Snap.
Closing the notebook containing his training plans, Sousuke revealed an excited expression.
"Starting tomorrow, I'll begin developing and mastering the power of Wood Release according to the cultivation experience left behind by Hashirama Senju! Once I develop my Wood Release to the point where I can use the Wood Golem Technique, my evaluation should at least reach the Super Kage level."
Even if it did not it definitely would not be far off.
Now that life had something to look forward to again, Sousuke was in an excellent mood and directly threw himself onto the bed to sleep.
The next day, at dusk.
Inside the training ground.
Clap.
Bringing his hands together and forming the seal for a Wood Release technique an enormous chakra pressure erupted from Sousuke's body.
"Wood Release: Deep Forest Emergence!"
Boom!
As vast amounts of chakra surged forth, the relatively open training field around Sousuke began to shake violently.
Immediately afterward trees that were not especially large burst out from the ground one after another, drilling up through the earth and forming a small forest over the area.
Every tree was under Sousuke's complete control.
Branches.
Roots.
Trunks.
Every part of them transformed into overwhelmingly powerful weapons of destruction.
Not only were they incredibly sturdy, but as long as Sousuke had enough chakra, they possessed endless regenerative ability, the kind that could never truly be cut down no matter how much they were destroyed!
"Does this count as a different kind of domain ability?"
Looking at the Deep Forest Emergence under his absolute control, Sousuke sighed in admiration.
"This feeling is just too incredible!"
The power of Wood Release it truly was terrifying beyond belief!
Unfortunately, his current mastery of Wood Release was still not sufficient.
If he had truly mastered it, a single Deep Forest Emergence could create an enormous battlefield where no matter how many enemies came, they would all be overwhelmed.
Wherever the forest existed that would become Sousuke's main battlefield.
That feeling was simply wonderful.
"Let's continue!"
After sighing emotionally, Sousuke's expression turned serious once again as he resumed training.
Time was running short.
In the blink of an eye more than two years passed just like that.
Two entire years was enough time to change many things.
It could even be said that a massive transformation had arrived.
Inside Tsunade's office in the Hokage Building.
Sousuke handed over a mission report scroll to Tsunade.
"Sister Tsunade, this is the report for this mission."
His voice carried a mature masculine charm as Sousuke, dressed in the standard flak armor reserved for elite jonin, spoke calmly:
"There weren't any unexpected incidents. The mission was fairly easy to complete."
Taking the mission report scroll from Sousuke, Tsunade could not help but say speechlessly after hearing that:
"For the current you, unless it's a mission on the scale of a Shinobi World War, what other mission could possibly be difficult?"
As she spoke, Tsunade unconsciously raised her eyes to look at Sousuke's appearance, which had completely transformed over these past two years a height nearing one meter eighty, with room to grow even further.
Messy black hair.
A handsome and sunny face filled with sharp heroic spirit.
The current Sousuke had not only completely become Konoha's number one expert even his looks had reached ceiling-level standards.
Thinking back to his days at the Ninja Academy, although Sousuke was not ugly, he could only be considered fairly decent.
The reason he had managed to attract someone like Ino, who cared a lot about appearances was entirely because his mature temperament naturally appealed to young girls.
But now Sousuke had undergone a complete transformation.
He had become one of the few truly handsome men in both Konoha and the entire ninja world.
Countless people envied Ino while secretly praising her excellent foresight.
"Well… I'm not a god. Accidents can still happen sometimes."
A calm and confident smile appeared on Sousuke's face.
"No matter the situation, it's better to stay humble."
Waving her hand, Tsunade stopped discussing the topic with him.
Instead, as she looked at the fully grown Sousuke, she felt somewhat dazed.
Then she spoke with slight emotion,
"In the blink of an eye, three years have already passed… If we count the time, Jiraiya and Naruto should be returning soon too, right? I wonder how much Naruto has grown now."
Hearing Tsunade's words Sousuke immediately thought of Naruto, who had left the village to train.
A trace of seriousness appeared in his heart.
Because Naruto's return meant the Akatsuki would soon begin taking action.
Although with his current strength, Sousuke no longer feared any attack from the Akatsuki honestly speaking, as Naruto's friend, he was still worried about him.
And there was also Sasuke.
The one who had already graduated from his training under Sousuke a year ago and had begun carrying out missions independently while searching throughout the ninja world for information on Uchiha Itachi.
In the coming Shippuden era there were many things Sousuke wanted to accomplish.
"They should be back soon."
Sousuke spoke directly,
"Otherwise, things could become troublesome."
Hearing that Tsunade, who had already obtained a great deal of intelligence regarding the Akatsuki, nodded with a serious expression.
Looking at Tsunade, who had fallen into thought, Sousuke spoke again,
"If there's nothing else, Sister Tsunade, I'll head back first. This mission took quite a bit of time."
Tsunade nodded.
"Go back and get some proper rest. This mission was hard on you."
"As for the mission payment, I'll have Ino bring it back later on, so don't worry about it."
After responding, Sousuke left Tsunade's office and headed straight home.
After returning home—
He took a bath, changed into a clean set of casual clothes, and temporarily took over watching the bookstore for his mother.
In his hands was the notebook he had carefully preserved ever since arriving in this world—
Though by now, it had become completely worn and tattered.
The "original plot."
"The first major event of Shippuden…"
Looking at the small notebook filled with Chinese writing, Sousuke muttered softly:
"Gaara gets captured by members of the Akatsuki, and then Team Kakashi goes to rescue him…"
One major event after another passed through his eyes.
Sousuke's expression was not especially heavy, though there was a trace of seriousness in it.
After a long while, once he had finished reviewing all of the "original plot," Sousuke carefully put the notebook away again.
"As things stand right now…"
Tapping lightly on the table, Sousuke calculated things in his heart.
"Everything is proceeding according to my expectations. Everything is moving in a good direction. The only truly troublesome matters are probably Sasuke's situation… and Pain's invasion of Konoha."
As for everything else it was all minor.
By himself alone, he could directly bulldoze through most of the Shippuden storyline.
But there was no need for that.
After all, everyone else also needed opportunities to grow.
Otherwise, once he became the Sixth Hokage, wouldn't he end up with no capable generals or elite subordinates under him?
"Still, considering Sasuke's current state…"
A serious look appeared on Sousuke's face.
"Even if he learns the truth from back then, there probably won't be too much of a change."
"As long as Obito doesn't get the chance to twist the truth behind Itachi's choices, there shouldn't be any major problems… Besides, the current Sasuke already has fairly deep bonds with the village."
Over these past two years Sasuke's changes had been enormous.
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