Chapter 203: Wood Release vs. Mangekyō

Chapter 203: Wood Release vs. Mangekyō

The Gelel Stone mineral vein had been sealed here for too long, which was why it was breached by Menma's single strike with Susanoo.

Under the stimulation of a certain pure energy leaking from it, Menma felt a long-absent change occur in the three-tomoe Sharingan in his eye socket.

"Is this... a first stirring?"

This three-tomoe Sharingan of his had undergone some mutations itself.

If one ignored the inability to use "dōjutsu," the pupil power of this three-tomoe was already comparable to a Mangekyō.

However, this also meant the difficulty for him to cross the chasm between three-tomoe and Mangekyō was far greater than for an ordinary Uchiha clansman.

During this period, through the enhancement and refinement of "votive power" via the "Box of Ultimate Bliss," Menma's Yin Release power had already been raised to the current limit he could bear.

His body's life energy and Yang Release power had fallen far behind his spiritual power and Yin Release power.

He hadn't had a good way to solve this, but unexpectedly received a pleasant surprise here.

"Besides high-purity natural energy, there's actually pure life energy in it as well?"

Menma covered his constantly agitated three-tomoe Sharingan, while also feeling the cells in his body become increasingly active.

He originally thought it was just an ordinary natural energy crystal, but didn't expect it to have special effects like the "Dragon Vein."

However, the "Dragon Vein's" effect of being able to travel through time should lean towards the "Yin Release chakra" of the spiritual realm, while this "Gelel Stone's" effect seems to lean more towards the "Yang Release chakra" of the life realm.

Menma could feel the Power of All Creation, the union of yin and yang within his body, gradually rising.

Suddenly, a bold idea emerged in his heart.

"If I absorb enough power from these Gelel Stones, I can not only awaken the Mangekyō when the conditions are right, but even activate a complete Sage Body!"

Perhaps it couldn't compare to the Sage of Six Paths' physique, but it would definitely not be much worse than Senju Hashirama's.

Meanwhile, under the shroud of this power, Haido and the others also began to change.

The natural energy and life energy leaking from the Gelel Stone, like a pale green mist, coiled around them, being absorbed into their bodies at an extremely slow speed.

It could be clearly seen.

Their absorption process was very strained, completely lacking Menma's ease of something coming to fruition when conditions are ripe.

But as their chakra continuously skyrocketed, their bodies also gradually began to mutate.

"Hahaha! I am a god!!"

Four hovering red orbs appeared behind Haido. The majesty of his presence grew more intense, and his confidence instantly exploded.

His previously panicked appearance completely vanished. With a hint of madness, he tore off the robe on his body.

The four red orbs behind him transformed into black wings, allowing Haido, with his arms slowly spread, to float in the air.

"Ah, this power! This power I've never experienced before!!"

Under the impact of this suddenly surging power, Haido felt as if he had already transformed from a human into a deity.

"You lowly ninja, do you see now?"

Looking at Menma, who seemed completely unfazed, he laughed arrogantly and wildly: "This is a powerful force that only we deserve to possess! You ninja are nothing but a group of opportunists!"

The instant his voice fell, Haido raised his arm towards Menma.

A giant air cannon slowly condensed, emitting one low explosive sound after another.

"Now, feel the power of a god!!"

Just as Haido roared, about to fire the air cannon,

Crackle!!

A bird-like piercing sound suddenly came from the distance.

"Chidori!!"

Haido hadn't even reacted when an azure bolt of lightning, whose trajectory could not be captured, flashed past his eyes.

The next moment, a sharp pain suddenly surged through his body.

Haido fell from the air, crashing heavily to the ground.

"Pfft-cough! How is this possible..."

He stared wide-eyed, spitting out a mouthful of blood, and slowly looked down at his chest.

He saw a large hole, emitting a burnt smell, had directly pierced him. The fine lightning remaining at the wound was still crackling.

Reacting, Haido then felt the power continuously draining from his body.

