"This is... Wood Release?!" Orochimaru's pupils suddenly constricted, shocked beyond belief.
"That's right, just the Wood Release you think it is!"
White Zetsu laughed proudly, then quickly changed hand seals, injecting two kinds of chakra into the stakes:
"Wood Release: Silent Binding Technique!"
The originally arched wooden wall suddenly changed shape. The stakes moved like flexible creatures, twisting around the Kusanagi Sword like vines.
Orochimaru tried hard to pull out the sword, but the wooden stakes wrapped tightly around it. Not only couldn't he pull it free, he was almost caught himself.
The stakes densely surrounded him like a deadly net, completely cutting off his escape route. His face changed drastically.
"This is bad!"
White Zetsu's sudden use of Wood Release went far beyond their expectations.
They knew that to recreate the Wood Release, he had to study the First Hokage's cells, sacrificing countless test subjects. In the end, only one survived.
No one understood better than him just how tricky the First Hokage's Wood Style truly was.
"Earth Release: Rock Arm!"
At that moment, a massive rock hand suddenly erupted from the ground, directly grabbing Orochimaru in its grasp.
It was Ōnoki from the Hidden Stone Village, who had been watching the battle from the sidelines. Realizing the danger, he decisively used his ninjutsu to save Orochimaru.
Just before the wooden stakes fully closed, the rock hand sank back into the earth!
"Tch, that never dying old man again."
White Zetsu watched the scene unfold, growing even more resentful of Ōnoki.
His battle experience was just too rich — always able to catch one or two mistakes. It was incredibly annoying!
"Are you alright?"
After rescuing Orochimaru, Ōnoki asked.
"I'm fine, but... the Kusanagi Sword has been taken."
Orochimaru's heart pounded wildly. Had Ōnoki not intervened just now, he might have been doomed.
What hurt him even more was that the Kusanagi Sword, originally meant to counter White Zetsu, had been so easily snatched away.
"Survival is the greatest fortune."
Ōnoki took a deep breath, his eyes shifting uneasily.
"How much has this guy been hiding? He even knows Wood Style?"
As a veteran who had witnessed the founding era of the ninja villages, he knew all too well how broken the combination of the First Hokage and Wood Style was.
With that power, fighting tailed beasts was like playing with children.
He would never forget the scene — the First Hokage standing atop a giant Buddha hundreds of meters high, facing the Tailed Beasts, saying, "You are too dangerous," and then slapping them down to death with a single strike.
If White Zetsu had even a third—no, a fifth of the First Hokage's power, they should have run away early.
"It's fine, don't worry too much."
Sensing Onoki's concern, Orochimaru calmed himself and reassured him, "I once created a Wood Release test subject, but its power couldn't compare to the First Hokage at all. Even if it could use Wood Release, it would only be at a basic level. It's absolutely impossible to reach the First's level."
"That's good."
Onoki sighed in relief upon hearing this.
Since Orochimaru was an expert in this field, naturally, Onoki believed him, gaining a bit more confidence. He then looked at White Zetsu with a mocking sneer:
"This level of Wood Release is an insult to the First Hokage. Better not show off with it. Today, I'll teach you a lesson!"
"This level?"
White Zetsu tilted his head and suddenly grinned: "Sounds like you've never seen me serious before."
Those words made both Onoki and Orochimaru feel an inexplicable tension in their hearts.
"If that's the case, then let me show you."
Under their watchful eyes, White Zetsu pressed his palms together, chakra bursting forth like a hurricane. A low roar echoed through the barrier: "Ahhhhh! Wood Release: Deep Forest Bloom!!!"
"Ora?!"
Orochimaru and Ōnoki's pupils dilated, their complexions shifting from pale white to blue, then turning purple.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
The entire rooftop trembled violently. Thick tree branches broke through the tiles, growing rapidly right before their eyes!
Countless sturdy trees sprouted like bamboo shoots after the rain, rising from the ground at an almost insane speed, expanding outward in every direction.
In the blink of an eye, a vast forest filled the entire barrier!
Looking back at the wildly expanding trees, which seemed to pursue them with a will of their own, Ōnoki finally lost his temper—a rare sight.
He cursed at Orochimaru, "You damn liar! Didn't you say it's just like the Wood Release experimental subject—nowhere near the First Hokage's level? Have you ever said a single true word?!"
"I…"
Orochimaru twitched at the corner of his mouth, wanting to retort.
But faced with the rapidly spreading forest, he immediately shut his mouth.
This... can't be!
He knew well how powerful that Wood Release test subject was—at best, an upper-level jonin.
The idea that it could replicate the First Hokage's legendary Wood Release: Deep Forest Bloom was pure nonsense.
Who could have guessed?
White Zetsu was actually able to use the First Hokage's signature technique?!
