Chapter 89: Wood Release Displayed in Full Power
At the same time, while Ling Yu was still battling Shukaku, Jiraiya's reinforcement unit finally arrived.
With the arrival of Konoha's reinforcements, the battlefield situation instantly reversed. The balance in numbers combined with Konoha's boosted morale gradually shifted victory toward the Konoha ninja.
"Lord Sensei, I'm here to help you!"
As soon as he joined the battlefield, Jiraiya saw Hiruzen Sarutobi being pinned down by two Sand ninja.
He quickly rushed to his side and stood together with him, facing off against the Third Kazekage and Ebizō of the Hidden Sand.
"Heh, so what if reinforcements arrived? As long as Shukaku defeats Senju Ling Yu and returns to the battlefield, your Konoha forces will still die in the end."
The Third Kazekage sneered disdainfully, then formed hand seals.
"Magnet Release: Iron Sand Giant Spear!"
Highly compressed iron sand formed multiple sharp long spears and shot toward Hiruzen Sarutobi and Jiraiya.
"Is Ling Yu okay over there?"
Hiruzen Sarutobi dodged the Third Kazekage's attack with seasoned experience, then glanced sideways toward the violent battle between Shukaku and Ling Yu outside the battlefield and asked Jiraiya.
He had thought Jiraiya would join Ling Yu in holding back Shukaku, but unexpectedly Ling Yu was now fighting the One-Tail alone while Jiraiya came to his side.
Although the power Ling Yu had displayed so far could contend with a tailed beast, tailed beasts weren't so easily subdued.
Their terrifying recovery ability and near-endless chakra were the main reasons most Kage-level ninja couldn't defeat them. Without absolute overwhelming power or ninjutsu specifically designed to counter tailed beasts, there was a real risk of being counter-killed.
"No problem. He's not the little kid he used to be anymore. Right now, he's way stronger than me."
Jiraiya grinned confidently and nodded firmly.
Recalling the terrifying power of that massive ninjutsu Ling Yu used to wipe out the Rain ninja—three thousand enemies vanishing into thin air, the entire battlefield completely devastated by the technique—Jiraiya still couldn't forget the scene.
He was certain that since Ling Yu could achieve something like that, holding his own against the One-Tail should be easy.
"In that case, our priority right now is to repel them first. Then we can look for a chance to support Ling Yu. You handle the other one—I'll deal with the Third Kazekage."
Still somewhat worried that Ling Yu might not be able to handle Shukaku, Hiruzen Sarutobi decided to go all out. He turned to Jiraiya and gave the order.
"Five Release: Great Combo Bullet Technique!"
Hiruzen Sarutobi formed hand seals and used Shadow Clone Technique to summon four clones. They coordinated perfectly, simultaneously unleashing Fire, Lightning, Water, Earth, and Wind ninjutsu toward the Third Kazekage and Ebizō.
"Magnet Release: Multiple Iron Sand Walls!"
Facing Hiruzen's compound ninjutsu, the Third Kazekage didn't dare be careless. He formed hand seals and quickly condensed four massive iron sand walls to block himself and Ebizō.
BOOM!
After a deafening explosion, three of the ten-centimeter-thick iron sand walls were shattered outright. Even the last remaining layer was nearly broken through. Seeing this close call, the Third Kazekage couldn't help but break into a cold sweat for his own survival.
"Fire Release: Fire Dragon Flame Bullet!"
Before he could recover, Hiruzen Sarutobi's next attack arrived.
For a moment, facing Hiruzen's relentless barrage of attacks, the Third Kazekage—without Ebizō's help and with less experience—gradually fell into a disadvantage.
…
On the other side of the battlefield
"Swish!"
Having fully awakened, Shukaku was clearly enraged and began launching close-range frenzied attacks at Ling Yu.
Tail whips, punches, charges—it used everything nonstop.
Though its attacks surpassed the speed of sound and the range grew larger with each strike, every single one was evaded by Ling Yu using Space Power.
"Damn it! Tailed Beast Ball!"
Seeing it couldn't hit Ling Yu, Shukaku quickly changed tactics. A blue-purple black sphere began gathering in its mouth.
In less than a moment, Shukaku had formed a Tailed Beast Ball the size of its own head.
Sensing that the power concentrated inside the Tailed Beast Ball could easily destroy several large mountains, Ling Yu stopped holding back. He absolutely could not allow the Tailed Beast Ball to hit the Konoha ninja behind him.