Only then did he discover that his right palm, inlaid with the Gelel Stone, had been cut off at some unknown point.

And two unfamiliar figures wearing Konoha forehead protectors had also appeared in the palace.

It was none other than Kakashi and Yamato, who had seized the moment to instantly enter the palace and snatch the Gelel Stone.

"Yamato, catch!"

The blue lightning gathered in his right hand slowly dissipated. Kakashi pried off the "Gelel Stone" and threw it to Yamato in the distance.

"No no no! My Gelel Stone! My power! This is my power!!"

Haido shouted, his eyes bloodshot and crazed, but could only watch helplessly as the gemstone landed in Yamato's hands.

"Th-this feeling..."

When Yamato caught the Gelel Stone, as if pricked by something, he subconsciously took a few steps back.

But the next moment, a look of pleasant surprise appeared on his face.

A surging life force rapidly poured into his body, and the various hidden injuries, big and small, in his body began to gradually recover.

But what made Yamato most incredulous and overjoyed was that the long-silent Hashirama cells within him actually began to change as well.

And he could clearly feel that this was definitely a positive change.

But the golden half-bodied giant in the center of the palace... Menma, who had his eyes closed, suddenly opened them.

The three-tomoe Sharingan in his right eye socket also began to spin rapidly, the three tomoe faintly showing a tendency to twist and connect into a single entity.

"Not enough! Far from enough!"

Menma ignored Kakashi and his companion, murmuring to himself, and once again extended his right hand towards the Gelel Stone overhead.

The golden giant pulled out its longsword and once again slashed at the seal.

BOOM!!

In an instant, a roaring sound echoed through the palace, causing the entire palace to shake.

The stone wall at the top of the palace instantly broke open a gap. As the bricks and stones at the top continuously fell, the cyan mineral vein previously concealed by them was completely revealed.

The mineral vein, glowing with a cyan light, illuminated the dim palace. A fluid energy crystal, shrouded in mist like spring water, gradually condensed and poured out from it.

At this moment, everyone in the palace looked towards the Gelel mineral vein hidden within the stone wall.

But the old man following behind Kakashi, upon seeing the seal of the Gelel Stone broken,

instantly widened his eyes, shouting with a face full of despair: "It's over! It's completely over! The seal has been completely opened! The out-of-control Gelel Stone will destroy the entire ninja world!"

Kakashi frowned upon hearing this: "Why do you say that?"

The old man held his head, on the verge of tears: "Because our homeland... was destroyed just like this!!"

Kakashi was stunned for a moment, then his face changed.

If it was really as this old man said, that the Gelel Stone was sufficient to destroy an entire ancient empire,

then estimating by the empire's territory, the entire country of the Land of Rivers, plus the borders of the Land of Fire and the Land of Wind, could all be affected!

Just then,

Splish splash!!

A large amount of liquid essence, glowing with a cyan light, overflowing from the Gelel mineral vein, also poured down towards the people in the palace like a stream of water.

Everyone was submerged in the liquid essence composed of "life energy" and "natural energy."

Kakashi, submerged in the liquid, subconsciously wanted to hold his breath.

But his expression suddenly changed, and he tentatively started breathing again.

"This liquid can actually be breathed? And it can also heal hidden injuries?!"

The hidden injuries in his body caused by missions and training were actually recovering to varying degrees after being bathed in this mysterious liquid.

No, not just that.

Kakashi covered the Sharingan under his forehead protector in surprise, actually feeling a wave of warmth surge into this eye.

Because of his non-Uchiha clan outsider physique, he couldn't freely switch this Sharingan on and off.

It was usually a drain on his chakra, and it was also very strenuous to use.

But now...

"Why does it feel so much gentler."

Kakashi covered his eye, thinking to himself: "Could this liquid be able to nourish the Sharingan, or perhaps strengthen the body's constitution?"

If his guess was correct, then the value of the Gelel Stone was simply immeasurable!

The others submerged in the liquid also discovered the magical changes in their bodies.

