Chapter 138: Wood Release: Deep Forest Emergence

"Bang!"

The Rasengan slammed heavily into Susanoo's skeletal frame, erupting in a blinding blue light. A powerful shockwave spread out, kicking up clouds of dust. However, when the dust settled, that massive blue skeleton still stood unmoving, not a single crack left upon it.

"An unsealed ninjutsu I've never seen before... is this the power of the legendary ninja?" Minato murmured to himself, a flash of shock and wariness crossing his eyes.

Just then, Uchiha Madara let out a cold laugh, his voice brimming with disdain.

He merely waved his hand, and Susanoo's massive skeletal frame began to transform; an arm condensed from blue chakra slowly took shape.

"Boom!"

That gigantic arm crashed down toward Minato like a mountain, the air tearing apart with a piercing shriek. Dust flew, rubble scattered, and the entire Hokage Rock trembled.

"Whoosh!"

At the critical moment, Minato's figure vanished in an instant, leaving only a golden afterimage; he flickered onto a large tree not far away, the leaves trembling slightly at his sudden appearance.

"Hah... hah." Minato took a deep breath, struggling to calm his wildly pounding heart. "This power... it simply defies imagination. But..."

A sharp glint suddenly flashed in his eyes, as if he had grasped some key piece of information.

"It seems the opponent's ability does indeed have a limit," Minato thought to himself. "The ability to absorb ninjutsu requires focus; he cannot absorb in time while attacking... but with my current ninjutsu, there is nothing that can break that defense..."

Uchiha Madara coldly scanned his surroundings, a trace of impatience flashing in his eyes.

"Have you played enough hide-and-seek?" Madara's voice carried contempt. "Since you're unwilling to take the initiative, then allow me to lend you a hand."

The moment his words fell, Madara's hands rapidly formed hand seals, his low and powerful voice reverberating through the air: "Wood Release: Deep Forest Emergence!"

In an instant, the entire Hokage Rock shook violently. The earth split open, and countless thick tree trunks surged skyward like giant dragons. These trees grew wildly at a speed visible to the naked eye; stout branches crisscrossed and intertwined, and a dense canopy blotted out the sky and sun.

"Rumble!"

Amidst the tremendous roar, the area around the entire Hokage Rock was instantly surrounded by a dense forest. The trees' growth momentum did not diminish in the slightest, continuing to spread outward; in the blink of an eye they covered a radius of several kilometers.

Minato's eyes widened, staring in disbelief at the scene before him. His figure leaped continuously through the sea of trees, barely dodging the wildly growing branches. "This is... the First Hokage's Wood Release?! How is that possible?"

In distant Konohagakure, the villagers were all startled by this sudden huge sound. They looked up, only to see a green ocean spreading wildly from the direction of Hokage Rock. Panic spread through the crowd like a tide.

Terrified cries rose and fell in succession, and the village soon fell into chaos. People fled in all directions; the streets were packed with panicked crowds.

Seeing this, Minato's heart sank. "Damn it, if this continues the village will be destroyed. I must find a way to stop him!"

Just then, a figure leaped to the front of the sea of trees like lightning — it was precisely the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi.

Hiruzen's expression was grave, his eyes fixed on the faintly visible Uchiha Madara deep within the sea of trees. He took a deep breath, quickly bit his right thumb, and fresh blood dripped from his fingertip.

"Summoning Technique: Enma!"

Bang! A cloud of smoke dispersed, and a gigantic monkey appeared before everyone. The moment Enma manifested, he was stunned by the sight before him.

"This is... Wood Release?" Enma's eyes widened, looking at the sea of trees in disbelief. "What's going on? Isn't this the First Hokage's ability?"

Hiruzen did not answer; his voice was calm and determined: "Enough talk, Adamantine Staff!"

Enma immediately understood, his form flashing as he transformed into a golden-glowing long staff that fell into Hiruzen's hand. Hiruzen caught the Adamantine Staff steadily, his gaze sharp as he scanned the sea of trees before him.

