Green is the most terrifying color in the world.
Those who understand, understand. Those who don't, will eventually.
By comparison, black is quite ordinary.
Wood Release: Advent of a World of Trees is undoubtedly green, while Amaterasu is merely black. So in terms of color hierarchy, there's a natural suppression at play.
There have always been two rumors about Amaterasu. One claims its temperature rivals the sun, making it the strongest Fire Release technique. Without question, this rumor is false—it doesn't even warrant explanation. Anyone who's witnessed Amaterasu's burning effects wouldn't dream of comparing its power to solar flames.
The second rumor declares Amaterasu an inextinguishable black flame. That's equally bogus, easily disproven through logic alone—if it truly never went out, the entire Shinobi World would have been reduced to ashes long ago.
Conversely, since the world remains unburned, Amaterasu clearly isn't perpetual. It doesn't even require special countermeasures. Simply leave it alone for a while, and it'll extinguish itself.
Amaterasu is indeed a formidable technique, but overall, its technical specifications read like health supplement marketing copy—believe it and you're brain-dead.
But Amaterasu does have its advantages. The beauty lies in it not being an instant-activation technique that strikes wherever the caster looks. It has a trajectory—from the caster's Sharingan to the target, the black flames follow a flight path.
In other words, any ninja with decent reflexes can dodge this supposedly "ultimate fire that consumes everything and never dies."
So here's the question: Tobirama Senju constantly criticized Hashirama Senju for being too slow, but just how fast is Hashirama really?
A Uchiha ninja began gathering chakra, and Hashirama instantly sensed dangerous intent. When the black flames came flying, a green vine—far thicker than a human torso—shot up before him.
The black flames adhered to the vine and began burning rapidly.
"What is this thing?"
Hashirama had never encountered Amaterasu before, but sensing its menace, he wasn't foolish enough to make contact.
"Hmm?"
Amaterasu quickly ignited a section of the forest. Not wanting the flames to spread, Hashirama pressed his palms together, and that portion of woodland surged skyward like Jack's beanstalk.
An utterly embarrassing spectacle unfolded: Amaterasu was indeed impressive, but when burning wood, it couldn't keep pace with the trees' growth rate—not even close.
Meanwhile, Madara Uchiha didn't spare Amaterasu's flames a single glance from start to finish. His gaze remained locked on Hashirama, with no apparent intention of dismissing his Susanoo.
Now he wondered if he'd walked into a trap. Had Yūshin and those cunning Senju calculated he'd come here, bringing Hashirama to orchestrate his downfall?
Well, the suspicion wasn't entirely unfounded. After all, Yūshin had indeed used bait tactics to lure Hashirama here, though Tobirama was innocent in this—why did every conspiracy in the Shinobi World seem linked to him?
"Hashirama, why are you here?" Madara demanded.
"That's my line, Madara. What brings you here...? I'm just visiting as a guest," Hashirama replied, studying Madara.
Not far away, Sasuke Uchiha: "..."
Wait, am I being completely ignored here?
That makes no sense whatsoever.
Sasuke seemed about to advance, but then a small area behind him filled with acidic mist. With a hissing sound, the ground corroded as Yūshin emerged from the treeline.
He looked somewhat battered, his chakra severely depleted, leaving him visibly drained.
Yūshin stepped forward and placed his hand on Sasuke's shoulder, saying:
"Deactivate those eyes. The Mangekyō isn't meant for such reckless usage. Continue like this, and you'll be blind in no time."
Put it this way: Sasuke uses his Mangekyō the same way office workers abuse company air conditioning in summer—absolutely wasteful. No wonder his vision deteriorates so rapidly.
Sasuke turned back, confused. Wait, wasn't I protected by Susanoo? How did you reach me... Oh, it's gone?
His Susanoo had first been shattered by the forest assault, then Yūshin had applied his "acid treatment." No defensive barrier could survive that combination.
Sasuke attempted to shake off Yūshin's grip but found himself completely unable to break free.
Yūshin thought: When the big shots are having their confrontation, there's no place for small fry to interfere.
Unable to escape, Sasuke had no choice but to remain still, though he refused to deactivate his Mangekyō Sharingan.