Especially the heavily injured outsiders; their wounds were actually healing at a speed visible to the naked eye.

Even the uninjured old man felt as if his body had become younger.

But while everyone was still immersed in joy,

Bang! Bang bang!!

The two female knights originally wearing close-fitting armor suddenly exploded into a pool of blood and flesh.

And the golden-haired youth Temujin, who also had a Gelel Stone installed, his flushed face also gradually revealed a look of twisted pain.

"Damn it! This liquid can't be absorbed too much! Once you can't bear it, you'll explode!"

Kakashi was shocked upon seeing this and quickly reacted, directly holding his breath.

Thinking this, Kakashi quickly looked at Yamato in the distance, wanting to remind him to throw away the Gelel Stone.

If he wasn't mistaken, the person holding the Gelel Stone would absorb more of the liquid energy.

But when he saw Yamato, he couldn't help but be stunned.

Kakashi's Sharingan was still in its active, open state.

And in the vision of the Sharingan with its powerful insight, Yamato at this moment was like a large chakra lightbulb.

"Why has Yamato's chakra surged to this extent? It's almost tenfold its original amount!?"

If Yamato's previous chakra was "two Kakashi," then now it had become "ten Kakashi."

But Kakashi didn't feel the slightest joy, instead showing a worried expression.

Everyone has their own limit of endurance. If Yamato continued to absorb like this, he would sooner or later explode and die like the outsiders.

Just as he was about to do something,

"Ka... Kakashi!!"

Yamato's whole body was already swollen as he said with extreme difficulty: "Quick... get out of the way, I have to... vent this power!!"

Hearing this, Kakashi pulled the old man beside him and unhesitatingly pulled back.

Yamato no longer held back, the chakra in his body completely erupting.

In a flash, the chakra, full of life force, filled the entire palace.

"No, it's not enough!"

Yamato felt as if his body was insatiable.

Clearly, it was already at its limit, but it was still crying out for more.

In this situation, there was only one method.

"Wood Release..."

Yamato's hands rapidly formed seals, mobilizing the chakra in his body.

Finally, his hands slammed fiercely onto the ground.

"Great Forest Technique!!"

BOOM!!

Countless vibrant trees rose from the ground, transforming into towering trees in an extremely short time, the green trees frantically expanding their range.

When the growth of the trees gradually ceased, more than half of the entire palace was completely occupied.

Kakashi was also in a wretched state from this impact.

However, looking at the gnarled roots and spiraling branches before him, his face was filled with shock and disbelief.

"You..."

Looking at Yamato, whose body was emitting terrifying chakra fluctuations, Kakashi's eyelids twitched wildly. He opened his mouth but didn't know what to say.

This is the Great Forest Technique?!

The Great Forest Technique Yamato used before just extended a few wooden vine branches from his arm to capture enemies!

Now, a Wood Release ninjutsu of this level, creating a large-scale forest with ease...

This was something only the legendary First Hokage's "Wood Style: Deep Forest Emergence" could achieve.

The First Hokage, relying on his unparalleled Wood Release, established Konoha Village, the head of the Five Great Ninja Villages.

And according to the information Kakashi had, after the First Hokage's passing, the village's higher-ups had conducted First Hokage cell transplant experiments, attempting to recreate the Wood Release Kekkei Genkai.

But the results of the experiments were greatly disappointing.

This First Hokage cell transplant experiment, into which the village had invested countless personnel and resources, only yielded one broken corpse after another, devoured by the First Hokage's cells.

However, due to Shimura Danzō's stubbornness and secret experiments, in the end, he was lucky enough to obtain a child who successfully fused with the First Hokage's cells and possessed the Wood Release Kekkei Genkai.

-- The former Tenzō, the current Yamato.

"However, Yamato couldn't even use one percent of the Wood Release's power. How did he suddenly use such a large-scale Wood Release ninjutsu now?"

Just as Kakashi was about to ask about the situation,

RUMBLE!!

