Wood Style: Deep Forest Emergence

"Susanoo!"

When they saw the red skeletal giant, the Third Hokage, Shimura Danzō, Obito Uchiha, and a handful of ninja clan heads and elite Jonin cried out in alarm.

"Wood Release!!!"

When they saw towering trees erupt from the ground and entangle Susanoo, everyone cried out in alarm.

The wave of shocked cries swept through the hearts of the Konoha Ninja like a tsunami.

Obito Uchiha quietly withdrew the wooden spike in his palm. A Wood Release construct as thick as an arm was utterly incomparable to the towering trees that big guy had created with a clap of his hands.

Without trees this enormous, his Wood Release would have absolutely stunned all the Konoha Ninja and made them believe he was Madara Uchiha, leaving them too afraid to act rashly.

But with such trees here, Obito Uchiha's Wood Release looked like child's play, inviting nothing but ridicule.

He suddenly felt that something was off. Why did everything go wrong whenever he encountered this big guy? He could not even bring himself to say, "I am Madara Uchiha."

This was seriously cursed.

Uchiha Itachi stood frozen, muttering, "Wood Release... You actually awakened the Wood Release Kekkei Genkai. You're actually a ninja of the Senju Clan."

"A ninja of the Senju Clan—why would you stand with the rotten Uchiha?"

When the Uchiha ninja saw Susanoo, they had all fallen into despair. But when Shazo clapped his hands and dozens of great trees tightly bound Susanoo, they all came back to life.

No, the Uchiha had not merely come back to life. They had become exhilarated.

"It's Wood Release! It's the Senju Clan! The Senju Clan has not abandoned the legendary pact! The Senju and Uchiha stand together, just like when Konoha was founded!!"

Uchiha Izumi watched Shazo display his might, her eyes wide and mouth agape. Only amid her clansmen's cheers did she slowly close her mouth.

She could not help smiling. "Big brother, honestly... You even kept it from me completely."

There was a faint trace of grievance in Uchiha Izumi's laughter, but far more of it was filled with pride and delight.

The Third Hokage was somewhat distracted, but Shimura Danzō was comparing and calculating in his heart, even feeling a little pleased.

Yamato's Wood Release does not seem any weaker than this mysterious fellow's.

Judging by the surrounding ninja's reactions, Wood Release carries even more influence than I imagined. Should I arrange for Yamato to officially reveal himself and display the Anbu's achievement?

With a Wood Release ninja supporting me, I might truly be able to overthrow Hiruzen Sarutobi and become the Fifth Hokage.

Just as everyone was lost in their own thoughts, and even Obito Uchiha felt thoroughly unlucky and wanted to retreat to make new plans after today, Uchiha Itachi moved.

He could not accept such an anticlimactic outcome to the clan's destruction.

Uchiha Itachi had killed all the Jonin elders, killed his own parents, and driven his beloved younger brother into depression, only to discover that his own family was the only one truly unfortunate while most of the clan had survived.

How could he tolerate that?

He absolutely could not tolerate it!

Blood tears flowed from Uchiha Itachi's eyes, black and thick as ink. White spots suddenly appeared in his vision, followed by a layer of gray fog that obscured everything from sight.

After excessively draining his ocular power, his vision permanently deteriorated.

Yet the half-bodied skeletal Susanoo expanded again. Surging ocular power wrapped around its bones and transformed into sturdy muscles, turning Susanoo into a half-bodied giant.

Obito Uchiha clicked his tongue in amazement. "That Uchiha Itachi kid is really going all out. He truly isn't afraid of going blind."

The red Susanoo giant let out a furious roar. Its powerful arms broke free from their restraints and rose high overhead. Its enormous hands grasped at empty air, and two massive chakra swords appeared in them.

Susanoo then swung its giant chakra swords, instantly cutting down the towering trees entangling it with Uchiha Style swordsmanship.

Seeing Susanoo break free of Wood Release's restraints, Uchiha Izumi behind Shazo, along with the other Uchiha ninja, instinctively unleashed ninjutsu.

[Fire Style: Great Fireball Technique]

[Fire Style: Phoenix Sage Fire Technique]

[Lightning Style: Lightning Ball]

[Lightning Style: Falling Thunder]

Dozens of C-rank Fire Style and Lightning Release techniques densely blanketed Susanoo. The concentrated, violent explosions shook the ninja so badly that they could not help turning their heads away.

Though none were high-level ninjutsu, so many techniques striking at once would have shattered even the Third Raikage's Lightning Release Armor, the strongest defense, and killed him on the spot.

Of course, given the Third Raikage's size, it was impossible for dozens of ninjutsu to hit him simultaneously. Even three would have been impossible.

The Susanoo giant was struck by Fire Style and Lightning Release, yet the violent explosions did not make it sway in the slightest.

When the smoke and dust cleared, Susanoo did not even bear a trace of injury.

The attacking Uchiha ninja stood dumbfounded, feeling both proud and hopeless.

Susanoo was so strong!

The Mangekyō Sharingan was so strong!

Why did Uchiha Itachi want to destroy the clan?!

We're finished...

Seeing the strength of Susanoo's second stage, Obito Uchiha's expression shifted slightly. He muttered to himself, "So Susanoo's power is actually this great? Should I take my eyes back?"

"Hmph, Kamui is the strongest. Even without Susanoo, I'm still the strongest."

Shimura Danzō's face darkened. The Mangekyō Sharingan's power far exceeded his expectations. The Susanoo giant had completely surpassed the limits of ninja.

He suddenly felt that the Wood Release ninja Yamato under his control was no longer so appealing.

The Third Hokage, who was still on his way over, saw it as well. His pace involuntarily slowed.

The Anbu ninja following beside the Third Hokage also slowed down.

Hiruzen Sarutobi was considering an important question: Susanoo should belong to Uchiha Itachi. He could actually activate Susanoo's second stage. This power was completely different from their original estimates. Could he still suppress him and make him obediently shoulder all the blame?

The more the Third Hokage thought, the slower his steps became.

Whenever Konoha faced a major crisis, there had always been a reason why the Third Hokage never appeared on the battlefield immediately.

Hiruzen Sarutobi was no longer the young ninja who would step forward without hesitation to take responsibility for covering everyone's retreat. After becoming Hokage, he always thought too much—far too much.

Seeing everyone cowed by Susanoo, Uchiha Itachi gave an arrogant cold snort. "Hmph, how could a mere few dozen trees restrain Susanoo? This is the power of the gods contained within the Mangekyō Sharingan!"

"Weak Wood Release is not worthy of being mentioned alongside the Mangekyō Sharingan!"

"It was the First Hokage, Hashirama Senju, who pacified the chaotic Warring States era—not Wood Release!"

"Die! Die together with the rotten dregs of the Uchiha, and become nourishment for the reborn Uchiha Clan!"

The surviving Uchiha were utterly despairing. Even Uchiha Izumi was on the verge of collapse.

Shazo had finally obtained the result he wanted. He stopped waiting and slammed his hands together, producing a resounding clap.

[Wood Style: Deep Forest Emergence]