Chapter 39: Vibrant Vitality, All Things Flourishing

Under the tree, Genichi turned his head and smiled, “I do have that thought, but it depends on whether the tissue types match.”

Tsunade naturally understood, “Even with blood relations, a perfect match is very difficult. For two unrelated people, the possibility is almost nonexistent.”

Genichi knew this well and smiled, “What if it does match?”

“Either way, it’s just a waste of a little time.”

Tsunade looked at Genichi curiously, “Why are you in such a hurry?”

Genichi paused briefly, then laughed, “If a young man doesn’t work hard, he’ll only regret it when he’s older!”

“Are you suggesting to wait until you’re twenty to start working hard?”

“Adolescence is the time when learning is most efficient, and when one should be striving the hardest.”

“If you haven’t achieved something by twenty, most likely your life will be ordinary.”

If one hasn’t become a jōnin or attained jōnin-level strength by twenty, further progress is unlikely.

Fame must be seized early.

The same applies to study and training.

Every legendary ninja in the shinobi world achieved something notable at a young age.

And not just in the shinobi world.

In the previous life, most world-renowned scientists also had their greatest successes while young.

Late bloomers exist, but they are rare!

If you can’t succeed when young, how will you when old?

That only means you didn’t work hard enough in your youth.

Looking at Genichi’s vibrant, optimistic face, Tsunade was momentarily stunned.

It reminded her of her younger brother Nawaki and her lover Dan.

They were once like this, too.

But...

A flicker of pain crossed Tsunade’s eyes, her voice low, “Being ordinary is fine, too.”

“Being a ninja is not exactly a good profession.”

Genichi understood Tsunade’s past, so he grasped the deeper meaning behind her words and smiled, “But we are already ninjas, Lady Tsunade!”

“Since we are part of it, we should do our best to excel.”

“It’s not about being a ninja or not. Even ordinary people must work to survive.”

“Like a chef who constantly improves his cooking skills—that’s only natural.”

Tsunade was deeply moved by his words.

If Jiraiya or Orochimaru had said this, it might not have been so touching.

But it was Genichi.

A seven-year-old genin brat.

A child from a common family.

That kind of optimism, vitality, and relentless spirit flowed into her shattered heart like a warm current.

Her hand trembled slightly, her chest swelling with emotion.

Images of her brother and lover dying surfaced in her mind: “Aren’t you afraid of dying?”

Genichi tilted his head slightly, his face wearing a pure smile, his black eyes clear as a mirror reflecting Tsunade’s face: “That’s a pretty profound question, but who doesn’t die?”

“Even if you don’t become a ninja, death is inevitable.”

“Maybe from illness, drowning during a swim, or something else—this world is full of accidents, isn’t it?”

“We are alive now, so why bother worrying about death?”

“Death is terrifying, of course, but it never announces its arrival in advance, so why fear it prematurely?”

“Better to be afraid and reluctant when death actually comes.”

“For now, we should live well, do what we want to do.”

“That way, when death arrives, there will be fewer regrets and less sorrow.”

Tsunade turned and left without letting Genichi see the tears welling uncontrollably in her eyes.

Dan died right before her very eyes.

She still vividly remembered how reluctant Dan was to leave.

He had so many things left unfinished...

Seeing Tsunade suddenly turn and walk away, Genichi paused for a moment, then smiled and turned back to his work.

He was someone who had faced death once, so what he said was not just empty encouragement—it was his true belief.

Therefore, even with an overdrawn lifespan, he still had to strive.

Otherwise, when the day of death comes, he would surely regret not trying harder.

Keep going! Keep going!

Genichi pushed Tsunade’s thoughts aside and bent back to his task.

By ten o’clock, Shizune had also come over to help.

On the Hokage Rock, Tsunade stood tall, the wind tossing her golden hair and her robe fluttering.

Her gaze overlooked all of Konoha, watching the village gradually sink from lively bustle into peaceful quiet.

In her mind, the faces and voices of Hashirama Senju, Tobirama Senju, her brother Nawaki, and her lover Dan kept appearing.

At last, all of them seemed to say the same thing.

The words Genichi had just spoken.

...

Inside the laboratory.

Genichi sighed softly. Shizune, standing nearby, asked with concern, “No luck?”

Genichi nodded, “Yeah.”

Then he smiled, “But it’s alright—it was a long shot anyway.”

Since the tissue types didn’t match, a bone marrow transplant was impossible.

Unless one had a special constitution like Kabuto Yakushi.

Of course, he could still try by overextending his future.

“Let’s go home!”

Genichi packed up.

Though the match failed, it wasn’t a total loss—the research experience he gained was significant.

The next day.

After breakfast and packing, Genichi went to Kakashi’s home.

Since their teacher Sakumo Hatake was absent, Genichi and Kakashi set out alone.

Upon arrival, Genichi said to Kakashi, “Kakashi, use earth release to build a tall wall for me!”

Kakashi nodded without asking why, quickly forming hand seals: Earth Release—Earth Flow Wall!

Pressing his hands to the ground, the earth trembled, and a tall wall rose swiftly.

Standing atop the wall, Genichi formed hand signs with both hands: Water Release—Waterfall Technique.

Boom!

Water surged from behind him, cascading down the wall to form a waterfall.

He had learned this technique from Sakumo during a previous mission.

With the waterfall formed, Genichi leapt down and formed hand seals again.

He partially dispelled the Yin Seal and then performed the Shadow Clone Technique, creating nine shadow clones.

The clones lined up before the waterfall, pressing their palms against the cascading water, beginning to train the wind release nature transformation.

After resealing the Yin Seal, Genichi turned around, “Kakashi, we can start now.”

Kakashi asked, “You’re training wind release nature transformation using the waterfall?”

Genichi nodded, “Yes. I can already cut leaves, but it’s not enough yet, so I need to advance my training.”

He had mastered wind release nature transformation during his second overextension of the future.

But during the third time, his progress had been limited—he still couldn’t cut through the waterfall.

Part of this was because wind release wasn’t his primary focus, but his innate talent was also a factor.

Now that he had the Yin Seal, he could open another shadow clone to assist.

Let’s go again!