Wood Golem VS Susanoo

Itachi's gaze pierced through the dissipating embers of the flames, landing on Yo, his tone betraying no fluctuation.

"On the road back to Konoha, I heard some rumors."

"I heard... you've mastered Wood Release, and during the Chūnin Exams, you suppressed the rampaging One-Tail Shukaku?"

"If that's true... why didn't you use Wood Release just now?"

"Or are those rumors... just exaggerated?"

This matter was one of the things Uchiha Itachi most wanted to verify.

Wood Release was the power of the First Hokage, Hashirama Senju, a power that had all but vanished with the First's passing.

His younger brother!

How could a member of the Uchiha Clan possibly wield such power?

If it was false, that was naturally best; but if it was true...

The implications behind it stirred a faint unease in Itachi.

Upon hearing this, Yo spread his hands: "Oh, you mean Wood Release. I didn't use it because... I was afraid I might accidentally kill you."

"After all, this is just a spar, not a life-or-death battle!"

"..."

The air fell silent for a second.

In the distance, Might Guy nearly stumbled, while Kakashi's mouth twitched, even his sense of weakness easing slightly.

Kisame, shouldering Samehada, wore a shark-like grin: "Itachi-san... your little brother is quite arrogant!"

"I'm a bit annoyed. Want me to teach him a lesson?"

Uchiha Itachi ignored Kisame, the three tomoe in his eyes spinning rapidly, linking into a triangular pinwheel pattern: "You can... try!"

"Alright!"

Yo nodded: "Since you want to see it so badly... then let me show you firsthand!"

With that, Yo wasted no words, his hands suddenly clasping together.

"Wood Release: Deep Forest Emergence!"

Rumble!!!

The once calm river surface instantly erupted.

Countless thick, gnarled vines and giant trees, like ancient beasts that had slumbered for eons, tore through the riverbed, broke the water's surface, and shot skyward.

They grew and spread wildly, intertwining, the grinding of wood against wood producing a harsh, ear-splitting roar.

In the blink of an eye!

Upon the river, a lush, primitive forest brimming with savage vitality materialized out of thin air.

Dense canopies blotted out the sky, thick branches spanned the river channel, and tangled roots plunged into the water's depths.

"This... this is!!!"

Kisame Hoshigaki's playful annoyance vanished instantly, replaced by overwhelming shock.

He even instinctively backed away several steps, Samehada on his shoulder, distancing himself from the edge of the wildly expanding forest.

"The First Hokage's... Wood Release?! No way! Itachi-san, your little brother... actually wields this power?!"

Kisame Hoshigaki looked at Uchiha Itachi, only to find his partner now lost in silence.

Itachi leaped backward, landing atop a distant tree.

His crimson Mangekyo Sharingan locked onto the forest on the river.

Beneath his mask-like face, a storm raged.

It was true!

The rumors hadn't exaggerated; they might even have been conservative!

A Wood Release of this scale might not rival the First Hokage's, but its essence was undoubtedly the same power!

What had happened to his younger brother...? How could Uchiha blood wield Wood Release?

A river breeze swept by, rustling the leaves of the newborn forest.

Yo stood atop the thickest trunk, looking down at Itachi on the distant treetop, his three tomoe slowly spinning.

"See that?"

"Now, let me witness the Uchiha Clan's ultimate power—Susanoo!"

Uchiha Itachi's pupils contracted slightly, his gaze fixed on his brother: "Yo! You know quite a bit!"

Yo shrugged: "I may not have much talent with the Sharingan, but I'm still a member of the Uchiha Clan!"

"The ancient secrets passed down in the clan—I know at least a little!"

"...Very well!"

Itachi slowly closed his eyes.

When he opened them again, the triangular pinwheel pattern of his Mangekyo Sharingan had spun to its limit.

Two streaks of vivid blood tears slid slowly from the corners of his eyes.

At the same time.

A vast, violent surge of orange-red chakra erupted from Itachi's body like a volcanic explosion.

The chakra condensed rapidly, forming in the blink of an eye a skeletal giant over ten meters tall, with only its upper half manifested.

The orange-red chakra skeleton radiated a suffocating pressure, and from its hollow eye sockets burned an invisible flame.

"Wha... what is that thing?" Might Guy's eyes bulged wide, his jaw nearly hitting the floor.

He had never seen such an eerie yet powerful chakra form.

Asuma forgot to even exhale the smoke from his mouth, muttering, "The Uchiha Clan was hiding power like this?"

Kurenai Yuhi's face went pale as she gripped Asuma's arm tightly, feeling her very soul tremble.

Even Kisame Hoshigaki dropped his amused expression, turning serious.

He had partnered with Itachi for years, but this was his first time seeing Susanoo.

Yo was the calmest of them all, shaking his head. "Susanoo's first form? He's underestimating me!"

He clasped his hands together again!

"Wood Release: Wood Golem Technique!"

Boom!

Countless giant trees and vines madly converged, reorganized, and shaped themselves.

A wooden giant rose from the ground, its size no less than the Susanoo skeleton, and even more robust in build.

It was clad in crude wooden armor, exuding a life force as heavy as a mountain and an oppressive weight.

"He even mastered the Wood Golem Technique?" Itachi's mind shook again.

"I'm attacking!"

With a thought from Yo.

The towering wood golem took heavy strides, clenched its fist, and swung a punch straight at Itachi's Susanoo.

Where the fist passed, the air let out a strained, explosive roar.

Itachi's gaze sharpened. He immediately commanded Susanoo to swing its equally massive skeletal arm, clenching its fist to meet the blow.

The orange-red chakra fist and the dark brown wooden fist collided above the river surface.

Boom!!!

It was like two mountains crashing together, unleashing a deafening roar that instantly deafened the onlookers in the distance.

A violent shockwave exploded in a ring, pressing a massive depression into the river surface and sending water spraying a hundred meters high.

Crack!

A splintering sound rang out. Fine cracks appeared on the orange-red Susanoo skeleton's arm.

The wood golem pressed its advantage, its other fist following up with another strike. Itachi controlled Susanoo to block.

Bang! Boom!

Two more thunderous impacts.

Susanoo was shoved backward by the immense force.

More cracks split open across the surface of its skeletal frame.

"Again!"

Yo was exhilarated. The wood golem's attacks came like a storm—fierce, unyielding power in an unbroken barrage.

"With just the first form of Susanoo... I'm completely outmatched!"

Itachi painfully drove his Mangekyo, shedding crimson blood tears:

"So this is the First Hokage's Wood Release? Truly terrifying!"