Unlike Team 7 and Itachi and the others, the rest of the Shinobi World was more shaken by the sudden revelation of the Wood Release.
After all, that was the Wood Release!
The bloodline limit that Senju Hashirama, the God of Shinobi, had relied on to bring an end to the Warring States period.
Back then, with Wood Release, he had suppressed the entire world. And now, Konoha had apparently produced another person capable of using it?
---
[Konoha, Year 60. Hokage Office]
Tsunade looked at Hiruzen, radiating a dangerous aura. "Old man… you haven't told me about this Wood Release thing yet."
Hiruzen let out an awkward chuckle. "It was something Danzō did in the past…"
"Danzō?"
Tsunade's voice turned cold. "How did he get his hands on Wood Release?"
Hiruzen was silent for a moment. "It was Orochimaru's experiment. Using the First Hokage's cells… that were cultivated."
Tsunade's fists clenched, making a creaking sound. "And you just let it happen?"
"I dealt with it."
"Dealt with it?"
Tsunade sneered. "That man called Yamato—he's the result of your 'dealing with it,' isn't he?"
"Wood Release… my grandfather's body, used as their experiment. And you still managed to work alongside Danzō for all those years."
Hiruzen sighed. "Yamato is innocent."
"He was just a child, used as an experimental subject by Orochimaru and Danzō. The moment I learned of his existence, I immediately rescued him from Danzō's hands."
"And what about Danzō?"
Hiruzen froze and didn't answer.
Tsunade turned to look at him. "Even after all this, you still can't bring yourself to kill him?"
"…Tsunade, after losing Shisui's Mangekyō and the ten Sharingan in his arm, Danzō's strength has greatly diminished. Root has been completely uprooted as well. He's no longer any threat."
"Please, for the sake of his past contributions… spare him."
Hiruzen's voice was low, almost pleading.
"Hmph!" In response, Tsunade let out a cold snort—neither agreeing nor disagreeing.
---
Meanwhile, the other major Hidden Villages were even more tense.
[Land of Lightning, Kumogakure]
A slammed his hand on the table in fury, splitting the table in response.
"Damn Konoha! Sneaking around researching Wood Release!"
"And they actually succeeded! If the Sky Screen hadn't leaked it, we might have had another Senju Hashirama coming to attack us!"
Darui stood to the side, calm, and spoke slowly.
"Raikage-sama, this is from several years in the future. And the Wood Release user of that time was easily defeated by Uchiha Sasuke, who was only at Elite Jōnin level, which suggests that his strength is nothing special."
"He's most likely a failed product."
"Hmph!" A glared at him. "That doesn't matter! Konoha must still give an explanation!"
Darui sighed. "The current Hokage is Tsunade. She probably won't…"
"Just go!"
Darui sighed again and began drafting a diplomatic letter.
But inwardly, he thought, 'That woman… is she really going to give you a friendly response?'
---
[Land of Earth, Iwagakure]
Ōnoki gritted his teeth. "Wood Release… Konoha really has been researching it all along."
"Father, that man named Yamato doesn't seem very strong," Kitsuchi said.
"Not strong?" Ōnoki shot back. "Compared to Senju Hashirama, maybe. But how weak can a Wood Release user really be?"
"Moreover, since they can cultivate one, they can cultivate a second. It's that Yamato now, but what about in the future?"
"We must strengthen our surveillance on Konoha. Especially that man named Yamato—gather every piece of intelligence on him."
Kitsuchi nodded. "Yes, Father."
---
[Land of Water, Kirigakure]
Mei felt a headache coming on.
"Mangekyō Sharingan, Byakugan, Wood Release… one after another. Konoha really knows how to keep its secrets."
---
[Land of Wind, Sunagakure]
After spending many days digging sand, Rasa had finally returned to his loyal Kazekage office.
He sat in his chair, feeling as though he had never been so exhausted in his entire life.
But as he looked at the screen, his face turned ashen, yet he couldn't bring himself to say a single complete sentence.
What was there to say?
If it weren't for Konoha's mercy, he would still be sitting in prison.
As for Chiyo, Ebizō and the others nearby, they couldn't even be bothered to speak.
With Suna's current strength, anything they said would be useless anyway.
---
[Konoha, Year One. Hashirama's home]
Madara's expression was extremely grim.
'Wood Release! Hmph!'
After Hashirama's death, who would be so bored as to try replicating Wood Release?
Sensing Madara's suspicious gaze, Tobirama's face remained expressionless. 'So what if my future self did it? What does that have to do with me now?'
Hashirama watched the two of them, the air thick with tension, and felt a fight coming on.
"Tobirama, I'm telling you now—you are never to research Wood Release."
"Yes, brother."
[By this point, Naruto and Sasuke had formally fought twice. Counting the gap at the hospital rooftop, Sasuke was leading 3–0. But soon, it would be Naruto's turn to catch up.]
[That's right, and the thing to change this was undoubtedly Sage Mode. When Naruto trained at Mount Myōboku and mastered Sage Mode, learned Senjutsu, completed the Rasenshuriken, and strengthened his fundamentals, his strength leaped to Kage-level. And in his berserk state, even Kage-level fighters would struggle to handle him.]
---
[Konoha, Year 60. A valley outside Konoha]
"Sage Mode?!"
"Pervy Sage, I want to learn it! I want to learn it!"
Naruto's eyes sparkled. He bounced up from the ground and ran circles around Jiraiya, clamoring to learn Sage Mode.
"Umm…" Jiraiya didn't answer immediately, instead adopting a thoughtful look.
He hadn't expected Naruto to be suited for Sage Mode.
After all, that was something even Minato had only barely managed to learn.
And Minato picked up everything quickly—except Sage Mode, which he had struggled with.
But Naruto was actually better than him?
Sasuke was also thinking: 'Sage Mode… what actually is it? It can even push Naruto's strength straight to the Kage-level?'
'And can I learn it too?'
With that thought, Sasuke's gaze shifted to Jiraiya.
At the same time, Sakura was also looking at Jiraiya with equally eager eyes.
Jiraiya felt three pairs of eyes—six eyes total—staring at him, making his scalp tingle. "Alright, alright. Fine. You win."
First, he looked at Naruto and Sasuke. "You two can come with me and try to learn Mount Myōboku's Sage Mode."
And as he saw Sakura's disappointed look, he quickly added, "Sakura, you should go directly to Tsunade. Ask her to send you to Shikkotsu Forest to learn over there. They have Sage Mode too. You're her disciple—it's not my place to step in."
Jiraiya then pointed at Naruto and Sasuke with a look of disdain. "These two don't have those connections, so I'll have to teach them."
Then looking at Naruto, he spoke with an unprecedented seriousness.
"Naruto, even though your future self successfully learned Sage Mode, don't get arrogant. The learning process is extremely dangerous. One mistake, and you could lose your life."
He paused, then looked at Sasuke. "The same goes for you. Learning Sage Mode is truly dangerous. Do you still want to learn?"
Sasuke nodded without hesitation, "Yes."
Naruto's voice followed right after. "Don't worry. I'll be careful too."
Hearing their answers, Jiraiya smiled in satisfaction.
*****
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