In a hot spring bath in Konoha, Rei and Orochimaru sat on either side of Hiruzen.
Hiruzen sat in the middle, with a square white towel on his head, his hands folded across his chest, his back against the edge of the hot spring, a faint smile on his lips, and a slightly mocking look at Shimura Danzo sitting opposite him.
Danzo stared at Hiruzen with a stern face.
Kurama Yun on his left smiled awkwardly at Rei.
Rei smiled back and nodded slightly.
Rei Yang and Orochimaru looked up at the ceiling at the same time.
Finally, Hiruzen moved, stood up, and poured two glasses of sake by the hot spring, one for himself and one for Rei.
Rei was stunned and subconsciously took the wine handed over by Hiruzen.
"Come on, let's celebrate, first place."
Hiruzen said to Rei in a voice louder than normal, but lower than shouting to ensure that Danzo, who was sitting three meters away, could hear clearly.
"Huh? Haha!"
Rei laughed dryly, feeling the burning gaze of Danzo, and clinked glasses with Sarutobi Hiruzen.
What are your plans next? Have you decided which technique in the Book of Sealing you want to learn?"
Hiruzen glanced at Danzo opposite him inconspicuously, and asked Rei with concern.
"Ah... Actually, there is nothing I particularly want to learn."
Rei laughed dryly. It's not that he looked down on the Book of Sealing, but mainly because he really didn't want others to know.
"Yes, yes, yes, look at my memory. I have forgotten your relationship with the Hokage."
"Pa!" Hiruzen slapped his forehead.
Danzo's face twitched fiercely with this slap.
At that moment, from Danzo others vaguely heard the sound of his back teeth being bitten.
Pursing his lips, Rei said to Hiruzen. "Teacher, you guys take a rest here. I'll go accompany Tsunade."
As he spoke, Rei stood up, walked out of the hot spring, and put on a bathrobe.
"Well, go ahead. Tsunade should be quite bored now." Hiruzen nodded and did not stop him.
"Well."
As he walked outside, Rei breathed a sigh of relief.
Who knew that when they were young, the relationship between Hiruzen and Danzo would be like this?
Rei felt that if he continued to stay, he would be roasted by Danzo's eyes.
However, such a relationship seems to be quite reasonable. After all, although Hiruzen is very tolerant, he is not tolerant to everyone.
Comrade, disciple, and family, it must be one of them, right?
Shaking his head, Rei went up to the second floor, opened a room, ordered a plate of cakes.
"Please tell Tsunade that Uchiha Rei is waiting for her here."
"Okay, please wait."
The service staff in the bathhouse nodded.
About five minutes later, Tsunade in a bathrobe appeared in front of Rei.
"Didn't I tell you not to rush?" Rei looked at Tsunade, who was in a hurry and had wet hair, and said helplessly.
"What's the point of taking a bath here?" Tsunade shook her head when she heard this.
"Yeah it's much more lively at my place."
Rei stood up when he heard this, took a towel, sat behind Tsunade to help Tsunade wipe her hair.
Tsunade squinted comfortably, leaned back, and fell directly into Rei's arms.
"How lively is it?"
"Danzo-senpai's face turned green."
"That must be interesting." Tsunade chuckled and said to Rei without waiting for Rei to answer. "What are your plans next?"
"What are your plans?" Rei stretched out his hand to pinch a piece of cake and handed it to Tsunade.
Tsunade opened her mouth wide and bit it.
"I think, if there is nothing particularly important next, maybe we can go to the Shikkotsu Forest to learn sage arts. A fool like Jiraiya has been practicing in Mt. Myoboku for more than a year and has not finished yet. Although we are smarter than that fool, we don't know how much time will be wasted."
"Then you talk to your grandfather tonight, how about we go directly to the Shikkotsu Forest tomorrow morning?"
Rei couldn't help it, stretched out her hand to pinch Tsunade's face.
The next morning, the Team Hiruzen gathered at the third training ground.
