"Kid, now that you've inherited Hashirama Senju's abilities, you should also take on his grudges."
After Shukaku finished speaking, it stretched out its enormous hand, filled with resentment towards Hashirama Senju, and reached out to grab Kōki, who was entangled with Rasa. Moreover, its attack did not bypass Rasa, seemingly intending to deal with Rasa as well.
This surprised Rasa, who hadn't expected the helper he had specially found to attack him. However, his reaction was still very timely, and he used Sand Body Flicker Technique Movement to dodge the attack.
Kōki never expected that Shukaku such a grudge, remembering even decades-old grievances so clearly.
Therefore, seeing Shukaku's claws attacking, he quickly used Wood Release to defend. Kōki's hands swiftly Hand Seals, unleashing " Wood Release: Exploding Spear Tree ".
Several logs grew from Kōki's right hand and rapidly formed a thick tree that clashed violently with Shukaku's claw.
In an instant, the shockwave from the collision kicked up a considerable amount of dust, visibly reducing visibility on the battlefield.
Feeling the immense force coming from it, Kōki couldn't help but sigh inwardly. As expected of a strategic weapon, the Tailed Beast's every move could cause considerable damage. Just now, Shukaku's casual grab felt as powerful as an ordinary A-rank Ninjutsu.
No wonder the people of the Shinobi World are both greedy and terrified of the Tailed Beast.
Fortunately, his Wood Release can counter Tailed Beast, otherwise he would have been really difficult to deal with.
With that thought in mind, Kōki's Chakra circulated, and he began to unleash the characteristics of Wood Release.
Suddenly, countless vines sprouted from the tree that collided with Shukaku's claws, wrapping around Shukaku's arm and beginning to fiercely absorb Shukaku's Chakra.
The changes in the trees caught Shukaku's attention. It tried to shake off the Wood Release Wood Release's binding force, but the binding force was too strong, and it couldn't break free for a while. Just as it continued to exert its strength, it felt the Chakra in its body burst out like a flood.
Shukaku's expression changed drastically. Remembering how Hashirama Senju had dealt with it before, he immediately used all his strength, forcefully shaking off the Wood Release technique from his arm. He couldn't help but mutter another insult to Hashirama Senju: "As expected, Hashirama Senju's techniques are still so shameless."
At this moment, Shukaku realized that Kōki's Wood Release had the same effect as Hashirama Senju's Wood Release. He understood that he would be countered by Wood Release in close combat, so he abandoned the idea of crushing Kōki with his massive size and instead prepared to use a powerful Release Technique to tear Kōki to pieces.
"Disturbing noise"
Shukaku opened its mouth wide and took a deep breath towards the sky, the sound of its inhalation echoing throughout the battlefield. As the air entered its body, Shukaku's abdomen swelled up high.
Seeing this, Kōki knew without a doubt that Shukaku was about to unleash Release Technique, so he quickly used Wood Release to try and interrupt Shukaku's charge.
But it was too late.
Shukaku had stopped inhaling, its chubby cheeks puffed out, and it unleashed a series of Wind Release Ninjutsu containing powerful Chakra at Kōki. And it wasn't just one, but more than a dozen in succession.
" Drilling Air Bullet " " Drilling Air Bullet " " Drilling Air Bullet "
A dozen or so high-intensity Wind Release Chakra bursts shot towards Kōki with a sharp whooshing sound, their speed making it difficult for anyone to react.
However, Kōki is no ordinary person, and he still managed to defuse the fierce attacks.
Kōki clapped his hands, and countless tree roots rapidly emerged from the ground, growing into towering trees within seconds. Soon, a forest shield formed by these towering trees blocked Kōki's path, colliding with the incoming Wind Release.
" Wood Release: Tree World Wall "
"Boom!"
In an instant, the sound of Wind Release with trees resounded through the sky. Then, countless sand and broken branches were thrown up by the strong shockwave and radiated across the entire battlefield. Even Kōki, who was standing behind the Tree World Wall, could not escape it and still had to raise his right hand to block the blowing sand.
This incredibly destructive scene left everyone on the battlefield deeply impressed by Shukaku's power.
However, the enormous Shukaku looked down and saw that its attack had failed, and it was very dissatisfied. It, Lord Shukaku, could not defeat the real Hashirama Senju. When did it become unable to defeat even the imposter Hashirama Senju?
Growing increasingly angry, Shukaku stomped his foot on the ground, instantly shattering the once-hard surface and kicking up a cloud of dust.
Then Shukaku opened its mouth again, inhaled the sand and dust, and then exhaled forcefully.
" Wind Release: Sand Dust Great Breakthrough "
A hurricane containing countless grains of sand howled towards the Tree World Wall of Kōki. Because this technique carried countless grains of sand, it was more powerful and destructive than a regular Great Thrust.
Like a typhoon passing through, it directly uprooted the trees in front of Kōki, and countless large trees were pulverized by such a powerful Wind Release.
Fortunately Kōki had already realized that this wind Release Technique was difficult to deal with, so he left the spot early and avoided Shukaku's attack.
However, such frustrating dodging was not in Kōki's nature, so after dodging, he immediately retaliated against Shukaku.
The ground beneath Shukaku's feet began to tremble violently. In no time, countless tree roots burst forth from the earth, rising up and growing into towering trees in an instant.
Moreover, these suddenly appearing trees all began to entangle Shukaku, creating the illusion that many green tentacles were trying to drag Shukaku into hell.
Faced with the overwhelming attack of so many trees and vines, Shukaku became flustered. It hurriedly lifted its feet, waved its arms, and swung its body, trying to break free from the Wood Release's restraints, but no matter how it tried to uproot the trees, more and more appeared.
Because it forgot one thing: Wood Release has the ability to absorb Chakra to continue growing.
Therefore, the more Shukaku struggled, the more trees it found, and the more powerless it became, as it struggled more and more.
Just as it was at its wit's end, a huge, Gold Dust longsword swept past it. The sword was exceptionally sharp and instantly cleaved all the trees binding it in two.
With his restraints loosened, Shukaku seized the opportunity and leaped away from the Wood Release attack.
After successfully escaping, Shukaku laughed excitedly and arrogantly, "Hahaha, as expected, nothing can hold me back!"
After a burst of eccentric laughter, Shukaku remembered the person who had just helped it escape. It looked down at the ground and saw a man with dark red hair standing at its feet.
This person was none other than Rasa, who was attacked along with Kōki at the beginning.
Upon seeing Rasa, it said sternly, " Sunagakure, even if you didn't help me, I could break free myself. However, your attack just now did have some minor effect, so the grudge of your Sunagakure imprisoning me for so many years is now settled. Now, don't stand next to me, lest my attack affect you."
There's no way I'm going to express my gratitude. The word "gratitude" doesn't Shukaku's dictionary. At most, it'll settle its scores with Sunagakure. From now on, it'll go its own way, Sunagakure will go Sunagakure own way, and neither of us will bother the other.