Starting with Wood Release, he survives in Konoha Hospital and becomes a big shot.

"Tsunade, this is not up to you," Danzo said with a cold snort.

The Third Hokage frowned, his gaze lingering on Yakusei Kikuchi for a moment before turning to Hatake Sakumo.

"What does Captain Hatake think?"

Sakumo Hatake's expression shifted slightly, but he didn't speak immediately. Instead, he pondered for a moment: "Wood Release ninjas are indeed of great significance to the village. We need to find out about this person's situation, how he obtained Wood Release, and whether he is a friend or foe to the village. These are all crucial. However, I don't think it's necessary to use mind-reading techniques on a child who is just over three years old. At his age, even if we read his memories, it wouldn't make much sense."

The Third Hokage nodded, then looked at Minato Namikaze and Kushina Uzumaki.

The two are already a well-known couple. Since the appearance of the Wood Release ninja, Minato Namikaze has been guarding Kushina closely to prevent the Wood Release ninja from targeting the Nine-Tails.

This is also why they were called here; the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki needs to know the seriousness of this matter.

"And what about you? What do you think?" the third generation asked.

Kushina tugged at Minato's arm, who smiled slightly at her to calm her down, and then said, "I agree with Captain Hatake's opinion. Wood Release ninjas do need to be taken seriously, but it's not necessary to use mind-reading techniques on a child."

“If it’s just a short memory, it won’t actually cause much harm to the person being targeted. The reason we’re using mind-reading on Yakushi Hoshiki is because, based on our investigation, we didn’t find any trace of a third person at the scene. So we suspect that Yakushi Hoshiki might have forgotten some important clues, and we need to help him remember them,” Orochimaru said calmly.

“Orochimaru is right. Root has investigated all the suspicious points, but there are still no clues. If Yakushi Hoshiki’s memories are correct, then it can only prove that he is that Wood Release ninja, and that he lied!” Danzo stepped forward and said.

"How is this possible? Your guess is too funny. A three-year-old Wood Release ninja, and with combat power at least Jonin level, hahaha... Ah, um, you guys continue, you guys continue..." Jiraiya suppressed his smile, realizing that this was not the time to laugh.

The others also sneered. A three-year-old who knows Wood Release?

play?

------------

Chapter Nineteen: At the mercy of others

"Hiruzen, you know our opinion. If the village is threatened, we all hope that you can put the safety of the village first," Koharu Utatane suddenly said.

“That’s right. Although mind-reading techniques can damage the brain, it’s not a big deal. Besides, we have very skilled mind-reading ninjas. I believe they can get the information we need without harming the child,” Mitokado Homura said at the right time.

The two of them were surprisingly in agreement: Konoha should come first.

There was nothing wrong with that, after all, if the lips are gone, the teeth will be cold, but when he thought about how they sent their children to the battlefield while he hid in the village issuing all sorts of so-called orders, Yao Xingji couldn't help but sneer.

"Not much damage? What if they need to read your memories?" Tsunade said angrily.

"If needed, you can!" Koharu Utatane glanced at Tsunade and said calmly.

Danzo remained silent. His memories could not be known to outsiders, so he could not make such a promise.

"He's still a child..."

Kushina Uzumaki, standing not far away, looked at Yakushiro with a pang of pity. The child bore a striking resemblance to her when she first arrived in Konoha.

Ultimately, it's because Yao Xingji is an orphan; these people don't care about his life or death, or whether he gets hurt or not. It's only because Tsunade took him in as a disciple that this discussion took place; otherwise, Yao Xingji would probably be lying in Konoha's interrogation department by now.

If you replaced Yao Xingji with their own child, or even the child of these people present or a large clan like the Uchiha or Hyuga, or even a disciple of the Ino-Shika-Cho clan, do you think they would still dare to so brazenly claim to read minds?

Yao Xingji glanced at the Third Hokage, whose expression was calm as he continued to smoke, seemingly oblivious to the arguments around him.

"It seems Hiruzen Sarutobi has already made his decision; he's just waiting for a way out..."

