Having taken the most crucial step, everything that followed fell into place naturally.
With the Shadow Clones' efforts, Yo grew increasingly proficient at combining Water, Earth, and Yang Chakra.
His understanding of Wood Release's form and Nature Transformation deepened.
Tricks that would normally take months, or even years, to figure out
were quickly mastered through the combined efforts of hundreds of Shadow Clones.
The Chakra control that had once felt clumsy became as natural as moving his own limbs.
The form and nature changes that had once seemed vague became crystal clear.
In less than half a month,
Yo's mastery of Wood Release reached an entirely new level!
"Wood Release: Wood Locking Wall!"
Rumble!
The ground split open.
A row of curved wooden shields burst from the earth, forming a sturdy, solid wooden wall.
The wood grain was clear, and the wall gave off a steady sheen. Its defensive power far surpassed that of an ordinary Earth Style: Earth Wall.
The whole process was smooth and swift, brimming with force.
Yo ran a hand over the Wood Locking Wall, the corners of his mouth curling with satisfaction.
In just half a month, he had gone from coaxing a single sapling to unleashing a defensive jutsu with real combat value. The difference was like night and day!
"Again!"
"Wood Release: Wood Clone!"
Two logs sprang from Yo's body and transformed into two Wood Clones.
Compared to ordinary Shadow Clones, Wood Clones were sturdier, harder to see through, and more practical.
"They're better than ordinary Shadow Clones in both concealment and Chakra consumption!"
"Again!"
"Wood Release: Kongo Kyōmoku!"
Rumble!
The earth trembled.
Several enormous logs, thick and sharp-tipped as spears, burst from the ground like dragons emerging from hibernation.
They lunged at a boulder ahead in a vicious thrust.
The logs were as dense as iron, bearing down with an unstoppable force.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Under the violent assault of Wood Release, the massive boulder was pierced and pulverized as easily as tofu.
Dust billowed and fragments of stone flew everywhere, displaying the jutsu's tremendous destructive power.
"Its breaching and piercing power is excellent. It could change the terrain in battle and tear apart an enemy formation!"
Then,
Yo raised his arm and aimed at an ancient tree so wide that several people would have had to link arms to encircle it.
"Wood Release: Insertion Technique!"
Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!
In an instant, countless sharp wooden spikes shot from his arm and palm like a driving storm.
The spikes were fast, numerous, and covered a wide area.
The enormous tree was riddled with holes in an instant!
More frighteningly,
some of the spikes that had sunk deep into the trunk could keep growing and branching under Yo's control, tearing the target apart from within!
Looking at the ancient tree, now full of holes, Yo judged the technique's killing power:
"A killing technique for both single targets and groups, with physical damage and follow-up restraint. Extremely practical!"
"Wood Release: Four Pillars House!"
A large amount of timber grew from the ground, came together, and took shape.
In just a few breaths, a complete, sturdy, and attractive wooden house rose from the earth.
It had doors and windows, and even simple tables and chairs inside. It was practically a move-in-ready cabin.
"Heh! So this is Yamato's three-bedroom, two-living-room jutsu!"
Yo grinned.
Back in his previous life, when he watched the anime, he'd always coveted this technique.
Being able to conjure up a home whenever and wherever you wanted—how convenient!
If he'd had this ability in his previous life, would he have needed a mortgage of several million and to work like a dog for someone else?
"Hm?"
Just then, an unfamiliar memory suddenly flooded his mind.
It turned out that the Shadow Clone Yo had left with Tazuna had suddenly dispelled itself, sending its memories back to the original.
Momochi Zabuza had arrived!
"Perfect timing!"
A glint of anticipation flashed in Yo's eyes. He immediately sensed the Flying Thunder God Formula mark on Sasuke.
Whoosh!
Yo vanished from the dense forest without leaving a trace.
At the same time,
the atmosphere on the Great Bridge in the Land of Waves was so tense it felt like water might drip from the air.
In the thick fog, Naruto and Sasuke were trapped in a strange barrier made up of countless ice mirrors.
It was the Demonic Mirror Ice Crystals!
Haku's Ice Release Secret Technique!
Haku zipped between the mirrors at high speed, firing Senbon at the two of them like raindrops.
Naruto and Sasuke struggled to fend off the attacks, stumbling from one perilous moment to the next, in a sorry state.
Worse still,
Kakashi was trapped inside a massive Water Prison.
Momochi Zabuza maintained the Water Prison Technique with one hand, wearing the playful grin of a cat toying with a mouse.
"Legendary Copy Ninja Kakashi, huh? You're nothing special!"
Unable to breathe inside the Water Prison, Kakashi's consciousness began to blur. He could barely hold on through sheer force of will.
"This is bad... I never expected his Kekkei Genkai to be so troublesome. I really let my guard down this time!"
Kakashi wasn't pretending this time. He really was trapped.
The situation was indeed dire!
Just then,
a teasing voice reached everyone's ears:
"Teacher Kakashi, you look pretty rough! Surely you're not pretending this time, right?"
Everyone was startled!
They followed the voice and saw someone sitting on the bridge railing not far from the Water Prison.
Yo was there, no one knew when he had appeared, looking at Kakashi with a mocking grin.
"Yo?"
Naruto and Sasuke cried out at the same time, delight lighting up their eyes.
When Kakashi saw Yo from inside the Water Prison, he suddenly relaxed.
He knew how strong Yo was. With him here, the situation would surely turn around!
Zabuza's pupils contracted sharply as he stared at Yo. When had this brat appeared?
He hadn't sensed him approach at all!
Yo jumped down from the railing and looked at Zabuza, the corner of his mouth lifting.
"Rogue Ninja of the Hidden Mist! The one called the Demon... Momochi Zabuza! Come on! I'll be your opponent!"
"Brat, quit putting on a show!"
Though Zabuza was wary, he still didn't take a mere brat seriously.
He swept his free left hand through the air. The thick fog surged again, trying to block Yo's vision.
However,
Yo simply raised a hand. "Against true power, tricks like this are meaningless!"
He turned his palm toward the water-covered ground and called out:
"Wood Release: Birth of Tree World!"
Yo's Birth of Tree World was only a simplified version, nowhere near the scale of the First Hokage's technique.
After all, he had only just developed it and couldn't yet use it on a large scale.
But it was enough!
Rumble!!!
The entire bridge—no, the entire river—shook.
As Kakashi and Zabuza watched in disbelief, an irresistible force tore through the bridge.
Countless thick trees and vines burst from the ground and water.
They grew and spread wildly, all converging on Zabuza to crush him!
"W-what is this?"
The savage grin on Zabuza's face froze completely, replaced by unprecedented shock and disbelief!
He had never seen such a terrifying jutsu! He didn't even recognize it!
Yet the moment he saw it, two words surfaced in his mind on their own: Wood Release!
The First Hokage's Wood Release!
"Damn it! Why can this brat from Konoha use Wood Release?"
Zabuza swung Kubikiribōchō, chopping through the vines as they wrapped around him.
But the vines were incredibly tough, and there were far too many of them!
For every one he cut, ten or twenty more immediately wrapped around him!
Worse still,
the bridge beneath his feet was cracking too. Massive trees burst from the ground, breaking the Water Prison Technique he had been maintaining.
Splash!
The Water Prison Technique was forcibly dispelled, and Kakashi fell free, landing awkwardly off to one side as he coughed violently.
But he ignored his own condition, staring fixedly at the forest that had appeared in an instant.
"N-no way!"
Kakashi's voice was dry and hoarse, full of disbelief:
"This is... the First Hokage's... Wood Release? How could it... appear here? How is that possible?"
Before you continue