Chapter 74: Wood Release... Advent of a World of Flowering Trees!

The next morning, Yagyu woke up a little after 9 a.m.

This was very unusual for him, as he usually woke up early for his daily training.

By this time, Karin and Kurenai Yuhi had already gotten up.

"Yagyu-kun, I've made you breakfast," Karin said.

When Yagyu finished washing up and came out, Karin immediately brought out the dishes she had covered.

"Thank you, Karin," Yagyu smiled, nodding as he ate the carefully prepared breakfast.

As Yagyu ate, Kurenai Yuhi spoke up, "Last night, Tsunade-sama said we should return with Jiraiya-sama. What do you think, Yagyu?"

Yagyu accepted the milk Karin handed him, took a sip, and replied, "I think it's a good idea. With Jiraiya-sama as her sponsor, Karin might be able to bypass the inspection process."

"I think so too," Kurenai agreed, nodding.

Although her time with Karin had been brief, it was enough for her to see Karin's character.

This girl, like many orphans from small nations, had suffered a tragic fate.

However, unlike others, Karin came from a noble background, and it was remarkable that her personality had not been twisted by her hardships.

Her care and attentiveness the previous night, including giving up her room and sleeping on the couch, were signs of her selflessness.

And Karin's absolute obedience to Yagyu—seeming as if she would follow any command, even to the point of death—was striking.

Without even needing an inspection, Kurenai was certain there was nothing wrong with Karin.

If possible, Kurenai did not want Karin to go through Konoha's interrogation unit.

That department, like the ANBU, could be very dark at times. They might use violent methods, including mind-altering genjutsu, or even forcefully read Karin's memories, which could harm her mind and brain.

As just one of Konoha's Jonin, Kurenai had no authority to stop the village from interrogating Karin, nor the influence to sway the interrogation unit's decisions.

However, if Jiraiya brought Karin back, it would be a completely different story.

Jiraiya was a direct disciple of the Third Hokage, the teacher of the Fourth Hokage, and one of the Legendary Sannin—someone even elite Jonin had to respect as a superior.

If Jiraiya vouched for Karin, the interrogation unit would likely go through the motions, but the inspection would be minimal.

After Yagyu finished breakfast, the three of them set out for the Yoshii Inn, where Shizune had told them to meet.

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!

Before they could reach the inn, the sound of body flickers filled the air.

Jiraiya, Shizune, and Naruto appeared in an instant, moving so quickly that they barely paused before passing by.

Shizune's voice echoed as they moved ahead, "Yagyu, you're just in time—hurry and follow us!"

Exchanging glances with Kurenai, Yagyu immediately used the body flicker technique to catch up.

Once next to Shizune, Kurenai asked, "Shizune-san, what's going on?"

Shizune's face was grim. "Tsunade-sama went to meet Orochimaru alone!"

"Orochimaru?!" Kurenai's eyes widened in shock. She hadn't expected the killer of the Third Hokage to be in Tanzaku Town.

"It's my fault. I didn't expect Tsunade to drug me," Jiraiya said, full of regret. Then, as if recalling something, his eyes brightened, and he turned to Karin, saying, "Karin, didn't Yagyu say you awakened the Mind's Eye of the Kagura last night? Can you sense where Tsunade is right now?"

Shizune's eyes also lit up, and she urged, "Karin, please help!"

"I'll try."

Karin formed a hand seal, closed her eyes, and focused all her energy on using the Mind's Eye of the Kagura.

"I found her!"

In no time, Karin opened her eyes and pointed to the 10 o'clock direction. "Tsunade-sama is far away in that direction, about 20 kilometers from here."

Upon hearing this, Shizune immediately sped up, and Yagyu and the others followed suit.

A distance of 20 kilometers was nothing for them at full speed.

Earlier, they had been searching for Tsunade by following her scent, which slowed them down.

Now that they knew her exact location, it took them less than a minute to leave Tanzaku Town and enter the dense forests typical of the Land of Fire.

The scenery blurred past them, as if they were on a high-speed train from Yagyu's previous life.

After just five minutes, they exited the forest and reached a vast grassland.

"Tsunade-sama!" Shizune cried out.

