Wood Release!
That was the signature ninjutsu of the First, Hashirama Senju, a memory branded deep into the Nine-Tails' soul, steeped in humiliation and fear!
He could almost see that figure in red armor before him again, a man like a god or a demon.
Once, he had thought himself invincible, only for that man to subdue him with his masterful Wood Release. The towering Buddha of "Sage Art: Wood Release: True Several Thousand Hands" had used just one hand to suppress him as effortlessly as plucking a flower!
Even now, he could recall the helplessness of being caught in the wooden Buddha's enormous palm, unable to move, and the way Hashirama had looked down at him, taunting him to his face with something like, "Nine-Tails, your power is too great!"
Over his long life, few things had ever truly frightened him. But the First's Wood Release, the Uzumaki Clan's Sealing Jutsu, and the Uchiha's Sharingan undoubtedly topped the list. Those were the three things he feared most!
And now this brat actually dared question the true nature of Wood Release?
He had even proposed such an absurd, startling theory!
Seeing the Nine-Tails hiss defensively and react so strongly, Naruto knew his topic had successfully piqued this ancient being's interest. He stopped keeping him in suspense, sat down cross-legged, and laid out his theory clearly:
"I suspect the First's Wood Release wasn't a simple kekkei genkai combining Earth Release and Water Release at all. Instead, it was a kekkei tōta formed by combining three elements: Earth Release, Water Release, and the Yang Release component of Yin-Yang Release!"
Naruto held up three fingers and explained further, "First, one crucial distinction is heredity.
"Kekkei genkai, whether they involve bodily organs like the Uchiha's Sharingan and the Hyuga's Byakugan, or nature transformations like Ice Release and Lava Release, can generally be passed down reliably to descendants, giving rise to powerful bloodline clans.
"But look at kekkei tōta. They haven't produced any powerful hereditary clans."
He offered the strongest example: "The most obvious case is Iwagakure's Dust Release.
"It was a kekkei tōta developed by Mū, the Second Tsuchikage, by combining wind, earth, and fire.
"Ōnoki, the Third Tsuchikage, wasn't related to Mū by blood, but he learned Dust Release as the Second Tsuchikage's student.
"Conversely, Ōnoki's son Kitsuchi was his direct descendant, yet he couldn't use Dust Release.
"That proves Dust Release can be learned, but can't be inherited."
After explaining the reasoning behind his suspicions to Kurama, Naruto returned to Hashirama Senju's Wood Release. "Now look at Wood Release. After Hashirama Senju, none of his direct descendants-or anyone in the entire Senju Clan, for that matter-ever mastered true Wood Release imbued with life.
"That doesn't fit the hereditary pattern of a kekkei genkai.
"Instead, it fits the characteristics of a kekkei tōta much better.
"And Hashirama's practically limitless vitality, his ability to heal instantly, and his Wood Release that gave life to his creations-all those traits go far beyond an ordinary combination of water and earth. They look much more like the power of Yang Release was incorporated into it!"
Yin Release used spiritual energy as its foundation to create form from nothing; Yang Release drew on physical energy to give life to form. Together, the two could create all things and breathe life into them.
In Naruto's view, Wood Release was unquestionably the most unique and powerful ability in the ninjutsu system. Its versatility was downright broken.
Not only could it dominate a vast battlefield, it also possessed powerful restraining abilities and perfectly combined offense and defense, with virtually no weaknesses.
Hashirama Senju's "Sage Art: Wood Release: True Several Thousand Hands," in particular, produced a gigantic Buddha whose scale defied all reason.
Just one of its hands was larger than the full-sized Nine-Tails, who already stood as tall as a mountain. That overwhelming visual presence alone could drive any opponent to despair.
The Senju Clan and the Uzumaki Clan shared a common origin, both descended from Asura, the second son of the Sage of Six Paths.
Hashirama Senju and Naruto Uzumaki were also successive reincarnations of Asura's chakra.
As Naruto understood it, this "reincarnation" was closer to a portion of chakra carrying a will attaching itself to and manifesting in people across different eras, rather than a soul repeatedly entering the cycle of rebirth as in traditional mythology.
If it were that kind of reincarnation, Asura, Hashirama, and the original Naruto should all have shared the same soul. How could Hashirama Senju's soul have been summoned through Impure World Reincarnation while Naruto was still alive?
That logic convinced him his judgment was correct.
Knock, knock, knock.
A clear, steady knock pierced through from the real world like a stone dropped into still water, echoing directly through the quiet sealed space and interrupting Naruto's animated discussion with the Nine-Tails.
Naruto abruptly stopped speaking, a resigned thought rising in his mind: He came after all.
He shrugged at the enormous beast behind the bars, who was still restless and displeased.
"Someone's here. Probably the Third. I'll go deal with him first."
Before his words had fully faded, his consciousness swiftly withdrew from the flooded underground space like an ebbing tide.
The enormous iron cage, the crimson eyes, and the Nine-Tails' lingering shock and doubts about the true nature of Wood Release were instantly shut away in the depths of his consciousness.
In the real world, Naruto's eyelids twitched as he lay on the bed, then opened.
He rolled over and sat up briskly, put on a slightly sleepy expression, and yawned before hurrying to the door.
"Coming, coming!"
As he called out, he reached over and pulled the door open.
The cold air outside swept in along with a figure.
As expected, standing in the doorway was Hiruzen Sarutobi, the Third, dressed in the Hokage Ceremonial Robe and wearing his conical hat.
He carried a sizable package in one hand, his usual kindly smile on his face. Against the night and the light reflected off the snow, he looked especially gentle.
"Grandpa Third, what brings you here?"
Naruto opened the door wide, his face instantly filling with just the right amount of surprise and delight, and stepped aside to clear the way.
"Come in!"
As he spoke, he warmly ushered the Third into the cramped living room and invited him to sit on a chair, casually removing the jacket draped over its back in one smooth, natural motion.
The Third wore a warm smile. His gaze swept over the tidy room before returning to Naruto, his voice full of an elder's affection. "Little Naruto, there's nothing special. Grandpa just missed you and came to see you."
As he spoke, he placed the package he had been carrying on the table and pushed it forward a little. "Oh, and I bought you some new winter clothes on the way. It's getting colder and colder. See if you like them."
"Really? Thank you, Grandpa Third!"
Naruto's eyes lit up, and he immediately began unwrapping the package with an eagerness befitting his age.
Once the package was open, its contents were plain to see: a somewhat thick kraft-paper envelope and a neatly folded set of black winter clothes.
"Wow!"
Looking at the new clothes on the table, Naruto obligingly let out a delighted cheer. His blue eyes widened, shining with a child's pure joy.
At the sight of Naruto's seemingly genuine excitement, the wrinkles on the Third's face relaxed. He stroked his goatee, his eyes warm with amusement. "Try them on, little Naruto. If they don't fit, Grandpa will buy you another set."
"Okay!"
Naruto nodded vigorously and immediately got moving.
Excitedly, he took off his old winter clothes, which were clearly too short, their sleeves and trouser legs riding well above his wrists and ankles.
As he removed the old clothes, the undershirt beneath, stretched tight by his growing body, was fully exposed to the Third's gaze.
Without the slightest hesitation, Naruto quickly picked up the new black winter clothes and deftly put them on, carefully pulling up the zipper and smoothing the hem.
The new clothes fit perfectly, warm and comfortable, wrapping him snugly from head to toe.
Yet as the Third stood beside him, the smile on his face gradually faded at the sight of the tight undershirt beneath those old winter clothes.