"Teacher, there is something I want to discuss with you."
During dinner, Minato spoke to Tsunade in his usual polite manner. He informed her that for the next few days, he planned to let a Wood Clone go to school in his place.
Tsunade found it a bit strange and asked if something was the matter.
"Regarding Wood Release, except for some large-scale Ninjutsu, I've almost finished learning everything. I plan to start cultivating Light Release tomorrow."
Minato explained that the ability of Light Release was very special. He noted that only the main body could perform it, so there was no way to use a Clone for cultivation.
"Only the main body can use it?"
Tsunade showed a look of doubt. It was her first time hearing of a Clone being unable to use a Bloodline Limit ability, but she didn't doubt the truth of Minato's words.
She indeed hadn't seen Minato's Clones use Light Release, whether they were Shadow Clones or Wood Clones.
Furthermore, this ability was indeed very special. Although it was called Light Release, judging from the fact that it was released directly using physical strength alone, this ability was not within the Chakra system.
So in this regard, she really couldn't help Minato with anything; he could only rely on himself to develop it.
"Very well."
After thinking for a moment, Tsunade nodded happily. She joked that this way, she wouldn't have to wake up early every day to take him to school.
"So Sister Tsunade was only picking us up and dropping us off for Minato's sake?" Kushina suddenly felt like her feelings had been misplaced.
"Of course~"
Tsunade acted as if it were only natural. She then asked Kushina if she had ever heard of Wood Release.
"I've heard of it. I remember it was the First Hokage's Bloodline Limit."
Kushina was puzzled and asked if there was a problem, assuming Konoha should have many users by now.
"Not at all!"
Tsunade shook her head, her tone complex. She explained that while general Bloodline Limits are inherited by descendants, Wood Release is different. Since her grandfather passed away, Wood Release hadn't appeared in Konoha for many years.
"For certain reasons, the power of Wood Release is extremely important to Konoha. And Minato not only possesses Wood Release, but also another Bloodline Limit, as well as a Physique as strong and a Chakra as vast as my grandfather's."
"Therefore, even if I die, nothing can happen to Minato!"
"Is it really like that?"
Kushina stared blankly at Minato.
With such talent, it was no wonder Sister Tsunade had been showing off so much before.
"I didn't expect you to be so incredible?"
Kushina's tone was full of wonder as she realized he possessed two types of Bloodline Limits.
"It's alright..."
Minato looked at Tsunade and mentioned that regarding Wood Release, he had developed some conjectures during his training.
"Go on."
Tsunade's interest was immediately piqued; she was curious about what Minato could have researched.
"I think that Wood Release, in addition to the Nature Transformation of Water and Earth Chakra, also requires the support of extremely strong vitality. In fact, to a certain extent, it can be viewed as an alternative type of Bloodline Selection."
"What?!"
Hearing this, Tsunade suddenly sat up straight and asked how he knew.
Minato explained that his Physique was very strong, allowing him to heal quickly even if he was injured. He noted the First's Physique was also powerful and didn't think it was a coincidence.
"In the Senju Clan's Ninjutsu scrolls, the most common are Water Release and Earth Release. It's clear that in history, people with these two types of Nature Transformation were not few, yet hardly anyone could combine them into Wood Release."
"I think something must be missing—something unperceivable and easily overlooked. Some things that happened later during my cultivation process made me more certain of this conjecture."
Tsunade swallowed hard, unable to hide her excitement, and asked what things he had discovered.
"Part of the First's Wood Release was split off from his body by stimulating the mutation of cells within his body."
Minato recalled the day he first learned Wood Release Ninjutsu and continued, explaining that while Shadow Clones cannot use this type of Ninjutsu, Wood Clones can. From this, it was evident that Wood Release had a certain connection with the user's body.
"Additionally, something else I discovered later is that if the same Chakra is used to release the same Ninjutsu, the Wood Release released by a Shadow Clone is far less powerful in terms of both might and suppression than that of a Wood Clone."
"In other words, without support from sufficiently strong vitality, even if one could truly awaken or synthesize Wood Release, its power would likely not be very ideal."
"Is that how it is?" Tsunade's expression was complex.
Minato didn't know that since the First passed away, Konoha had been researching his body's cells, hoping to reproduce Wood Release. Even she had researched Hashirama cells.
Precisely because of this, Tsunade was very aware of how abnormal the vitality of Hashirama cells was, which indirectly proved that Minato's conjecture was correct.
"How big is the gap between them?"
"In terms of power, the Shadow Clone is only half as strong as the Wood Clone, and its suppression is only a quarter of the Wood Clone's."
"The gap is actually that large..." Tsunade's brow furrowed slightly.
Strong vitality indicated that one was born with powerful Yang Release Chakra. As a portion of Chakra split from the main body, a Shadow Clone naturally also possessed Yang Release attributes.
If there was such a large gap even with Chakra from the same source, the gap between an ordinary person and Minato would likely be even greater.
"In other words, even if I could synthesize Wood Release, because of the difference in Physique, I wouldn't be able to reach your level of power, Minato?"
Nawaki was a bit blunt, but he wasn't stupid; he quickly understood what Minato meant.
"Likely so, but I think you should still give it a try, Nawaki."
Minato nodded. He stated that as a Bloodline Limit, it was definitely stronger than a single attribute. Even if the suppression was slightly worse, it would be sufficient for combat.
This power was used to suppress Tailed Beasts. Yamato's Wood Release was only a fifth as powerful as the First's, yet he was considered outstanding among Jonin and could even suppress Naruto's Tailed Beast transformation to a certain extent.
"I see..."
Nawaki's tone was faint. He didn't feel any jealousy, as he had already grown accustomed to being outshined.
"In a sense, you're also quite unlucky, kid."
Tsunade chuckled. She pointed out that whether it was Wood Release or Light Release, no one could teach him anything; he had to find his own way bit by bit.
"It's fine. According to the records in the scrolls, many of the First's Wood Release techniques were also self-created."
Minato didn't mind. Compared to functional Ninjutsu, attribute-based Ninjutsu was relatively simpler for him.
"So that means starting tomorrow, I can only go to school with a Wood Clone?"
Kushina pouted, saying it felt a bit weird.
Nawaki was suddenly taken aback. He wondered if he could learn the Shadow Clone and let a Clone go to school for him as well.
"You go to school properly for me!"
Tsunade raised her hand and knocked on Nawaki's head, making a soft 'thud' sound.
"Ouch!"
Nawaki rubbed his head, feeling indignant. He asked why Minato was allowed to use a Clone to skip class while he wasn't.
"Listen carefully. Although Shadow Clones are convenient, they have the drawback of accumulated fatigue. Minato has a powerful Physique and recovery power comparable to my grandfather's, so he can withstand it."
Tsunade warned seriously that with an ordinary person's Physique, it was impossible to completely recover overnight. She explained that fatigue would accumulate over time and place a heavy burden on the body, potentially even threatening one's life.
"Your body is currently in its growth phase. Doing so would very likely affect your physical development!"
"I see."
Kushina felt a bit disappointed, admitting she originally wanted to try it too.
Tsunade glanced at Kushina and told her that she actually could.
"Eh—"
Nawaki's eyes widened. He demanded to know why Kushina was allowed to do it while he was barred.
"The greatest characteristic of the Uzumaki Clan is their exuberant vitality."
Tsunade said indifferently that if it was just one Shadow Clone, the impact wouldn't be large. However, she told Kushina it was still a bit too early and they would talk about it in two years.
"Okay!"
Kushina nodded obediently.
Nawaki watched this scene with cold eyes, only feeling that the world was so unfair and so chilling...
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