In front of them, on the physically ravaged grassland, stood three figures—Tsunade, Orochimaru, and Kabuto Yakushi.

Tsunade was in terrible condition. Though not physically injured, she was kneeling on the ground, hugging herself, her body trembling uncontrollably.

Her face and body were stained with blood, the sight of which was triggering her hemophobia—her intense fear of blood.

Very few people knew about this phobia, but Orochimaru was one of them.

"You arrived quickly, but unfortunately, you're too late," Kabuto said with a calm expression, his hands glowing with blue chakra as he aimed an attack at the incapacitated Tsunade.

"Not good!" Jiraiya and the others were shocked at this sight.

Zzzt, zzzt, zzzt...

Suddenly, the sound of crackling electricity filled the air.

Yagyu, surrounded by blue and white lightning, shot forward like a bolt of lightning, leaving Shizune and the others far behind.

Naruto stared in astonishment at Yagyu's incredible speed.

Kabuto's expression also changed as he recognized Yagyu and recalled the intelligence he had gathered on him.

Intending to kill Tsunade in front of Jiraiya and the others to make them feel helpless, Kabuto quickly changed his mind. Instead, he decided to capture Tsunade.

The combination of S-rank Water Release techniques and Yagyu's illusionary body flicker technique was too troublesome.

Even though Orochimaru could still hold off Jiraiya, Kabuto knew he couldn't handle Yagyu, Shizune, and Kurenai together.

Therefore, rather than killing Tsunade, he had to control her.

In the brief moment Kabuto hesitated, Yagyu finished his one-handed seals.

"Water Release: Severing Wave!"

A high-pressure stream of water shot from Yagyu's mouth.

The moisture in the air condensed into a straight beam of water, cutting through the air like a blue laser.

But Yagyu wasn't aiming for Kabuto. Instead, he targeted the ground in front of Tsunade.

The water beam hadn't yet reached its destination, but it already dug a deep, straight trench into the ground, cutting through the earth with surgical precision as it headed toward Tsunade.

Seeing this powerful water beam rushing toward him, Kabuto had no choice but to abandon his attempt to capture Tsunade.

Watching the incredible force of the water, Orochimaru's raspy voice murmured, "Severing Wave... This kid really is a descendant of the Senju."

"Orochimaru!" Jiraiya's voice rang out, filled with anger. "You killed Sarutobi-sensei and now dare to harm Tsunade?! I won't let you go this time!"

"You think you can stop me, you fool?"

Even though Orochimaru had lost the ability to use ninjutsu, he still sneered. "Kabuto…"

"Yes, Orochimaru-sama."

Kabuto immediately understood and used a kunai to cut Orochimaru's palm, using his blood for summoning seals.

"Summoning Jutsu!"

Boom!

The sound of something massive exploding echoed through the area.

A huge cloud of white smoke spread across the battlefield.

"Orochimaru, for summoning me, you owe me 100 live sacrifices," a rebellious voice said before the smoke even cleared.

As the wind blew away the smoke, a gigantic purple serpent appeared on the grassland.

Its vertical pupils looked down at Yagyu and the others, and when it spotted Tsunade kneeling on the ground and Jiraiya standing nearby, the serpent, Manda, paused and mockingly asked, "Orochimaru, are you hosting a class reunion?"

Orochimaru leaped onto Manda's head and replied, "Kill them for me, and I'll give you 300 sacrifices."

"No problem. I've long hated that toad."

At that moment, Jiraiya's voice rang out: "Summoning Jutsu!"

A similarly massive cloud of smoke appeared, and both Orochimaru and Manda tensed, expecting to face Jiraiya's powerful toad summon.

But when the smoke cleared, a small toad, barely the size of a palm, appeared instead.

Orochimaru: "…"

Manda: "…"

Jiraiya's eyes widened in disbelief as he shouted, "Gamakichi?! Where's Gamabunta?!"

"I was eating with Dad! Can't you check the time before summoning me, you dumb ol—"

Gamakichi began to complain, but when he saw it was Jiraiya who had summoned him, he froze and said, "Jiraiya-ossan? Why did you summon me?"

Realizing the danger, Gamakichi looked up at the towering Manda and trembled in fear. "Jiraiya-ossan, you don't expect me to fight that, do you?"

