Danzo's expression darkened as he saw the sheer number of legendary figures surrounding him, each one eager to strike him down. His grip tightened, veins bulging against his skin. These fools—did they truly believe they could look down on him? Did they think he was some common shinobi to be crushed underfoot?
They were mistaken.
A sneer curled on his lips as his hands came together in a seal.
"Hahaha… To think that I, Danzo Shimura, would have the honor of facing the God of Shinobi, Senju Hashirama, and the infamous Uchiha Madara, the embodiment of destruction! But tell me… do you believe that your era still holds relevance in this world? Do you think your outdated powers can overwhelm me?!" His voice was thick with disdain. "Wood Release and the Mangekyō Sharingan… hah! Do you fools think you're the only ones who possess such power?"
His fingers interlocked, chakra surging through his veins as he bellowed, "Wood Release: Great Forest Technique!"
A violent tremor shook the ground as countless trees erupted from the earth, stretching high into the sky, their thick canopies forming a lush, green labyrinth. Within moments, Danzo had conjured an entire forest, his expression gleaming with triumph.
"Heh… Do you see now? This is the power of Wood Release!"
A stunned silence followed.
Kazuki Haruto and Kazuki Raiga's jaws dropped as they took in the sight before them.
"Incredible! This is Wood Release… the legendary ability of the First Hokage! Who would have thought that Danzo could wield such power?" Kazuki Raiga gasped.
"Unbelievable! The secret technique of Senju Hashirama… used by Danzo of all people?!" Kazuki Haruto's voice held a mix of shock and awe. "This… this changes everything!"
As their words echoed through the battlefield, the legendary shinobi present had very different reactions.
Hashirama Senju's eyelid twitched. His hands clenched into fists, veins bulging in frustration.
"You dare... call that Wood Release?" he muttered darkly.
Uchiha Madara, standing beside him, visibly struggled to contain his laughter, his shoulders shaking.
Sarutobi Hiruzen, who had witnessed the true power of the First Hokage, cast a bewildered glance at the two excited shinobi. Was this a joke? Did they truly believe this mockery of a technique deserved such praise?
Hashirama's brow furrowed as he took a deep breath. His entire being radiated annoyance.
"Madara..." Hashirama called, his voice eerily calm.
Uchiha Madara, who had been watching silently, finally let out a chuckle. Then another. And another. Until finally—
"Hahahahahaha! Hashirama... I can't! I simply can't hold it in! Hahahahahaha!"
The great Uchiha clutched his stomach, nearly doubling over in laughter. "Did... did you see that?! He calls that Wood Release! Hahahahaha! Oh, this is priceless!"
Tobirama Senju, who stood beside them, pinched the bridge of his nose in exasperation. "This... this is the student I trained?"
Danzo's expression twisted with rage. He felt humiliated, mocked beyond belief!
Hashirama took a deep breath, his eyes now brimming with unfiltered wrath.
"Madara..." he muttered once more.
"Yes?" The Uchiha's laughter had subsided, but his lips still curved into an amused smirk.
"I'm angry!"
Madara's smirk widened. "Good. Let's teach him what true power looks like."
Their hands clapped together in unison.
A storm of chakra exploded outward, shattering the earth.
"Sage Art: Wood Release – True Several Thousand Hands!"
"Susanoo – Thousand Blades of Wrath!"
A monstrous wooden titan erupted from the ground, stretching high into the heavens. Thousands of colossal arms extended outward, each one gripping a gleaming sword—Madara's Susanoo-infused weaponry! The Buddha's face was twisted in righteous fury, its eyes burning with divine rage.
Souta Kazuki's breath hitched in his throat. This power… it was beyond anything he had ever seen.
Horrified realization dawned in Souta Kazuki's eyes.
If that attack landed, at least half of Konoha would be annihilated in an instant.
"EVERYONE, FALL BACK! GET AS FAR AWAY AS YOU CAN!!!" he roared, his voice slicing through the chaos.
The shinobi needed no further encouragement. They scattered like leaves in a storm, their instincts screaming at them to flee from the incoming catastrophe.
Only the members of the Kazuki clan remained beside Souta, their expressions grim.
Knowing he had no choice, Souta gathered his chakra.
"Susanoo!"
A brilliant surge of energy erupted from him as an enormous, perfect Susanoo manifested, its massive form shielding his family. The air cracked with power as the ethereal warrior took its stance, ready to defend against the incoming devastation.
Haruto Kazuki, Souta's father, eyed his son's transformation with deep suspicion.
"Souta… the Mangekyō Sharingan? Our clan has no Uchiha blood… how do you possess those eyes?"
Souta hesitated. His father's piercing gaze burned into him, demanding an answer.
He exhaled, then spoke firmly.
"Father, this power is not from our bloodline. It is a result of my own encounters… of the knowledge I have obtained. But understand this—I have not defied our lineage. Mother has done nothing wrong. I swear it."
Haruto's gaze softened slightly, though he remained stern.
"You fool. Did you truly think I would doubt your mother's love?" He scoffed, shaking his head. "You are my son. No matter where your strength comes from, you remain a Kazuki. Never forget that."
Souta felt an unexpected warmth in his chest at those words.
Meanwhile, Raiga Kazuki, his grandfather, stood silently, observing the events with an unreadable expression.
A distance away, Ito Taiga let out a low whistle.
"As expected of the legends of old… their power is truly on another level," he murmured, his voice filled with awe. "Tell me… can such techniques even be classified as ninjutsu anymore?"
Souta clenched his fists as he observed the battlefield.
This was the level he needed to reach.
No, he needed to surpass it.
His time would come.
But for now, he could only watch… and learn.