Fourth Evolution: Metal Wood Shatters the Mountain

"Chiba, hand Iron Claw over to Root."

Kinoe stepped in through a gap in the rubble, followed by three Root ninja. Two carried a sealing stretcher, while the last held a chakra chain.

Chiba did not touch the evolution branches awaiting his choice. He merely flipped the black iron plaque over.

"You got here quickly."

"The mine collapse was heard more than ten miles away. The border patrol will arrive too. Hand him over to me, and Root will take care of the rest."

"Since when did Root handle bounties?"

"Iron Claw is connected to Konoha secrets."

A rustle of fabric came from beneath the rocks. Iron Claw raised his dust-covered face, his gaze circling Kinoe's mask before settling on the iron plaque.

"So it was you people."

Kinoe did not turn around.

"Missing-nin will say anything to stay alive."

"When you bought Senju blood samples, you didn't call me a missing-nin."

After saying that, Iron Claw braced himself against a nearby rock. The instant his palm touched its surface, Bone Vine clamped down on his wrist.

The Root ninja behind Kinoe unfurled the chakra chain.

"He admitted to contacting Konoha ninja. All the more reason to take him back for interrogation."

"The Anbu can interrogate him too."

"There are no Anbu here."

The fine roots beneath Chiba's feet probed into the rubble and touched three approaching chakra signatures. They were less than a mile from the mine tunnel.

"There will be soon."

Kinoe tilted his face toward the entrance.

"Once the patrol arrives, all they'll see is a student who crossed the border without authorization, five badly wounded bounty hunters, and a mine collapsed by Wood Release."

"There are also two miners inside."

"They can prove that you destroyed the mine."

The miners behind the explosives depot immediately slapped the wooden shell twice.

"This mine was abandoned long ago. He saved our lives. Don't even think about pinning this on the kid."

The other miner shouted as well, "Those five captured us and made us prepare explosives. They even wanted to kill the surviving caravan witnesses. Anyone who wants to take them away can explain it in front of the patrol first."

Kinoe reached for the black iron plaque.

"Give me the evidence."

"Tell me who it belongs to first."

"A Root imitation has found its way outside. I need to take it back for verification."

"The gray paper last time was an imitation too."

"Chiba, don't mix the two matters together."

"They both point to Danzo. Why separate them?"

The chakra chain lashed out from behind and to the side. It ignored Iron Claw and flew straight for Chiba's wrist.

Bone Vine rose half a foot, and the chain wrapped around it twice. The Root ninja yanked backward with both arms. The vine's bark immediately split, and the pale framework hidden inside creaked under the strain.

Kinoe took a step forward.

"You're still injured. If you keep fighting, you'll only end up on that stretcher."

"Then let's find out."

Chiba's consciousness descended upon the World Tree, and his fingertips touched the first evolution branch.

[Confirm selection: Wood Release: Metal Wood.]

[Consume 6 evolution points.]

[Woody conduits begin absorbing metal elements.]

The iron filings within the surrounding rubble moved first. Fine particles crawled along the roots and into the vine bark. The originally brown-green wood darkened layer by layer until it settled into a deep bronze color.

The vines continued to grow, but a ring of dim, gleaming lines appeared around the edges of their leaves.

The chakra chain wrapped around the outer layer let out a sharp crack.

The Root ninja tried to pull again, but the deep bronze vine contracted inward. One section of the chain was crushed flat, several links jammed into the vine's body, and it could no longer be pulled free.

"Let go."

Chiba curled his fingers and tapped the vine.

The sound traveled through the mine tunnel, indistinguishable from knocking on a steel pipe.

The Root ninja immediately abandoned the chain and slashed at the vine with a short blade. It left only a half-inch white mark.

"Wood Release absorbed iron?"

"Keep cutting."

The man switched to a two-handed grip, chakra pressing down along the blade's edge.

The vine swung aside, the blade sliding off the metal wood. Then it wrapped around his waist and sent him back to Kinoe.

Kinoe raised a hand to catch his subordinate. The breathing behind his mask grew heavier for a beat.

"Your injuries haven't healed. Forcibly changing your bloodline limit won't be something your body can sustain for long."

"You can wait."