Orochimaru shook his head. "After all these years, you're still as stupid as ever."

"Summoning Jutsu!"

Just as Orochimaru was about to breathe a sigh of relief and prepare to finish off Jiraiya with Manda, another voice shouted from nearby.

Orochimaru's expression changed slightly.

Standing beside Jiraiya, Naruto had also used a summoning jutsu. Another large cloud of smoke appeared.

Orochimaru's face grew serious once more as he muttered, "The Nine-Tails' jinchuriki... I forgot about that kid…"

But when the smoke cleared, a toad the same size as Gamakichi appeared on the grassland.

"Gamatatsu!"

Jiraiya's eyes widened again, calling out the small toad's name.

Naruto, equally frustrated, shouted, "Why is it another tiny toad?! Where's the boss toad?!"

This comedic back-and-forth between Jiraiya and Naruto added a strange humor to the otherwise tense and deadly battlefield.

Even Orochimaru and Manda, usually cold and indifferent, couldn't help but twitch their lips at the ridiculous scene.

Their enemies had such reactions, so it was no surprise that Shizune and Kurenai were also speechless.

Kurenai's forehead was covered in sweat, and Shizune rubbed her temple in frustration.

If not for her respect for Jiraiya and the fact that Tsunade had caused this situation, Shizune might have asked if they were there for comedy relief.

"This isn't funny at all!" she thought.

Yagyu, however, frowned slightly and asked, "Jiraiya-sama, how long will it take for your body to recover?"

"Ten minutes!" Jiraiya answered seriously. "Just give me ten minutes, and I'll be fine."

"Ten minutes, huh? That's too long!"

Yagyu glanced at Tsunade, still trembling in fear and kneeling on the ground, then stepped forward with a determined expression. "In that case, I'll protect Tsunade-nee-sama."

The change in his address snapped Tsunade out of her fearful trance.

Looking at Yagyu standing tall in front of her, his silver hair and youthful frame reminded her of Dan Kato and Nawaki.

Clap!

Yagyu suddenly clapped his hands together, and a surge of blue chakra flames erupted from his body.

Seeing this, Orochimaru's expression darkened, and he urged, "Manda, kill them!"

With Tsunade and Jiraiya both incapacitated, the most dangerous person on the field, in Orochimaru's eyes, was now Yagyu.

He knew all about this civilian genius who had surpassed Uchiha Sasuke.

As a near-confirmed descendant of the Senju, Yagyu had mastered the Second Hokage's Hard Whirlpool Water Blade and Severing Wave, as well as powerful illusion and body flicker techniques reminiscent of Shisui Uchiha's.

Had Orochimaru still had the use of his hands, he wouldn't have taken Yagyu seriously, aside from his illusionary body flicker technique.

But in his current state, Yagyu was the greatest threat.

"I'll devour them all in one bite!" Manda roared as its massive upper body dove down, mouth wide open, ready to swallow Yagyu and the others along with the ground beneath them.

"Wood Release…"

Yagyu's soft utterance of the jutsu's name sent shockwaves through everyone—Orochimaru, Kabuto, Jiraiya, Kurenai, Tsunade, and Shizune alike.

Then Yagyu shouted, "Advent of a World of Flowering Trees!"

Rumble, rumble...

The entire grassland shook violently as if an earthquake had struck.

It was as though something massive was awakening beneath the earth, and deep cracks began to form all around.

Suddenly, gigantic tree trunks burst from the ground, as thick as several people or even dozens of people could wrap their arms around, like snakes uncoiling.

These massive green branches rapidly sprouted leaves and transformed into towering trees.

Manda, in mid-descent, slammed into the wall of trees that had sprung up before him.

In the next moment, Manda, along with Orochimaru and Kabuto beneath him, was swallowed by the wave of growing trees.

The cracks in the ground continued to widen, and countless branches surged forth, pushing aside the still-growing trees and forming a tidal wave of greenery that rolled forward.

From an aerial view, it looked as if a green tidal wave was spreading outward in a fan shape, expanding in all directions.

The wave grew larger and larger, leaving towering trees in its wake.

The small grove quickly turned into a forest, which then became… a vast sea of trees!

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