Chapter 299

As the massive trees surged forward, the entire world seemed to fall into a deafening silence.

The canyon, flanked by towering cliffs, was already a dark and oppressive place. Now, with these enormous trees writhing like terrifying monsters, the atmosphere turned suffocating and dreadful.

Many participants were paralyzed with fear, unable to move.

"Ice Release: Hundred-Meter Ice Field!"

The rumbling of the earth snapped Kei Yuki back to reality. 

Forming seals quickly, he unleashed his clan's signature Ice Release technique. Frost spread from his feet, and a thick layer of ice expanded rapidly, encasing the advancing trees.

For a brief moment, it seemed to work. The trees halted as the ice took hold.

But then came the ominous sound of cracking.

In just two seconds, the ice shattered, and the trees continued their relentless advance.

Kei Yuki's heart pounded. Staring at the approaching forest, he felt a chill crawl up his spine.

This… is Wood Release! The legendary technique of the First Hokage, Senju Hashirama!

No one had expected this. The boy from Konoha, Nawaki, was a Wood Release inheritor.

"Fire Release: Great Fireball!"

"Earth Release: Earth Wall!"

The red faction ninjas finally snapped out of their daze and began throwing every jutsu they had at the trees. Fire, earth, and other elements clashed with the advancing forest.

It was futile.

The trees plowed through everything in their path, unstoppable.

"Damn it! What kind of monster is this? Run! Run!"

Watching their comrades get entangled and subdued by the trees, one of the ninjas panicked and fled.

Despite their strength, with some even possessing Chunin or Elite Chunin-level capabilities, the participants were still young ninjas. Against such an overwhelming technique, their mental fortitude crumbled.

Even Ranzuki and Kei Yuki were forced into evasive maneuvers, dodging the relentless onslaught of the trees.

On one of the towering trees, Nawaki stood with his arms crossed, his expression calm as he watched the chaos unfold below.

Advent of a World of Flowering Trees was an extremely chakra-intensive technique, requiring immense reserves to sustain. Fortunately, Nawaki's chakra capacity was monstrous, allowing him to maintain the jutsu without much strain.

More importantly, he had the Nine-Tails.

Drawing on the Nine-Tails' chakra, Nawaki could use this devastating technique with impunity.

As for the consequences of revealing Wood Release? Nawaki wasn't concerned.

He understood that strength defined power in this world, not the techniques themselves. Just because he used Wood Release didn't mean he was the reincarnation of the First Hokage. 

The other villages wouldn't necessarily see him as a threat worth eliminating.

And if they did? Hui's shadow avater was present here. Any village foolish enough to target him would face a rude awakening.

…

Above the canyon, the Jonin observers were stunned into silence.

"Wood Release!"

"It's actually Wood Release!"

"This… this…"

Their murmurs grew into a cacophony of shock and disbelief.

Many of them were old enough to remember the time when Senju Hashirama wielded Wood Release. Some had even witnessed the legendary jutsu firsthand. They understood its significance better than anyone.

After Hashirama's death, Wood Release had seemingly vanished from the world for nearly two decades. They had thought the technique was lost forever.

Yet here it was again, wielded by a young ninja from Konoha.

For a moment, murderous intent flickered in their eyes.

A prodigy with Wood Release would undoubtedly grow into a monumental threat to their villages. Eliminating him now seemed like the logical course of action.

But the killing intent faded as quickly as it arose, replaced by bitter resignation.

Killing Nawaki would accomplish nothing.

Konoha still had Hui, a figure so powerful that his very name deterred any thought of retaliation.

If Nawaki were harmed, the Jonin had no doubt that the ninja world would face unification under Konoha's banner.

Their villages couldn't afford to provoke Konoha, not now.

This realization left them conflicted, torn between fear and a sense of helplessness.

The very thought of Konoha potentially fostering not one but two figures of Hashirama's caliber was terrifying. It reminded them of a time when the newly founded Konoha, led by Hashirama and Uchiha Madara, stood unchallenged.

If not for Hashirama's commitment to peace, the current system of five great ninja villages might never have existed.

And now, history seemed to be repeating itself.

The Jonin weren't the only ones distressed. The current Kage of the four other villages—Onoki included—were equally shaken.

Onoki, who had witnessed Hashirama's strength firsthand, broke the silence among the Kage.

"Wood Release or not, he is no God of Shinobi. Just as many Sharingan have existed, but only one Uchiha Madara, possessing Wood Release does not make one another Hashirama."

His words calmed the others, and they nodded in agreement.

"We have seven years left. Even if this boy has the potential to rival Hashirama, I doubt he'll reach that level in such a short time.

If we can't stop Hui in those seven years, then whether this boy lives or not will make no difference."

…

Back in the canyon, Nawaki continued his assault.

The blue faction members who had fled earlier returned upon sensing the chaos. Seeing the scene before them, they were struck silent, their minds reeling.

But amidst the shock, some felt a strange sense of relief.

They believed they could win this battle without lifting a finger, thanks to Nawaki.

Nawaki, however, didn't care about their thoughts.

The game was coming to an end.

He turned his attention to Ranzuki and Kei Yuki, who were steadily advancing toward him.

Nawaki instantly understood their strategy: if they couldn't stop the jutsu, they'd target the user.

"Smart," Nawaki muttered, smirking. "But they're underestimating me too much."

Forming another hand seal, he reached out to the Nine-Tails in his mental space.

"Brother Nine Tails, lend me some chakra."

Without hesitation, the Nine-Tails responded, flooding Nawaki with a massive surge of chakra. Though the fox often bickered with him, its respect and fondness for Nawaki were undeniable.

Because Nawaki Treated Kurama like a friend. 

And as Kurama was sealed inside him , the fox could understand the mind of nawaki. Deep down, the kid wanted to free him. And that fact alone was enough to soften the century old beasts heart.

Nawaki channeled this power into his next move.

"Wood Release: Advent of a World of Flowering Trees!"

This time, massive flowering trees burst forth, releasing a thick, sleep-inducing pollen into the air.

The combined power of the technique was enough to incapacitate everyone in the vicinity.

…

Above, Hui's shadow avatar observed the unfolding events with a twitch of his lips.

"This brat doesn't even plan to spare his own faction," he muttered, shaking his head.

But the clone knew the game was over.

Below, as Nawaki's jutsu engulfed the canyon, Hui's shadow Avatar turned its thoughts to its real body.

I wonder if my perfected Sage Mode is ready yet, he mused, losing interest in the battle.