Konoha Year 32, end of June...
Another incident that shocked the entire ninja world occurred.
The Senju clan, one of Konoha's great clans that founded Konoha and produced the First Hokage and Second Hokage, was annihilated by Iwagakure while protecting Konoha.
At the same time, when the Senju clan head was about to die, a jutsu that astonished the entire ninja world appeared on the battlefield...
Wood Release: Advent of a World of Flowering Trees!!
Senju Toshiki awakened the First Hokage's bloodline limit - Wood Release in his final moments!!
Hearing this news, the entire ninja world sighed in relief. Fortunately, Senju Toshiki perished together with the invading Iwa-nin forces in the end, otherwise Konoha might have gained another God of Shinobi.
It is said that the battlefield there has now turned into a forest.
...
"Wood Release!!" Ōnoki looked at the intelligence report in his hand with shock and asked, "Is this confirmed?"
"It is indeed Wood Release," the Iwa-nin replied. "Many people witnessed it, and that battlefield has now become a forest!"
"Wood Release: Advent of a World of Flowering Trees..." Hearing the Iwa-nin's confirmation, Ōnoki sighed deeply.
Back in the day, there were two overpowered abilities in the ninja world - the Uchiha's Mangekyō Sharingan and the Senju's Wood Release, which dominated the ninja world without equal.
Fortunately, Hashirama Senju was a peace-loving fool...person, and with Madara Uchiha restrained by Hashirama, the major villages avoided disaster and even received the legendary nuclear...ahem, tailed beasts!!
After Madara Uchiha and Hashirama Senju died, their clans never produced these abilities again.
So the ninja world no longer feared Konoha, but now...
"What is happening?" Ōnoki frowned and muttered. "Both the Mangekyō and Wood Release have reappeared."
Fortunately, the Senju clan head was also loyal to the village and perished together with the Iwa-nin while protecting the frontlines. Though as Tsuchikage, losing so many Iwa-nin was painful, still...
Better than Konoha gaining another God of Shinobi!!
"Pass down the order," Ōnoki said after some thought. "Continue the full-scale assault on Konoha. No matter what, we must take advantage of Konoha's weakened forces to catch them off guard."
He refused to believe luck would favor Konoha again this time!!
...
Konoha...
"Wood Release!!" Hiruzen Sarutobi looked at the intelligence report from the shinobi below, so shocked he nearly dropped his smoking pipe. Raising his head in disbelief, he asked, "Is this confirmed?"
"Did the Senju clan head truly awaken Wood Release at the end?"
"It's true," the Konoha-nin nodded. "That battlefield has now turned into a forest. There's no mistake."
"..."
Hearing the Konoha-nin's words, Hiruzen fell silent. After taking a puff of smoke, he said, "Tell the Konoha advisory council to come here immediately."
"Have them come right now for a meeting!"
"Yes!" The Konoha-nin acknowledged and left to notify them.
Hiruzen stood up with his hands behind his back, sighing deeply as he muttered sorrowfully, "The Senju clan... Teacher... I... Ah!!"
He didn't know what to say!!
The annihilation of the Senju clan was partly his fault, but...
He never intended for the Senju to be wiped out. It was just that Konoha was facing its greatest crisis since the village's founding, so he couldn't send reinforcements. Besides, the Senju were incredibly powerful!!
Hiruzen believed they could hold their ground, but never expected this outcome...
"Ah!!" Hiruzen shook his head helplessly. "I hope Tsunade and Nawaki can endure this."
...
"We're here." Uzumaki Jun looked at the office before him—his office in Uzushiogakure. He hadn't taken them to the camp. Seeing the dozen or so remaining Senju clansmen with reddened eyes, he sighed inwardly and said, "For now, take these few days to familiarize yourselves with Uzushiogakure."
"Uzushiogakure is a nation governed by law."
"As long as you don't break the laws, you're free to do as you please."
"Thank you for your trouble." Senju Shukuma wiped his tears and bowed to Uzumaki Jun. "I will make sure they don't violate any laws."
Now that the Senju clan was under his leadership, no matter what...
He would take good care of them!!
"You..." Seeing Senju Shukuma like this, Uzumaki Jun opened his mouth but ultimately sighed. "Do as you wish."
After all, aside from their abundant chakra, the Senju...