A vast power suddenly came from the center of the palace, and a golden sword glint instantly cut down all the trees!

The golden half-bodied giant revealed itself from the sea of trees.

"A bit interesting."

Looking at Yamato who had used Wood Release, a smile appeared on Menma's lips.

Kekkei Genkai: Wood Release, a secret technique created solely by the First Hokage, Senju Hashirama, said to be synthesized from earth and water attribute chakra.

But in reality, only those who possessed Hashirama cells or the power of the God Tree could master it.

Uchiha Madara, Uchiha Obito, Zetsu, Yamato.

Now besides them, no one else knew Wood Release.

"I didn't expect to get new experimental data by a strange combination of circumstances."

Just right to test the power he had just obtained.

At the same time, Kakashi composed himself.

Seeing Ame-no-Minakanushi's figure, he quickly shouted to Yamato: "Yamato, can you do it one more time?"

Although his heart was full of questions, Kakashi also knew that dealing with Ame-no-Minakanushi was the most urgent matter at hand.

He didn't think Ame-no-Minakanushi would simply let the two of them go.

And, strategic resources like the Gelel Stone absolutely could not be easily taken away by Crimson Moon!

"Just one more time? Don't look down on me!"

Feeling the chakra in his body, Yamato was full of confidence.

Although that golden half-bodied giant was somewhat terrifying, what he possessed was the First Hokage's Wood Release!

The First Hokage used Wood Release to defeat Uchiha Madara's Susanoo.

So if you think about it carefully, Susanoo is no big deal.

Thinking this, Yamato's confidence grew considerably again.

What he possessed was the power of Wood Release.

This power was absolutely a technique that could surpass Susanoo!

"Heh, a poor fool blinded by power."

Menma sneered upon hearing this. The three tomoe in his right eye, which were spinning rapidly, gradually converged.

The red tomoe, emitting an ominous light, gradually twisted and deformed, soon turning into a bizarre spiral pattern.

The change of the Sharingan ended in a single breath, after which the pattern on the Sharingan completely stabilized.

"Mangekyō Sharingan?!"

Staring at Ame-no-Minakanushi's change, Kakashi's expression instantly changed drastically.

Although he had anticipated it, for him to awaken the Mangekyō Sharingan right before his eyes still made Kakashi feel a bit unreal.

"Yamato, be careful! Don't look at his eyes!"

Hearing this, Yamato's expression also sharpened, and he nodded heavily: "I understand!"

A terrifying chakra fluctuation far exceeding before erupted from his body.

BOOM!!

A strangely shaped green wooden golem suddenly drilled out from the forest.

Although this wooden golem's appearance was very strange, its every move still carried a terrifying sense of oppression.

"Wood Golem Technique... truly impressive."

Menma looked up at the Wood Golem, his expression unchanged, the chakra in his body beginning to mobilize.

"Let me test just how much you're worth."

The next moment, a storm even greater than Wind Release raged and blew. Everything within several dozen meters was blown away, instantly becoming a vacuum zone no one dared to tread.

RUMBLE!!!

Chakra far exceeding Yamato's surged from Menma's body, his Mangekyō Sharingan flashing with an ominous red light.

The golden half-bodied giant outside his body grew taller again. The Susanoo, which originally only had a top half, became tall and large, its lower half also materialized with chakra.

A golden, diamond-shaped space appeared on the giant's forehead. Menma, who was previously standing inside the giant's body, slowly floated up, finally entering the diamond-shaped space on the giant's forehead.

Then, scarlet flames actually ignited on the golden giant's body, like armor, gradually spreading over the giant's entire body.

A magnificent crimson-gold deity directly descended upon the earth. In its right hand, it held a dark red longsword shrouded in scarlet mist. A cold and heavy killing intent was wantonly unleashed.

Menma stood atop the crimson-gold giant's head with his arms crossed, the terrifying pressure released from his Mangekyō pressing down on everyone through the air.

