Chapter 173: The Great Melee
The Hidden Leaf Village 12 stood atop the wooden golem's head.
Jiraiya and the Anbu adjusted their footing and landed on another rooftop.
The giant Wood Golem casually kicked Gaara, who had suddenly awakened and entered a further stage of Tailed Beast transformation, sending him flying.
Wood Release instantly coiled around him, restraining him.
"No! Lord Shukaku has only just..."
Gaara struggled, but the Shukaku eye in his right socket reverted to its original color. Wrapped in the Wood Release, Gaara fell into a deep sleep.
On the rooftop, the First Hokage, Senju Hashirama, saw this familiar technique. His eyes widened, his face filled with shock and disbelief, and he even subconsciously leaned forward: "This... this is...?"
The Second Hokage, Tobirama, also had his pupils shrink. He stared intently at the massive Wood Golem and then at Naruto standing on its head. The scrutiny and assessment in his eyes reached a Peak instantly.
Could that Fourth Hokage be Little Tsunade's child?
Otherwise, how did this child learn Wood Release?
In Orochimaru's golden slitted pupils, a light of fanaticism and greed almost overflowed: "Wood Human Jutsu... to think he even... Perfect! Simply perfect!"
Orochimaru impatiently took out two Kunai tied with special talisman paper and inserted them into the back of the heads of the First and Second Hokage.
Naruto controlled the Wood Golem to launch an attack.
Vacuum Attack: Water Dragon Prison!
Water currents wrapped around the Wood Golem's fists.
The Four Violet Flames Formation was shattered directly under three punches from the Wood Golem.
The Sound Four also arrived by Orochimaru's side.
"Lord Orochimaru..."
Orochimaru raised his hand to interrupt Tayuya's words.
"Wood Release, we have it on our side as well."
The controlled Edo Tensei First Hokage clapped his hands together and also used the Wood Human Jutsu.
However, because the Edo Hashirama could not exert his Peak strength from when he was alive, his Wood Golem was only about twenty meters tall.
After all, the current Edo Tensei still had many flaws.
The Edo Second Hokage, meanwhile, moved to face the Third Hokage.
"Teacher, I never thought we would face each other in battle one day."
The Third Hokage summoned Enma to face the Edo Second Hokage.
"Ino, take Hinata and the others and leave first. Follow my Shadow Clone to the outskirts of the Village. My other Shadow Clone has already left with Karin and the others. Leave things here to me."
Naruto looked down disdainfully at the savage-looking Wood Golem opposite him.
"Understood. Be careful, Naruto."
Knowing that they wouldn't be of any use in this level of combat, Ino didn't dawdle and immediately led the group away.
She had tried earlier to use the Mind Transfer Jutsu on the Edo Hashirama, but it was as useless as using it on a piece of wood.
Since she couldn't help Naruto, she couldn't stay here and make him worry.
"You truly are powerful, Naruto-kun."
The Sound Four beside Orochimaru intercepted the approaching Anbu.
Orochimaru once again performed the Edo Tensei Jutsu.
Three coffins slowly rose from the ground.
Three figures stepped out of the coffins.
They were the Fourth Kazekage Rasa, who had been prevented from being summoned earlier, as well as Uzumaki Mito and Uzumaki Kushina, whom Orochimaru had prepared in case things got out of hand after Naruto went berserk!
"Orochimaru, you bastard!"
As soon as Rasa appeared, he wanted to attack Orochimaru, but found he couldn't move at all.
"Rasa, the Konoha Crush Plan is already underway, but a variable capable of using Wood Release has appeared. I need your help."
"Your three children have all been captured by Hidden Leaf Village. I know you might not care about them, but your youngest son is also the Jinchuriki of Shukaku. If you want to rescue them, I'll need you to put in some effort."
"Hmph, so that monster was suppressed? It seems his value wasn't fully utilized. I won't settle scores with you for now. I'll take care of Jiraiya."
Rasa scanned the area and locked onto Jiraiya.
Dressed like a stage actor, he didn't have the air of the legendary Sannin at all.
He had heard this guy frequently appeared in red-light districts and was already over fifty; his body was likely hollowed out by wine and women.
Even if he couldn't use his full strength now, dealing with him shouldn't be a problem.
"Capable of using Wood Release... is he a descendant of Little Nawaki or Little Tsunade?"
Uzumaki Mito looked toward the person confronting Senju Hashirama.
Blonde hair, black clothes.
Wait, the Nine-Tailed seemed to be sealed within his body, but that Seal appeared very weak.
It seemed little Kushina had been dead for many years. Was there no one left in the Village who could perform a decent Sealing Technique?
But how was that little brat Hiruzen still alive?
The situation left Uzumaki Mito somewhat confused—Kushina was dead, yet the Third Hokage was still alive.
And Hashirama and Tobirama had been summoned too?