"Extend!" Hiruzen commanded.

The Adamantine Staff instantly swelled, becoming as thick as a giant pillar. Hiruzen gripped the staff with both hands, spun his body, and swept it out horizontally with fierce force.

"Rumble!" The Adamantine Staff traced a golden arc, crashing into the sea of trees with unstoppable momentum. Thick tree trunks snapped like brittle dead branches under this tremendous power. Wood fragments flew horizontally, leaves fluttered down, and the air filled with a heavy woody scent.

Just then, several figures flickered into arrival — Konoha's Anbu and the Jonin left behind to guard the village. They quickly dispersed, each forming hand seals to cast ninjutsu.

"Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet Technique!"

"Earth Release: Earth Flow Wall!"

"Wind Release: Vacuum Sphere!"

Ninjutsu of various attributes rose and fell in succession, clashing against the wildly growing Wood Release, blocking its spread. Soon, the sea of trees' growth stopped. For a moment, the entire battlefield fell into an eerie silence.

Hiruzen Sarutobi stood at the edge of the sea of trees, his expression grave as he surveyed the surroundings. After the exchange just now, the inside of Konohagakure was a mess — damaged buildings and fallen trees everywhere.

Hiruzen understood the danger of continuing to fight inside the village. He decided on the spot and issued an order to the ninja present: "Everyone listen up, absolutely no fighting inside the village! Evacuate the civilians immediately!"

The next moment, Hiruzen Sarutobi gripped the Adamantine Staff tightly with both hands, his sharp gaze fixed on the center of the sea of trees. He took a deep breath, muscles tensing.

"Lengthen!" Hiruzen shouted low.

The Adamantine Staff instantly surged in length, like a golden lightning bolt stabbing straight into the clouds; the air was violently torn apart, emitting a piercing shriek. In the blink of an eye, the massive golden staff shadow had already pierced through the sea of trees, striking directly at the Susanoo at the center.

Facing the oncoming Adamantine Staff, a flash of excitement crossed Uchiha Madara's eyes, and the corner of his mouth curled into an arrogant smile: "Well done!"

Susanoo's massive blue skeleton instantly condensed a giant energy sword dozens of meters long.

Madara manipulated Susanoo, raising this giant sword emitting a gloomy blue light, and slashed it down fiercely at the Adamantine Staff.

"Boom!"

The energy sword and Adamantine Staff collided, producing a deafening roar. Blinding light erupted at the point of impact, and an air wave expanded outward like a tangible substance. Surrounding trees were blown sideways by this fierce wind, branches and leaves scattering.

However, in that split second, a fine crack suddenly appeared on Susanoo's long sword.

A trace of surprise flashed in Madara's eyes; he clearly had not expected the opponent's attack to actually damage Susanoo.

"Hah!"

Just then, Hiruzen Sarutobi roared again, his entire body's chakra erupting; a layer of golden light instantly coiled around the Adamantine Staff, and the staff's force sharply increased.

"Crack!"

Under this tremendous power, Susanoo's energy long sword finally could not hold; it shattered in an instant. The broken blade turned into countless blue energy fragments scattering in all directions, and the Adamantine Staff pressed forward unimpeded, slamming heavily into Susanoo's chest.

The very earth shook, as if the whole world trembled from this one strike.

"Rumble!"

A massive impact force swept over like a landslide and tsunami; Susanoo's huge body was actually pushed backward, crashing hard into the sea of trees behind it.

Thick tree trunks were as fragile as tofu before this terrifying power, instantly smashed to pieces. Wood chips flew, leaves scattered, and thick dust rose up, obscuring everyone's vision.

Susanoo plowed a straight passage through the sea of trees; every tree in its path collapsed. This shocking trace extended far into the distance, until it vanished at the end of everyone's line of sight.

Hiruzen Sarutobi, gripping the Adamantine Staff, fixed his sharp gaze on the direction Madara had disappeared. That staff strike just now had used all his strength, yet against Uchiha Madara who could rival the First Hokage, it was still far from enough.

(Chapter End)