"Wood Release: Wood Human Technique!"
"Wood Release: Wood Dragon Technique!"
Chakra surged violently within his body. Ling Yu formed hand seals.
In the next moment, the trees beneath his feet grew wildly. In no time, they coalesced into a wooden giant even larger than the One-Tail. Wrapped around its arm was a lifelike wooden dragon.
"What?!"
The instant it saw Wood Release, terror flooded Shukaku's heart. Memories of being dominated by Wood Release resurfaced, and panic began to set in. It was just about to release the Tailed Beast Ball from its mouth—
"Whatever you spit out, you can swallow it back yourself!"
But Ling Yu gave it no chance. Standing atop the wooden giant's head, he controlled its arm to grab the massive Tailed Beast Ball and shove it straight back into Shukaku's mouth.
BOOM!
A colossal explosion roared across the entire battlefield. The ground shook violently from the blast's impact.
After interrupting Shukaku's Tailed Beast Ball, Ling Yu's assault didn't stop. He continued pressing the attack.
"You still dare call yourself 'this great one'? So arrogant? Watch me beat you to death!"
First, he used the wooden dragon wrapped around the giant's arm to bind Shukaku tightly. Then Ling Yu continued controlling the wooden giant's fists, pummeling Shukaku like a sandbag—each punch landing solidly.
"Still want to tear me apart? Now I'll beat you into a sand pancake!"
"Ahhh!"
Being restrained by the wooden dragon caused Shukaku's chakra to drain rapidly, weakening its strength. Gradually, it lost all ability to resist.
Being beaten punch after punch by Ling Yu, Shukaku let out pained roars with each blow. The ground rhythmically trembled in time with its cries.
For a moment, the sounds of battle that had filled the warzone suddenly stopped. Every ninja unconsciously paused and stared blankly toward Shukaku's side of the battlefield.
"No way… Ling Yu wasn't lying. He really awakened Wood Release."
The instant the wooden giant appeared, Jiraiya swallowed hard.
"This is… the First Hokage's Wood Release! Has the First's ninjutsu appeared once again?"
Hiruzen Sarutobi's reaction was even more dramatic. He abandoned his pursuit of the Third Kazekage, mouth agape in stunned silence, tears faintly glistening in his eyes.
"Wood Release! That's Lord Hashirama's Wood Release!"
"Could it be that Lord First has returned?"
"Nonsense! Lord First passed away long ago. That's his descendant—Senju Ling Yu's Wood Release!"
"Look! Lord Ling Yu's Wood Release has completely suppressed that rampaging tailed beast! With him here, Konoha will definitely win!"
The moment Wood Release appeared, every Konoha ninja erupted in excitement. One after another, they became more fired up than if they had been injected with adrenaline, gazing toward Ling Yu atop the wooden giant with burning fervor.
"Damn it! Konoha has produced another Wood Release user. No—this is bad. We have to tell Lord Third to retreat immediately."
Chiyo watched the Sand ninja gradually lose their will to fight and felt a surge of anxiety. Ignoring her battle with Hatake Sakumo, she turned and rushed toward the Third Kazekage.
She had lived through the era of Hashirama Senju and knew full well what it meant for Wood Release to reappear. The balance of power in the ninja world would completely shift.
That was the strongest force in the ninja world—until now, no one had ever defeated Wood Release. In the early days, Hashirama Senju had used Wood Release to suppress the other four great nations and establish the era of peace in the ninja world.
Now, seeing Ling Yu's Wood Release felt like looking at Hashirama's shadow once again. This was terrible news for the Sand ninja.
"Lord Third—don't just stand there! Order the Sand forces to retreat immediately!"
Rushing anxiously to the Third Kazekage, Chiyo shouted urgently.
"Ah? If we retreat now… what about the One-Tail?"
The Third Kazekage looked at Shukaku being brutally beaten by Ling Yu and hesitated, caught between advance and retreat.
"This is no time for pride. We have no choice but to abandon the One-Tail for now. Retreat first. Later, we can negotiate with Konoha."
Ebizō's figure also appeared beside the Third Kazekage. After thinking for a moment, he spoke gravely.
"If Konoha refuses to return it, we can use this as leverage to rally the other three great nations and pressure Konoha. No other country will sit idly by while Konoha grows stronger."
"Damn it! Retreat! Full army retreat!"
Gritting his teeth, the Third Kazekage finally gave in and hurriedly ordered the Sand ninja to withdraw from the battlefield.
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