SWNOVELXO Chapter 46: Revelation.
Minato's shadow clone teleported some distance away from the Senju compound. I later found out he hadn't marked the compound directly out of respect. The Senju name still carried weight—our ancestors gave everything for this village. And Minato, as someone who valued loyalty and history, didn't want to dishonor that legacy.
The clone walked up to the gate and politely asked the guard to inform me that he was waiting.
At that moment, I was deep inside the clan's seal chamber, absorbed in studying the fundamentals of fuinjutsu. My mind was locked onto every character, every chakra formula. I didn't even sense Minato's chakra signature until the guard started heading my way.
The moment I noticed the shift in chakra near the entrance, I spread my senses and instantly recognized Minato's familiar chakra—calm, controlled, and unmistakably a clone.
A few seconds later, the guard stepped into my room and bowed lightly.
"Ren-sama, Namikaze-sama is at the gate and wishes to speak with you."
"Got it," I said with a nod.
I dismissed him and quickly made my way to the entrance. Minato's clone greeted me with a wave as soon as I appeared. Without wasting time, he placed a hand on my shoulder and—
Flash.
The world shifted instantly. I blinked and found myself standing in front of the Hokage's office.
I couldn't help but freeze for a moment. That sensation… the seamless transition, the sheer precision of space-time ninjutsu—it left me completely mesmerized. No matter how many times I saw it, Flying Raijin was simply beautiful in its execution.
I had to learn it. Not just because of its utility, but because something about it resonated deeply within me. It was clean, instant, elegant. Just watching Minato use it made my desire to master the technique burn even brighter.
The clone turned to me with a slight smile. "Go on in," he said, then dispersed in a puff of smoke.
---
I sensed inside the building. Hiruzen, Tsunade, and Minato were all gathered and already facing the door. Guess they knew I was coming.
With that, I didn't bother knocking. I opened the door and stepped in confidently.
"Good evening, Hokage-sama. Tsunade, Minato," I said, walking over and taking a seat between Tsunade and Minato.
To my surprise, the Hokage didn't respond. He was just... staring. His gaze was heavy, calculating, almost as if he was searching for something in me.
Minato gave a soft cough to break the silence.
Hiruzen finally spoke. "Ren… is it true? You can use Wood Release naturally?"
His tone wasn't accusatory. It was cautious.
I nodded. "Yes. I awakened it when I was five years old."
The air grew still.
For a brief moment, Hiruzen looked stunned. I could tell what he was thinking. With Tsunade's recent experiments, he must have feared that my Wood Release came from some kind of artificial method—perhaps even from using Hashirama's cells. But now that I said it plainly, it was clear I'd had it all along.
He looked visibly relieved. "I see…"
Tsunade gave a small smirk beside me. She probably enjoyed watching her sensei's theories crumble.
"Then why didn't you report it?" Hiruzen asked after a moment.
"I didn't exactly hide it," I replied. "Tsunade knew about it. And I've used it plenty of times—just mostly on solo missions. No one ever asked me directly about my chakra nature or techniques, so I didn't feel a need to explain."
Tsunade bit her lip, probably holding back laughter. Her expression was priceless.
Minato, meanwhile, simply observed the exchange with interest.
Hiruzen narrowed his eyes slightly. "Still, now that this is known, it cannot be kept secret any longer. You understand that, don't you?"
I nodded. "Of course. I was never afraid of people knowing—I just didn't think it mattered unless the situation called for it."
That was when Hiruzen gave a long sigh and stood up.
"You've given us something very precious, Ren," he said, his voice low. "We must protect it. I've made enough mistakes in the past… I won't repeat them again. You and Tsunade are both invaluable to Konoha."
Then he dismissed us all, clearly needing some time to process everything.
As we left the office, Minato turned to me. "Let's meet this evening. I'll come find you." With a quick seal, he vanished.
That left Tsunade and me alone.
---
As we walked through the quiet streets back to the Senju compound, Tsunade gave me a sideways glance.
"Well, how was my surprise?"
I smiled at her, the corners of my lips lifting. "It was good. After the mission, I also visited the Fire Capital. Ikkyu showed us around."
She raised an eyebrow, mildly curious. "Oh? The Daimyo's son?"
"Yeah," I said, chuckling. "He's not as spoiled as you'd expect. Pretty sharp too. Tried to build connections. Smart move, honestly."
Like that, I began telling her everything that had happened in the capital—the feast, the hot springs, even Minato teasing me about marriage. She listened closely, and every now and then, she'd smile or make a small remark. The casual ease of our conversation felt... natural. Comforting. Familiar.
By the time we reached the Senju compound, the sun was beginning its descent, casting golden hues across the training ground. We sat together under the wooden awning near the edge of the field, the air filled with quiet rustling leaves.
"I've been working on fuinjutsu lately," I said, stretching a little. "I've gone through most of the basics. Next, I'll try applying them practically."
Tsunade looked over and nodded. "I figured. You've been locking yourself away with those scrolls like a monk." Then she turned to face me fully, her tone softening. "Ren, there will be a war soon. I don't know how long before it reaches us, but... you need to be strong enough to survive it."
There was concern in her voice—not just for the village, but for me. I could feel it.
I tilted my head slightly, giving her a faint smile. "You don't need to worry. I'm already stronger than you. I'll protect you when the time comes."
Tsunade raised an eyebrow at that, her lips curling into a smile that held both amusement and pride. "Oh really? Then show me. Let's spar. I've been meaning to see how much stronger you've gotten... especially with my Jutsu."
Her sudden challenge made me laugh. I stood, cracking my neck and stepping toward the open field. "Now you're speaking my language. Let's see what you've got, Senju Tsunade."
She rose beside me, stretching her arms as her ponytails swayed with the motion. There was a soft light in her eyes—not just the anticipation of a match, but something deeper. A warmth she wasn't quite voicing. I saw it. And though I didn't speak on it, I understood it.
I Also didn't dwell on it.
We both hopped into the training ground, and just like that, the tension faded. It was time to spar—not as Family—but as warriors.