Was it really necessary to use Wood Style for this?
Would Yuichi actually use it?
In the next instant, something surged up from beneath the tiles on the ground.
"Wood Style: Birth of the Tree World…"
Boom!
Hashirama's gaze narrowed as he immediately rushed toward Yuichi.
In that very moment, vines burst up from the earth, swelling rapidly before twisting into towering trees almost instantly.
The fast-growing forest spread straight toward the First Hokage's direction.
The violent collision of Wood Style erupted.
Trees clashed, twisted, and crushed together, spreading outward at terrifying speed.
The sharp sound of tiles breaking echoed one after another.
Vines snaked up from the earth in endless waves, growing to monstrous proportions in the blink of an eye.
Rumble… rumble…
Wood Style continued to expand, racing toward everyone present.
"No! Get out of here!"
The ninjas leapt away, while even the Sound Four didn't dare linger.
This was Wood Style—everyone knew what fate awaited those caught by it.
After all, this was the very power the First Hokage once used to pacify the chaos of the Warring States Era.
It was better not to test it.
The shinobi who had jumped to the rooftops glanced back. The buildings had already been swallowed by a dense, living forest.
At last, the expansion stopped.
Yet no one's heart could settle.
"Wood Style…"
"The First Hokage's Wood Style… That boy, Nagano Yuichi—he can use it!"
"Why? How could a mere Genin wield the First Hokage's Wood Style?"
"He's already shown talent in Water Style like the Second Hokage… and now Wood Style like the First… What is happening?"
No one had an answer.
But Wood Style had reappeared.
And Yuichi's Wood Style… was not weaker than Senju Hashirama's—or at least, it appeared that way now.
None of them had ever seen Hashirama's true power. To them, this alone was already godlike.
In truth, Orochimaru's Impure World Reincarnation had greatly restricted the First and Second Hokage. If they fought at full strength, even he wouldn't have been able to control them.
Even so, the sudden eruption of Yuichi's Wood Style left the Konoha shinobi feeling as though they were in a dream.
Wood Style—long thought lost—had reappeared in the body of a mere Genin.
A living forest had risen in the heart of the battlefield.
Hiruzen Sarutobi's throat tightened as he stared at Yuichi.
Wood Style.
Yuichi could use Wood Style.
The very thing Danzo had long yearned to obtain had manifested in this boy.
And this wasn't Wood Style stolen by transplanting Hashirama's cells.
It was authentic—genuine Wood Style, born from bloodline.
There was no mistake.
If it had come from a transplant, it could never possess such overwhelming power.
The true strength of the First Hokage's Wood Style came from his immense chakra reserves and indomitable vitality.
Both were now evident in Yuichi as well.
Suddenly, Hiruzen remembered.
Yuichi's chakra test results—three natures: Water, Earth, and Wind.
His face darkened. Perhaps, even back then, this child had already awakened Wood Style.
Yuichi slowly turned toward him.
"Lord Third, leave the First and Second Hokage to me. You should focus on Orochimaru."
His face showed no sweat.
His breathing remained steady.
Not a trace of fatigue appeared in his eyes.
This boy…
Even after using Wood Style, he wasn't tired in the slightest.
Which meant Yuichi's chakra consumption wasn't severe at all.
To him, this level of exertion might be nothing.
Chakra like an endless ocean… this was the blood of the Senju.
Senju Yuichi.
"Yuichi…"
"Your… Wood Style. Where did it come from?"
Hiruzen's gaze was grave as he stared at him.
Yuichi answered calmly.
"It was always there. From the very first moment I trained chakra, I felt this power come naturally."
Innate power.
They had spent years researching Wood Style in secret, yet right before them was a child born with it, undiscovered until now.
Wait—had Danzo already realized Yuichi's ability?
If so… why hadn't he acted?
Wood Style was everything Danzo desired.
For a moment, countless thoughts stormed through Hiruzen's mind.
But there was no time for reflection.
Because the First and Second Hokage suddenly burst from the forest, attacking at once.
Yuichi leapt forward, shielding Hiruzen. He clapped his hands together.
"Wood Style: Wood Pillar Wall!"
Boom! Boom!
Their attacks crashed against the wooden wall.
From the bushes behind, a rustling echoed.
Hiruzen snapped his head back and flung a kunai toward the sound.
A snake thrashed, pinned to the ground by his blade.
But in the next instant, the First and Second Hokage vaulted over Yuichi's wall, striking down toward Hiruzen.
Hiruzen turned, grim.
Yuichi moved to counter—but suddenly, a cold gleam slashed through the air.
A white flash—wind tore past his ear.
He didn't even need to think.
This was Orochimaru's strike.
But Yuichi froze. Why… why was Orochimaru attacking him?
Wasn't his target Hiruzen?
Then it hit him.
Orochimaru must have seen his Wood Style. And now Yuichi had become his first priority.
Yes—his plans for Hiruzen were important. But Orochimaru's greatest obsession was bloodline abilities.
And Wood Style was the one he most desired to unravel.
Yuichi wasn't a man altered by Hashirama's cells—he was someone who had awakened it naturally.
From the moment Wood Style revealed itself, Yuichi was no longer just an obstacle. He was Orochimaru's prey.
"Wood Style: Silent Binding!"
Two massive branches surged from the forest, whipping around Orochimaru.
The instant they coiled around him—
"Wood Style: Eternal Burial!"
Thick vines erupted beneath Orochimaru's feet, exploding upward and wrapping around him in a frenzy.
Orochimaru's golden eyes trembled.
"Such mastery… this Wood Style…"
"This boy can already control it with ease!"
Blood spattered violently into the air.