Were no different from ordinary people.
Senju Shukuma comforted his clansmen. Aside from him, the only remaining Senju were mostly children.
So...
He couldn't afford any mistakes now.
Once his clansmen had calmed down, Senju Shukuma stood up and looked at Uzumaki Jun, hesitating as if he wanted to ask something.
However...
"Wood Release was something I accidentally synthesized," Uzumaki Jun waved his hand. "It has nothing to do with Lord Hashirama."
In theory, Wood Release is the combination of earth and water nature transformations, but until now, no one had successfully replicated it—most attempts resulted in Lava Release.
As for his...
Of course, it wasn't synthesized. He obtained it through the system over the past few years.
Why rely on yourself when you can use cheats?
As for why he helped the Senju at the end...
It was simply because seeing the Senju clan head ready to sacrifice himself moved him, so he used Wood Release to let the Senju depart without regrets.
They...
Used Wood Release to protect Konoha from the Iwa-nin in their final moments, successfully defending the village!!
"!!" Senju Shukuma stared at Uzumaki Jun in disbelief before sighing. "Truly a genius!!"
To synthesize even the God of Shinobi's Wood Release—wait, didn't that mean...
Senju Shukuma widened his eyes at Uzumaki Jun, thinking in shock, "Does that make him the new God of Shinobi?"
Uzumaki Jun seemed to read his thoughts and nodded with a smile. "The rest is up to the Senju clan."
Honestly, even without Wood Release, he could now defeat any Kage or tailed beast!
"Uzushiogakure operates on the principle of 'to each according to their work'—more work, more rewards. So..."
Go work!!
The construction team could really use an elite earth-release jonin like you!
"Understood!" Senju Shukuma nodded. "The Senju clan will rise again through our own efforts."
No matter what, as the clan of the God of Shinobi, they had to maintain their dignity...
The Senju didn't need to rely on anyone!!
...
Konoha.
Meeting room.
"What do you think?" Hiruzen Sarutobi clasped his hands under his chin, looking at the elder council before him. "What should Konoha do now?"
"This..." Koharu Utatane stared at the intelligence report in her hands, then raised her head in disbelief, fixing her gaze on Hiruzen. "Teacher's clan... is truly gone?"
As a student of the Second Hokage, she couldn't believe it...
She slammed the table and stood up abruptly, her sharp eyes glaring at Hiruzen. "Didn't you promise me you wouldn't go this far?"
"I..." Hiruzen sighed. "First, calm..."
"That's right, calm down first," Danzō also urged Koharu. "Let's hear what Hiruzen has to say. Maybe it wasn't intentional?"
"..."
Hiruzen's eyelid twitched. Though his old friend was defending him, something felt off...
"I didn't do anything," Hiruzen said helplessly. "The Senju clan sacrificed themselves for Konoha."
"They are heroes, all of them died protecting the village."
"Hmph..." Koharu sighed after hearing Hiruzen's words. "We must immediately send shinobi to the Senju's former defensive line."
No matter what, what's done is done. All they could do now was protect Konoha, so at least...
They wouldn't fail their teacher and the First Hokage!!
"I've already arranged it," Hiruzen nodded. Seeing Koharu finally calm down, he continued, "But just defending won't solve the problem."
After all, Konoha wasn't strong enough to face this threat alone.
"Those smaller villages..." Koharu paused here, then fell silent. "The only solution now is to find the Mangekyō user."
If they destroyed one or two more villages now, it might provoke united retaliation, making things worse for Konoha. So that option was off the table...
"Ah!" Hiruzen sighed deeply, then glanced at Danzō, who was pretending ignorance, and said helplessly, "Pass down the order: retrieve the Senju's bodies, have Orochimaru reassign shinobi to defend the frontlines, and suppress the news. Tsunade must not find out about this."
"And no matter what..."
"Orochimaru must hold the line at all costs."
However...
Hearing this, Koharu's pupils constricted again. "You plan to..."
"This is for Konoha," Hiruzen took a puff of smoke, meeting Koharu's gaze steadily. "For the peace of the ninja world!!"
That was Wood Release!!
How did it manifest??
If they could uncover the secret, then Nawaki and Tsunade, the last survivors of the Senju clan, might...
But...
This would depend on Danzō!!