Yao Xing was extremely helpless. This was the price of weakness—being manipulated at will. Even Tsunade, one of the legendary Sannin of Konoha, couldn't save him because Tsunade only had strength but no decision-making power.

"Tsunade-sensei, if it's just reading that memory from last night, I think it's fine. As long as it can help the village, I'm willing to do anything..." Yao Xingji's voice broke the argument in the Hokage's office, and everyone's attention returned to this seemingly insignificant key figure in the incident.

"Starry Sky, what are you saying? Mind reading isn't as simple as you think, it will damage you..." Tsunade shouted at Starry Sky.

"Tsunade, since the person involved has agreed, why are you standing in the way? Are you afraid that our mind-reading will reveal something?" Danzo's sinister voice came, not only interrupting Tsunade's obstruction but also turning the tables on her.

"You..." Tsunade looked at Danzo angrily, her chest heaving with rage.

Jiraiya had originally intended to offer some advice to Tsunade, but upon witnessing this scene, he completely forgot what he was going to say.

"Alright, stop arguing. Since Yakushi Hoshiki agrees, let's use mind reading to see what losses this child has suffered. Konoha will take full responsibility." The Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, finally spoke, putting an end to this endless debate.

"Hokage-sama!" Tsunade wanted to say something more, but saw Sakumo Hatake shaking his head at her.

The Hokage has already made a decision on this matter, so there's no point in saying anything more; it will only breed suspicion and resentment.

“The Root has excellent ninjas from the Yamanaka clan. I can arrange for Yakushi Seiki to read my mind right now!” Danzo said immediately, as if he had prepared it in advance.

"No way! Even if I agree to let Yakushi Hoshiki read my mind, I will never allow anyone from Root to touch him. What do you take him for, a suspect?" Tsunade said angrily.

“Root is mainly for dealing with the enemy, and I also think we shouldn’t hand over Yakushi Hoshiki to Root to handle,” Hatake Sakumo said.

"Your Anbu are pretty much the same. If you don't hand them over to us, are you going to give them to us?" Danzo said coldly.

As long as Yao Xingji falls into his hands, he has plenty of ways to deal with him. Even if he really turns Yao Xingji into an idiot, does that mean Hiruzen Sarutobi can kill him?

As for Tsunade, hehe, what is there to fear from a medical ninja who is afraid of blood?

“Since there is controversy, I think it would be better to entrust Yakushi Seiki to someone that both sides can trust, such as Yamanaka Inoichi of the Yamanaka clan. He is currently a genius of the Yamanaka clan and has a high level of expertise in the clan’s secret techniques. I think he is a good candidate.” Namikaze Minato, who had not spoken much until now, said with a smile.

He had already figured out Hiruzen Sarutobi's meaning: Konoha was the priority. Under such circumstances, there was no point in saying anything else; all he could do was try to minimize the losses.

Minato Namikaze and Kushina Uzumaki were both orphans, and they knew very well how difficult it was to survive in this village.

Compared to Yao Shi Xing Ji at this time, their childhoods were not much easier, only the problems they faced were simpler than those of Yao Shi Xing Ji.

“Yamano Inoichi? He is indeed a good candidate.” Hiruzen Sarutobi nodded.

Tsunade wanted to say something more, but ultimately remained silent.

This is the best possible outcome; at least Yamanaka Inoichi isn't one of Danzo's men, and he has a high talent for mind-reading techniques.

Danzo gave Minato Namikaze a cold look and said, "Yamano Inoichi is not in the village right now. He's out on a mission and probably won't be back for another week. We can't wait that long!"

"Can't wait a week? It's because you're incompetent that you need to read my disciple's memories to find out the truth. Since you can't wait, then forget it. You can investigate on your own. I, Tsunade, am making this clear today: either wait for Yamanaka Inoichi, or this matter ends here. I will never hand my disciple over to Root!"

As soon as Tsunade finished speaking, she smashed the Hokage's desk to pieces with a single punch.

"Tsunade!!" Koharu Utatane's expression changed, and she called out.

However, Tsunade ignored it.

The expressions on everyone else's faces also changed; Tsunade's attitude was exceptionally assertive.

