The Caged Bird and the Citrus

Chapter 42 The Caged Bird and the Citrus

Tsunade scratched her hair, trying to explain:

"My grandmother, Lady Mito, was the most famous genius of the Uzumaki clan. It's perfectly reasonable for me to teach my apprentice sealing techniques..."

Hiruzen Sarutobi remained silent, simply gazing calmly at Tsunade.

He wasn't tall or particularly good-looking. He usually liked to talk to people with a smile while smoking a pipe, just like any other middle-aged man next door.

But when Hiruzen Sarutobi is truly enraged, there is a terrifyingly heavy pressure, as if you are staring into an endless abyss, about to be swallowed up at any moment.

He is the Hokage, one of the "Five Great Powers" of the world, whose every word and action can determine the life and death of countless people.

The phrase "a million corpses were slain in a fit of rage" is no exaggeration.

Tsunade pursed her lips tightly, no longer daring to joke around in front of her teacher.

"Tsunade Senju..." Hiruzen Sarutobi began, addressing his disciple by her full name:

"In the name of the Hokage, I command you to forbid the teaching of advanced sealing techniques of the Uzumaki clan to Hyuga Yuto."

"teacher……"

"In this office, you should address me as Hokage-sama," Hiruzen Sarutobi said calmly.

"Tsunade Senju, you are the granddaughter of the First Hokage and Mito Uzumaki. No one in the village knows the power of sealing techniques better than you."

"Those who are just beginning to understand the basics can seal the bodies and chakra of others. Those who are proficient in this art can even bind the soul. The most advanced sealing techniques can do things that are beyond comprehension and almost exceed the scope of ninjutsu."

"The Caged Bird Seal of the Hyuga Clan can seal the optic nerve of the branch family members. It is stubborn and reliable, and is forever engraved in their bodies and souls... The Second Hokage once said that when someone uses the Impure World Reincarnation to summon a member of the Hyuga branch family, the Caged Bird Seal is still engraved on that person's forehead."

"If there is a way to release the caged bird from its cage, then I think an extremely powerful sealing technique should be able to do it."

"But we absolutely, absolutely cannot let the Hyuga clan have the idea that 'the Hokage wants to release the Caged Bird.'"

"Even if the chances of Hyuga Yuto escaping the Caged Bird with sealing techniques are infinitely slim, we must nip this in the bud... This is the root of disaster that could destroy the village."

"The foundation of the Hyuga clan is the Byakugan and the Caged Bird Seal; the foundation of Konoha's existence is the powerful ninja clans, including the Hyuga, and the Ninja Academy."

"For the sake of the village, the caged bird must exist."

After Hiruzen Sarutobi finished speaking, silence fell over the Hokage's office.

After a long while, Tsunade finally spoke in a hoarse voice:

"But...but I'm Yuto's teacher. If he has talent in this area, I have an obligation..."

"What you teach is your choice." The Hokage's voice was soft.

"At that time, I would see him as a potential threat to the peace of the village, and I had no choice but to fulfill my duties as Hokage."

—If you dare teach him advanced sealing techniques, I will kill him.

Hiruzen Sarutobi's voice was soft, but the blonde woman knew that this was practically an ultimatum from her teacher.

"Okay..." Tsunade closed her eyes and said with difficulty:

"I will obey your orders... Lord Hokage."

"Your choice is right, Tsunade. Peace is everything for the village... even if it comes at the cost of sacrifice." Hiruzen Sarutobi sighed, perhaps realizing he had been too harsh with his disciple, and softened his tone:

"Of course, Tsunade, I won't restrict your teaching, except for those high-level sealing techniques that involve the soul and more mysterious things."

"You can teach Hyuga Yuto the Yin Seal, the Hundred Healings Technique, the Creation Rebirth Technique...

"These things are enough for him to become an outstanding ninja who can stand on his own."

"Yes, Hokage." Tsunade's face remained cold.

Hiruzen Sarutobi had a headache and said helplessly:

"Tsunade, stop thinking about it. I will never back down on the sealing technique."

Tsunade remained expressionless as she stared at him, refusing to leave the office.

Hiruzen Sarutobi realized that this was someone asking him for compensation on behalf of their beloved student.

"Alright, Tsunade, the assessment for Hyuga Yuto and the others is in a few days, right? I'll find a reason to reward him."

"snort……"

Having finally gotten what she wanted from Hyuga Yuto, Tsunade gave a soft snort and turned to leave.

Inside the room, Hiruzen Sarutobi took a deep drag on his pipe, exhaling white smoke, his soft mutterings drifting in and out with the smoke:

"What a pitiful caged bird... I'm sorry, it was all for the village..."

……

Hyuga Yuto once again immersed himself in the tedious and tedious training.

Yin Seal, Super Strength, Medical Ninjutsu, and Hyuga Gentle Fist are his four daily must-do courses. In addition, physical training as a ninja specializing in taijutsu, learning medical theory, and training the Byakugan are also essential daily training exercises.

Although training is a very arduous task, Hyuga Yuto enjoys it. The exhaustion and busyness make him realize that he is moving forward on the path, even if that path is full of blood and death.

"Why did the power of your punch dissipate?!" In the back mountain of the Senju clan's territory, Tsunade grabbed Hyuga Yuto's arm and slammed him to the side. The branch family boy's body smashed through a boulder, his blood and qi churning, and his chakra circulation was in chaos.

His eyes were seeing stars, and he hissed as he gasped for breath.

"Yuto, you've confused Gentle Fist with Super Strength!" Tsunade squatted down next to the boy and lightly tapped his headband with her finger. The metal struck against the woman's finger, making a popping sound that didn't sound bad.

"The essence of superhuman strength isn't brute force, but the coordination between the body and chakra!" Tsunade pulled Hyuga Yuto up, still standing behind him, holding the branch family boy's wrist, guiding him with her fist:

"How do you feel?" the blonde beauty asked.

You smell nice. Are you wearing citrus perfume today? Hinata Yuto thought to himself, but he would never dare to say it like that. So after thinking for a moment, he could only shake his head.

Tsunade said softly:

"Remember this: to monstrous strength... I am chakra, and you are yourself."

Hyuga Yuto's eyes lit up. He was a truly intelligent person and immediately understood what Tsunade was trying to express:

"Teacher, do you mean that chakra should lead the body?"

"Hmph... Not bad. Now that you've figured it out, keep practicing."

Tsunade released him, walked to a nearby boulder, sat down, propped her head up with her arm, and looked away.

Hyuga Yuto glanced at his teacher, finding it somewhat strange.

These past few days, the young member of the branch family intuitively sensed that Tsunade was avoiding him, always keeping her distance, as if she were sulking alone, and the way she looked at him always seemed to have a subtle evasiveness in her eyes... as if she felt guilty towards him.

Strange... Has she ever done anything to betray him? Hinata Yuto couldn't figure it out, so he simply put aside his teacher's strange behavior and continued his training.

A gentle breeze swept through the forest, swirling among the leaves, rocks, and woman, before finally reaching the boy's nose.

It's definitely a citrus fruit, he thought.

(End of this chapter)