Tobirama's technique really has brought no small amount of trouble to Hidden Leaf Village.
This was Uzumaki Mito's last thought before she was taken over by Orochimaru's control.
"Naruto..."
Kushina stared blankly at the blonde figure atop the Wood Golem.
You really look just like your father!
Naruto.
(This name was decided long ago, taken from the protagonist of Jiraiya's first book, 'The Tale of the Utterly Gutsy Shinobi'.)
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On the open ground above the Hokage Rock.
Koyuki Kazahana and Karin looked toward the arena with worry.
"Don't worry, the main body is still holding back. This crowd can't possibly beat the main body."
Naruto's Shadow Clone watched the two giant Wood Golems fighting, his heart filled with longing.
When would he be able to pilot a big Wood Golem too?
"Still holding back?"
Karin's eyes widened. In a battle that seemed like gods fighting within the Village, Naruto hadn't used his full strength yet?
"Yeah, the main body's Great Rasenshuriken could send the entire Village sky-high, but since his friends are still inside, he hasn't used that move."
As far as the Shadow Clone was concerned, he should have dropped a few Great Rasenshuriken on Hidden Leaf Village long ago to test the waters; those unruly citizens weren't worth pitying even if they died.
Unruly citizens were practically a local specialty in Japanese anime and games.
The Jubilife Village in the Pokemon games was even worse than Hidden Leaf Village.
Leveling the Village with a Great Rasenshuriken wouldn't even be an overreaction.
——————————
The battle between the two Wood Golems continued.
A long wooden sword grew out of the armored wood golem's right hand.
As soon as the long sword appeared, a sharp, light-green light suddenly glowed on the blade.
That was Wind attribute Chakra.
The application of applying Wind attribute Chakra to a wooden sword was being used on the Wood Golem's blade!
"Slash!"
Standing atop the Wood Golem, Naruto's mind connected with the golem, and he gave a low shout.
The armored wood golem gripped the giant Wind Release wooden sword with both hands. Taking advantage of the savage Wood Golem's recovery lag, it twisted its waist with sudden force. The giant blade sliced through the air, turning into a bolt of green lightning that tore through the sky, sweeping across the battlefield.
The savage Wood Golem tried to parry, but the wooden sword covered in Wind Release Chakra was far sharper than normal.
The light-green blade light passed through the savage Wood Golem's waist like a hot knife through butter, meeting no resistance.
Fortunately, there were few buildings over seventeen meters tall in Hidden Leaf Village at this time, but tall buildings were still affected.
In the next moment, the savage Wood Golem's mountain-like upper body slowly tilted along the mirror-smooth cut.
Edo Hashirama's Wood Release instantly repaired the savage Wood Golem's injury, and it then launched a frantic assault on the armored wood golem.
The armored wood golem, with lightning in its left hand and fire in its right, showed no fear.
Because its left punch dealt high damage, and its right punch also dealt high damage.
Amidst the chaos, Naruto, holding a scroll, leaped from the head of the armored wood golem and landed on the head of the savage Wood Golem.
The lightning in his left hand instantly pierced through Edo Hashirama's body.
The Immortal Edo Tensei body froze, the dust slowly gathering back.
At that moment, Naruto unfurled the scroll.
The unfurled scroll was like a living serpent, wrapping around Edo Hashirama's body with startling speed.
From ankles to chest, then to neck, layer upon layer, it instantly bound him like a 'mummy'.
The sealing formulas on the scroll flared up as if ignited the moment they touched the Edo body.
Naruto then took out a sealing scroll and sealed Edo Hashirama inside.
The Third Hokage and the others leaped down from the affected tall buildings to other rooftops to continue the fight.
The controlled Uzumaki Mito and Edo Second Hokage teamed up to face the Third Hokage.
The Third Hokage fell into an unprecedentedly difficult battle.
Although he was known as the 'Professor of Shinobi,' proficient in five elemental transformations and seasoned in experience, he was after all advanced in age, and his stamina and Chakra were not at their Peak.
Facing a legendary combination where one specialized in sealing and binding while the other excelled in assassination and space-time Ninjutsu—even though both were limited by being controlled and the imperfect Edo Tensei.
The Third could only rely on his vast experience and the summoned Enma to barely hold his ground. For a time, he was in constant peril, and several wounds soon appeared on his body.
On the other side, Orochimaru and the Fourth Kazekage Rasa were in a very bad spot.
Jiraiya, having entered Sage Mode, finally revealed the terrifying power of a top-tier'Sannin'.
The Senjutsu Chakra fused with natural energy gave his strength, speed, perception, and Ninjutsu power a qualitative leap.
Fukasaku and Shima Sage on his shoulders not only provided natural energy but could also coordinate to perform powerful Senjutsu.
Once serious, Jiraiya handled the two of them with ease.
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