Chapter 98: Transformation into a Giant Buddha!

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Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!

In an instant.

The earth trembled.

The entire mountain range surrounding the Hidden Cloud Village shook as if an earthquake was imminent, emanating an overwhelming sense of power.

"What is this...?"

"What's happening?"

"What terrifying power!"

"Oh my God!"

Exclamations erupted from the crowd gathered at the village gate.

Shock was evident in everyone's eyes.

But they weren't the only ones astonished.

Within the Hidden Cloud Village.

The villagers were going about their daily lives as usual.

But at that moment.

The entire village began to quake.

Buildings collapsed.

Suspension bridges snapped.

It felt like the end of the world had descended upon the Hidden Cloud Village.

Everyone was gripped by intense fear, unsure of what was happening or what would come next.

At this moment.

In the Raikage's office.

A dark-skinned, white-haired ninja stood by the window, gazing in the direction of the village gate.

He had tattoos on his shoulders reading "Lightning" and "Water."

This was Darui, the bodyguard of the Fourth Raikage, who would later become the Fifth Raikage in the anime.

"What's going on?"

A large question mark formed in Darui's mind as he focused on the village gate.

He had a vague feeling.

The tremors were coming from outside.

That area was the epicenter.

This side was just feeling the aftershocks.

Wood chips and dust continually fell from the shaking walls of the Raikage's office, which looked as though it could collapse at any moment.

"I'm not sure what's happening, but there's a terrifying chakra and strong tremors coming from the gate. It might be a tailed beast!" said a ninja stationed at the office entrance.

"The Raikage is still outside, right?"

Darui frowned, realizing that this situation was anything but simple. His eyes reflected deep contemplation.

"Yes!"

The ninja quickly nodded. As the guard at the Raikage's office, he was aware of the Fourth Raikage's whereabouts.

"I'm heading over there now!"

Darui suddenly punched the window beside him, causing a loud explosion as the glass shattered into pieces.

Whoosh!

He leaped out, performing a flip in midair before landing heavily on the ground.

Immediately.

Darui dashed toward the village gate.

The closer he got.

The more he could feel the terrifying chakra in the air ahead.

It was almost tangible.

Even his speed was hindered by its intensity.

It was utterly terrifying!

"Is it a tailed beast?"

The question mark in Darui's mind pulsed again. He had seen tailed beasts before—Lord Killer Bee had used the Eight-Tails' power. At that time, he thought the Eight-Tails was incredibly powerful, but compared to this chakra...

"Could it be the Nine-Tails?"

Darui couldn't think of a more precise conclusion. The only being capable of emitting such terrifying chakra could only be the Nine-Tails.

Whoosh!

Darui increased his speed, anxiety gripping his heart. At this moment, he had to help the Fourth Raikage.

Outside the Hidden Cloud Village gate.

As everyone watched Hashirama Senju, their eyes trembling, the earth's shaking intensified.

Crack!

With the sound of the ground breaking apart, a wooden figure appeared beneath Hashirama's feet, lifting him into the air.

The wooden figure was colossal, with a wooden dragon coiled around it. Its massive size was like that of a small mountain.

Its appearance instantly drew everyone's attention, absorbing their shock without mercy.

Everything happened very quickly.

As soon as the wooden figure's feet appeared, the onlookers assumed this was Hashirama's grand Wood Release technique.

They didn't even have time to marvel.

The wooden figure's feet were then lifted in the same manner.

What lifted the wooden figure was a giant Buddha.

The Buddha instantly grew, towering like a mountain before the crowd. The once-massive wooden figure now stood atop the Buddha's head, appearing minuscule by comparison.

As for the First Hokage, Hashirama Senju, he stood on the wooden figure atop the Buddha's head.

Behind the Buddha, numerous hands spread out like a peacock fanning its tail, forming the shape of the Thousand-Armed Kannon.

And thus, it was complete.

True Several Thousand Hands

The colossal Buddha of the Senju clan stood at the gates of the Hidden Cloud Village, resembling a towering mountain, with the entire village dwarfed at its feet.

In that instant.

Everyone tilted their heads upward, eyes wide open, staring at the impossibly massive Buddha before them.

"Is this a ninja?"

Each person couldn't help but swallow hard, trembling at the overwhelming sight.

...

Hashirama stood atop the Buddha's head, gazing down.

The entire Hidden Cloud Village lay beneath his feet, the swirling clouds surrounding him, so close he could almost grasp them with a simple reach.

What a rush!

A thrilling thought surged through Hashirama's mind.

To keep such a technique buried in a coffin would be a crime against its power!

A soft whimper echoed around him.

The system sprite floated beside Hashirama, its big eyes gazing downward. The height was indeed dizzying.

"Host, why did you use Sage Art? I think with your abilities, you could have completed these two tasks without resorting to Sage Art!" the sprite asked curiously.

As a system, it was well aware of its host's strength.

In the current ninja world, he was an unbeatable force!

"The reason is simple," Hashirama replied, glancing at the sprite, still basking in the thrill of using the True Thousand Hands technique.

"It's like when you're playing a game and you get a top-tier piece of equipment—you want to show it off and experience its power!"

"The True Thousand Hands is a technique I admired when I watched the anime. I never imagined I'd one day be able to use it!"

"I have to admit," he continued, "it feels like using a dragon-slaying sword to kill a chicken!"

"But," he added, "in this ninja world, there's no dragon worthy of testing my blade. So, I can't just keep this Buddha hidden forever!"

"When it's time to use it, I will!"

Hashirama's eyes shifted towards the Hidden Cloud Village. It was like having a nuclear weapon—using it against a foe armed with mere swords might be overkill, but not using it would leave him feeling frustrated.

"Let's continue the test, then!"

His gaze first sharpened with a fierce intensity, then gradually softened.

The Hidden Cloud Village was now in his sights.

From this moment on.

The Hidden Cloud Village would be a thing of the past!

Hashirama was aware that innocent people would be caught in the crossfire. But great achievements often require sacrifices. If anyone was to blame, it would be the Raikage for his recklessness!

Clap!

Hashirama clapped his hands together once more.

"Transformation into a Giant Buddha!"

(End of Chapter)