Tsunade recognized it at a glance; it was exactly her grandfather's unique Wood Release.
Faced with the trees rushing towards her this time, Tsunade dodged quickly.
These wildly growing trees hit the ground, causing it to shake violently.
But, is the Wood Release attack over just like that?!
Obviously not possible.
If the attack of Wood Release is only this, then Wood Release would not be qualified to be called a power that can counter Susanoo.This coffin, over one meter tall, stood upright, covered in layers of complex sealing scripts.
It was clear that something dangerous or significant was sealed within it.
"Quick... unseal it immediately!"
"We need his strength!"
A Root member rushed forward, forming a rapid series of hand seals.
With a shimmer of chakra, the seals unraveled and faded.
The coffin creaked open.
From within, a pale-skinned man stepped out, his eyes dull and emotionless.
The moment his feet touched the ground, a surge of chakra burst out from his body—dense and wild.
Suddenly, patches of weeds and saplings sprouted around his feet.
"What the hell? This chakra... it's brimming with life force!"
Byakuya's eyes narrowed.
This was no ordinary chakra.
It was vital energy—the kind that could only be produced by someone who had pushed the limits of physical vitality to the extreme.
In the entire shinobi world, only one person was known to possess chakra with such properties: Hashirama Senju, the First Hokage.
"Wait… don't tell me this guy was implanted with Hashirama's cells?"
Byakuya's expression darkened.
He immediately recalled how Konoha's higher-ups had secretly experimented with Hashirama's DNA, particularly Danzo, who was obsessed with replicating Wood Release.
Rumors had long circulated about a failed generation of test subjects…
One of whom eventually became Yamato.
But clearly, Yamato wasn't the only one.
"They actually created another Wood Release user!?"
Byakuya clenched his fists.
It wasn't so simple, though.
Hashirama's cells weren't just any tissue—they retained terrifying vitality even after death.
For ordinary shinobi, transplanting them meant certain death.
Only a handful of people could endure it—and survive.
At that moment, a furious voice cut through the air.
"What… what is this chakra? Why does it feel like my grandfather's…?"
Tsunade arrived, her eyes wide in disbelief.
She stared at the pale figure, frozen.
"Hah… what else could it be?"
Byakuya turned to her.
"They must have harvested your grandfather's cells and grafted them into him."
"My grandfather's… cells…"
Tsunade's voice shook. Her expression twisted in horror.
As a medical ninja, she knew better than anyone what such a procedure entailed.
It wasn't just research. It was desecration.
The thought of her grandfather's body being dissected after death—chopped up and turned into an experiment—was more than she could bear.
"You bastards…!"
Her eyes burned with rage.
She clenched her fists and dashed forward with killing intent.
"I warned you… Konoha's elders are monsters, not men," Byakuya muttered.
Tsunade didn't hear him anymore.
She was blinded by fury.
"You'll all pay!!"
With a battle cry, she leapt into the air.
"Super Strength Fist!"
BOOM!
Her fist struck the ground like a meteor, sending shockwaves and debris in all directions.
"No. 13—engage the target!"
A Root member barked the order.
The pale man stepped forward.
He had no name. Only a designation: Subject No. 13.
Just another weapon in Root's arsenal.
His mind was bound by seals.
He didn't question. He only obeyed.
"…Understood."
Raising his right hand, No. 13 released chakra.
His arm transformed—flesh splitting and twisting into writhing branches.
In an instant, a forest of trees exploded from his limb, racing toward Tsunade.
"This… this is my grandfather's Wood Release…!"
Tsunade's heart clenched.
The familiar chakra, the pattern of growth, the scent of fresh leaves in the air—it was unmistakable.
After missing its target, the forest of trees rapidly surged forward, relentlessly continuing their assault on Tsunade.
This was the true terror of Wood Release—endless, living waves of chakra-infused vegetation. An unceasing storm of nature itself, seemingly impossible to stop.
"Not good…!"
Caught off guard, Tsunade—facing Wood Release for the first time—was immediately overwhelmed. A mass of overgrown trees slammed into her, sending her crashing backward.
But it wasn't over.
The trees didn't stop. They pressed on, coiling and growing with wild ferocity, aiming to finish her off.
Just as another barrage of branches surged toward her, a burst of azure light exploded in front of her.
"Susanoo!"
Byakuya's Susanoo manifested in an instant, intercepting the attack with its massive armored frame.
"Tsunade! Go handle the others!" Byakuya commanded without turning. "Leave this bastard to me."
Tsunade hesitated. "Be careful! He's using the same power as my grandfather… That's not something to underestimate."
Byakuya scoffed, eyes narrowing. "Hmph. I don't fear some knock-off who got Wood Release from a mere cell transplant."
Yes, Wood Release was powerful. Undeniably so. In the hands of Senju Hashirama, it had suppressed tailed beasts and brought order to an era of chaos. It was known as the power that pacified the world.
But power alone didn't define a shinobi.
Yamato had Wood Release too—and all he ever did was build houses and water trees.
Hashirama's Wood Release built nations.
Yamato's built school fences.
Byakuya looked at the masked user in front of him with contempt. "Let's see… Is your Wood Release good for landscaping... or maybe just home improvement?"
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