Got a Powerful Backer, Sadly Too Soon

"The Senju clan! You've latched onto a powerful backer!" Pirate Chu Yang said enviously. Though they were both himself, their circumstances were worlds apart.

"Brother, this is the Warring States Era, not Year One of the Hokage. The Senju clan and the neighboring Uchiha clan are practically beating each other's brains out. Do you know how dangerous it is?" Hokage Chu Yang said helplessly, spreading his hands.

"Even so, you've got it better than me." Pirate Chu Yang asked curiously, "Who's the current head of the Senju clan? Have you met the First Hokage?"

Hokage Chu Yang smiled smugly. "The First Hokage just took office, and he selected some of the clan's younger members as disciples to teach them his self-created Wood Release. I'm one of them."

At that, the envy in Pirate Chu Yang's eyes nearly overflowed. Still, he knew that Wood Release was a Kekkei Genkai, and the chances of learning it were very small.

Wood Release was formed by fusing two different Chakra natures: earth and water.

It sounded simple, but it was actually very difficult to accomplish.

More importantly, fusing Chakra of different natures carried enormous risks. If it failed, the backlash would be terrifying.

As members of the same Senju clan, the similarity of their genetic makeup allowed them to better avoid such backlash.

Hokage Chu Yang continued, "Out of all those people, I was the only one who learned Wood Release. Coincidentally, the moment I mastered it, my consciousness entered this palace."

"Can I see it?" Pirate Chu Yang looked at Hokage Chu Yang hopefully.

Some Kekkei Genkai Ninjutsu did not require hand seals. Hokage Chu Yang merely smiled and clapped his hands together. A special energy surged from his body, and countless branches and vines spread from his upper body.

"What do you think?" Hokage Chu Yang asked with a smug grin.

"Awesome..."

Pirate Chu Yang had just wanted to praise him a little when he suddenly felt some inexplicable change occurring in his own body.

Instinctively, he copied the other man and pressed his hands together. Then, a shocking scene unfolded!

Large numbers of branches began bursting wildly from Pirate Chu Yang's body as well!

He was using Wood Release!

Hokage Chu Yang stared at the scene in stunned disbelief!

Hokage Chu Yang said in shock, "You can use my power. Then, conversely, I can use yours too."

Pirate Chu Yang nodded. "That should be how it works. Too bad I don't know anything yet."

"No."

Hokage Chu Yang sensed the changes in his body and became even more shocked. "My Chakra is much more active than usual. It's almost double."

Pirate Chu Yang guessed, "The more of us there are, the faster our strength grows?"

Hokage Chu Yang nodded excitedly. "That must be it. If we find all the other 'selves,' wouldn't we soar straight to the top?"

The two were still excitedly imagining the future when a thick mist suddenly appeared inside the palace. Both of them simultaneously felt that they were about to leave this place.

"Who knows when we'll meet again? You have to hurry and get stronger!" Hokage Chu Yang urged earnestly.

Chu Yang had barely nodded when, the next second, his consciousness returned to his body. The excruciating pain jolted him awake just as the jailer removed the branding iron.

Chu Yang had clearly spent a long time in the palace, yet in the One Piece world, only an instant had passed.

Seeing that Chu Yang had awakened after being unconscious for only a short while, the jailer sneered and raised the branding iron again. "You woke up pretty fast. Then have another taste."

The jailer did not notice...

The brand on Chu Yang's chest was rapidly healing. This was a level of self-healing ordinary people could hardly attain.

Chakra slowly flowed...

Chu Yang's entire body brimmed with strength. With an angry roar, he broke free from the chains binding him.

Before the jailer's terrified eyes, Chu Yang grabbed him by the throat. Countless vines spread from Chu Yang's body and, in an instant, wrapped around the jailer from head to toe.

Crack~ Crack~

As the vines continuously tightened, a series of clear bone-cracking sounds came from the jailer's body.

"D-Devil Fruit User..."

The jailer stared at Chu Yang in disbelief.

His face was filled with regret, and before long, he drew his last breath.

It was time to leave!

Killing the Celestial Dragons' lackey right under their noses was undoubtedly a grave provocation against their authority.

Chu Yang definitely could not remain in Mary Geoise. Every extra moment he stayed meant another measure of danger.

"But if I flee without any plan, the chances of success are far too low."

To protect the Celestial Dragons, a Marine Admiral was stationed in the Holy Land year-round. There were countless experts at the Marine base, not to mention an abnormal organization like CP0.

Chu Yang understood that with his current abilities, he had no way to evade these people's pursuit.

"I need to make some noise and create as much chaos as possible."

Chu Yang suddenly recalled Fisher Tiger's great feat of Burning of the Holy Land. Since he had already started, he decided to imitate him.

After leaving the dim torture chamber, Chu Yang ran back along the route he remembered. He did not stop until he neared the slaves' cells.

When the three sisters saw that Chu Yang was safe and sound, they first looked at him in delight, only to be immediately overwhelmed by panic.

Chu Yang had not been escorted back by the jailer. He had returned on his own.

There was only one explanation for that.

Sandersonia, the second sister, cried out in terror, "You!!! Don't tell me you... did something to the jailer..."

Chu Yang nodded.

Marigold, the third sister, trembled all over in fright.

They had been trapped here for years. Though they often thought of killing the jailers, they had never dared to act on it.

Meanwhile, Hancock, the eldest sister, was also staring at the young man before her in shock.

From the first moment she had seen him, she had felt that he was somehow different.

But she had never imagined that Chu Yang would dare to do something so shocking.

Fear was fear, but Hancock also felt an incomparable thrill in her heart, because Chu Yang had done what she had always wanted to do but never dared to.

Hancock hurriedly warned Chu Yang, "Before anyone discovers this, run! If the Celestial Dragons catch you, your fate will be worse than death."

Chu Yang nodded. "I know, but before I leave, I'm getting everyone out."

"What?" Sandersonia and Marigold cried out at the same time. They had not expected that at such a critical moment, Chu Yang would still think of the others in the dungeon.

"Don't play the hero. You have no idea how many slaves are imprisoned here. How long would it take to save them one by one?"

Though Hancock was deeply moved, she still shouted at Chu Yang, hoping he would leave as soon as possible.

The Celestial Dragons had ruled for so many years, yet an incident this heinous had never occurred before. Chu Yang's fate was easy to imagine.

But.

She did not know that Chu Yang wanted to save people only to divert the Marines' attention, giving himself a better chance of escaping Mary Geoise.

Chu Yang showed no intention of leaving. Under the three sisters' puzzled gazes, he crouched down and pressed his hands against the ground.