"Mokuton: Mokujōheki (Wood Locking Wall)!!"
Yamato slammed both palms to the ground with a ringing shout.
In an instant, a wood wall coiled up like a snail's shell, locking Yamato and Hiruzen safe within its center.
Boom!
Shukaku's attack crashed down with a thunderous blast.
Heads snapped up—only to see the wooden defense had completely held.
Whoosh!
Yamato burst out first, sprinting straight toward Shukaku.
Seeing its strike blocked—and that little speck charging it—Shukaku's face twisted with anger.
"Die!"
Fūton: Suna Sanshōdan (Wind Release: Sand Scatter Shot)!
Shukaku's jaws yawned wide; countless grains of sand spat forth like bullets, raking toward Yamato.
Unfazed, Yamato flicked through signs and barked:
"Mokuton: Jukai Heki (Tree World Wall)!"
Rumble, rumble!
Ranks of crisscrossed trees surged up from the earth, interlocking into a barrier in front of the Leaf forces.
Then, with a light stomp, a massive wooden pillar heaved up beneath him, vaulting Yamato dozens of meters into the air.
Mokuton: Mokushibari no Jutsu (Silent Binding Technique)!
Vines as thick as arms sprouted from the pillar, racing forward so fast the eye could follow.
Several lanced into Shukaku's body, forming a living bridge between them.
Yamato leapt onto the vines, sprinting along them toward the One-Tail.
"Damn insect!!"
Shukaku roared, slapped, and snapped the linking vines.
With the other hand it snatched the falling Yamato out of the air.
Murderous aura boiled off Shukaku as it clenched down—
Crack!
Yamato crumbled into a block of wood.
Shukaku blinked—fooled!
"Mokuton: Ibara Satsu no Jutsu (Thorn Kill Technique)!"
The shout rose from beneath Shukaku; at once, thickets of heavy wooden spikes thrust up to bind it in place.
A sneer flickered across the beast's eyes. With a single heave, it shattered the wooden restraints like twigs.
Just as triumph touched its gaze, its pupils tightened—somehow, Yamato was already on Shukaku's shoulder.
A faint smile curved Yamato's mouth. His target had never been Shukaku at all, but the boy atop its head—Gaara.
Shukaku sensed his aim and slammed a palm down toward its own shoulder.
Yamato thrust out his hand at Gaara.
A square wooden plunger, no bigger than a palm, shot forth and bonked Gaara right on the head.
Gaara's eyes snapped open from Tanuki Neiri (Feigning Sleep).
Shukaku's descending hand froze in midair.
The killing aura snuffed out, and its massive body began to disintegrate into sand, pouring down out of the sky.
Gaara panted hard, glaring daggers at Yamato—but he was so weak he couldn't move a finger.
Without Shukaku's support, he too tumbled from above.
Yamato lunged in and bound Gaara with Mokuton.
"Gaara!"
Temari's face went white as she saw her brother seized.
Panic rippled across the Sand ranks as well.
The One-Tail's host must not fall into Leaf hands!
As Yamato gathered to retreat with Gaara back to the Leaf line, a cold voice breathed by his ear:
"Long time no see. Should I call you 'Kinoe,' or perhaps 'Tenzo'?"
Every hair on Yamato's body stood up. He spun to the silhouette behind him, voice tight:
"Orochimaru!"
"The One-Tail's jinchūriki won't be going with you." Orochimaru licked his lips; his mouth yawned, and Kusanagi no Tsurugi (Grass Long Sword) shot forth like an arrow.
Yamato twisted aside from the thrust and started to withdraw—
Orochimaru's neck stretched like a serpent; his jaws clamped for Yamato's throat.
Crunch!
Orochimaru's face went stiff—his fangs sank into a chunk of wood.
He raised his eyes to the real Yamato in another direction and sighed in mock regret, snapping his hand to yank the bound Gaara back.
Yamato slipped to Hiruzen's rear with a trace of chagrin.
"I'm sorry, Hokage-dono. I failed to secure the host."
Hiruzen shook his head, eyes crinkling as he patted Yamato's shoulder.
"It's fine. Neutralizing Shukaku solved a far larger problem."
Seeing Yamato still grim, Hiruzen chuckled softly.
"Lift your head. Look around."
Yamato blinked—only now noticing that, across both Leaf and Sand, most eyes were fixed on him.
In those eyes, shock and awe burned bright.
Mokuton.
Konoha's unique kekkei genkai—something that carried a special meaning for every shinobi of the Leaf.
In some senses, Mokuton embodied Konoha's hope—a spiritual pillar.
And to other villages, it spelled fear.
"Amazing…"
Among the rookies, jaws hung open as they stared at Yamato.
"He totally stole our spotlight, right, Sasuke?"
Naruto clicked his tongue, feigning disdain—though his eyes kept darting back to Yamato.
Sasuke said nothing, knuckles whitening. More than ever, he felt the gap in his own strength.
"Tenzo, huh? Looks like you finally stepped into the sunlight."
Kakashi murmured under his breath, words meant for no one but himself.
On the Hokage Rock—
Kisame stared, dumbfounded. Even from afar, those thick wooden constructs were impossible to miss.
"That… that has to be the legendary Mokuton, right?"
He glanced at Yuto, speaking with unusual caution.
"Mokuton? Flashy and useless."
Yuto gave Yamato a single dismissive look, voice dripping with scorn.
To need that much Mokuton just to deal with Shukaku?
If you're weak, taking longer is one thing—but that old man Hiruzen strutting around like a peacock—what's with that?
//Check out my P@tre0n for 20 extra chapters on all my fanfics //[email protected]/Razeil0810