Madara trusted Hashirama's explanation. First, Hashirama was terrible at deception; second, he genuinely showed no aggressive intent.
After all, everyone stood atop the sea of trees. If Hashirama wished, he could drain chakra from anyone at will—his extraction efficiency would exceed Yūshin's by ten thousandfold. Yet he refrained.
Yūshin could corrode the forest so easily only because Hashirama had ceased controlling it. Without chakra manipulation, the woodland was merely dead timber, easily dissolved by acid.
"A visit?"
Madara said nothing more. This was indeed typical Hashirama behavior.
"Indeed, a visit. I refuse to fight on our host's territory—unless you force the issue."
Hashirama appeared carefree, but he wasn't stupid. Fighting Madara to the death now would essentially mean working for Yūshin's benefit.
Assistance was one thing, but he wouldn't go out of his way to help.
Moreover, given their past friendship and his hopes for the future, Hashirama had no desire for a life-or-death battle with Madara.
"Hmph. Your arrogance remains unchanged."
Despite his words, Madara shook his head at Izuna and dismissed his Susanoo.
The situation was extremely disadvantageous. Perhaps he could stall Hashirama, but Izuna would certainly perish. Since Hashirama offered an honorable retreat, Madara wouldn't be ungrateful—people differ, and only steps offered by Hashirama felt acceptable to Madara's pride.
Then Madara's attention shifted to Yūshin:
"Final question: Where is Ojikawa?"
"Caught in Shichimi's technique. Who knows what era he'll drift to."
"...Return the Uchiha clansmen's remains."
"We never encountered Tajima Uchiha's corpse. The others' bodies were cremated long ago. As for Shichimi Uchiha's remains—your clan has no right to demand them."
Throughout their earlier exchange, Yūshin had consistently implied ignorance about Tajima's death, suggesting only the Hagoromo Clan knew the specifics. This served dual purposes: preserving Tajima's corpse for future use, and encouraging the two clans to turn on each other.
"Mangekyō Sharingan..."
Yūshin frowned and cut him off:
"Only your Uchiha Clan would covet such worthless eyes. Do you truly believe everyone desires that cursed abomination?"
"If I sought such things, would Shichimi have joined the Fireflies?"
"Madara Uchiha, you're narrow-minded—a frog in a well. Don't assume everyone shares your limitations."
"Frog... in a well..."
Never in his life had Madara endured such insults. Honestly, he'd always considered himself proud, but only now realized this man had been looking down on him all along, as if Madara Uchiha were nothing but a joke.
His instinct was finally correct. Having witnessed Madara's entire life through the original story, how could Yūshin not see him as a joke? And not even an amusing one.
Sasuke shifted his shoulders, feeling somehow insulted as well.
This time Madara was genuinely enraged, on the verge of resuming combat.
"Madara!"
Hashirama's shout rang out. Massive vines crowned with enormous flower buds slowly rose from the sea of trees. If fighting continued, he'd have to get serious.
"This isn't over."
Madara drew a deep breath, forcibly suppressing his fury. Truthfully, he'd never suffered such humiliation in his entire life.
But as Yūshin said, if you're outmatched on the battlefield and die, whom can you blame?
If Madara felt overwhelming grief and rage over his father's and clansmen's deaths, what about Shichimi's death?
He didn't even know whom to hate.
"Wait, I have another question."
Yūshin's words made Madara freeze mid-step.
"Previously, you pledged the Uchiha Clan's honor as collateral to purchase ninja tools on credit from our Fūma Clan. Tell me—why haven't you settled your debt?"
Madara stumbled, nearly tripping over a vine.
Damn, what an bizarre question—and the moral high ground was one hundred percent Yūshin's. Madara found himself speechless.
He could only glare at Yūshin resentfully, wanting to argue but unable to form words, finally turning away in dejection.
He looked exactly like a deadbeat debtor too ashamed to face his creditor.
Fine, still no intention of paying up? Just wait—I'll remind you of this for the rest of your life.
"The Uchiha Clan's honor has been worthless from the very beginning," Yūshin said innocently, staring directly at Sasuke.
Yūshin could never become the "God of Shinobi," but he could certainly claim the title "First Grandmaster of Verbal Jutsu."
