Chapter 85

The three great families had already avoided countless risks,

joining forces step by step to become the most elite aristocratic houses in the Land of Fire!!

Nara Soki stood on the eave,

thinking of the colossal Buddha that had just appeared in the distance,

and he felt his head begin to throb.

Nara Soki had great confidence in his own intellect.

But such a terrifying opponent, clearly beyond human capability as the one just seen,

he had no idea what method could be used to restrain him!!

This was the first time in many years he had felt utterly powerless against something.

"Hmm... I suppose no one could have expected that."

"Even the Senju and Uchiha clans, who had fought each other for centuries or longer, have formed an alliance."

"Each of these two families possessed immense hidden strength, ranking among the most powerful in the Land of Fire."

"Now that they have merged… just imagining it makes one's heart race and flesh shudder."

"Especially their two clan leaders—Madara Uchiha and Hashirama Senju…"

Yamanaka Mai glanced at Nara Soki, whose brow was furrowed,

and he immediately knew his companion was in a state of extreme anxiety!!

In all the years they had known each other,

Nara Soki had shown this demeanor only a handful of times!!

"Hashirama Senju… even from this distance, I can feel his chakra, as hot as the sun."

"I cannot imagine what manner of being he is."

"Last time, at the border of the Land of Fire, I saw Madara Uchiha once…"

"The giant warrior he summoned with his Sharingan—I still cannot forget it…"

"This power is beyond human opposition…"

"Even a human wave tactic would likely have no effect."

"Not to mention Hashirama Senju, who stands above him…"

Akado Torafu's chubby face also showed a rare, grim expression!!

He usually seemed indifferent, only caring about eating.

But he knew it was because his two companions, Nara Soki and Yamanaka Mai, were strategizing,

so he didn't need to worry about too many problems.

But now, with the three great families facing life-and-death survival,

he could not let his two companions keep strategizing while he did nothing.

As the head of the Akado clan, he should step forward now!!

"If I hadn't seen it with my own eyes today, I never would have imagined… human power could reach such a level."

"Thankfully, we didn't get involved in that incident at the Daimyo's palace…"

"Otherwise, we might have ended up like the Sarutobi and Shimura clans."

Thinking back to that day at the Daimyo's palace,

Nara Soki felt a wave of dread.

The Daimyo of the Land of Fire had invited many clans to confront Hashirama Senju,

but only the heads of the Shimura and Sarutobi clans agreed!!

Now,

no one knows where the ashes of those two clan heads have gone.

【Kushina Uzumaki: The Nara, Yamanaka, and Akado clans… have you people never changed your outfits since the Warring States era? …】

【Naruto Uzumaki: That topknot in the image—I feel he looks no different from Shikamaru… If both appeared, I couldn't tell them apart.】

【Nara Shikaku: Under these circumstances, any strategy truly has no effect. Against ordinary ninjas, there might still be ways—but a ninja like the First Hokage, who defies logic…】

【Orochimaru: It seems the Akado, Nara, and Yamanaka clans have survived unscathed from the Warring States era to today for good reason… Sometimes, foresight and strategy matter more than raw power.】

【Jiraiya: But seeing how the Sarutobi and Shimura clans acted in another timeline, I'm now worried—will the old man and Danzo not show up later? …】

【Hiruzen Sarutobi: Jiraiya!! What nonsense are you spouting? The Sarutobi clan has always been loyal to the First Hokage; they're just confused now—they will appear later!!】

【Shimura Danzo: …These clans' ancestors were a bunch of fools—they couldn't even tell the difference between their own strength and their opponent's, yet they still threw themselves at death… If it were me, I'd never do such a stupid thing!!】

【Fourth Raikage: Too bad these people are so weak. I remember the First Hokage transplanted Uchiha blood and awakened the Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan—I'm curious… what effect would Wood Release combined with the Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan produce?】

…

Inside the dark cave,

staring at the small sapling in his hand,

Obito Uchiha doubted his own existence.

Is Wood Release really this powerful?

Then why is the Wood Release inside me so weak?

After being transplanted with Hashirama Senju's cells by Madara Uchiha,

Obito Uchiha gained the ability to use Wood Release!!

But years ago,

he discovered that the Wood Release he produced was no different from ordinary Five-Element ninjutsu.

Moreover, the Wood Release consumed far too much chakra to sustain.

So he gave up on continuing to study Wood Release,

and turned his attention to the Mangekyo Sharingan.

From this, it wasn't that Wood Release was too weak,

but that he had never developed Wood Release's true power at all.

Standing behind him, Black Zetsu saw Obito Uchiha's expression

and knew exactly what he was thinking.

A cold sneer rose in Black Zetsu's heart.

Hashirama Senju was the transmigration of Asura,

and combined with his innate Senju clan constitution,

his chakra reserves were staggeringly vast!!

Obito Uchiha was nothing more than a chess piece,

yet he dared to dream of comparing himself to the transmigration of Asura, the son of Hagoromo Otsutsuki.

……

Within the Akatsuki,

Kakuzu had already felt the other members' gazes settle on him.

Even if they said nothing,

Kakuzu still knew what they were thinking.

After a glance at Kakuzu,

they shifted their gazes back to their leader, Deva Path Pain.

Hashirama Senju, the one who ended the Warring States era and was hailed as the God of Shinobi,

and Deva Path Pain, who possessed the legendary Sage's Eye, the Rinnegan…

Between these two "gods,"

whose strength was greater?

……

The scene shifted,

and members of the Sarutobi clan and Shimura clan appeared on screen.

"It's over… it's over… it's all over…"

"From now on, does the Land of Fire even have a place for our Sarutobi clan to stand?"

"Do we really have to leave the Land of Fire?"