Susanoo - Fourth Form.

The manifested crimson-gold chakra giant was even two or three heads taller than Yamato's Wood Golem.

At this moment, the outsiders cowering in a corner were completely broken.

"Is this the power of a ninja? No, this must be a power only a god can possess, right?!"

Whether it was the Gelel Stones overhead that meant certain death upon contact, or those two incomparably terrifying chakra giants and the wood golem.

All of them made them tremble from the bottom of their hearts, not daring to make the slightest rash move.

If they hadn't seen it with their own eyes, they simply couldn't have imagined that such powerful individuals could exist in the world.

Haido, as the leader, had completely lost his previous arrogance, like a rat hiding in a dark corner, continuously praying.

He thought that as long as he found the Gelel mineral vein, he would possess the power to conquer the world.

The three outsider female knights beside him – Kamira, who could transform into a bat; Ranke, who could turn into an ape-man; and Fūgai, who could turn into a werewolf – all had destructive power comparable to a Jōnin.

And Temujin, with the Gelel Stone embedded in his body, could even rival some Elite Jōnin in terms of destructive power and recovery ability alone.

This was why the outsiders, led by Haido, hadn't paid much attention to ninja.

But...

Now looking at the giant sword-wielding, god-like crimson-gold giant, and the tall wooden giant standing in the sea of trees,

Haido suddenly felt his past thoughts were so laughable.

So the legends in the ninja world about ninja destroying heaven and earth were not exaggerations.

"Yamato, right?"

Menma, with an appreciative gaze, watched Yamato on the Wood Golem: "With a Sage Body that isn't even a semi-finished product, you can already use the Wood Golem Technique. You are already very good."

"To grant you my appreciation, dance for me with all your might!"

As his voice fell, in the left hand of the crimson-gold giant, three giant scarlet tomoe rapidly condensed.

"Yasaka Magatama!"

BOOM!!

The dust kicked up by the thrown tomoe directly blew away everything around.

The three giant scarlet tomoe seemed to be linked together, becoming a giant scarlet ring, forming an infinitely long red tail in the air as it flew towards the Wood Golem.

"Damn it!"

Seeing the critical situation, Yamato didn't care about friendly fire, controlling the Wood Golem to swing its relatively thicker right arm.

The giant cattail-fan-like palm instantly kicked up a violent storm wave, directly colliding with the incoming scarlet tomoe.

BOOM!!!

A deafening roar echoed in the air. A wave-like air current spread in all directions, making a mess of everything around.

A large amount of wood shattered, splinters flying everywhere. The Wood Golem's arm was blown to bits.

Even with chakra attached to the soles of his feet, Yamato's body found it difficult to stabilize, still swaying unsteadily atop the Wood Golem's head.

However, the Wood Golem's chakra-absorbing characteristic gave it a slight edge.

Although this blow destroyed the Wood Golem's arm, more wood from the surroundings was still growing wildly without end, and the blown-up arm also began to recover under the supply of chakra.

"Phew, looks like it's nothing special."

Yamato let out a long breath, unable to suppress the joy in his heart: "Wood Release, which pacified a chaotic world, is truly a powerful force!"

But just as he sighed in relief,

"Yamato, retreat quickly!"

Kakashi's slightly fearful voice suddenly came from below.

Before Yamato could react,

"What a pity..."

The crimson-gold giant, under Menma's control, clasped its hands around its longsword and raised it high above its head.

A crimson-gold chakra airflow coiled around the longsword's body, and faintly, flowing flames burned and shone on the giant sword.

The sharp sword qi on both sides caused the air to break apart and scatter, emitting a horrifying wail like the cry of gods and demons, as if it would slice space itself in two.

"Futsunomitama Sword..."

A crimson-gold color flashed in Menma's Mangekyō Sharingan.

The chakra giant sword, raised above the giant's head, its blade emitted a dazzling crimson-gold light.

Aiming forward, it swung down mercilessly.

"Slash!"

(End of Chapter)

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