As Kakuzu ran toward Nawaki, his pupils suddenly contracted. His expression changed, and he said in a low voice,
"Th-this can't be the First's technique!"
But in the next instant, he furrowed his brow and continued,
"No, the scale is far too small!"
Hearing Kakuzu's words, Nawaki gave a faint, cold laugh and said,
"Maybe I haven't reached Grandpa's level yet, but this technique alone is more than enough to deal with you!"
"Just watch the power of Wood Release!"
Only then did Kakuzu realize that the opponent before him was merely a young descendant of the First.
The brief moment of fear that had made him consider retreating now left him feeling humiliated and furious!
His dark green eyes were icy as he glared at Nawaki and said,
"Good. I hope your strength satisfies me. Then I'll have even more to look forward to when I take your heart!"
Nawaki frowned slightly. At his command, thick tree trunks, gnarled like horned dragons, surged across the ground toward Kakuzu.
The huge trunks writhed like wildly flailing monsters.
Though the scale of Nawaki's Deep Forest Emergence was nothing compared to that of the First, Hashirama Senju, who was said to have created the entire Konoha Forest with this technique alone, the fact that someone so young could perform it on such a terrifying scale was already worthy of praise.
"Crash!" "Crash!" "Crash!"...
Giant trees kept bursting from the ground, tearing through the earth and exposing rocks. Their dark, massive trunks arched like bridges as they slammed toward Kakuzu, who was rushing forward!
"Wham—!"
With a thunderous crash, giant trunks twisted together from all directions and smashed into the spot where Kakuzu stood.
The impact sent dust flying everywhere, obscuring the view.
Nawaki's little face lit up with excitement. He stared intently