Wood Release

Episode 20 seemed not to hear Kabuto's frantic roar. Great God Bay continued staring fixedly at Uchiha Feiyun's body as it shattered, excitedly stretching out his hands as his eyes gleamed with madness.

Very good. So this was what happened a few minutes after injecting a 100% concentration.

Haha!

Orochimaru had entered the zone, forgetting the emergency measures he had prepared beforehand and losing all sense of success or failure.

At that moment, he was immersed only in the various reactions of the body and the operating patterns of its cells.

How did the Hashirama Cells tear apart a resilient body?

How many seconds could the muscles endure?

What kinds of mutations would occur in the bones?

Orochimaru's snake-like eyes flashed with obsession and madness as he stared unblinkingly at the body before him.

Uchiha Feiyun's flesh kept exploding apart. Countless woody fibers surged out and rapidly grew stronger, even sprouting green leaves and flowers as they continued growing.

Kabuto shouted anxiously several times. Wooden pillars pierced through Orochimaru's clothes and flesh, yet he remained unmoved, merely chuckling maniacally.

Kabuto desperately wanted to flee the laboratory. He had suffered through this kind of situation many times before and had nearly been killed on several occasions.

The test subject's symptoms clearly meant the same thing as before: Wood Release was about to explode. But since Orochimaru was not leaving, Kabuto did not dare retreat either.

He had to assist Orochimaru in recording every piece of data, even the data from the very second the body exploded.

Kabuto knew that to researchers, such precious data was sometimes more important than their lives.

Alarms blared throughout the operating room, while every instrument groaned under unbearable strain. Kabuto had no time to form hand seals.

He created two Shadow Clones. One prepared to forcibly take Orochimaru away, while the other stood ready to use defensive ninjutsu at any moment.

As for his main body, it continued recording the data with its head lowered while fully adjusting the drug injections in the instruments.

By then, the woody fibers on Feiyun's body had grown into trees, filling half the operating room.

Worthy of being the Innate Sacred Body from a major clan!

The cells alone were already this absurdly powerful. Naturally, Feiyun knew what was happening to his body as well, and he was startled by how domineering the Hashirama Cells were.

Unable to seize control of his body, Feiyun gave up using chakra to suppress the Hashirama Cells and instead mobilized the spiritual energy in his mind, sending it surging through his entire body.

Orochimaru was pushed back by the expanding vines and trees. Seeing this, Kabuto no longer hesitated. He put down his work and prepared to take Orochimaru away. It was already too late—the test subject was finished!

Just as Kabuto was about to move, the expanding branches suddenly stopped!

What was going on?

The various readings also stopped skyrocketing. Such a thing had never happened before. Kabuto was briefly stunned, then quickly came to his senses and resumed recording the changes.

After the branches stopped expanding, they began slowly shrinking moments later, eventually merging completely back into Feiyun's body.

Waves of white steam rose from Feiyun's body, and the wounds all over him healed automatically.

Lord Orochimaru, the live data from Feiyun's body has returned to the normal range.

It succeeded!

It succeeded!

Kabuto and Orochimaru both cried out excitedly.

Orochimaru's golden pupils trembled violently, his mouth slightly open as if he were murmuring in a dream.

Subarashii. Incredible!

Feiyun gradually regained control of his body. After controlling the Hashirama Cells' power, he felt as though his flesh had been elevated, as if he had shed his mortal body. An unusual and powerful throbbing arose in his eyes.

Under Orochimaru's ravenous gaze, Feiyun slowly stood up and twisted his neck and joints. His body immediately crackled loudly.

Orochimaru was stunned for a long while before recovering. Excitedly, he stepped forward and grabbed Feiyun by the shoulders, extending his long, wet tongue to lick Feiyun's face.

Feiyun jumped in fright and tried to dodge, but his newly fused and elevated body was still not fully under his control. In an instant, Orochimaru succeeded.

Damn it.

