Rapidly growing Wooden Thorns pierced Xihuo's lower back and burst out through his abdomen.
The thorns lifted his broken body into the air, warm blood draining from him at a terrifying rate.
In the distance, Gyuki stumbled as he rushed over in human form. His expression changed sharply as he watched his limbs scatter.
Even as a Tailed Beast, he had failed to notice the turmoil beneath the harmonious atmosphere. He had simply found the meeting too formal and dull, so he had wandered off in human form to amuse himself in the less crowded parts of the Shadow Organization.
But Xihuo had created his human shell with Wood Release. Now that it was coming apart on its own, that meant the wielder of the Wood Release had already...
His expression turned grim as he stared at the scattered pieces of wood. He no longer cared about concealing his identity.
The enormous octopus planted all eight arms on the ground. A tremendous surge of Tailed Beast chakra erupted from him as he pushed off with all his might.
Like a taut slingshot, he shot into the air with astonishing force, heading straight for the center of the battlefield.
"Yo~ So many familiar faces here~ Your name's Tsunade, right? Did you bring Hashirama this time? Call him out for another fight!"
The black humanoid sat atop the towering Wooden Statue with his legs crossed, looking utterly brazen.
Tsunade pressed her lips together, her hand unconsciously reaching for the damaged scroll behind her waist. It was a scroll that could summon Hashirama Senju at any time through Impure World Reincarnation, but the Wooden Thorns had damaged it during Black Zetsu's surprise attack.
He was taunting them because he clearly knew Konoha could not produce anyone capable of countering him on such