Fleeing through the primeval forest, Shinji glanced back and couldn't help but smile wryly. "Heh, did I take things too far this time?"
He'd been focused on testing Yakumo's condition after the procedure, and had underestimated her resolve.
If the surging sea of trees behind him was any indication of Yakumo's resolve, then she had far too much of it!
Swish.
Shinji lightly tapped a branch with his toes and leaped high into the air again, dodging the vines chasing after him.
"The Chakra fluctuations are intense."
"But it still lacks that suffocating feeling from during the procedure. Is that because she hasn't mastered the First Hokage cells well enough?"
"Looks like the Wood Release she's using still has some shortcomings."
Though he seemed to be fleeing in disarray, Shinji hadn't forgotten his original purpose. He continued to silently assess the strength of the Wood Release Yakumo had unleashed.
There was no doubt about it.
Not all Wood Release was created equal.
The First's Wood Release could easily subdue Tailed Beasts and shatter Madara Uchiha's Susanoo. Yamato's Wood Release, on the other hand, struggled even to suppress Naruto's Tailed Beast Transformation.
Yakumo's Wood Release seemed powerful, but in truth, that was only because her own Chakra reserves were so immense. It had scale, but lacked quality, and its power fell far short of the First's Wood Release.
As for how it compared to Yamato's, Shinji couldn't yet say which had greater quality.
But no matter what, as long as its strength didn't reach the First's level, it was still within the realm of ninjutsu—and could still be countered with ninjutsu!
Soon, a plan took shape in Shinji's mind. He put a finger in his mouth, then held it out to feel the direction of the wind.
"It's Wood Release! It