Boom, boom, boom...!
The earth shook. Giant trees burst from the ground, forming a sprawling World of Trees that rolled toward Nagato, crushing everything in its path!
Slash! Slash! Slash!
Nagato swung his arms, sending sharp Wind Blades slicing through the approaching trees. But for every tree severed, ten more followed. It was a drop in the ocean!
"Damn it, the area is too large. Should I clear it with Super Shinra Tensei? No, this is only Nativity of a World of Trees. That would be too wasteful!"
The Summoning Bird carried Nagato into the sky, but the other summoned beasts he had left on the ground were not so fortunate. Once the trees ensnared them, they were mercilessly strangled amid clouds of white smoke!
Naruto watched Nagato's shadow on the ground and formed hand seals.
-Wood Release: Shadow Stake Technique!
Crack! A wooden stake rose directly from Nagato's shadow!
Naruto's gaze deepened. "If the shadow stake itself overlaps the target's shadow, the target's movement will be restricted to a single vertical line [in gaming terms, they can only move along the Z-axis]!"
Scrape...!
As Nagato ascended, he immediately discovered that he could no longer move anywhere except up and down!
Kabuto Yakushi frowned. "Damn it... this technique doesn't just restrain him. It also prevents projectile attacks from working properly. Otherwise, I could have the bird drop bombs and blow up that stake!"
Naruto's eyes shifted. That leaves him with only one option, just as I predicted...
Poof!
With no other choice, Nagato dismissed the bird and dropped from midair onto the stake's tip, activating the Preta Path to absorb the "shadow"!
"Then this is my chance!"
Naruto seized the opening and formed hand seals.
-Wood Release: Violent Spear Tree!
Slash! Slash! Slash!
A tangled barrage of Wooden Spears erupted