Even Sasuke was stunned by this method of forcing Madara's retreat. His already unstable psyche was compelled to expand its horizons.
Wait, why are you looking at me? I don't owe you money.
After the deadbeat departed, Hashirama manipulated the sea of trees, safely returning Tobirama and Yūshin's subordinates to the surface—they'd merely been pinned underneath. He wouldn't actually launch an indiscriminate area attack.
Yūshin gestured for Shūji Nara to approach and switch positions, letting Shūji guard Sasuke before moving to greet Hashirama.
"Hashirama Senju, welcome to our territory. Tobirama and I are close friends—I've heard much about you," Yūshin said with a smile, completely different from his earlier verbal assault on Madara.
Honestly, Yūshin had no taste for verbal sparring, but since he couldn't win through combat, he had to settle for psychological warfare.
"Ha ha, I've long wanted to meet you all... You've saved Tobirama more than once. I truly don't know how to express my gratitude."
After retracting his chakra, Hashirama seemed quite ordinary—his smile was eighty percent naive and twenty percent foolish, making him appear remarkably approachable.
"We should be thanking you. Without your timely arrival, Madara wouldn't have withdrawn so easily."
"Ha ha, pure coincidence."
Hashirama would never interpret events through conspiracy theories. When he said coincidence, he genuinely believed it was chance—surely not everyone was as scheming as little brother Tobirama?
Yūshin and Hashirama clasped hands firmly. See? We're all friends here.
Tobirama watched with a peculiar expression. Wait, why do you two seem so compatible?
Hold on!
He suddenly noticed Sasuke in the background. Huh? So the one who's been attacking me like a rabid dog all this time belongs to you people?
Sasuke's failure to leave with Madara revealed this shocking truth to Tobirama.
Even now, Sasuke wanted to fight, but the Shadow Imitation Technique held him fast. Without his curse mark, and unable to activate Susanoo, he had virtually no way to break Shūji Nara's restraint.
As everyone knows, Sasuke can't handle "one versus seven." Shūji possesses seven hearts, creating exactly that matchup.
"Ha ha, let's skip the earlier unpleasantness. Welcome to the Fireflies organization... Please follow me."
Yūshin led the Senju brothers toward the Fireflies' new encampment.
"Yūshin-sama..."
Keiya Yamanaka quickly approached, pointing to a massive vine high above where black flames burned like a torch.
"It's fine, just keep watch. The black flames should extinguish after some time."
Yūshin didn't know if Sasuke could use Kagutsuchi, but it didn't matter. It was just Amaterasu—let it burn as long as it can.
"Some time? How long specifically?"
"Specifically? A few months at most."
"..."
Well, they'd need to maintain forest fire vigilance for a while.
The ninja regrouped. Apart from Akimichi Shinyu, who limped from taking Madara's punch, everyone else was unharmed.
After all, they'd only had a brief encounter with Madara.
Yūshin was the most injured, though his recovery rate was strong.
The remaining casualty was Sasuke, who looked prematurely aged from eye strain and appeared mentally exhausted.
Hashirama truly lived up to his legendary status as a Wood Release master. Such large-scale techniques could instantly drain fifty ninja of their chakra, yet he seemed completely unaffected.
Any ordinary ninja witnessing his display would despair—Hashirama seemed like an entirely different species.
But Yūshin's group needn't feel inferior. They each possessed qualities the others envied.
When Hashirama arrived at the Fireflies' construction site-like camp, he immediately stopped.
Not for any particular reason—he sensed an unprecedented spirit of vitality and upward momentum among the ninja there.
Though the place appeared chaotic, everything brimmed with life. He could even feel nascent hope emerging.
Something was flourishing, and before long, it would spread like wildfire across the land.
Hashirama turned around and grasped Yūshin's right hand again, saying excitedly:
"Yūshin-sama, please allow me to join the Fireflies!"
"..."
Damn Wood Release user—isn't your overwhelming power enough? Now you want to join our little group of underdogs huddling for warmth? Absolutely outrageous.
Tobirama could barely contain himself:
"Big brother, stop joking around."
"Who's joking? I'm completely serious."
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