Senju Nawaki's face was full of smiles.
A question lingered in his mind: "Can I regrow my severed limb by absorbing Sarutobi Shinnosuke's bloodline? Even if Shinnosuke alone isn't enough, the elite jōnin of the Ino–Shika–Chō clan should provide immense benefits."
He turned around and pushed this thought aside, focusing instead on the matter at hand.
Senju Dōma's eyes were full of unwillingness. If only I were stronger—strong enough to fight against all of Konoha—Nawaki wouldn't have to suffer like this.
The current state of Nawaki made his heart ache.
The mighty Senju clan was actually forced to rely on their clan leader injuring himself just to break free of Konoha's darkness. The thought filled him with sorrow.
"Granduncle Dōma, you need anger, not sadness.
The Ino–Shika–Chō jōnin coming in right now… they're my most important healing medicine. I'll rely on you."
The corners of Senju Nawaki's mouth twitched as he forced a smile, enduring the pain surging through his body.
He didn't want to put too much burden on Dōma.
…
Tread…
Tread…
The sound of footsteps echoed outside. The Senju elders holding the line could no longer stop Tsunade and Hatake Sakumo.
Bang!
The ward door burst open again.
A group of people poured inside.
At the front stood Tsunade and Hatake Sakumo.
Behind them followed Sarutobi Shinnosuke's personal guards—the ones assigned by the Third Hokage—as well as representatives of the current Ino–Shika–Chō trio.
Even Jiraiya and Orochimaru came in with the crowd, though unlike the others, they weren't nervous at all. After all, what could possibly happen in Konoha's own camp?
But the scene before them froze everyone in place.
Nawaki, the heir of the Senju clan, was nailed to the wall. His blood had drenched half the ward.
His right arm was severed cleanly at the root. By the standards of shinobi intelligence, his career as a ninja was already over.
And Sarutobi Shinnosuke—the one who had entered earlier—was nowhere to be found.
"You lackeys of the Sarutobi clan… Die!"
Senju Dōma pressed his hands together and roared.
"Wood Release Secret Technique: Nativity of a World of Trees!"
The ground rumbled, earth and stone rolling. Roots, brimming with vitality, erupted upward, surging toward the intruders.
Shock painted everyone's faces, their bodies reacting sluggishly.
One reason was because this was the Konoha camp—they hadn't expected anyone to strike here.
The other was the Jutsu itself. The technique Dōma unleashed was Wood Release, the legendary power of the First Hokage.
Even though Konoha boasted endlessly about the Third Hokage's strength, every shinobi present knew the truth: the strongest Hokage had always been Senju Hashirama, the God of Shinobi.
…
Rumble…
While everyone was still stunned, several colossal trees shot skyward beneath their feet, enclosing the intruders and tearing the ward apart.
From a distance, a half-kilometer forest had suddenly appeared in Konoha's encampment—swallowing nearly half the camp itself, drawing everyone's eyes.
"Wood Release?"
Veteran ninjas gasped, their minds racing.
Meanwhile, hidden spies from other villages frantically recorded the abnormal phenomenon, preparing to send word back home.
At the very center, where the ward once stood—someone screamed for help.
"Help…!"
It was one of the Ino–Shika–Chō jōnin.
Pffft—
The sound of flesh tearing rang out.
The three senior jōnin of the Ino–Shika–Chō trio were bound tightly by writhing vines. Their chests were pierced clean through, their eyes wide with shock.
Blood poured from their mouths as they tried to speak, but Dōma gave them no chance.
This was also the first time he unleashed such a large-scale Wood Release. His raw power was overwhelming, though his control was still imperfect.
Swish—
Blades of chakra slashed through tree roots, opening a clearing where the ward once stood.
The scene was restored, and everyone could see clearly: the three Ino–Shika–Chō elders were dead.
"…Elder Dōma… you…?"
Hatake Sakumo's face was grave. He struggled to process what he was witnessing.
It had been Senju Dōma's sudden attack, fueled by his deep resentment, that caused such devastation.
The short blade in Sakumo's hand was already unsheathed, gleaming coldly.
His eyes flicked toward Nawaki, calculating. Blade raised across his chest, he stayed on guard.
How do I handle this?
If this were the old Dōma, before awakening Wood Release, Sakumo was confident he could suppress him. But now? He knew he didn't have the strength to capture him.
His gaze slid toward the other Sannin.
…
"You… you actually killed your own comrades!"
A furious roar erupted from Jiraiya, his eyes bloodshot.
The Third Hokage had always drilled into him: protect your comrades, especially the Sarutobi and the Ino–Shika–Chō clans—the backbone of Konoha.
To him, Dōma was nothing more than an antique, clinging desperately to his clan's fading glory.
The three slain jōnin weren't strangers to Jiraiya—they were people he knew, comrades he respected.
"Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique!"
Hands flew through seals as Jiraiya gathered his chakra, aiming straight at Senju Dōma.
"Don't!" Tsunade shouted, but Jiraiya ignored her.
"Fool!"
A flash of cold fury sparked in Dōma's eyes.
This idiot, blinded by Sarutobi Hiruzen's brainwashing, dares to attack me—and with Fire Release of all things? Did Hiruzen not even teach him the basics of Wood Release?
Even a defective version of Wood Release combined earth, water, and yang chakra. Its vitality made it the natural counter to Fire Release.
Jiraiya puffed out his chest, ready to unleash flames at Dōma—
Swish!
Swish!
Vines shot forward, wrapping tightly around his limbs.
Leaves spread across, binding him from head to toe.
Another vine forced its way into his mouth, sealing it shut before he could exhale fire.
In moments, Jiraiya was trussed up like a hog, his body pinned to a tree trunk, struggling helplessly.
The vines greedily drained his chakra, forcing him into submission.
The others exhaled in relief.
Judging by this display, there was still a chance of negotiating with Dōma.
…
"Nawaki…"
At that moment, Tsunade tried to rush forward to check on her brother's condition.
But new trees surged up, blocking her path.
Her face twisted in fury, but fear flickered in her eyes as she looked at Senju Dōma. In the next instant, she instinctively stepped back.
Nawaki silently observed everything.
From the way each person reacted, he could already see where their loyalties lay.
The Ino–Shika–Chō clan? Blindly loyal to the Sarutobi. No need to even analyze.
Jiraiya? Completely brainwashed, hopelessly faithful to this diseased Konoha.
Hatake Sakumo? A neutral man, clinging to his personal ninja way, but too naïve to ever comprehend the darkness of Konoha. He could only stand back and watch.
Orochimaru? The clearest mind of them all. He might have already pieced together Nawaki's plan—but chose not to reveal it. After all, it was the truth.
And his sister? Tsunade was the most conflicted of all, still trapped within the lies spun by Tobirama and Hiruzen.
When the final showdown came… What choice would she make?