If one were given the opportunity to use attribute fusion to form a Kekkei Genkai, most people would immediately think of Wood Release.
The power of Wood Release needed no elaborate explanation. It was a concept Uchiha Madara spent his entire life trying to understand, yet never truly overcame.
With Wood Release, the First Hokage ended the era of chaos and established peace, becoming known as the God of Shinobi.
However, it was more accurate to say that Hashirama Senju did not rely on Wood Release to become legendary. Rather, Wood Release became legendary because it was used by Hashirama Senju.
Was Wood Release powerful?
Of course it was.
Even Yamato, an ordinary ninja, had become one of the stronger shinobi in Konoha simply by possessing it. In Tsunade's evaluation, he was among the strongest ANBU operatives of the Third Hokage's era.
But truthfully, Yamato's Wood Release represented the most basic form of the technique.
Its primary strength lay in binding and suppression, especially against Tailed Beasts.
Beyond that, it did not possess extraordinary destructive power or hardness. Wood was still wood, after all. It was not a technique designed for constant offensive dominance, but for control and containment.
In practical terms, Yamato's Wood Release functioned mainly as a support tool for the village's Tailed Beast control system. In that sense, it was somewhat similar to Rasa's Magnet Release, which manipulated Gold Dust for control and restraint.
As for other known users, such as Obito Uchiha in his later state, the portrayal of Wood Release in his hands was inconsistent. It largely manifested as violent piercing techniques, which, while intimidating, were not fundamentally superior to Kimimaro's Shikotsumyaku in overall lethality.
These examples represented the standard level of Wood Release.
In essence, Wood Release was simply a Kekkei Genkai formed from the fusion of Water and Earth Release. It was not inherently above other bloodline abilities.
Its true reputation came entirely from one man, Hashirama Senju, or more precisely, from his Sage Body.
Because Hashirama's personal strength was overwhelming, and the Yang Release within his cells was abnormally powerful, his Wood Release became something entirely different from the standard version.
It was not the same technique others used.
A simple comparison could be made. It was like two martial artists using the same technique, yet one could defeat every opponent effortlessly while the other struggled to survive basic battles.
As the reincarnation of Asura, Hashirama possessed chakra of the highest caliber and a physical body unmatched in the shinobi world. With his battle experience gained from constant war, techniques like Deep Forest Emergence, Wood Golem, Wood Dragon, and even True Several Thousand Hands were simply expressions of overwhelming chakra output through Wood Release.
If Hashirama had specialized in Earth Release instead, he could just as easily have created Earth Release versions of Deep Forest Emergence, Earth Golem, Earth Dragon, and True Several Thousand Hands.
If his Kekkei Genkai had been Byakugan instead…
It was not an exaggeration to say his Gentle Fist could have reached the level of a massive shockwave technique comparable to Shinra Tensei.
If he had Magnet Release, his Sand Burial might have covered an entire desert region on the scale of the Taklamakan Desert.
If it were Ice Release, he could casually produce Ice Release techniques equivalent to Deep Forest Emergence, Ice Dragon, Ice Golem, and a True Several Thousand Hands covered in frozen destruction, comparable in scale to an Ice Age.
If it were Dust Release, even five times Ōnoki's output would not be an exaggeration. It could potentially erase Perfect Susanoo outright.
In short, Wood Release was powerful not because of the technique itself, but because of Hashirama's Sage Body and the terrifying quality of his Yang chakra.
That was the foundation.
Naruto, as another Asura reincarnation, did not possess Wood Release, yet in his later years, the destructive power of his Rasengan variations was not inferior to it.
If Kakashi had access to a Rasengan capable of instantly destroying a Susanoo, the comparison would speak for itself.
Therefore, if Hayashi used attribute fusion to form Wood Release, its power would far exceed Yamato's version.
This was because his own Yang Release was already extremely strong, although still far from Hashirama's level.
To reach that level, his Yang Release would need to evolve further. However, by that point, the effect of Inorganic Reincarnation would not be inferior to Wood Release either.
Inorganic Reincarnation was a technique that granted life and control to non-living objects.
In simple terms, it was an alternative expression of Wood Release.
For Hayashi, the priority of fusion was not limited to Wood Release alone. Even acquiring Magnet Release or Lava Release would not drastically change his current combat strength.
There would be improvement, but it would also push him further into the path of imitation-based combat.
A true imitation-type shinobi was one who could replicate multiple bloodline abilities with greater efficiency than the originals. It was not something on Kakashi's level of imitation.
However, such a path still had limitations. Beyond its versatility, it did not represent true transcendence.
Hayashi's higher goal was to use the system to fuse all seven attributes into Kekkei Mora.
Kekkei Mora stood above both Kekkei Genkai and Kekkei Tōta, formed from the fusion of Fire, Wind, Earth, Water, Lightning, Yin, and Yang.
In recorded history, only Kaguya Ōtsutsuki, the Sage of Six Paths, and Hamura Ōtsutsuki possessed this level of power.
Kaguya and Hamura could use Kekkei Mora naturally, without external amplification.
Madara Uchiha and Obito Uchiha only obtained partial access through the Ten-Tails, along with the Truth-Seeking Orbs.
Naruto, on the other hand, only reached that level after receiving chakra from the Nine Tailed Beasts and the power of the Sage of Six Paths, entering Six Paths Sage Mode.
Even then, his Truth-Seeking Orbs were consumable. Once used, they could not be regenerated.
In essence, even Naruto remained within the limits set by the Sage of Six Paths.
If Hayashi succeeded in fusing all seven attributes, he would step directly into Six Paths level power. Although the system would be the source, it would not be tied to the Sage of Six Paths.
His planned path was clear.
Rinnegan awakening, seven nature fusion into Kekkei Tōta, and collection of the Nine Tailed Beasts' chakra.
This was the roadmap he had chosen.
Hayashi's eyes rested on the system panel.
At this moment, the fusion interface was already active.
However, he did not begin with the full seven attributes.
Instead, he selected a smaller fusion first, Genjutsu combined with the Mangekyo Sharingan.
According to the system prompt, any attributes could be fused. Whether success was guaranteed was another matter entirely.
For this fusion, three possible outcomes were displayed.
Kotoamatsukami, Tsukuyomi, and Taikōjin.
Each represented a distinct Genjutsu-based ocular ability.
Hayashi briefly examined Tsukuyomi and Taikōjin.
Then he made his decision without hesitation.
Kotoamatsukami.
Tsukuyomi was powerful, and Taikōjin had its own merits, but neither matched his current needs.
Kotoamatsukami allowed subtle manipulation of thought itself. Even if it could only be used once over a long period, its value was undeniable.
Besides, it was Shisui Uchiha's technique. Using it through the system did not change that origin.
The fusion process began within the system interface.
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