Back when Yamanaka Shinno first experimented with Wood Release in this forest, he had spent hours testing various high-powered jutsu like they cost nothing.
Once he was done, the trees created by Tree World Birth and Flower Tree World Birth could be left alone with just a bit of concealment for the flower buds. But the Wooden Golem and Wooden Dragon were a different story—they were much trickier to dispose of.
In the end, he had the Wooden Dragon burrow underground while he sealed the Wooden Golem away with Earth Release.
Now, as he returned to this place, he didn't even need to clap his hands together. Simply channeling his immense Sage Chakra into these constructs was enough to reactivate and control them at will.
Orochimaru had just flooded the entire forest with a sea of snakes, primarily to clear out any potential traps and hidden dangers. After all, Shinno had brought him here intentionally, and any shinobi with sense would suspect the area had been rigged to his advantage.
Unfortunately for Orochimaru, Wood Release wasn't something normal shinobi accounted for.
Even if he wracked his brain, he would never have expected that his enemy's true weapon would be these slightly larger-than-usual trees—the kind that could be found almost anywhere in the Land of Fire!
"Wood Release? Wood Release! Ha…hahaha—hahahahaha!"
Orochimaru didn't spare a single glance at the disappearing Manda beneath his feet. His golden snake-like eyes locked onto Shinno, who was sitting atop the Wooden Golem with his legs dangling over the edge, a smile on his face.
The laughter that burst from Orochimaru was filled with madness.
He had researched Wood Release for six years!
And yet, due to the overwhelming devouring nature of Hashirama's cells, every experiment had ended in failure.
But Shinno—Shinno could use Wood Release!
That meant he possessed some unique trait Orochimaru had yet to uncover. Something strong. Something powerful. Something grand.
The absolute, world-shaking, unmatched power of the First Hokage's Wood Release!
Orochimaru's hands trembled, his excitement threatening to shatter what remained of his reason. Even though the power Shinno displayed filled him with instinctual dread, even though part of him screamed to retreat—
He had to try. He had to test this!
What if… just maybe…
Boom!
Orochimaru bit his thumb, formed hand seals, and slammed his palms against the ground.
His golden eyes shone with an unprecedented mix of hope and exhilaration. Chakra surged from his body, releasing an overwhelming mist of summoning smoke.
Hissss!
Massive serpents, each only slightly smaller than Manda, emerged from the fog, raising their heads high. At the forefront stood a three-headed snake and a two-headed serpent. Even faced with the towering Wooden Golem, they exuded raw, murderous intent.
Boom!
The next moment, more than a dozen giant snakes clashed with four Wooden Dragons.
The ground quaked. Rocks shattered. Ancient trees toppled. The battlefield trembled under the violent struggle as the creatures twisted and coiled around each other, locked in combat.
Dust filled the air, blanketing the entire scene.
The trees birthed by Tree World Birth sent out countless vines and branches, attempting to ensnare the snakes.
Bang! Bang!
The serpents, already struggling against the Wooden Dragons, suffered severe injuries within moments. Two were immediately forced back into the Ryūchi Cave, vanishing in puffs of smoke. The remaining ones were helplessly toyed with, unable to last even a minute longer.
As Orochimaru charged toward Shinno, his sharp eyes caught sight of the tallest trees in the area. Their flower buds were swaying, beginning to bloom and release a mist-like pollen into the air.
He knew—if he didn't act now, he'd lose his chance entirely!
His hands flew through a rapid series of seals, unleashing one high-powered jutsu after another.
Earth Release: Swamp of the Underworld!
Wind Release: Vacuum Serial Waves!
Fire Release: Ash Pile Burning!
A colossal dome of earth came crashing down toward the Wooden Golem. Razor-sharp wind blades shredded approaching vines. A surge of searing hot ash rapidly spread outward, blocking out all light around Orochimaru.
"Was that really necessary? You could've just surrendered."
Shinno's sensory abilities allowed him to track Orochimaru's every move, even within the dense smoke. He saw it clearly—the enemy's strategy.
Using the cover of the dust, Orochimaru activated the Shadow Clone Jutsu, creating eight clones.
Four dived underground. Three charged forward visibly. One remained by Orochimaru's side, rapidly forming seals.
Shinno didn't even need to guess—whatever Orochimaru was preparing, it was a high-level forbidden jutsu.
And he wasn't about to sit back and let his opponent finish it.
With a single hand clap, the massive trees infused with his chakra sprang to life, birthing Wood Clones in an instant.
The Wooden Golem's eyes gleamed. Mimicking the Susanoo's multiple arms, it raised four massive fists and hammered down toward Orochimaru's location.
Threefold Rashomon!
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Orochimaru's clone slammed its palms into the ground, summoning three enormous demon-faced gates. They crashed down between him and the incoming attack.
But before the gates could even absorb the impact—
Shinno's Wood Clones struck.
The next sound was pure carnage.
Thud!Thud!Thud!Thud!
A series of brutal, meaty impacts echoed as Orochimaru's real body was caught mid-seal, completely overwhelmed by the sudden ambush.
The forbidden jutsu he had been preparing—canceled before completion.
Boom!
With a final shattering strike, the Rashomon gates crumbled. Orochimaru, now fully exposed, was being relentlessly beaten by the Wood Clones.
"Ugh—gah—urgh…!"
Painful grunts and dry heaves escaped him as his Shadow Clones were destroyed one by one.
"Space-Time Jutsu… Soul-Separation Technique… Four Violet Flames Formation infused with natural energy and poison… You *@#%$… You're really going all out, huh?!"
Shinno formed a single-hand seal, linking his mind to Orochimaru's thoughts with Mind Transmission Jutsu.
He had planned to persuade him to surrender.
But in doing so, he unintentionally caught a glimpse of Orochimaru's strategy.
Oh, hell no.
Space-Time Jutsu… was a deadly technique, capable of dragging a target's soul into a separate battle space. If successful, the physical body left behind would gradually wither and die.
Soul-Separation Technique? That allowed him to seal a target's soul.
Combine those two… and unless Shinno had a counter to soul-based attacks, he was screwed.
And that Four Violet Flames Formation? Once activated, he'd be trapped inside while the entire place flooded with natural energy-infused poison.
If he got caught in this… the only way out might be to punch himself back to his senses?!
Oh, hell no.
HIT IT! HIT IT AGAIN! HIT IT UNTIL IT STOPS MOVING!
The Wooden Golem's fists rained down like a storm.
...
Half an hour later—
"Oi. Oi, oi. Stop playing dead. Breathe."
Shinno's foot, glowing with Mystical Palm Jutsu, pressed onto Orochimaru's battered body.
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Pls Drop some Power Stones
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