Chapter 133: Third Raikage vs. Hiruzen's Tailed Beast Cloak Wood Release, Danzō's Dakkon Slaughter, and Naraku Watches from the Shadows
Sarutobi Hiruzen naturally knew the Third Raikage A's signature move. He immediately lengthened and thickened Infinite in his hand, using the tailed beast cloak's claws to firmly push the half-person-thick giant staff toward the Raikage before him.
One side was Lightning Release Chakra Mode under full Armament Haki coverage; the other was Infinite reinforced by tailed beast cloak. In an instant, palm and staff collided.
BOOM!
A deafening roar erupted, accompanied by a blinding flash of light. The point of contact between the two unleashed tremendous kinetic energy. Because of this force, the ground beneath the Raikage instantly collapsed outward, forming a massive crater.
Distant ninjas were knocked to the ground by the powerful shockwave. They stared in shock at the scene before them, unable to believe their eyes.
"So strong…" someone muttered.
This battle had already exceeded their imagination—they had never witnessed such a clash of power.
But the Third Raikage A had ultimately chosen the wrong opponent. The hardness of Infinite in Sarutobi Hiruzen's hand was something he simply couldn't destroy at this moment.
Moreover, his Armament Haki with internal destruction couldn't transmit to Sarutobi Hiruzen's body at all.
When everyone saw the Third Raikage again, a trickle of fresh blood leaked from the corner of his mouth.
Yet his expression showed extreme delight. He simply spat the blood from his mouth—the blood carbonized in midair from lightning.
Then he fully activated Observation Haki, using the terrifying speed boost from Armament Haki and Lightning Release Chakra Mode to circle endlessly around Sarutobi Hiruzen.
He seized every opening to launch sneak attacks.
Sarutobi Hiruzen, facing this Raikage with terrifying speed and defense, had no solution.
Even with tailed beast cloak and Infinite, he couldn't handle the slippery Third Raikage A.
Every time he was hit, he could only wildly swing at the surrounding air.
Understanding he couldn't deal with the Third Raikage in his current state, Sarutobi Hiruzen prepared to attempt second-stage transformation—Wood Release form. If possible, he absolutely didn't want to use final transformation.
The last final transformation still left him with lingering fear. He even suspected his accelerated aging was related to that final transformation.
The Third Raikage A saw the tailed beast cloak vanish around Sarutobi Hiruzen, but the entire armor turned even greener, sprouting green buds.
Yet he didn't rush to attack—instead he watched warily and mocked: "Third Hokage, are you giving up resistance?"
Sarutobi Hiruzen didn't reply. He rapidly formed hand seals.
"Wood Release: Advent of a World of Trees!"
Unlike the Wood Release: Great Forest Technique Danzō had used earlier—which mainly extended wooden vines and branches from the arms to capture enemies—
Advent of a World of Trees rapidly grew numerous trees from the ground, creating an entire forest in an instant.
Everything in the forest—attack and defense—was controlled by the caster. Sarutobi Hiruzen manipulated the trees to try capturing the constantly fleeing Third Raikage A.
Ōnoki, watching this scene from the side, couldn't help but feel shocked.
This was one of the legendary signature ninjutsu of Konoha's First Hokage—never expecting Uchiha Naraku could be so terrifying.
To enable this level of Wood Release through a single piece of equipment.
Did that mean anyone could become a kekkei genkai ninja in the future?
However, Sarutobi Hiruzen's battle wasn't going smoothly. Even controlling the entire forest couldn't catch the Third Raikage.
And as time passed, Sarutobi Hiruzen felt chakra consumption.
So he simply gave up trying to capture the Raikage and instead let his controlled forest devour surrounding Kumo and Iwa ninjas.
One after another they screamed as they were seized—even some Konoha ninjas took the chance to finish off enemies tangled by Wood Release with a slash.
Sarutobi Hiruzen's Wood Release was somewhat different from the original. The original only absorbed chakra.
But his—infused with Tyrande power and other strange forces—not only drained the enemy's chakra,
it even devoured their flesh to nourish Infinite.
The Third Raikage A watched helplessly as his village's people turned into dried corpses before his eyes. Rage could no longer be contained.
He could accept his village's ninjas dying at enemy hands—that was perhaps the fate of ninjas.
Even someone as powerful as him might one day die on the battlefield.
But Sarutobi Hiruzen's bizarre Wood Release wasn't just killing—it was fucking eating people! Devouring ninjas one by one to restore chakra! Nourishing himself and his weapon!
The Third Raikage no longer dodged or evaded—he launched a death charge straight toward Sarutobi Hiruzen in the forest's center.
Relying on the advanced Observation Haki he had broken through to during battle, he sensed the surrounding trees. If unavoidable, he either punched or kicked them apart.
Yet as he drew closer to Sarutobi Hiruzen, more and more trees surrounded him.
Finally several trees bound him. He used his immense physical strength to break free.
But as time passed and even more trees continued binding him—one broken became two, two broken became four.
Until he was completely wrapped into a dumpling.
Sarutobi Hiruzen watched this scene and revealed a smile. He didn't know if it was an illusion,
but he felt a voice urging him to completely kill the Third Raikage—devour him entirely, eat him clean!
Unlike Danzō's suppressive Wood Release, Sarutobi Hiruzen's devoured chakra at a much faster speed.
In mere moments it forced the Third Raikage out of Lightning Release Chakra Mode. Then branches frantically drilled toward his body.
Though blocked by Armament Haki and unable to penetrate the Raikage's body, the trees began devouring his surface flesh—trying to eat him from outside in!
The Third Raikage A fell into a tug-of-war with the Wood Release devouring his flesh.
His Armament Haki was worn down bit by bit, yet he renewed it again and again.
The Third Raikage A was willing to risk facing Sarutobi Hiruzen's Wood Release for his subordinates. Seeing their Raikage bound by Wood Release, Kumo ninjas didn't think of fleeing—
instead they charged madly toward Sarutobi Hiruzen's forest, breaking through toward the center!
But often they destroyed one or two trees only to be tangled and devoured by Sarutobi Hiruzen's Wood Release!
Naraku watched Sarutobi Hiruzen—who was using Wood Release to devour flesh while wearing bizarre armor—then glanced at Shimura Danzō—who was frantically killing and devouring flesh with Dakkon.
Especially now—Danzō no longer looked fully human. Dense green dragon scales covered his entire body.
Even sharp fangs had grown in his mouth.
He suddenly felt Konoha's two F2 didn't seem very human anymore!
As for why he was on the battlefield—it was because this war had crucial influence on his future forging. He planned to help the weak side lose less miserably, and he also wanted to see how well his various excellent products performed.
The Third Raikage A watched his subordinates devoured one by one. Finally, boundless rage completely ignited him.
He absolutely refused to die so pathetically here! Absolutely refused to be devoured by Sarutobi Hiruzen's Wood Release and turned into sustenance for Sarutobi Hiruzen! Absolutely refused to let Sarutobi Hiruzen devour all his subordinates!!!
You could criticize the Third Raikage A as warmongering, cruel to other villages, ambitious. But toward Kumogakure's people—he was absolutely protective. Otherwise he wouldn't have done the future feat of single-handedly holding off 10,000 Iwa-nin for three days and nights.
And now Sarutobi Hiruzen had thoroughly touched his reverse scale!
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