kiyoshi now stood effortlessly at the peak that many shinobi would never reach in their lifetimes.
With his exceptional innate talent and sharp insight, it was clear that, with some effort, his future accomplishments would rival or even surpass those of Tobirama Senju, the Second Hokage.
Even without being the reincarnation of Indra or Asura, given enough time, he might one day reach—or even exceed—the level of the legendary "God of Shinobi," the First Hokage.
"Cough, cough… Not only that, but Kiyoshi, you were born with an extraordinary amount of chakra, far beyond others your age, as well as an exceptional chakra sensory ability," Azumi said between fits of coughing.
The elderly woman's pale face flushed with excitement and joy as she continued.
"This kind of talent and power, even in the peak days of the Senju Clan, was rare, possessed only by a few—among them were the First Hokage, Hashirama Senju, and the Second Hokage, Tobirama Senju!"
"But what amazes me even more," she continued, "is that you've awakened the Wood Release, just like Lord Hashirama!"
However—
Azumi was unaware of the full extent of Kiyoshi's abilities.
Not only had he achieved Wood Release, but he had also recently mastered Sage Mode entirely on his own.
If she knew, she'd likely be speechless with awe.
…
Time passed by slowly.
Before he knew it, it was evening.
Azumi, unable to contain her tears of joy upon confirming that her grandson had indeed awakened the Wood Release, spent the entire afternoon excitedly chatting with him.
Eventually, fatigue caught up to her, and after dinner, she drifted into a deep sleep.
Meanwhile, the flowers and plants that had appeared in the room due to the activation of Sage Mode had somehow all been removed, ensuring that no secrets would be revealed.
"The puppet design is complete; it's time to put it into practice!"
Late into the night, Kiyoshi, who had no intention of leaving his room, gathered several pieces of wood, along with paint, brushes, carving tools, and other materials, and got to work in the dim light of his room.
In front of him lay a complex drawing filled with intricate notes and sketches.
This was the puppet he had designed after studying puppet mechanics and memorizing all the essential points by heart.
Though to be precise, it was more of a puppet toy.
The puppet he designed was no larger than the palm of his hand when assembled.
As a trained medical ninja accustomed to wielding scalpels from a young age, Kiyoshi was naturally skilled with blades.
"Swish… swish…"
His fingers moved swiftly and expertly.
The blocks of wood, sculpted with his refined carving skills, soon transformed into detailed, unique parts of various shapes and sizes.
One by one, they began to come together.
Before long, he had assembled two puppet dolls, each with a distinct appearance.
He even painted them with great care.
The one on the left had a bun hairstyle, a cheerful smile, and a cute face.
It was a chibi version of Tenten.
The other one had a ponytail, a butterfly hairpin, and a charming figure, giving off a sweet, youthful vibe.
However, despite their cute exteriors, the intricate joints and components inside these puppets were meticulously designed.
If they were made with higher-quality materials at a larger scale, they would undoubtedly be excellent combat puppets.
Especially if they were equipped with hidden weapons or sharp blades.
They'd be perfect killing machines.
"Swish…"
Kiyoshi stretched out his hands.
From the fingertips of each hand, he extended a thin chakra thread.
In an instant, he connected to both puppet dolls.
Following the puppet manipulation jutsu he had memorized from his studies and combining them with his precise chakra control, he began practicing manipulation.
"Clack… clack…"
In an instant, the two puppet dolls seemed to come to life.
Under his control, they moved with remarkable realism.
Starting with arm swings and leg kicks, from walking to running, from leaping to rolling…
They moved effortlessly, responding fluidly to his commands.
Finally, the two puppet dolls began to dance in sync, gracefully leaping and twirling.
"This… actually isn't that difficult!"
---------------
Guys do leave some power stones and reviews.
🤞patreon.com/plotplanner🤞
If you guys enjoy this story, you can support me on Patreon and get access to Advance Chapters, it really helps me to work on new chapters.