The Land of Grass, Konoha Camp
"You've got some nerve, Shirou. You unleashed the full power of the curse mark," Tsunade said as she casually replaced an IV bag in the medical tent, her tone sharp but tinged with curiosity.
On the hospital bed, Shirou forced a strained smile despite the pain etched on his face.
"Captain Tsunade, every cell in my body hurts. It's like I'm burning up," he groaned truthfully. Opening the second stage of the curse mark at full power for the first time had indeed taken a severe toll on his body.
Even so, the power surge he'd felt at the time had been incredible. Looking back, Shirou couldn't help but feel a mix of amazement and fear at his actions.
In his current state, he bore an eerie resemblance to Sasuke during his defection to the Valley of the End—same curse mark, same Uchiha lineage, but with subtle differences. Shirou's Sharingan had only two tomoe compared to Sasuke's three, but Shirou had the advantage of clan resources and extensive training in jutsu and kenjutsu. By contrast, Sasuke's lack of preparation following the Uchiha massacre left them at roughly equal strength during this period.
"You're reckless," Tsunade remarked, glancing up from his medical report. She sat in a chair nearby, her light brown eyes betraying a glimmer of professional intrigue.
"Your cells are being corroded by this power, but perhaps because it stems from your Kekkei Genkai, your body is adapting to it," she continued, her words betraying her fascination as a medical expert. To her, Shirou seemed less like a patient and more like a rare experimental subject.
"You got lucky this time," Tsunade added.
"You absorbed a significant amount of special chakra from being near Kushina during the incident. It helped integrate this power into your system."
Shirou blinked, startled at the revelation. Was it truly her chakra? He'd felt its overwhelming presence during the battle, but to think it had aided him in such a way...
Even Tsunade seemed taken aback by the discovery. That chakra—the remnant of her grandfather, the First Hokage—could be absorbed by Shirou? She was acutely aware of its unique properties, which had been utilized during Kushina's sealing process in Sage Mode.
"Could Shirou's Kekkei Genkai—or perhaps this curse mark—be related to Sage Chakra?" she speculated, her professional insight drawing connections few could make.
"Lucky me," Shirou replied with a feigned look of innocence, though his mind was racing. That power... it must have been the First Hokage's chakra, he realized.
What a force of nature. Just absorbing a trace of it through his curse-marked skin had accelerated his Kekkei Genkai fusion. The First Hokage was truly legendary—a universal balm, whether in cells or chakra.
"Once this IV drip is done, rest for two to three days, and you'll recover completely," Tsunade instructed.
"And don't overuse that power!"
Her tone turned stern as she continued, "You know what happens to those who push their Kekkei Genkai limits too far. Not even I can help you if that happens."
Shirou nodded respectfully.
"Thank you, Captain Tsunade. But what about Kushina?"
"She's fine," Tsunade said, her expression briefly complex before returning to calm indifference.
"She's back in the village. It's not suitable for her to remain on the front lines after such an incident."
Shirou nodded in agreement. Kushina had unleashed the Nine-Tails; news of her Jinchūriki status must have spread by now. Staying on the battlefield wouldn't be wise.
"The two Kekkei Genkai are a burden on your body, but they're also a source of strength," Tsunade explained.
"Your integration of the curse-marked Kekkei Genkai has sped up, likely reducing the time needed for full compatibility by one or two years. Thanks to that special chakra, the process is now down to three or four years instead of six or seven."
Tsunade continued to analyze his condition meticulously.
"Your evolution into a two-tomoe Sharingan, combined with the fusion of your Kekkei Genkai, has elevated your chakra levels far above typical Kekkei Genkai users. Over the next two or three months, your body will likely enter another growth phase."
Two tomoe Sharingan… Was it triggered by a companion's danger? Tsunade wondered, her thoughts lingering on his unique potential and the rarity of his dual Kekkei Genkai.
Meanwhile, Shirou could only grimace internally. If anyone else envied him, it would be understandable—but Tsunade?
He knew all too well how terrifyingly massive her chakra reserves were. As the granddaughter of the First Hokage, she had inherited the Senju clan's immense chakra capacity. Among Konoha's ninjas, apart from Jinchūriki, even the Third Hokage in his prime couldn't rival her reserves.
"Shirou, has that old elder has been feeding you intel again?"
Tsunade asked nonchalantly, her words making Shirou tense.
Her casual remark carried a sharp undertone, clearly probing him.
"Well, on the battlefield, you've been throwing yourself into danger like a true Uchiha," she quipped, easing his nerves slightly. She had mistaken his recklessness for a self-sacrificial tactic to bury secrets.
Taking a deep breath, Shirou decided to steer the conversation.
"Captain Tsunade, my current status allows me to access clan records and even research involving the Second Hokage's experiments. I've been reflecting on the relationship between the Uchiha and the Senju," he began, adopting a more philosophical tone.
"After much thought, I've come to realize a fundamental problem: identity."
"Identity?"
Tsunade raised an eyebrow, unsure where this was going but willing to listen. She crossed her legs, her demeanor calm yet curious.
"Uchiha and Senju animosity, the marginalization of the Uchiha after Konoha's founding—it all stems from identity and clan politics," Shirou explained.
"Think about it. If the Hokage wasn't tied to a clan, if they were just a ninja, wouldn't that solve everything?"
His words carried a fervor that made Tsunade blink in surprise.
"Captain Tsunade, now I understand why so many supported White Fang's candidacy for the Fourth Hokage. He had no clan baggage, no alliances to divide him. With him as Hokage, the clans and civilians would naturally maintain balance."
Tsunade was stunned, momentarily speechless. Was that the logic behind it? It seemed noble when he put it that way, but in truth, everyone had simply seen it as a way to advance their interests.
Still, she couldn't deny the reasoning. A Hokage without clan ties would indeed avoid certain complications.