Battle: Wood Dragon

Hashirama stood there, looking at Izuna's nonchalant expression and hearing the words, "Maybe Tobirama's eyes weren't done properly," and felt as if something was blocking his chest.

That's not his brother.

His younger brother was just standing perfectly fine in the tree some distance away.

But at this moment, he still felt sad for another Tobirama.

If someone has given so much and sacrificed so much for him, and in the end all they get is a dismissive "You didn't do a good job," then what is the point?

Just thinking about it made him feel suffocated.

But Izuna knew nothing about it.

He didn't know that his Tobirama in this world, nor did he know what Tobirama had done or sacrificed for him.

Ignorance is no excuse, but it is certainly annoying.

Come to think of it, it seems that whenever Izuna encounters something he can't handle, his first reaction is always to turn to them.

When he knocked Madara away, he sought his help to deal with it; he would subconsciously rely on Tobirama for his eye problems.

Ban followed him without much objection; if he was told not to leave the village, he really wouldn't go out.

It was as if... he assumed they would always be by his side.

This child has been spoiled since childhood...

Hashirama suddenly didn't want to fight anymore.

Wood Release surged from the ground, transforming into countless Vines that coiled towards Izuna. He wanted to grab him and stop the sparring match.

But Izuna's figure darted among the Vines, as fast as a phantom.

He dodged the first wave, sidestepped the second, and flipped through the air to avoid the third. Vines wove a net behind him, yet Kakuzu of his clothes.

"Hashirama- kun?" Izuna's voice came from between the Vines, tinged with confusion, "What are you doing? You can't catch me like this."

Hashirama did not answer, but instead controlled more Wood Release to surge forth.

The Deep Forest Emergence.

Countless sturdy trees burst forth from the ground, filling the entire riverbank. Their canopies blocked out the sun, and their branches intertwined, forming an impenetrable forest cage.

This is his specialty: trapping the enemy.

However--

"Boom!"

A giant tree exploded in the middle, sending wood chips flying everywhere.

Izuna burst out of the gap, faster than before, shooting towards Hashirama like an arrow released from a bow!

The pupils Hashirama slightly contracted.

That's too fast.

He instinctively raised his hand to block, but Izuna's fist was already slamming into his face.

"Bang!"

His blocking motion was a beat too slow, and he could only barely deflect it.

Izuna's punch grazed his cheek and blasted a huge gash in the tree trunk behind him.

Izuna landed, turned around, and charged forward again.

His movements became faster and faster.

His punches and kicks became increasingly fierce.

He used to complain occasionally, but now he hasn't said a word.

Only attack.

Hashirama leaped away, his Wood Release surging around him, attempting to block his path and halt his steps.

But those trees Vines were like paper in front of Izuna.

He just charged straight at me.

Hashirama's expression changed.

Hands form a mudra, the Wood Human Technique!

A giant Wooden Human rose from the ground and blocked Izuna's way.

Izuna did not slow down.

He charged forward head-on and punched the Wooden Human dummy in the leg!

"Boom--!"

The Wooden Human's lower legs shattered with a crack, and its massive body tilted violently.

Izuna used the momentum to leap up, using the Wooden Human's tilted body as a springboard to charge upwards, and in the blink of an eye, he was already on top of the Wooden Human's head.

Then he punched down!

The Wooden Human's head exploded, and its massive body collapsed with a crash.

Standing Hashirama the collapsed Wooden Human, Hashirama watched the figure fall from the sky amidst the flying wood chips, and a strong sense of crisis welled up in his heart.

Izuna landed without the slightest pause.

He pushed off with his feet and charged towards Hashirama again.

During a lull in the attack, Hashirama finally saw his expression clearly.

A blank page.

Those eyes, which always held a sly quality, were now staring intently at him.

There was no emotion whatsoever.

Only a beastly focus.

Like a wolf.

Hashirama felt a chill run Hashirama.

He knew that if he continued to be distracted, he would be the one to lose.

Although he doesn't care about winning or losing, it's just pre-meal exercise, and it's not good to play too recklessly.

But to lose like this would be too undignified.

He's Hashirama Senju!

Wood Release: Ranking Technique!

A huge wooden shield rose from the ground, forming a wall between the two.

Izuna's fist slammed into the shield.

"Boom--!"

The shield trembled violently, and spiderweb-like cracks appeared on its surface.

Hashirama hand seals again.

Wood Release: Wood Dragon Technique!

A gigantic Wood Dragon burst forth from the ground beneath Izuna's feet, its massive jaws snapping open to bite him!

Izuna turned around, tapped the Wood Dragon's jaw with his toes, and used the momentum to leap up, dodging the attack.

But the Wood Dragon did not stop.

Its massive body twisted in the air as it charged after Izuna's figure!

Izuna was suspended in mid-air, with nowhere to gain leverage.

Hashirama thought he would use Fire Style to counter.

But he didn't.

Izuna twisted his body at an angle in mid-air, barely dodging the Wood Dragon's second pounce.

Then he landed on a thick branch.

With a light tap of his feet, Izuna charged forward once more.

He leaped and darted between tree trunks at an astonishing speed, causing the Wood Dragon behind him to miss its prey several times, instead crashing into and breaking many of its own trees.

Hashirama's eyes lit up.

Utilize the environment.

This kid is still thinking about tactics even in this state.

He formed hand seals, controlling more Wood Release to surge up from the ground.

Trees grew wildly, Vines entwined, and the entire forest came alive.

But Izuna's figure weaved through them like a nimble fish, always managing to dodge the branches Vines that tried to grab him at the last moment.

The Wood Dragon chased after it, getting closer and closer.

Izuna did not turn back.

He reached out and grabbed a drooping Vines, swinging himself toward another tree.

He lingered in the treetop, looking down at the Wood Dragon, entangled by other trees and unable to break free.

Then, Izuna descended from the sky.

His right fist was clenched, and his body formed an arc in the air, with all his power concentrated on that one point.

Then, he threw a punch.

"Boom--!"

The Wood Dragon's head exploded with a loud crack.

The enormous body froze in mid-air for a moment before crashing to the ground, kicking up clouds of dust.

Izuna stood on the remains of the Wood Dragon, slightly out of breath.

His clothes were torn in several places, his hair was covered with sawdust and dust, and there were a few small scratches on his face.

But his eyes remained bright, his body remained tense, ready to receive the next attack at any moment.

Then he heard Hashirama's voice.

"Enough, enough, enough! I'm done fighting!"

Hashirama peeked out from behind a ravaged forest and waved to him.

"Izuna, you're amazing! I give up!"

Izuna paused for a moment, then jumped off the remains of the Wood Dragon.

"Admit defeat?" He tilted his head, his tone puzzled. "But you haven't even used your real skills yet, have you?"

Hashirama chuckled dryly twice.

Real skill? You must be joking.

If he really dared to get serious, he had no doubt that the man standing in the tree in the distance would immediately rush down and unleash his Susanoo crush him to the ground without saying a word.

The lingering sunlight from Hashirama swept across the distant treetops.

Ban stood there, arms crossed, expressionless.

The chilling gaze made him break out in a cold sweat.

"Anyway, I'm not fighting anymore." He plopped down on the tree trunk. "I'm starving! I want to eat!"

Izuna's lips twitched as he looked at his shameless demeanor.

"... Hashirama, how old are you?"

"Thirty," Hashirama -factly. "A thirty-year-old middle-aged man can't fight anymore; he needs to eat to replenish his energy."

Izuna: "..."

Do you even believe what you're saying?