Chapter 60: Isamu, I Never Expected This Side of You

"Still, I have to say, you're pretty ruthless, kid. If it weren't for this ninja sword, I wouldn't even have a single strand of hair left," Isamu said, running his hand over what remained of his scorched hair, his voice tinged with regret.

As the leader of the Senju clan, Isamu bore the weighty responsibility of revitalizing his family. To achieve this goal, increasing their numbers was critical—a task Isamu approached with peculiar enthusiasm, often seeking out... unconventional methods.

Not long ago, he'd finally made significant progress chatting up a lonely neighbor whose husband was often away. Things had been going so well, he was confident their relationship was about to reach a new level. But now, with his hair ruined, his image had taken a devastating hit, and that plan seemed all but ruined. The thought of those long legs walking away from him forever left Isamu deeply disheartened.

Meanwhile, Jiraiya stood firm, his voice filled with determination.

"I had to give it everything I had. I couldn't risk losing this chance with Tsunade. If I held back, I might've lost her forever, and that's something I'll never let happen."

Tsunade, standing nearby, couldn't help but smile sweetly. She knew full well that Jiraiya's duel with Isamu had been entirely for her sake.

"Well said," Isamu remarked approvingly, patting Jiraiya on the shoulder. "Once you've recovered your chakra, I'll take you to meet the three elders. They've got some questions for you."

"Why do I need to recover my chakra first?" Jiraiya asked, curious.

"You used that terrifying Lightning Release jutsu earlier. Surely your chakra reserves are completely drained now. Don't you feel weak?" Isamu replied, his tone one of mild concern. A jutsu of that magnitude had to come at a steep cost, he thought.

"Actually," Jiraiya grinned, "while we've been talking, I've already recovered most of it."

"…"

Isamu froze, his mind going blank. Was this guy even human? Such a monstrous recovery speed—it was outrageous! For Isamu, restoring his chakra to full capacity took at least half a day and a carefully prepared Senju clan recovery pill. Even then, few in the clan could match his recovery rate, which he'd always taken pride in. But now, in the face of Jiraiya's casual proclamation, Isamu felt utterly crushed.

"Impressive," he finally muttered, recovering his composure. "Tsunade certainly has an eye for talent. You must have some kind of powerful bloodline limit hidden within you. Otherwise, such rapid recovery would be impossible."

Isamu decided not to pry further. It was bad form to dig into another ninja's secrets, especially when it came to their bloodline abilities. Every shinobi guarded those closely.

"Well then, let's head out," Isamu said warmly.

"Brother," Tsunade called out, her tone sharp. "Now that your hair's in that state, maybe you'll think twice before climbing other people's fences and flirting with their wives."

Jiraiya shot Isamu a sidelong glance, his expression one of disbelief. So this was the man Tsunade called her brother? A guy with such… peculiar hobbies?

"Don't misunderstand," Isamu said, straightening up with exaggerated dignity. "What I do isn't 'flirting.' It's all for the sake of the Senju clan. I'm just trying to ensure our legacy by increasing our numbers."

"Wow," Jiraiya thought, genuinely impressed. 'Sleeping with other men's wives and letting them raise the kids for you—and yet, he says it with such righteous conviction. I've got to hand it to him, that takes skill.'

While he couldn't deny that Isamu's logic had its merits from a purely strategic perspective, Jiraiya also couldn't shake the sense of absurdity. Still, Isamu's approach did ensure that even if the core Senju clan was wiped out, their descendants might survive and carry on the bloodline. Of course, it was a risky strategy—one misstep, and Isamu would find himself on the wrong end of a sword.

"Brother, I'll work hard to grow stronger," Nawaki declared earnestly. "That way, I can help share the burden of revitalizing our clan. You won't have to bear it alone."

Hearing this, Jiraiya couldn't help but wonder: Wait… is Nawaki training so hard because he plans to start climbing fences too?

"Nawaki, don't worry about it. Your brother's still young and capable. I've got this covered," Isamu said, patting his own waist proudly.

"Brother, as a member of the Senju clan, it's my duty to protect our legacy. I won't let you shoulder this responsibility alone," Nawaki replied firmly before heading off to train.

Isamu sighed. He'd need to work quickly if he wanted to secure his targets before Nawaki grew strong enough to become a rival.

"If you even think about teaching Nawaki those things, I won't forgive you," Tsunade growled, her killing intent palpable.

"Relax," Isamu said, waving her off. "There's no way I'd teach Nawaki anything like that. I can handle it all by myself, no problem. My kidneys are still in great shape, after all."

"Enough of this nonsense. Don't keep the elders waiting," Tsunade snapped, shooing them away.

Jiraiya followed Isamu into the Senju clan's meeting hall, where the three elders were already seated.

...

"Take a seat," one of the elders said with a polite smile.

Jiraiya and Isamu each sat down on opposite sides of the room.

"Jiraiya," the eldest of the three began, "the Lightning Release jutsu you used earlier doesn't seem to be one of the village's standard techniques."

"Technically, it is," Jiraiya replied. "I developed it after returning to the village from a mission. It's a self-created jutsu."

A moment of stunned silence filled the room. Then, all at once, the elders and Isamu drew sharp breaths, their eyes wide with disbelief.

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Pls Drop some Power Stones

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