The sounds of rubble being shifted had already come from outside the mine. The patrol was clearing the entrance.

Kinoe did not touch Iron Claw again. He only looked at the deep bronze roots constantly extending beneath Chiba's feet.

"You may be able to protect him today, but you may not be able to protect yourself next time."

"Send Danzo himself."

"You think beating a quasi-jōnin means you can negotiate terms with Root?"

Chiba raised his right arm. Metal Wood climbed along the framework and over his shoulder. Five thick vines twisted together, their ends gradually converging into a massive fist.

"I haven't tried it yet."

Kinoe's three subordinates retreated at once. Iron Claw pressed himself against the rubble pile and cursed under his breath.

"If you're going to try it, don't try it this way. I'm still buried under here."

The two miners also began shouting from behind the wooden shell.

"Don't touch the east side! The explosives depot is still buried there."

"The north side is all loose rock. If it collapses again, the exit will be gone too."

"What about the west side?"

"The west side is an abandoned cliff face. There are no mine tunnels behind it. Hit that."

The deep bronze giant fist turned toward the west. The root framework expanded layer by layer, and the fist was already larger than half of Chiba's body.

Kinoe did not leave. He merely made two gestures to either side, and his three subordinates each braced themselves against the rock wall.

The roots beneath Chiba's feet burrowed into the mine strata. The wood at his shoulder rose and fell once with his breath, and his entire arm drew back.

The next moment, the giant tree fist slammed into the mountain wall.

The first thing to crack was the rock layer within thirty feet of the fist. Fractures traveled deep into the mountain through the Metal Wood, and the entire ruined wall shattered inward, dozens of rocks being driven into the mountain behind it.

The blast of air carried dust and dirt back at them. Kinoe raised an arm to shield his mask, yet still staggered two steps backward.

Chiba did not withdraw his fist. The roots sent the remaining vibrations back to the World Tree.

Diameter: thirty-six feet.

Effective destructive depth: twenty feet.

Growth speed was ten percent slower than Bone Wood Vine. Hardness had increased fourfold. Chakra consumption had increased by twenty-five percent.

If he grew only the fist rather than laying out a complete arm, the attack speed could increase further.

"This is already jōnin-level destructive power."

After one Root ninja spoke, he immediately shut his mouth. Kinoe did not rebuke him, only stared at the deep bronze wooden fist embedded in the mountain.

Chiba dispersed the excess branches, though a layer of Metal Wood armor remained over his palm.

He clenched his fist. His knuckles struck each other with two soft clinks, and the corner of his lips finally lifted.

"Now that's more like it."

At that moment, the patrol finally dug open the mine entrance. Three border Anbu entered one after another. The ninja leading them saw the Root masks, then looked at the trapped Iron Claw.

"Who defeated them?"

"I did."

"Who destroyed the mine?"

"He did."

Iron Claw spoke before Chiba could. His face was pressed against the rock, yet he still added, "Dig me out first. If this kid tries another punch, I won't even have a bounty left."

The Anbu captain crouched to inspect the vitrified remnants, then took out a wanted register.

"Identity confirmed. Iron Claw and his four accomplices are all listed. The reward for capturing them alive will be paid at eighty percent."

Kinoe extended a hand.

"These people are involved in a Root operation. They need to be transferred to us."

"Do you have the Hokage's written order?"

"It can be issued afterward."

"Then come back after it has been issued."

The Anbu captain raised a hand, signaling his subordinates to rescue the miners. The sealing chain was fastened around Iron Claw's neck first.

Kinoe stood there for a moment before finally withdrawing outside with his three subordinates.

Chiba picked up the black iron plaque from the rubble. Fine deep bronze roots curled around its edge, and a trace of residual chakra flowed through the woody conduits into his palm.

A more deeply hidden coordinate seal immediately surfaced on the inner side of the plaque.

"It's reporting our location to Root."

The Anbu captain reached out and accepted the evidence.

"Hand it to Lord Hokage personally after we return to the village."

At dusk two days later, the escort team arrived in Konoha. Hiruzen Sarutobi was already waiting inside the gates.

The black iron plaque engraved with an upside-down tree finally fell into the Third Hokage's hands.