"According to the order from the Hokage, Team 7 will start practicing Senjutsu today."
Hiruzen sat in front of the three people, looking at the three disciples who had become Chunin in front of him.
"To be honest, I didn't expect that Team 7 has only carried out two missions since I became your teacher."
"But each mission is difficult." Rei said to Sarutobi Hiruzen with a smile on his face.
"Yes, one B-level and one S-level." Hiruzen nodded and said to Rei.
"Rei and Tsunade will go directly to the Shikkotsu Forest to practice with the Lady Katsuyu."
"Okay." Rei nodded to show that he understood.
After speaking, Sarutobi Hiruzen looked at Orochimaru.
"No one knows about the inheritance of the Sage arts of Ryuchi Cave, so if you feel that this way of practice has even the slightest potential threat, please refuse it first and then return to the village. We will help you find a solution together."
"Okay." A warm current surged in Orochimaru's heart. It was really hard for people not to like this atmosphere.
"In addition, the reward for the Chunin Exam.", Hiruzen looked at Rei.
"Rei decided to get flying thunder god, so learn that first and then focus on other things."
"Okay." Rei nodded after hearing this. Flying Thunder God with his lightning transformation will make Rei almost invincible.
And for the technique of Impure World Reincarnation, don't even think about it. Senju Tobirama will definitely erase this technique from the Book of Sealing overnight.
"Okay, then I wish you all a smooth practice."
Hiruzen nodded when he heard this, and did not leave, but stayed quietly in the same place.
The main thing is to wait for Orochimaru. After all, no one can guarantee whether the sage arts in the Ryuchi Cave are suitable for Orochimaru to practice.
If it is really not suitable, then you need to take Orochimaru to find Senju Tobirama.
Rei and the other two stood up and looked at each other. The next moment, the three of them formed seals at the same time.
"Bang!"
As the hands of the three people pressed on the ground at the same time, a large amount of smoke instantly enveloped the three people.
When the smoke dissipated, the figures of the three people also completely disappeared from the spot.
...
"You guys are here?"
As soon as they entered the Shikkotsu Forest, the first thing they saw was the huge body of Lady Katsuyu.
"Well, the Chunin Exam is over, so we are here to learn senjutsu from you."
Rei took two steps forward and said to the Lady Katsuyu.
Senjutsu, in the ninja world, is the only power that can compete with the Otsutsuki, except for the Tenseigan or the Rinnegan.
"Then let's get started." Lady Katsuyu chuckled when he heard it.
"So... how do we start?" Rei asked Lady Katsuyu after hearing this.
"The core of the Sageart is actually natural energy. The so-called natural energy is just like its name, the power that exists in nature, Holy places are abundant in sage energy . So, close your eyes, and see if you feel something."
Lady Katsuyu said to Rei after hearing this.
"Is that so?" Rei nodded after hearing this. To be honest, it was quite abstract.
"The reason why I want you to practice here is because it will be relatively safer if I am watching you."
Lady Katsuyu said softly after hearing this.
" thank you." Rei said to Lady Katsuyu after hearing this.
"Well, Rei and Tsunade will be separated for a while. The practice of sage art is still very difficult."
Lady Katsuyu continued to say, guiding Rei and Tsunade to two different locations.
Rei found a random place, sat cross-legged on the ground, and closed his eyes.
Empty yourself, don't think about anything, and feel the nature with your heart.
"Don't worry, take your time, there is still a lot of time, it will be fine after a while."
A little slug lay on the ground and said to Rei. In fact, it was not just a simple comfort. The words of the Lady Katsuyu still made sense.
"Okay." Rei nodded and closed his eyes again.
On the other side, another slug was also softly comforting Tsunade who looked irritable.
Do I really have to learn this kind of technique? !
Tsunade let out a long breath and sat on the ground again. If that idiot grandpa of her could learn it, why can't I learn it!
If she really couldn't learn it, there was nothing she could do, but at least she couldn't just give up.
(End of this chapter)