Wood Release Reappears (Please Vote)

"This distance will do!"

Gengetsu nodded. At such a short distance, although the Shadow Clone contained little spiritual energy, it would be enough after spiritualizing to enter the body before him without dissipating midway.

"However, Lord Orochimaru, the Shadow Clone's power is limited. It cannot control this body for long!"

Gengetsu reminded him. Although this Shadow Clone had become much more stable and powerful due to the addition of Dragon Vein Chakra, it had still expended quite a bit of energy on experiments beforehand.

"It does not matter. This Clone Body is merely the first Test Subject, and it is not particularly perfect!"

Orochimaru said with an unconcerned smile.

Gengetsu nodded and said no more.

"However, once the Spirit Transformation Technique is used, this Shadow Clone will automatically disperse. After its spiritual energy is exhausted, can its memories return to the Main Body?"

The thought flashed through his mind, and Gengetsu could not help feeling eager to try. He immediately formed hand seals. The spiritual energy within the Shadow Clone transformed into a spirit body, left its body, and slipped into the body on the operating table.

Poof!

Without spiritual energy to sustain it, the Shadow Clone immediately dispersed. Orochimaru paid it no mind, his eyes fixed on the operating table. The body, whose eyes had been closed, had its eyelids twitch before suddenly opening its eyes.

Gengetsu sat up from the operating table, took the clothes Orochimaru handed him and put them on. After carefully sensing his condition, he said in surprise, "What a powerful body!"

"That is the power of the God of Shinobi!"

Orochimaru smiled, then said expectantly, "Then let us test its power!"

Gengetsu nodded and left with Orochimaru.

The Laboratory Base was some distance from Konoha and located in a remote area, shielded by mountains. Even if they made a considerable commotion, it would not draw attention, so the two did not go far from the Laboratory Base.

Steadying himself, Gengetsu brought his palms together. Chakra within his body erupted and poured outward, covering him like azure flames. The powerful force kicked up a fierce gust that spread in all directions.

Orochimaru's long hair whipped wildly in the wind, and a broad smile appeared on his face. "What powerful Chakra!"

"It truly is powerful. Though it is nowhere near comparable to the First Hokage at his peak, this level of Chakra already far surpasses that of an ordinary Jonin."

Gengetsu quietly sensed the power within his body. Aside from the familiar Yang Release and Yin Release, he could also sense another unique power.

Wood Release!

"After Hashirama Senju, no one in the Senju Clan was able to reproduce Wood Release Power. Even if Kekkei Tōta-level Wood Release is too difficult, ordinary Wood Release formed by combining Water and Earth Chakra should not be so difficult. Nawaki aside, he died young. But Tsunade-sensei..."

Gengetsu secretly shook his head. This was probably one of the most baffling questions in the Shinobi World.

"Gengetsu-kun, let me witness the power of the legendary God of Shinobi!"

Orochimaru took out a scroll and tossed it to Gengetsu.

Gengetsu caught the scroll and opened it. Recorded within were the Wood Release Jutsu left behind by Hashirama Senju.

"Comparing people really is infuriating!"

Gengetsu's cheek twitched. If he wanted to learn powerful ninjutsu, he had to exchange his own techniques or merits for them, while Orochimaru could simply throw out a whole pile. He truly deserved to be one of the Sannin!

His gaze swept over the Wood Release Jutsu one by one, instantly committing the hand seals to memory and carefully memorizing the key points described within. Only then did his eyes settle on Wood Release: Great Forest Technique.

Orochimaru did not mind. Even if Wood Release Jutsu were spread around, they were not something just anyone could use.

A moment later, Gengetsu put down the scroll, and his Chakra swiftly receded. Then he formed hand seals. He was not fast, carefully comprehending the changes in his Chakra as the seals formed. This had always been his method of practicing ninjutsu.

This was also why he could cast many ninjutsu without hand seals.

Once, twice, three times...

