The rest of the bewildered candidates were plunged into chaos and terror.
"T-trees… a forest… just sprouted?!"
"I saw it! That Konoha Ninja did it—who is he?!"
"He can cage a Tailed Beast… what kind of monster are we even testing with?!"
Amid the disorder and shock, several swift silhouettes landed on the tall canopy at the battlefield's edge.
It was the Konoha Anbu squad, arriving on emergency orders to stop One-Tail Shukaku!
They had come to evacuate and set up a cordon, but the moment they saw the vast forest holding back Shukaku's raging Chakra, every one of them skidded to a halt.
"That's… Wood Release?!" an Anbu gasped, eyes huge behind his mask. "Captain Tenzō —he's here?!"
Tenzō: Yamato's codename inside the Anbu.
"No—wrong!"
The squad leader cut in at once, voice grave:
"I know Captain Tenzō; he can't produce Wood Release on this scale. This range, this strength… it's not him."
"What?!" The other masked Ninja recoiled. "Apart from Captain Tenzō, our village has a second Wood Release user? Who?"
The Anbu captain said nothing, staring at Tejima Shinichi atop the colossal tree confronting Shukaku. His mind churned, yet experience told him the power shaking a Tailed Beast far exceeded the transplanted prowess of "Tenzō".
'If every impossibility is ruled out…'
He drew a sharp breath, eyes fixed on Tejima Shinichi in utter awe.
"Then the only answer is—Third Hokage's disciple, Tejima Shinichi, has awakened Wood Release!"
"What?!"
"Tejima Shinichi?! That genius top student they call a 'monster'?!"
The surrounding Anbu cried out, masks unable to hide their horror.
Nearby, hidden in shadow, Orochimaru—disguised as a Kusagakure ninja—materialized.
His serpentine pupils locked on the black-haired boy at the forest's center atop the tallest tree: Tejima Shinichi.
Ever since learning Hiruzen Sarutobi had taken a new pupil, he had watched the boy, curious what could impress the old man at such an age—never expecting this level of exceptionality.
It wasn't transplanted power; the vast vitality, the identical resonance to First Hokage Senju Hashirama—this was true, naturally-awakened Wood Release!
'So that's it… Sarutobi-sensei…'
In an instant Orochimaru's doubts cleared, replaced by deeper obsession and hunger.
'Now I understand… why you took him as disciple at the twilight of your life…'
'Because he wields power great enough to shift the very balance of the Ninja World—power that surpasses even the Sharingan!!'
Tejima Shinichi stood at the forest's forefront, dancing foliage encircling him like a woodland king. He raised a hand toward the wary Shukaku.
"Gaara, the warm-up… ends here, doesn't it?"
His voice filtered through layers of leaves into Gaara's ears.
"Next, let's begin the real… second round!!"
At those words Shukaku's colossal body paused; then a mingled, maniacal laugh—Gaara's glee and Shukaku's fury—stormed across the Forest of Death.
"Interesting… heh heh… hahaha… this is too good!! Tejima Shinichi—!!!"
The roar swept the forest, focusing every candidate's attention on that name.
"Tejima Shinichi?! He's the one fighting that monster?!"
"That top student? He actually—"
"Konoha's… Tejima Shinichi!"
Countless faces shifted—shock, dread, disbelief. In an instant the name carried a new, terrifying weight.
Far away, Kankuro's and Temari's expressions darkened further, fear creeping in.
"That laugh… Gaara's…" Temari's voice trembled. "He's going to use that jutsu!"
Kankuro swallowed hard. "Feigning Sleep Technique… he'll fully release Shukaku."
Conflict and dread tangled inside them.
Reason screamed to flee; an unleashed Shukaku was a living calamity, and staying meant suicide.
Yet a morbid curiosity tugged—how far could that Konoha Ninja, Tejima Shinichi, push Gaara?
Could he truly stand against a rampaging Tailed Beast?
The clash of feelings froze them in place—unable to run, unable to step forward.
Under every gaze, sand surged atop Shukaku's head and Gaara's upper body rose whole.
A cruel, thrilled grin split his face; blood-red eyes locked on Tejima Shinichi in the treetop.
Gaara—Fully Unleashed!!!!
"Tejima Shinichi… thank you for all this 'fun'…" Gaara's voice was hoarse and warped. "In return, feel the true might of the Sand Incarnate!"
The instant the words left him he snapped both hands up, forming a bizarre seal.
"Ninja Art: Feigning Sleep Technique!"
With that low cry, a geyser of Chakra erupted from within Shukaku. Gaara's head drooped as though all strength had fled, slipping into slumber.
The moment he "slept," Shukaku's once-dull beast-eyes blazed with sentient light.
The true Tailed Beast consciousness had awakened.
"Roooar—!!!"