"Susanoo!"
Byakuya instantly activated the third stage of his Susanoo.
A terrifying aura erupted and spread in all directions.
The moment the massive warrior cloaked in blue chakra appeared, every Uchiha clan member on the battlefield reacted in awe.
"That's Lord Byakuya's Susanoo!"
"Haha! He's finally taking action. You're finished now!"
"No matter how many times I see it, Lord Byakuya's Susanoo always leaves me speechless!"
The battlefield buzzed with excitement among the Uchiha.
In contrast, the Root and Sarutobi clan shinobi stood frozen in shock as they witnessed the immense armored figure towering before them.
"What kind of power is this?!"
"That chakra… It's overwhelming!"
"This is the power of the Uchiha's Mangekyō Sharingan..."
One of the Root members clenched his fists.
"Don't panic!"
"We have the power of Wood Release on our side!"
"Yes, Wood Release can restrain Uchiha powers... It has to!"
Their fear dulled slightly at the thought of Hashirama Senju's legendary technique.
"Number Thirteen! Engage immediately!"
"Eliminate every Uchiha on this battlefield!"
At the command, Subject No. 13 advanced without hesitation. His hands morphed into writhing branches, unleashing a flood of trees that surged toward Byakuya.
In response, Susanoo raised its massive ethereal sword. With a single, powerful swing—
"BOOM!"
The incoming forest was cleaved clean through. Trees shattered under the might of the slash.
"Is that your Wood Release? Pathetic."
"Looks like your version is only good for landscaping."
Byakuya sneered.
Wood Release could indeed rival Susanoo—but only in the hands of a true master.
In Hashirama Senju's hands, it was a force capable of overpowering even Madara Uchiha.
In Yamato's hands, it was useful for building houses and restraining tail beasts.
In Subject No. 13's hands, it was neither.
This artificial imitation was nothing more than a pale shadow of the original.
"No... This isn't possible!"
"Wood Release is supposed to suppress Uchiha!"
"No. 13—you're holding back! Use everything you've got! Wipe out Uchiha Byakuya!"
Shouted the Root commanders.
Obeying the order, No. 13 unleashed a surge of chakra. The ground trembled as trees exploded outward with even greater intensity than before, filling the battlefield.
But against Byakuya's Susanoo, it was futile.
"Still useless," Byakuya said flatly.
"You call this Wood Release? You insult its name."
Another swing—another devastating impact. The trees were obliterated in a single arc of Susanoo's sword.
There was no comparison. No. 13 was no Hashirama.
"If this is all you've got..."
"Then die."
Byakuya's Susanoo surged forward, raising its blade high and bringing it down upon the Root ranks.
"No. 13! Block it!"
Panicked screams erupted from the Root squad.
"Wood Release: Great Spindle Wall!"
No. 13 quickly formed seals, and an enormous wall of intertwining trees erupted from the earth, spiraling together into a massive wooden barrier to block the incoming strike.
However, it was clear that this level of defense couldn't withstand Byakuya's attack.
"Bang… Crack…"
The moment Susanoo's colossal sword clashed with the wooden shield, the shield shattered into countless fragments.
"Boom!"
Immediately after, the force of the blow struck the ground with overwhelming power. The earth split apart, and the shockwave blasted outward in all directions.
The battlefield was filled with chaos. Members of the Root Organization, Sarutobi clan, and various other factions were thrown aside like ragdolls. Their numbers were substantial, but it made no difference.
"Agh… Damn it! How can this be happening?!"
"We have the Wood Release! How are we still being overpowered by the Uchiha?!"
"Didn't the First Hokage defeat Uchiha Madara using this very power?!"
Bloodied and bruised, the allied forces couldn't comprehend their crushing defeat. To them, the Wood Release was the ultimate trump card—the very power that once brought Madara Uchiha to his knees. Now that they had replicated it through experimentation and Hashirama's cells, they believed it would grant them the same dominance.
But reality hit harder than Byakuya's Susanoo.
Bewildered and angry, many turned toward the Root Organization with accusatory glares.
"What the hell did your Root division even do?!"
"Didn't you say this Wood Release would be enough to defeat Byakuya?!"
"Why is it so weak?!"
Faced with backlash from Sarutobi loyalists and others, the Root members themselves were lost.
"We followed Danzo-sama's orders… He said Subject No. 13's Wood Release was strong enough..."
"That's what he told us—this was supposed to be our weapon against Byakuya!"
Now cornered by both enemy and ally, the Root operatives could only turn toward their trump card: Test Subject No. 13.
"No. 13, explain yourself!"
"Why couldn't you take him down?!"
But No. 13 didn't respond with words. His body trembled violently.
"Urgh… ahhhhhh!"
He collapsed, clutching his chest as veins bulged and chakra spiraled out of control. Something inside him was going haywire.
"No. 13! What's happening?!"
"Report immediately!"
But it was too late. With a final scream of agony, No. 13's body erupted.
BOOM!
From his corpse, countless mutated branches burst out like wild serpents. These weren't controlled Wood Release techniques—this was raw, chaotic chakra forcibly converting his body into an unstable forest.
The roots and branches grew uncontrollably, ravaging allies and enemies alike, turning the ground into a violent, living maze.
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