SWNOVELXO Chapter 47: A Promise and a Challenge..
Tsunade and I stood across from each other on the training ground, the faint scent of crushed earth and sweat already lingering in the air. Without a word, we activated our Strength of a Hundred Seals, chakra surging through every inch of our bodies. Neither of us intended to hold back.
Tsunade was the first to move, launching herself forward with a punch that could level a boulder. I twisted my waist, narrowly dodging it, and countered with an uppercut aimed at her chin. She blocked it mid-air with her free palm, her eyes narrowing with focus.
We both leapt back, grinning. The tension faded into laughter.
"You still have a long way to go," she teased.
I just smirked and surged forward again. Our taijutsu exchange continued like that—chakra-infused strikes clashing in the open field, each movement more explosive than the last. By the time the sun dipped close to the horizon, the entire training ground was in ruins. We stood there, drenched in sweat, catching our breath in silence.
I remembered I was supposed to meet Minato this evening, but honestly, I didn't want to leave. This—training with Tsunade, fighting beside her—felt like something more than just sparring. It felt like home. So, I stayed.
Not long after, Shizune appeared, blinking at the devastation and then at us, seated in the dirt like a pair of kids who'd just wrecked a playground.
She just sighed and said, "Go shower already."
As if it was the most normal thing in the world.
Tsunade and I exchanged a tired glance and got to our feet. We didn't speak much on the way to the bath, but we didn't need to. We both knew why we were training this hard—strength. For ourselves. For the Senju. For what's coming.
After the shower, we gathered at the dining table. Tsunade sat across from me, towel around her neck, and I finally asked the question I'd been curious about.
"So, what were you doing in the Hokage's office earlier?"
She leaned back and replied, "Pushing for medical-nin integration into all squads. It's moving forward—slowly, but it's happening."
I turned to Shizune. "And you?"
"Same old. Mastering medical ninjutsu. Nothing flashy," she said, scratching her cheek. "I'm already a chunin now, though. My control's close to jonin level, or so they say."
She said it humbly, but I knew how far she'd come. Especially with Tsunade so focused on her experiments, Shizune had quietly shouldered a lot.
I reached for the center of my palm and gently guided a strand of nature chakra outward. Like always, I first transferred a bit into Tsunade. She accepted it without a word. Then I turned to Shizune.
"You're going to fight in the war, too. You deserve every advantage," I told her.
She looked confused at first, but I explained everything—about nature energy, my connection with it, how I used it to boost my abilities. Tsunade helped reassure her that it was safe.
Shizune didn't know what to say at first, but I could tell she understood. She wasn't just a medic anymore—she was a fighter. And I'd make sure she survived this war.
In the original timeline, Shizune didn't even participate. Same with Tsunade, depending on what source you read. But this isn't the same world.
In this world, they're both going to fight—and win.
Later that night, after a light dinner, we each retreated to our rooms. My mind lingered on the quiet strength of both women. With Tsunade's upgraded Creation Rebirth, she was nearly unkillable. In fact, she might end up the hero of this war—standing tall beside Minato.
That thought made me smile as I drifted into sleep.
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The Next Morning
I woke early and moved through my usual morning routine with calm focus. As I stepped outside and breathed in the crisp air, one thought solidified in my mind:
I had now officially completed every Wood Release technique stored within the Senju estate—up to A-rank.
All the scrolls I'd studied, all the techniques I'd honed—they were mine now. That milestone wasn't just a step forward. It was a declaration. From this moment on, I'd be working with S-rank techniques—legendary stuff.
The next on my list was Deep Forest Emergence. A technique with enough power to change battlefields entirely, summon forests, and control terrain like a god.
While Tsunade and Shizune left for their duties, I remained behind, fully focused on training. The forest around the Senju compound became my testing ground. Roots answered my chakra. Trees emerged, massive and trembling with power.
It wasn't just a jutsu. It was alive.
By evening, I made my way to the training grounds near Kakashi's house. I had a plan—and it wasn't just to train. I knew Minato often trained around this time. If I was going to convince him, I had to do it in person.
To my surprise, Guy was also there, and both he and Kakashi were already engaged in a high-speed spar against Minato.
Perfect.
I merged into the ground using my Wood Release stealth technique, masking my chakra flow entirely. With nature energy cloaking my presence, even Minato's senses wouldn't pick me up.
I erupted from the ground behind him, ready to tag him—only for Minato to vanish in a yellow flash.
He reappeared beside Kakashi and Guy, instantly alert. But once he saw me, his guard dropped.
"Ren?"
"You couldn't sense me, could you?" I asked, brushing dust off my shoulders.
Kakashi stared. "Even sensei didn't notice…"
Minato's expression softened. "How did you approach me like that?"
"Trade secret," I grinned. "But I'll tell you—if you teach me Flying Raijin. For real this time."
He paused for a moment, then smiled. "Alright. You've got my full support."
Kakashi and Guy leaned in, clearly interested.
"I used a Wood Release movement technique, merged with nature chakra. It conceals my chakra signature almost completely underground."
Minato folded his arms. "Sage Chakra, then. I figured. Your movement was… unnaturally smooth."
I nodded. "Only someone with advanced sage perception could even notice."
He chuckled. "I've been training at Mount Myōboku myself, but I've still got a ways to go."
He then stretched, and smiled. "As promised, I've already cleared it with the Hokage. I'll help you master Flying Raijin. But before that…"
He didn't finish the sentence.
Something told me the real training was about to begin.