Wood Release: Deep Forest Emergence

As news of the Hokage taking on a disciple set Konoha abuzz, intense training was underway deep within the Forest of Death.

More than a dozen Shadow Clones were scattered across a clearing in the woods, each forming a different set of hand seals.

After a long while, Tejima Shinichi's original body stood at the center. With a thought—

Poof, poof, poof, poof...!

More than a dozen Shadow Clones in the clearing dispersed at once. A flood of training memories and exhaustion surged into Tejima Shinichi's mind, making his body sway slightly as his vision went dark.

But his powerful mental strength forcibly withstood the impact. With just one deep breath, clarity returned to his eyes.

The next moment, Tejima Shinichi pushed off the ground and leaped onto the crown of the tallest ancient tree, standing steadily atop its canopy.

A breeze stirred his clothes as sunlight outlined his figure.

Looking down at the vast Forest of Death below, he raised both hands...

"Ram—Snake—Tiger..."

The Chakra within his body was frantically mobilized in an unprecedented manner and at unprecedented speed.

"Wood Release: Deep Forest Emergence!"

With a low shout, Tejima Shinichi clapped his palms together!

The earth began to tremble. Within dozens of meters, countless thick roots burst from the ground, growing and entwining wildly.

Towering ancient trees rose from the earth, while vines coiled and danced like giant pythons. In an instant, the terrain of the entire forest was completely reshaped.

The original Forest of Death was swallowed up and covered by this newborn sea of trees. The creaking of twisting, stretching branches rang without end. Sunlight was shredded by the dense canopy, leaving only mottled patches of light and shadow among the trees.

Tejima Shinichi stood atop a tree, his chest rising and falling slightly as he looked at the sight he had created with his own hands.

He felt the still-surging Chakra within him, as well as the exhilarating sensation of destroying everything when using Wood Release Ninjutsu.

He was stunned for a moment, then could no longer suppress the turmoil in his heart.

"Ha... hahaha... HAHAHA—!!!"

His laughter began low, before finally turning into wild, maniacal laughter!

This was Wood Release! This was his power!

Combined with his naturally immense Chakra, it now unleashed terrifying might!

"I've finally touched that legendary realm—no more beef!"

His hearty laughter ultimately echoed throughout the entire Forest of Death, startling countless birds that had only just been frightened by the ninjutsu.

This was Tejima Shinichi's first time using Wood Release. The peak sensation of having this power completely under his control made his blood race, impossible to contain.

Just then, a figure landed soundlessly at the edge of the clearing.

Tejima Shinichi sensed it. His smile faded as he lowered his head to look.

"Teacher Yamato."

Yamato, who had just arrived, looked at the completely transformed forest clearing before him and froze in place.

Just half an hour ago, he had still been shocked by the news that Shinichi had become the Hokage's disciple. When he was summoned to the Hokage's Office and heard the Third Hokage say, "Shinichi awakened Wood Release long ago," he had thought that was already the biggest shock of the day.

But now, standing before this newly born sea of trees, he finally understood what true shock was.

Yamato's gaze moved from the twisted, entwined trunks to the broken, fallen ancient trees, finally settling on the black-haired youth atop the tree. He could sense the immense Chakra still lingering in the air, that Wood Release power more vast than the transplanted cells within his own body.

At this moment, he finally understood what the Hokage meant by "innate Wood Release."

"This... is your Wood Release...?"

Yamato's voice was somewhat hoarse.

Yamato had obtained Wood Release through experiments, but due to various limitations, its power was only twenty percent of First Hokage Hashirama Senju's.

Now, seeing Tejima Shinichi casually make a move that had already reached his own limit...

Yamato thought of the Wood Release he had barely mastered only after surviving countless brushes with death, and the years he had spent struggling in darkness... It suddenly felt somewhat pointless!

Yamato fell silent for a few seconds before slowly speaking.

"Congratulations, Shinichi."

He meant becoming the Hokage's Disciple... or perhaps both things!

Tejima Shinichi nodded. "Thank you."

Yamato looked around at the traces of training, his gaze lingering for a moment on those Wood Release Ninjutsu that had only begun to take shape.

"The Hokage sent me to guide your Wood Release training." His tone was complicated. "But looking at it now, perhaps it would be more appropriate to call it sparring and learning from each other."

Yamato looked at Tejima Shinichi's sincere expression, then swept his gaze over the forest that had been transformed in an instant. In the end, he smiled with relief.

He looked as though he had let it go... but in truth, he simply had no choice!

"No matter how astonishing your talent is, as your guiding teacher, I have a responsibility to impart every bit of my understanding and experience with Wood Release over these years. It is my duty."

Hearing this, Tejima Shinichi bowed slightly.

"Then I'll be in your care, Teacher Yamato."

As the sun set, the atmosphere in the Teshima Clan home was unlike usual.

The scent of food wafted from the kitchen, but Mori Chie often paused while chopping vegetables.

She stared blankly at the ingredients on the cutting board, her knife hanging in midair for several seconds before she resumed.

Occasionally, she shook her head, as if trying to shake off some unreal thought.

In the living room, Teshima Kazuto was unusually quiet.

He sat on the sofa with his hands clasped together, his gaze drifting toward the entrance from time to time.

The face that usually wore a smile now carried a trace of dazed disbelief, while his fingertips unconsciously tapped against his knee.

The house was very quiet, with only faint sounds coming from the kitchen.

Both of them were waiting for that familiar figure to push open the door. It was as though only seeing their son with their own eyes could confirm that everything which had happened today was not a dream.

When the sound of a key turning finally came from outside—

Almost at the same time, Mori Chie set down her spatula and hurried out of the kitchen, while Teshima Kazuto sprang up from the sofa. Both turned to look at the entrance.

The door opened, and Tejima Shinichi appeared in the doorway.

Before he could even change his shoes, Teshima Kazuto and Mori Chie had already surrounded him.

"Shinichi!" Mori Chie grabbed her son's arm, her voice urgent. "Today... the news everyone in the village is spreading, is it true? The Third Hokage... did he really take you as his disciple?"

Her eyes were fixed tightly on her son, afraid of missing even the slightest change in expression.

Teshima Kazuto stood behind his wife. Though he said nothing, his clenched fists and tense shoulders betrayed the anxiety in his heart.

Tejima Shinichi looked at his parents' anxious yet expectant expressions and nodded. "It's true."

Those simple two words made Teshima Kazuto let out a long breath. Then, as if remembering something, he fired off a string of questions.

"What exactly happened? Why would the Hokage suddenly... What did he say to you? Did he make any demands? You... you didn't agree to anything strange, did you?"