On the sixth attempt, Gengetsu's gaze sharpened. His left hand gripped his right wrist, while his open right palm faced Orochimaru. Square wooden beams immediately burst forth, growing rapidly and lunging at Orochimaru with clawing branches.

Fire Release: Fire Dragon Flame Bullet!

Orochimaru rapidly formed hand seals and opened his mouth, firing one flaming bullet after another. Wood chips flew everywhere, but the wood continued growing at high speed, seemingly endless.

Orochimaru's expression did not change. As he leaped backward again and again, his hands formed seals once more. While in midair, he opened his mouth and expelled highly compressed air that formed ripples capable of cutting through anything, slicing toward Gengetsu.

Gengetsu immediately abandoned the jutsu on his right hand. Bringing his hands together, he formed the Snake seal. A row of wooden pillars instantly rose from beneath the ground, forming a wooden wall before him.

Wood chips scattered everywhere. Although Vacuum Serial Waves, this Wind Release ninjutsu, was sharp, it still failed to break through the Wood Barrier Wall!

"Impressive indeed!"

Orochimaru, landing from midair, stuck out his tongue. Just as he was about to form hand seals, his expression changed. The ground below split apart, and thick vines burst from the earth, spreading across an area of fifty to sixty meters. They grew rapidly, winding toward him from every direction.

It was still the Great Forest Technique, but both its scale and flexibility were far greater than before!

"So this is Wood Release's true might?"

Orochimaru was both shocked and delighted. With a flick of both hands, a mass of venomous snakes shot out, coiling around the vines before exploding and blasting them to pieces.

Behind the Wood Barrier Wall, Gengetsu formed hand seals again. "Wood Release: Tree World Advent!"

The severed vines rapidly regrew and expanded, becoming massive trees in the blink of an eye and forming a small forest. Trapped within it, Orochimaru could no longer evade the grasp of vines and branches. His hands and feet were bound, leaving him unable to move.

"Just as the legends say, it can suppress the enemy's Chakra!"

Orochimaru grew even more excited, but when he saw Gengetsu, his expression changed. "What is happening?"

"It seems this technology is still unstable. Because I drew too heavily on the Wood Release Power within this body, the power of its Kekkei Genkai has completely lost control!"

Gengetsu gave a helpless smile. A sapling had already sprouted from his body, and it continued to grow, gradually becoming a small tree and causing him to completely lose control of this body. Still, after consecutively casting Wood Release Jutsu, his spiritual energy was nearly exhausted as well.

"I see. It appears Hashirama Cells are simply too powerful!"

Orochimaru was not disappointed. The current experimental results had already met his expectations.

"Then, Lord Orochimaru, please personally inform my Main Body, because I cannot be certain whether my memories can return to it!"

Gengetsu spoke one last time. After that, his spiritual energy was completely exhausted, and his entire body immediately grew into a large tree.

Konoha, Training Ground.

Gengetsu's Main Body, who had been developing Lightning Release Chakra Mode, suddenly stopped practicing and opened his eyes.

"I never expected a Shadow Clone like this could still send its memories back. Every ninjutsu Tobirama Senju created is so absurdly powerful."

Gengetsu secretly marveled, then could not help reliving the Wood Release cast by the Shadow Clone.

Clearly, the Clone Body possessed Wood Release abilities even stronger than Yamato's, yet it still could not compare to the First Hokage, Hashirama Senju. After all, that was someone who could play tie-up games with the Nine-Tails.

However, Yamato had no side effects, whereas if the current Clone Body overused its Wood Release abilities, the Hashirama Cells within it would become overly active and lose control.

"But if my Cells and Hashirama Cells are cultivated together, then barring any accidents, it should be possible to obtain an even more powerful Clone Body that will not lose control!"

Excitement appeared on Gengetsu's face, but he soon frowned. "However, I need to build a laboratory myself first. But where will the money come from?"

A moment later, Gengetsu found Sarutobi Kazuhara and said bluntly, "Kazuhara-sensei, let's become Bounty Hunters!"