Danzo's expression was also very unpleasant. After all, Tsunade was the granddaughter of the First Hokage, and he really didn't dare to do anything to her.

"Let's go!"

Without saying a word, Tsunade walked over, picked up Yakusei, and left the Hokage's office.

"Lord Hokage, Tsunade is too presumptuous, she..." Danzo was interrupted by Hiruzen Sarutobi before he could finish speaking.

"We'll talk about this when Yamanaka Inoichi returns. You may all leave now," Hiruzen Sarutobi waved his hand.

"Tsunade smashed the Hokage's desk. She's very dissatisfied with the Hokage's attitude," Hatake Sakumo thought to himself.

------------

Chapter Twenty: The Immortal Body

The streets of Konoha were much quieter in the evening.

Tsunade led Yao Xingji by the hand and walked under the dim streetlights, their figures looking desolate.

Nawaki died, and she couldn't protect him; Kato Dan died, and she was powerless to help him; and now, she can't even protect her own disciple. So what is the meaning of becoming a ninja? What is the meaning of life? What is the meaning of the village?

At this moment, Tsunade felt a sense of unprecedented confusion.

Yao Xingji didn't speak; he looked up at Tsunade.

Originally, he only wanted to use Tsunade to protect himself and find a backer in Konoha.

After all, he was just a transmigrator. Even though he had watched Naruto and was familiar with the story here, he had no feelings for this unfamiliar village. As for Tsunade, she was just an anime character he liked.

But when Tsunade argued for him and did everything in her power to protect him, his heart wavered.

blah blah blah...

Yao Xingji extracted chakra and used the Palm Healing Technique to wrap the pale green light around the hand that Tsunade had used to slam the table earlier.

"Huh?" Tsunade, who was lost in confusion, suddenly paused and looked down at her right hand.

"Tsunade-sensei, does your hand still hurt?" Yao Xingji blinked and asked with a smile.

Tsunade's pupils dilated as she looked at Yao Xingji with disbelief.

This was the first time someone had treated her wounds.

This little guy seems unaware of just how powerful she is, as one of the Legendary Sannin of Konoha.

At that level, how could she possibly get injured?

However, she hadn't used chakra before, relying entirely on her physical strength. The Hokage's desk was quite sturdy, and when asked about it by Yakusei, Tsunade actually felt a bit of pain in her hand.

It was just a minor scratch, and even without treatment, given her constitution, it would heal quickly.

But this concern still warmed Tsunade's heart.

While everyone else was discussing how to hurt Yao Xingji, he turned around and comforted himself, asking if he was in pain. This child was so well-behaved that it broke your heart.

"Thank you for your treatment. Teacher is not in pain now." Tsunade squatted down, patted Yao Xingji's head, and smiled like a kind older sister next door. She was completely different from the violent girl who had smashed the table in anger earlier.

Yao Xingji suddenly revealed a very happy smile.

“That’s wonderful,” Yao Xingji said.

He seemed proud of being able to heal Tsunade.

Tsunade laughed too.

Little did she know that Yao Xingji's smile at that moment was not because of the treatment, but because of the azure creative power emanating from the Heart of the Universe.

[Healing ninja complete, increased own chakra by 50%!]

[I have acquired a portion of the Senju clan's sage body!]

[Gain the power to create the Azure!]

The body of an immortal is a physique that Yao Xingji dreams of. Even if it's only a part of it, it's enough to greatly change his physique.

In just a short while, Yao Xingji clearly felt an improvement in his physique.

This is a comprehensive improvement, encompassing physical fitness, chakra reserves, athleticism, recovery abilities, and more...

While the previous medicine, Star Extremity, could increase chakra levels through treatment, this increase was based on a percentage of one's own chakra. Given his current body size of just over three years old, his chakra was far too little; even doubling it wouldn't be enough.

However, now that he possesses part of the Senju clan's Sage Body, the amount of chakra within him has immediately increased significantly. This is a substantial boost to his base chakra reserves.

Just as Yao Xingji was overjoyed, two figures quickly approached.