"Wood Release: Wood Dragon Technique!"
A massive tree burst from the ground, swiftly growing into a colossal wooden dragon. The dragon coiled around Itachi's fully-formed Susanoo with incredible agility, tightening its grip to the point where cracks began to form on the Susanoo. This was a feat that even the Fourth Raikage, borrowing the power of the Five-Tails and entering his third state, could barely achieve. Yet now, it had been effortlessly accomplished by a mere clone.
Itachi placed the stunned Kisame to the side, his expression growing more serious than ever.
"Amaterasu!"
The black flames of Amaterasu burned against the wooden dragon. While it wasn't entirely ineffective, the flames spread at an agonizingly slow pace. By the time Amaterasu could fully consume the dragon, the Susanoo would likely have been crushed multiple times over.
"Wood Clone Technique!"
Itachi formed a single-handed seal, and four wood clones sprang forth. Seeing this, Hashirama Senju looked genuinely surprised.
"You can use Wood Release too?" Hashirama blinked in astonishment.
The five Itachis surrounded Hashirama's wood clone, each activating their fully-formed Susanoo.
"First Hokage-sama, I've transplanted your cells and borrowed your power. I hope you don't mind," Itachi said.
Despite being encircled by five imposing red giants, Hashirama remained unfazed. However, Tsunade, watching from the sidelines, couldn't help but feel concerned.
"Grandpa, are you sure it's okay to only use a clone against them?"
When Hashirama had passed away, Tsunade had been too young to fully grasp the extent of her grandfather's strength.
Hashirama stroked his chin thoughtfully. "Hmm... If the opponent only has the Mangekyō Sharingan, it should be fine."
"But since he's transplanted my cells, it's hard to say."
"Let's test it out first."
Seeing Hashirama's nonchalant attitude, Tsunade wanted to say more, but Tobirama stopped her.
"Relax, Tsunade. Just watch. Back in the day, my brother didn't bring peace to the world by bowing his head."
As he spoke, Hashirama's wood clone clapped its hands together and slightly crouched, finally adopting a serious stance.
"Wood Release: Wood Human Technique!"
A gigantic wooden figure appeared on the battlefield, towering even larger than the wood dragon. Its size rivaled Itachi's Susanoo, and it stood there like a confident war god, completely unfazed by the five demonic giants surrounding it.
"Amaterasu!"
Itachi's main body unleashed Amaterasu, while the four clones attacked different parts of the wooden figure, attempting to exploit any openings in its defense with a concentrated assault.
Clang!
The wooden figure raised its arms, blocking the fiery swords of the Susanoo on both sides. The clash of wood and blade echoed like the sound of metal striking metal.
Then, with a single punch, the wooden figure unleashed an unimaginable force, shattering the Susanoo on both sides completely. The wood clones controlling them were also destroyed by the residual impact of the punch.
With just one strike, it accomplished what even the Third State of the Raikage couldn't achieve, despite his desperate efforts.
Fortunately, Itachi's attack wasn't entirely in vain. The remaining two clones and his main body's Susanoo managed to strike the wooden figure. While the clones' Susanoo lacked the power to inflict significant damage, Itachi's main body was strong enough.
The fiery sword of his Susanoo severed one of the wooden figure's legs. Losing its balance, the wooden figure tilted and began to fall. Itachi pressed the attack.
"Wood Release: Wood Shield Technique!"
The wood clone attempted to defend itself, but Itachi's main body had already maneuvered behind it. In his hand was a wooden spike infused with Amaterasu. With a swift motion, he drove the spike into the wood clone's chest.
Finally, Hashirama's wood clone was defeated.
"As expected of a descendant of the Uchiha clan. Impressive!" Hashirama praised with genuine admiration, showing no trace of anger.
"Big Brother, this isn't the time for compliments. The enemy is all here now. It's time to act," Tobirama reminded him.
From the Hidden Rain Village, black-robed figures with red clouds began emerging one by one. There were nine in total; aside from Deidara, who was currently absent, the entire Akatsuki had gathered.
"Orochimaru, that bastard! So our target this time is a bunch of reanimated corpses?" Sasori grumbled, his first thought being that Orochimaru was behind this. After all, the Edo Tensei technique was something only Orochimaru could perform.
"It's unlikely to be Orochimaru," Itachi countered. "It doesn't make sense."
Kakuzu, on the other hand, was too tense to speak.
It's over. How could the enemy be Hashirama Senju, such an absurdly powerful opponent? As someone from the Warring States period, Kakuzu knew all too well just how terrifying Hashirama's strength was.
And then there was that matter. If Hashirama brought it up, something worse than death could happen.
"Hey! Isn't that Kakuzu?"
"Didn't you say you fought me before? I honestly can't remember."
"But no worries, we can fight again today. This time, I promise I won't forget!" Hashirama called out enthusiastically.
Kakuzu's face turned dark. What kind of sin had he committed to deserve such humiliation at his age?
Seeing Hidan's questioning gaze, the old man gritted his teeth.
Damn it, if I have to fight, then so be it!
"Sage Art: Searing Migraine!"
Kakuzu opened with his strongest technique, unleashing intense flames infused with Sage Chakra toward the seven.
Seeing this, the other Akatsuki members also joined the fray.
"Wood Release: Advent of a World of Flowering Trees!"
Hashirama clapped his hands together, and an enormous forest sprang up from the ground. The trees were massive, and at their tops grew large flower buds. As the buds bloomed, they released countless specks of pollen into the air.
Kakuzu's Sage Art Fire Release couldn't even ignite properly before being snuffed out by Hashirama's Wood Release. Hidan was similarly restrained.
Sasori attempted to counterattack, but both his puppets and Magnet Release proved utterly ineffective.
Konan tried to ascend into the air, but her body was quickly paralyzed. "Those pollen particles are poisonous!" she exclaimed.
Nagato's expression grew grim. He raised his hands and released a small black sphere between his palms.
"Planetary Devastation!"
A powerful gravitational force emanated from the sphere, pulling everything toward it. Hashirama looked up at the black orb in the sky. "So this is the power of the Rinnegan?"
"Why does it feel a bit... weak?"
"Wood Release: Wood Dragon Technique!"
A wooden dragon, far larger than the previous one, appeared. It lunged at the Planetary Devastation sphere and swallowed it whole as if it were nothing more than an egg. The dragon showed no signs of adverse effects.
"This..." Kisame, still restrained by the Wood Release, was utterly speechless.
Could this truly be the level of power a ninja could achieve?
Thick wooden tendrils reached for Nagato, who hesitated for a moment before pushing his hands outward with all his might.
"Super Almighty Push!"
A small crater appeared, but the range of the attack barely extended beyond ten meters. The massive wooden tendrils merely recoiled momentarily before surging forward at an even faster speed.
"That should just about do it," Hashirama said.
But just as he finished speaking, his expression suddenly changed. "Something ominous is in the air."
Though invisible, he could clearly sense it.
Leaping back, Hashirama watched as the world before him transformed into an apocalyptic scene. From the distance, flowers, birds, trees, and mountains all began to disintegrate into ash.
Accompanying this apocalyptic advance was a golden-haired figure riding atop a clay bird.
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