What the hell are you doing? That's disgusting!

Feiyun complained as he wiped the sticky marks from his face.

Just because I'm handsome doesn't mean you need to act like this. Let me make this clear: whether you're a man or a woman, there's no chance between us!

Orochimaru paid no attention to that and instead shook Feiyun by the shoulders.

Feiyun-kun, tell me, how did you do it?

Unable to endure the crazed Orochimaru any longer,

Feiyun said,

Fine, fine, stop shaking me. I'll tell you, all right?

It was Spiritual Power!

I used the power of Spiritual Power to suppress the Hashirama Cells, making them submit and fuse into my body.

Feiyun did not intend to hide it from Orochimaru. After all, he still needed Orochimaru to analyze this power.

Kabuto stood behind Orochimaru, too shocked to speak.

So that was it.

I see. So that was it.

Great God Bay murmured.

A moment later, he turned and asked,

Kabuto, did you record the earlier data properly?

Kabuto came back to his senses as well.

Yes, Lord Orochimaru. I recorded everything.

Good.

Orochimaru released Feiyun's shoulders and walked toward the door.

Feiyun-kun, let's go. Let's see what your current strength is like.

Feiyun held a scroll containing Wood Release secrets. He studied it carefully as he followed Orochimaru and Kabuto out of the Hidden Sound Village.

The three stopped in an open mountainous area behind the village. Orochimaru said, "Wood Release will not be mastered so quickly. Feiyun-kun, show us what you can do now. Kabuto will be your opponent."

Feiyun curled his lips upward and put away the secret scroll.

No. I've already mastered Wood Release.

As he spoke, Feiyun formed hand seals, and wood-like patterns emerged beneath the skin of his right arm.

Chakra spilled out of control, and the ground began to tremble.

Wood Release?

He formed hand seals, but the Hashirama Cells within his body retaliated like wild beasts. Several sharp wooden spikes burst from his arm, nearly piercing his own shoulder.

Just as expected, it wasn't so easy. Yakushi Kabuto pushed up his glasses as a Chakra Scalpel slid out from his sleeve.

Need me to help you adjust it?

Feiyun sneered. His Three-Tomoe Sharingan suddenly spun. "Using your body to help me adjust would be more direct!"

The protruding wooden spikes rapidly withdrew into his body.

Feiyun gave a low shout. "Wood Release!"

"Wood Clone Technique!"

Feiyun created three Wood Release Clones. Each clone possessed a solid wooden structure rather than the illusory form of ordinary Shadow Clones.

The three clones charged at Kabuto. Kabuto rapidly retreated, his scalpel slicing out chakra threads as he tried to sever the clones' chakra connections, only to discover that he could not interfere with them at all!

These clones were genuine physical Wood Release Clones. Clone A slammed both palms against the ground, causing sharp wooden stakes to rise from the earth and forcing Kabuto to repeatedly flip away. Clone B's arm stretched into a giant tree trunk and swept toward him.

Kabuto used Earth Release: Earth-Style Wall to block it, but the wall was directly pierced through by Wood Release.

Clone C suddenly shot wooden spikes from behind Kabuto, stabbing straight toward his heart!

Kabuto was forced to use the Substitution Technique to evade, but the wooden spikes still tore apart the corner of his clothing.

Kabuto bit his finger and summoned dozens of venomous snakes, which burst from the ground, wrapped around the Wood Release Clones, and injected dissolving fluid. Their wooden bodies began corroding, but Feiyun's main body grinned. "You think Wood Release fears poison?"

The next second, the clones' wooden structures actively shed away, and new branches sprouted within them, instantly binding Kabuto's limbs. Kabuto gathered a massive amount of chakra in his hands and severed the vines restraining him.

After starting his counterattack, he was finally using his real skills?

Feiyun crossed his arms and stood beside Orochimaru at the edge of the field, enjoying the battle.

