"That means, the ninja world has already experienced the Third Great Ninja War, right?"
Orochimaru and the others briefly explained the key events that happened in the years after Senju Tobirama’s death.
After hearing it, Tobirama’s expression showed no real shock.
"Before I died, I already knew that once a ninja war begins, it only stops intermittently, never truly ends," Tobirama sighed.
"Unless, like my older brother, someone has absolute strength but still pursues peace. Only while he was alive could the fighting be barely held back."
"But those are matters you should worry about, not me. Tsunade, you shouldn’t disturb my peace," Tobirama glanced at Tsunade standing beside him.
"You don’t mean what you say, Lord Tobirama. You aren’t really that unhappy about being resurrected, are you?" Kagetsu spoke softly nearby.
Tobirama squinted his eyes, turning to look at Kagetsu. ’A disciple of the Fourth Hokage?’"
Orochimaru stepped forward and explained Kagetsu’s sensing ability.
"Kagetsu doesn’t need others to open their chakra to him. He can sense a ninja’s current emotional changes through their chakra."
"No, you missed an important point!" Tobirama interrupted. "His shadow is the premise for activating this ability. Although I don’t feel controlled by the Nara clan’s shadow techniques, I can sense the fine, nerve-like chakra tendrils spread through that shadow."
Tobirama didn’t fully trust Orochimaru’s words. After looking away from Kagetsu’s face, his gaze fell on the shadows on the ground, where Kagetsu’s shadow overlapped with his own under the firelight.
Among ninjas, his sensory ability was top-tier. That’s why he could clearly sense the abnormality in Kagetsu’s shadow and was amazed by it!
As a master of developing ninjutsu, Tobirama was an expert in the structure of ninjutsu and chakra attributes.
He knew very well that before his death, no one from the Nara clan had ever altered their shadow to such an extent!
He didn’t even need to form hand signs to activate it.
In Senju Tobirama’s understanding, this had already gone beyond a simple jutsu and could be called a kekkei genkai.
Another kekkei genkai related to shadow release?
Given how the Nara clan’s bodies were weakened and sluggish from being infected by yin release chakra, they shouldn’t be able to support activating a kekkei genkai.
But to Tobirama’s senses, Kagetsu’s vitality was so strong it was almost like a Senju—or even a Uzumaki!
Could he be a half-blood of the Uzumaki clan?
No matter what, from what Kagetsu showed so far, his talent in ninjutsu was impressive.
At least the chakra network spreading like nerves through his shadow was a delicate piece of work!
From Tobirama’s knowledge of ninjutsu, to reach this level, Kagetsu’s shadow was no longer just a simple shadow technique.
There might be more complicated and troublesome things hidden within it.
Right now, just from the small part of the technique Kagetsu revealed, Tobirama could create at least three A-rank level jutsu based on its traits.
"Shadow Puppet Technique. My shadow has its own consciousness. You can think of it as a special living form of shadow release. It can seamlessly send me everything it senses and, when I need it, take control of and merge with objects to manipulate them as puppets, whether those objects are dead or alive," Kagetsu explained, noticing Tobirama’s interest in the technique.
The Shadow Puppet Technique had now become a comprehensive and strange art. ɪꜰ ʏᴏᴜ ᴡᴀɴᴛ ᴛᴏ ʀᴇᴀᴅ ᴍᴏʀᴇ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs, ᴘʟᴇᴀsᴇ ᴠɪsɪᴛ NovelHub(.)net
Even if information about it leaked, facing this technique was like facing Susanoo.
It was still tricky and difficult.
Knowing the details didn’t mean there was a quick way to counter it. Instead, hesitation and caution would hold one back in battle and limit their own actions.
"You really are from the Nara clan! Have you awakened a kekkei genkai?"
Senju Tobirama didn’t expect Kagetsu to be so honest about revealing information on his jutsu.
Although many details were left unsaid, the information given was enough for Tobirama to realize the level of this technique.
Tobirama had always admired the Nara clan. After all, he liked people who were smart, capable, and didn’t have wild ambitions that caused trouble.
The Nara clan was almost born to be the perfect strategist ninja clan.
Although it wasn’t until the Third Hokage’s time that the Nara clan officially became the advisors of the Hokage, they had been valued ever since the village was founded.
It was only because the Second Hokage acted as a strategist for his elder brother and handled much of the village’s affairs that the importance of the Nara clan was somewhat overshadowed.
"It’s a Yin Release shadow-type kekkei," Kagetsu answered.
"I always thought the Nara clan wouldn’t take this step. Once you awaken a kekkei genkai, with your clan’s constitution, serious hereditary diseases are almost certain. The more talented, the worse it tends to be. Is it Tsunade?"
Tobirama’s last question about Tsunade clearly assumed she had helped Kagetsu improve his health to support the awakening of the kekkei genkai.
"That’s none of my business! He was always a freak in the Nara clan as a child. The clan’s usual weak constitution didn’t show up in him. Although his Yin Release power is much stronger than others his age," Tsunade denied her Second Grandpa’s guess with a bit of annoyance.
"Choosing to revive you first, Second Grandpa, was to avoid future trouble. My part is done now; what happens next is between Orochimaru and you."
"By the way, the village has been newly planned and looks very different from the Konoha you remember. If you want to go back to the old Senju clan estate, make sure someone guides you, or you might get lost."
Tsunade had already checked her Second Grandpa’s body and found no hidden issues.
Since she wanted to record the information from this experiment, she had no other thoughts about staying longer.
After all, she and her Second Grandpa didn’t have much in common to talk about.
"Is there anything you need me to do?" Senju Tobirama caught the almost obvious meaning in Tsunade’s words. He waved at her, then looked at Orochimaru and asked.
"For now, just focus on recovering your health. During this time, you can read through the village’s secret files. As for what I need you to do, I won’t force you. If you want more information, ask Kagetsu. He’s the head of the Technology Development Department. This place is his domain," Orochimaru said, narrowing his eyes but not revealing his real purpose immediately.
The newly revived Senju Tobirama was still adjusting between his soul and body.
To regain his peak fighting power, he would need some time to adapt.
Given Tobirama’s talent, this might only take a day or two.