The 2 forces charged at each other, with Kumo and Iwa surprised by the momentum that was radiating off the Konoha forces as they charged into a combined force of over 15,000 Shinobi. Over 10,500 of which were from Iwa. Konoha on the other hand, had just around 5,500, meaning the army they faced was nearly triple their size. Yet, they were running in as if it was they who had the advantage.
The Raikage, the Tsuchikage, Roshi and even Han the 5 tails Jinchuuriki stayed together, expecting that like normal Katsuro would rush out to meet them. Investing so many powerhouses as well as several high level Jonin would be worth it in the end, even if it meant that their army would suffer under the assault of the likes of Minato and Orochimaru.
Typically their expectation would have been met if this was Katsuro from just a couple of weeks ago, but this Katsuro no longer had any qualms about hiding his wood style. So as he moved out in front, enhanced with the flickering lighting that now tended to be always passively on him in battle he collapsed his palms after a series of hand signs.
"Wood Style: Deep Forest Emergence!"
Like just a few days ago, a forest bloomed rapidly into existence, with large trunks and branches sweeping across the battlefield towards the enemy as they grew from the ground. But unlike before, this version was of even wider scale, completely covering the entire battlefield and enemy forces. Even if the Iwa shinobi had already experienced this, it did not stop its huge power. Ordinary Shinobi were completely vulnerable to the wrath of the trees with their weak earth style or water style defences struggling to do much of anything. Their stronger shinobi fared better at the cost of exhausting themselves with their full effort, and those who led them were forced to help them as much as they could.
The branches pierced through, wrapped around and crushed the Iwa and Kumo shinobi but largely dealt injuries from their sheer size and weight causing huge disruptions. With the price being a huge amount of his chakra to cover everyone, Katsuro had changed the environment of his battlefield to his advantage while also killing hundreds and injuring thousands in the process.
As he found himself in a dense forest, Onoki clenched his teeth, wary of the thick branches that could at any moment attack him. He heard the screams of his Shinobi, and realised how much of a different beast a full power Katsuro was. His particle style could help, but he did not have nearly as much chakra to use it so freely, and the Raikage was completely unsuited to save anyone but himself and a few others.
But it wasn't over, soon he released another Jutsu. "Wood Style: Deep Forest Bloom."
As large flowers grew on the trees and branches Katsuro grew, the enemy grew confused thinking them harmless. But Katsuro hadn't paid the price of half of his chakra on these 2 Jutsu so they would cover as many of his enemies as he could for nothing. The large flowers soon opened up, releasing large amounts of yellow pollen in the air. Iwa's and Kumo's instincts instantly flared, realising this had to be dangerous, but with how many there were they inevitably breathed it in. Soon their comrades started falling unconscious beside them at an alarming rate. It made it worse this wasn't the type of attack one could simply block or dodge.
As many of them fell unconscious, those that held on desperately with their will power tried to find ways to escape. Many ran backwards, away from the huge forest hoping to escape the pollen seeing it didn't move too fast. Even their leaders struggled under it, unsure of how to counter this Jutsu they hadn't realised. But soon they did, Onoki unleashed a beam of his Atomic Dismantling Jutsu taking out several large flower trees completely and realised that the pollen released by those specific ones were dispersed and those that inhaled it regained consciousness after a short amount of time. With this information they worked to completely destroy the trees, using up large amounts of chakra they simply couldn't afford to do. But the damage was done, the vast majority of their Shinbi lay unconscious, and more were falling still. They had realised a bit too late, and the manpower they had to fight back was diminishing more and more.
But soon, hope seemed to shine. The pollen suddenly dispersed itself, but before Iwa and Kumo shinobi could cheer, smile and celebrate they soon realised why. Without the pollen they could clearly see the Konoha shinobi upon them, and with many of their comrades unconscious, in what was Konoha's home territory, the battle was suddenly far more even.
But still Iwa and Kumo shinobi moved out to meet Konoha, trying to ensure they reached them before Konoha could reach their unconscious comrades. They hoped to buy time for them to wake up naturally, or for some of those still awake to continue to remove those trees to free more of them.
Similarly, the elite squad of would-be Katsuro killers moved to try to find him with the Raikage cutting through thick branches using his lightning chakra. But, this time it only consisted of 4 members, the 2 Kages and the 2 Jinchuuriki. Their elite Jonin had been forcibly moved elsewhere under the attacks, either injured, unconscious or helping against the Konoha forces. Even if the 2 Kages were willing to sacrifice a large amount of their Shinobi for this, with the battle being forcibly turned much more even, Iwa and Kumo would quickly lose and be surrounded if reinforcements weren't sent to try to slow down Konoha's unchecked powerhouses. It would allow all of their unconscious shinobi to be slaughtered like chicken and would mean Konoha could effectively surround and smother all of them. It was something they could not allow to happen this quickly, even before they had met Katsuro. So even if they took a hit to their combat power, they had to send help. Hopefully, 4 Kage level fighters of their calibre would prove sufficient.
As they rushed through the forest, trying to find Katsuro who had clearly suppressed his chakra, something suddenly shot out of a tree. A wooden Katsuro shot out from a nearby branch at a rapid pace, targeting the lagging and most inexperienced member, the extra tall man wearing heavy red armour all over his body. The 5 tails Jinchuuriki, Han. He struggled to react in time, barely raising his arm in a defensive position as he turned, and suffered a punch from the wood clone to his arm.
Luckily before a follow up could happen, the Raikage managed to smash the Wood Clone to pieces after a short exchange. But the attack had worked, the party was brought to a full stop, and took in their surroundings. The thick branches were positioned in what seemed like an extra large arena as more moved to enclose them within it. The attack also taught them that Katsuro's wood clones could hide in the branches, forcing them to be even more wary. If there was one, there could certainly be more.
"COME OUT! WE KNOW YOUR HERE!" The Raikage shouted out in rage. It truly felt like they were being played.
But unexpectedly, Katsuro did come out - he walked out, standing on top of a large branch of a tree above them, chosen intentionally to signify his standing. He smiled calmly, even before this force that would scare any village.
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