The Konoha encampment was alive with boisterous celebration.
They had secured a massive victory. At this moment, aside from a few sentries keeping watch on the perimeter, the Konoha ninja were permitted to celebrate. However, once tomorrow arrived, they would have to regain their focus and plunge themselves back into the war.
As night fell, Tianyuan wandered through the Konoha camp. He looked up at the stars, thinking of his previous world. Perhaps his old world was also one of those countless stars in the skythe place known as Earth.
Of course, Tianyuan didn't feel like an outsider in this world anymore. After realizing that all of this was real, he had long since integrated himself here. There was happiness, sorrow, joy, and grief. With such a vast spectrum of life surrounding him, how could he fail to belong?
Yet, even as his strength continued to grow, he never abandoned the thought deep within his heart.
"Perhaps, one day, when my strength reaches a certain level, I will be able to do it." A strange light flickered in Tianyuan's eyes.
"Tianyuan, what are you thinking about?" Kushina Uzumaki asked as she approached his side.
"Nothing much." Tianyuan shrugged.
"You're definitely thinking about something." Kushina glanced at him. "Still, I didn't expect you to possess the Mangekyō Sharingan, and now you've even used Wood Release Ninjutsu. Does your lineage carry the genes of the Senju Clan?"
"Who knows," Tianyuan laughed. "As for the Wood Release, I only awakened it recently."
On this point, Tianyuan was telling the truth. His Wood Release had indeed been triggered recently after receiving videos through the Playback System.
"To be that powerful right after awakening... you really are a monster." Kushina looked at him. "Though I suppose I have it slightly better than you; I still have a few relatives left."
"Still have relatives..." Tianyuan smiled. "Alright, Kushina, you don't need to comfort me."
"Who's trying to comfort you?" Kushina rolled her eyes at him. She took a few steps away before turning back. "Anyway, Tianyuan, if anything is bothering you, you can tell me. I'm a very faithful listener."
"Thanks, Kushina." Tianyuan smiled and shook his head.
"Go get some sleep." Tianyuan waved her off.
"Yeah, I know," Kushina responded from a distance.
"The Shinobi World, huh? I will eventually uncover all of its secrets." A smile played on Tianyuan's lips.
The Iwagakure encampment was deathly silent.
It wasn't just because so many Stone Ninja had perished, but also because they had just suffered a crushing defeat. They had been utterly routed by Konoha. It would likely take a long time for these Stone Ninja to recover from such a loss.
More importantly, they had heard news from the ninja who managed to escape. That powerful Wood Release Ninjutsu had been cast by the very ninja they feared most: Tianyuan.
When they first heard the news, their initial reaction was disbelief, but looking at the state of the returning ninja, they knew it was all true. But how was it possible? Not only did Tianyuan possess the power of the Mangekyō Sharingan, but he now also held the Wood Release power of the First Hokage.
He had mastered both powers to their absolute limit. Wood Release on such a massive scale truly rivaled that of the First Hokage himself.
At this moment, the Stone Ninja were chilled to the bone; their courage had been utterly shattered by Tianyuan. If they encountered him in the future, these Stone Ninja likely wouldn't even be able to muster a fraction of their true strength.
Everything led back to Tianyuan. If any other ninja had performed that Wood Release, the Stone Ninja might have felt a bit better. But they never imagined it would be himthe Tianyuan who filled them with such dread.
"Can we really defeat Konoha? Can we defeat Tianyuan?" This was the thought weighing on the minds of most Stone Ninja.
Inside a certain tent in the camp, two men sat together: Ōnoki and his son, Kitsuchi.
"Father, Rōshi and Han have not yet returned," Kitsuchi said slowly.
"There is a high probability that those two were defeated by Tianyuan," Ōnoki said, his voice raspy. Tianyuan was like a massive stone that had been weighing heavily on his heart.
"In other words, the two of them are now in Konoha's hands?" Kitsuchi's expression shifted slightly.
"Yes," Ōnoki said grimly.
"How can this be?" Kitsuchi remarked. "Is that Tianyuan really so terrifying? To even have the power of Wood Release..."
"We didn't underestimate Konoha; we underestimated Tianyuan," Ōnoki said slowly. "I don't even know if this Wood Release power is truly his limit."
"Could he have even more power hidden away?" Kitsuchi said in disbelief. "He's only nine years old!"
"Yes, only nine," Ōnoki nodded.
"Is he truly the reincarnation of a god?" Kitsuchi couldn't help but wonder aloud.
"Kitsuchi, you may leave for now," Ōnoki waved his hand. "Leave me in peace."
"Yes, Father." Kitsuchi left the room, and silence returned, leaving only the sound of soft breathing.
"Tianyuan, Tianyuan... Why? Why is it still you?" Fear and coldness emanated from Ōnoki's pupils. A deluge of complex emotions made him feel as though he were on the verge of a breakdown.
In Konoha, as night descended, Hiruzen Sarutobi had not yet left the Hokage's Office. He had received good news regarding the war against the Stone Ninja.
"Killing nearly a thousand Stone Ninja... this is a true victory," Hiruzen Sarutobi smiled. "Tianyuan, as expected, you haven't let me down. In fact, you've done it more perfectly than I imagined."
"What's even more unexpected is that you actually possess the Wood Release Kekkei Genkai," Hiruzen took a deep breath. "Something that two families couldn't achieve in the past has been accomplished by a so-called 'outsider' like you."
"The power of the Mangekyō Sharingan and the power of Wood Release." Hiruzen beamed. This was the happiest he had been since the war began.
"But..." Hiruzen then thought of Kumogakure's offensive. "What will happen on that battlefield?"
Knock, knock. "Lord Hokage." A voice came from outside the door.
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