Orochimaru said softly, "Feiyun-kun, your growth rate frightens even me. You can actually fight Kabuto to this extent with only clones!"

Feiyun glanced sideways. "What are you afraid of? We're companions!"

Orochimaru chuckled. "Haha." The battle continued for a long time and became extremely intense. Anyone unaware of the situation would have thought four monsters were fighting.

Kabuto and the Wood Release Clones fought with true fury. Ignoring his injuries, he shattered one Wood Release Clone before charging toward the other two.

"Hidden Shadow Snake Hands!" Orochimaru used ninjutsu to separate Kabuto from the Wood Release Clones, and Kabuto flashed backward.

Orochimaru said calmly, "That's enough. Kabuto, you cannot determine Feiyun-kun's upper limit." Though Kabuto was unwilling, he knew it was true. Although he was confident he could eliminate these clones, he would definitely be severely injured or even die.

And Uchiha Feiyun's main body had not even made a move!

Too strong!

Feiyun recalled the Wood Release Clones, a faint smile appearing within him. He was extremely satisfied with his current power.

In high spirits, Feiyun said,

"Since I'm in such a good mood, Orochimaru-kun, I'll give you another gift."

Orochimaru glanced sideways. "Anything produced by Feiyun must be top-quality!"

Everything this brat gives me surprises me beyond measure. What good thing will it be this time?

Thinking that, Orochimaru could not help licking his lips.

All right, then I'm looking forward to it.

Feiyun smiled mysteriously and took out a storage scroll. After unfolding it on the ground, he formed a seal with two fingers. White mist rose, revealing a huge cultivation tank containing a headless male body.

Orochimaru frowned slightly. "Who is this?"

"Feiyun-kun, are you giving me a corpse?"

Orochimaru was a little displeased. Is this how the brat repays us? Who does he think he's looking down on?

I, Orochimaru, have plenty of test subjects. Who needs these scraps from you?

Feiyun grinned. "Look more carefully."

Orochimaru was slightly stunned. Could there be something special about it?

So Orochimaru carefully sensed the cultivation tank. A moment later, surprise appeared on his face. "This corpse still has vitality?"

"Is it because the nutrient solution inside is special, preserving the activity of the corpse's cells?"

Feiyun rolled his eyes. No longer keeping him in suspense, he directly summoned a fish tank-sized cultivation dish containing the head of a gray-white, short-haired man.

Orochimaru felt utterly miserable. A corpse wasn't enough, and now he's giving me a dead man's head?

However, the next second, something happened that left Orochimaru dumbfounded!

The dead head, whose eyes had been tightly shut, suddenly opened them wide.

Bastards, I'll eat you alive!

Hey, hey! You bunch of bastards, do you know who I am?

Hidan's head floated in the cultivation dish, the corners of his split mouth nearly stretching to his ears.

Once my body is reattached, the first thing I'll do is offer all of you to the Evil God!

Orochimaru's breathing became unusually rapid. He snatched the cultivation dish away and took out the dead man's head.

He gripped Hidan's wildly shaking head, his nails digging deeply into Hidan's cheeks with excitement.

Interesting. Too interesting!

Bastard, don't touch me with your filthy hands!

No, my face!

Hidan suddenly froze as Orochimaru's long, wet snake tongue licked across his face.

Ah!

Damn it, that stinks!

I'll kill you!

I'll definitely kill you!

Hidan roared furiously. He wanted to wipe the disgusting saliva from his face, but he had no hands!

Under the microscope, Hidan's severed blood vessels wriggled like worms on their own, trying to connect to the surrounding flesh.

Orochimaru cut off a piece of tongue tissue with a scalpel. Within three seconds, it had completely regenerated.

When Orochimaru dripped Hidan's blood into a cultivation dish containing a special liquid, the blood suddenly formed mysterious runes.

Hidan laughed wildly. "Hahaha! The Evil God's curse is not something you people can—"

Wait, what are you doing with Tianji?