Chapter 338: , a great ninja

The appearance of the Mizukage Ring was enough to prove everything.

Tsunade took the ring and examined it closely; relying on her connection to the successive Hokage, she quickly determined that this was indeed the Mizukage Ring without a doubt.

"Fourth Mizukage."

The title of "Kage" is not something anyone can bear casually.

In the vast ninja world, there are only five Kage.

Anyone who bears the title of "Kage" represents the pinnacle of power and strength of a great nation.

Tsunade never imagined that she would, under such circumstances, form such a bond with the Mizukage of Kirigakure.

After learning of Ryosuke's identity, the doubts in Tsunade's heart only grew.

Moreover, even if Mizunuki Ryosuke had revealed his identity as the Mizukage, he had no obligation or stance to save Tsunade.

Recalling Mizunuki Ryosuke, who had suddenly appeared in Hanzo's lair, the confusion in Tsunade's heart increased rather than decreased.

"Lord Mizukage."

"How could you appear in the Rain Ninja Village?"

Although Tsunade was the princess of the Senju clan and her ancestors had produced two Hokage, even so, encountering a Mizukage whose status was on par with the Hokage, she still had to use an honorific.

Hearing Tsunade's words, Mizunuki Ryosuke's gaze became somewhat profound; he also knew that his words just now had stirred up Tsunade's inner vigilance.

But these things were not important; to draw closer to Tsunade and Konoha, these were unavoidable.

A relationship built on deception is destined not to last.

"There is no need for honorifics."

"This is a long story, and it is not good to keep standing here."

"Let us find a place to sit, and I will tell you slowly."

Mizunuki Ryosuke said softly, showing no airs of a Kage of a nation.

Ryosuke's gentle attitude also made Tsunade feel somewhat guilty; it seemed her attitude had been a bit too aggressive.

But soon, her sense of responsibility toward the Senju and Konoha suppressed this slight guilt; after all, Tsunade was never one to favor personal feelings over matters of great principle.

"Please come with me."

Tsunade shook her head, casting aside the distracting thoughts in her heart, and led Mizunuki Ryosuke deeper into the Shikkotsu Forest.

Seeing this, Ryosuke did not hesitate and followed silently behind Tsunade.

Neither of them spoke; since Mizunuki Ryosuke revealed his identity, an invisible barrier seemed to have formed between them.

In the chaotic ninja world, this was the most normal thing.

Although the relationship between Konoha and Kirigakure could not be considered hostile, it was not exactly good either.

In the world of ninjas, murder, deception, lies, and betrayal—

these things are all commonplace; the ninja world is full of stories where people greet each other with smiles one second and draw blades against each other the next.

The price of easily trusting others is often immensely heavy.

Both of their expressions were very composed, making it impossible to tell what they were thinking at this moment.

Soon, Tsunade led Mizunuki Ryosuke under a giant tree.

This giant tree had a conspicuous difference from the other towering trees.

Unlike the others, the roots and trunk of this giant tree on the ground had been hollowed out and converted into a uniquely styled tree house.

However, because the giant tree had a diameter of at least twenty meters, it was more appropriate to call it a "tree fortress" than a "tree house."

Strangely, logically speaking, a tree whose trunk and roots had been hollowed out should have withered and died, yet this giant tree remained full of vitality, showing no signs of withering at all, and instead possessed more life force compared to the other giant trees.

Compared to this towering giant tree, the figures of Ryosuke and Tsunade were like small ants.

Tsunade familiarly arrived at the roots at the base of the giant tree, where there was a small wooden door; Tsunade pushed the door open and brought Ryosuke into the interior of the giant tree.

Following the corridor formed by the giant tree's roots, Ryosuke and Tsunade arrived inside the trunk of the giant tree.

An ancient and cozy scene came into Ryosuke's view.

All the furniture in the tree fortress was made of wood, and in the corners of the room were some food and daily necessities, with many photos of the room's owner hanging on the walls.

In the center of the wall inside the tree fortress, one photo caught Mizunuki Ryosuke's gaze.

A black-haired man and a white-haired man were together lifting a golden-haired little girl high up; the black-haired man in the photo was laughing particularly boldly, while the white-haired man, whose face appeared somewhat stern, wore a faint smile.

And the golden-haired little girl's smile was equally brilliant, like a bright little sun.

There were countless photos like this, all trivial snapshots of daily life.

Ryosuke also recognized the protagonists in the photos.

It was exactly Senju Hashirama, Senju Tobirama, and the young Tsunade.

"This was once the place where Grandfather and Second Grandfather practiced and lived."

"Please, sit."

As Tsunade spoke, she pointed to the wooden coffee table and chairs in the center of the room.

Hearing this, Ryosuke did not stand on ceremony; after nodding slightly, he sat down.

Tsunade's words explained the origin of the tree house; perhaps only Senju Hashirama had the ability to hollow out this giant tree and still keep it from withering...

This tree house should have been the place where Senju Hashirama lived while practicing Senjutsu in the Shikkotsu Forest.

According to Tsunade's words, it can be inferred that the Second Hokage, Senju Tobirama, also came to this place.

And the reason for Tobirama coming to the Shikkotsu Forest, Ryosuke guessed, should also have been for Senjutsu.

As for why Senju Tobirama also practiced Senjutsu but never displayed it in the original work, the reason was very simple—of course, the practice failed.

"It seems the Second Hokage did not have the talent for practicing Senjutsu."

Ryosuke sighed inwardly.

"Hoo."

What Ryosuke did not notice was that there was a hint of indescribable complexity in Tsunade's eyes. He did not know that, besides the three people in the photos, he was the first person to come here.

Soon, Tsunade brought a pot of hot tea to Ryosuke; after serving it to him personally, she stopped speaking.

"I didn't expect that in my lifetime I would still be able to see the traces left by Lord Hashirama and Lord Tobirama."

Mizunuki Ryosuke held the hot tea handed to him by Tsunade and said with some emotion.

Hearing this, a flash of nostalgia and sadness crossed Tsunade's eyes, but she quickly recovered.

"Lord Mizukage, have you also paid attention to the affairs of my grandfather and second grandfather?"

Tsunade still addressed Mizunuki Ryosuke with an honorific, and there was a hint of distance in her words.

"Of course, the great names of the First Hokage and the Second Hokage are naturally known to everyone in the entire ninja world."

"Lord Hashirama's courage in pioneering peace for the ninja world is admirable."

Mizunuki Ryosuke did not mind the distance in Tsunade's words, but instead gave unstinting praise to Hashirama.

"Lord Mizukage, do you also admire the Hokage?"

Seeing Ryosuke's attitude, Tsunade was somewhat surprised.

Belonging to different ninja villages, there was an inherently tense relationship between them.

Theoretically, Mizunuki Ryosuke at this moment had a status equivalent to Senju Hashirama, yet his attitude was full of the respect of a junior toward a senior, which also made Tsunade somewhat unexpected.

"Of course."

"Whether it is strength, spirit, or vision."

"No one in the ninja world can be compared to Lord Hashirama."

A flash of seriousness crossed Mizunuki Ryosuke's eyes; after all, relying on Senju Hashirama's cheat-like strength, he was absolutely enough to dominate the ninja world.

And whether in terms of integrity or the principles he always insisted on, Senju Hashirama was indeed worthy of the title "God of Shinobi."

Although Senju Hashirama's wish to distribute the nine Tailed Beasts and pioneer peace for future generations completely fell through, he did succeed in ending the chaotic era, suppressing a generation, and creating a relatively stable One Nation, One Village system for the ninja world.

Senju Hashirama was undoubtedly a great ninja. ===== CHAPTER 340 =====