But now, it was too late to say anything.
Inside the Deep Forest Bloom, the caster could control the entire forest at will.
Attack or defense—everything was a single thought away.
What made it even worse was the nature of Wood Release itself: once caught, it would drain the opponent's chakra relentlessly, like a porcupine you dare not touch.
"Ha ha, you want to run?"
White Zetsu manifested through the Deep Forest Bloom, sensing the two fleeing frantically. Its expression grew more ferocious.
"Useless. Inside the Deep Forest Bloom, neither of you can escape!"
In the vast forest, countless trees extended their branches, weaving together like a giant net.
Soon, Orochimaru and Onoki were cornered, surrounded from all sides by waves of trees surging in like a tide, leaving no gaps at all.
At that moment, Onoki pressed his palms together as a powerful chakra surged into his hands.
"Dust Release: Detachment of the Primitive World Technique!"
An upgraded version beyond the original Dust Release: Detachment of the Primitive World Technique, a transparent cube-shaped barrier suddenly expanded, radiating a blinding white light that instantly covered most of the area.
Within the pure white barrier, everything was instantly annihilated, reduced back to its most basic atomic state!
This move nearly drained all of Onoki's chakra. He panted heavily, his whole body seeming to age several times over.
"From here on, it's your turn. I need to rest."
"Ah."
Orochimaru bit his finger, pressing it hard to the ground.
"Summoning Technique: Impure World Reincarnation!"
Boom!
A coffin burst through the tiles, appearing right in front of them.
"Hm?"
White Zetsu raised an eyebrow, somewhat surprised, but quickly wore a confident expression.
"The First and Second Hokage are still alive in the mortal world. Let's see who else you can call forth!"
In truth, it had every reason to be confident.
After all, the First and Second Hokage were still alive in the mortal realm, not having returned to the pure land, so Orochimaru couldn't summon them.
Among the remaining ninja, who else could threaten it?
Uchiha Madara? That was even less likely — except for Black Zetsu, no one else possessed his flesh and body.
Thinking about this, White Zetsu didn't stop at all. Instead, he looked at the coffin with interest, quietly pondering,
"Maybe after killing them, I can learn this ninjutsu and summon Uchiha Madara in front of Black Zetsu!"
Bang!
The coffin was kicked open from the inside.
The first figure to appear in sight was none other than the real Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen!
"Orochimaru," Hiruzen stared at his former student, stunned for half a second, then saw White Zetsu. His eyes instantly blazed with anger.
"It's you! You bastard!"
He still remembered clearly—he was ambushed and killed quietly by this very guy.
But… why were Orochimaru and this guy here together?!
The flood of questions filled Hiruzen's mind. He turned his confused gaze to his former student.
"Orochimaru, what the hell is going on?"
"Sensei, can we put my matters aside for now?" Orochimaru said leisurely.
"That guy disguised himself as you and dragged Konoha into this war mess. By chance, I have a grudge against him. How about we team up?"
"Alright!"
Hiruzen didn't hesitate and nodded immediately.
Though time was short, he quickly judged: no matter what Orochimaru said, he was still born in Konoha.
But that guy—clearly the biggest enemy!
"Hah, it's just an old man?"
White Zetsu remained fearless, grinning widely.
"At this point, even if you call him out, do you think you can defeat me?"
"Of course not," Orochimaru's lips curled into a faint smile.
The second coffin burst from the ground, and the person who came out was someone White Zetsu had never seen before.
The figure was completely wrapped in bandages, making it impossible to see their face, giving off an extremely mysterious aura.
He glanced briefly at Orochimaru, then fixed his eyes on Ōnoki, the Third Tsuchikage.
"Heh, how strange. I was actually summoned by a kid from Konoha, and it seems you had a hand in it, Ōnoki."
"Teacher, please forgive me for disturbing you."
Ōnoki bowed respectfully and said in a deep voice, "We must borrow your strength. That guy is very dangerous. I will explain the details later."
"Fine, you are my disciple after all."
The mysterious person then turned to the Third Hokage and sneered, "I never thought I would one day fight alongside Konoha's Third Hokage."
Sarutobi Hiruzen also seemed respectful as he replied, "I never thought I would see the Second Tsuchikage again, Lord Mu."
"One Third Hokage, one Second Tsuchikage."
White Zetsu felt a slight pressure but still sneered coldly, "Hmph, just two old fools who have been dead for who knows how long."
"Is that so?"
Orochimaru struck the ground again and said seriously, "Then… what about this person?!"
Boom!
Another coffin burst out from the earth.
But unlike the previous two coffins, this one was marked with a clear number 'Four'.
"No way?!"
Only now did White Zetsu's pupils contract sharply, his expression finally showing shock and fear.
*******
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