Wood Release?!!

Looking at the slipper in Sen's right hand, Zabuza Momochi could only feel a searing pain in his right cheek.

Who exactly was this guy?!

No, Haku did not have that kind of strength.

That was right. At this life-or-death moment, Zabuza's long-silent heart finally wavered. His feet shifted slightly, and he no longer cared about Kakashi, who was eyeing him like a tiger from the side. Waving the Kubikiribōchō, he charged forward.

That also gave Kakashi an opening. This time, Kakashi activated his Sharingan from the start, taking in Zabuza's every movement.

The instant Zabuza moved, Kakashi followed like a shadow. Gripping a kunai tightly in both hands, he crossed them above his head and forcibly blocked Zabuza's slash.

"I told you, I won't give you any opening to exploit."

His scarlet eyes fixed on the masked man before him. It was not hard to see that Zabuza's breathing was in disarray, and even his combat rhythm had been disrupted. This battle was already in the bag.

If this keeps up, Haku and I will both be in danger. I can only deal with...

He drove his chakra at full force, and the white mist around them grew thicker.

Kakashi also sensed that something was wrong. With the fog this thick, Zabuza should not have been able to see him either.

"The so-called Sharingan isn't all that impressive. It's merely a combination of an eye that observes and an eye that hypnotizes."

"And I, who have seen through all of this, will bury all of your futures on this bridge."

"Don't you find that interesting, Kakashi?"

[Ding! Host's vision loss detected. Automatically activating True Eye.]

[Ding! Host is facing S-rank rogue ninja Zabuza. Automatically granting a thirty-second experience voucher for the strength of Hashirama Senju, the God of Shinobi.]

"Ah, you're seriously annoying. You've been running your mouth nonstop since earlier!"

Sen scratched his head and looked around for the source of the voice. He quickly spotted Zabuza standing atop a bridge pillar.

Damn it, you just keep yapping. If you're going to fight, then fight properly, you sick freak. Last time, you either tore out hearts or carved out kidneys. Today, Big Sen is definitely going to teach you a lesson!

[Ding! Activating Wood Release: Deep Forest Emergence.]

"Rumble!"

After finishing his monologue, Zabuza had intended to dart in and ambush Kakashi. But before he could finish speaking, the entire bridge and even the River began to shake violently.

What's going on?!

Sasuke and Haku, who were locked in their own battle, also stopped. Faced with the sudden trembling, they instinctively felt fear.

Countless branches surged up from the River.

Sen waved his hands, gazing at his masterpiece with a satisfied expression.

As expected of Big Sen~

[What does this have to do with you?!]

"Whoosh! Whoosh!"

The sounds of something slicing through the air came from every direction, forcing Zabuza's body to tense.

Suddenly, a vine burst through the white fog and shot straight at Zabuza's face.

What?!

He instinctively leaped away to evade it, the shock in his heart beyond description.

Wood Release?!

How was that possible?

Though Zabuza had never seen it before, who in the ninja world did not know the name of the God of Shinobi? And who did not recognize that iconic Wood Release?

But it was far from over. The trees seemed to have grown eyes. Soon, three more branches attacked from above, the middle, and below, forming a triangular assault.

"Squelch!"

"Bang!"

The branches pierced through Zabuza's body, leaving behind a snow-white rabbit. After using the Substitution Technique, Zabuza appeared on the bridge deck.

On Sasuke Uchiha's battlefield behind him, the Crystal Ice Mirrors had long since been shattered and covered by massive trees. Even Haku, the opponent Sasuke had been completely unable to resist just moments ago, had been wrapped in trees, drained of chakra, and knocked unconscious.

Looking at all this, Sasuke did not know how to describe it. Beyond shock, there was fear... Sen's domineering figure was deeply imprinted in his eyes. That was the madman he had despised countless times...

But this was Wood Release!!

Could someone tell him why a member of the Uchiha Clan could use Wood Release?!

And why was he so strong?!

"Crack!"

Zabuza Momochi swung the Kubikiribōchō, once again clearing away the branches stabbing at him from all around. Those brief ten seconds felt like an entire century. No matter where he fled, these things always followed him like shadows.

Despite the terrible visibility, his opponent could still control the branches and lock onto him with precision.

Kage Level!

Absolutely Kage Level!!

He had no ability to fight back at all. He was like a toy.

A moment later, the utterly exhausted Zabuza was finally bound by the incoming branches. Feeling the chakra draining from his body and the weakness brought by its loss, Zabuza suddenly understood something...

"Clang... clang... clatter..."

As the Kubikiribōchō fell to the ground, Zabuza's vision blurred. Looking at the white mist around him, his heart was filled with confusion...

[Ding! Experience time has expired.]

Meanwhile, Kakashi had remained by Tazuna and Sakura's side the entire time. In his view, Zabuza could launch a surprise attack at any moment. As for the commotion beyond the white mist, Sasuke should have been safe.

"Kakashi-sensei, Sen should be able to deal with that masked guy, right...?"

After hesitating for a long time, Sakura finally asked.

"There shouldn't be a problem."

Kakashi forced himself to sound calm. Sen's strength fluctuated wildly... it was truly difficult to assess...

"Tap, tap..."

Footsteps approached, and Kakashi immediately prepared for battle.

The figure in the smoke drew closer and closer. Sen walked out with a yawn.

"Ah, why are you all still here? Everything inside has already been dealt with."

"Bang!"

At that moment, an orange figure descended from the sky.

"Haha, heroes always make their entrance at the most critical moment~"

After dealing with the two small fry who had attacked from behind, Naruto hurried over.

Something felt off. Why was there no applause? No cheering?

He looked around. Sen was lying on the bridge watching little fish, Sakura wore a disgusted expression, and Kakashi held his forehead with a helpless look. Naruto smiled awkwardly. "What's going on?"

"Idiot, Sen already dealt with the enemy!"

Sakura snapped. She then wanted to enter the smoke and investigate, but Kakashi stopped her.

"I'll go take a look first."

Kakashi was still worried. Sen was only a rookie kid; even if he was strong enough, he might have overlooked something. He was the most suitable person to handle this.

He slowly walked into the smoke and soon noticed streak after streak across the ground.

"What is this?!"

They looked like marks left by something whipping the ground... but this was a reinforced concrete bridge deck...

Then countless towering trees came into view...

My god... this is...

This was Wood Release!!!

Kakashi was stunned. So Sen's ability was Wood Release? And his chakra had reached such a level?

He had directly created an entire forest in an area surrounded by water...

"Sasuke, are you alright?" Kakashi quickly found the injured Sasuke lying on the ground.

"I'm fine..." Sasuke's breathing was weak, and several senbon needles were still stuck in his body.

"Did you see the battle just now? Did Sen do all this?"

Honestly, Kakashi truly could not believe that Sen had caused a ninjutsu of this scale.

Sasuke hesitated, then answered vaguely.

"I don't know. I only felt the ground shake, and then these things appeared. I didn't see Sen."

"Is that so..."