Compared to the First Hokage Hashirama Senju's Wood Release: Deep Forest Emergence, which could effortlessly create an entire forest, Tenzō's Wood Release: Deep Forest Emergence had a much smaller range.
Even so, within a radius of more than one hundred meters, trees erupted wildly from the ground.
Branches twisted and lashed outward, indiscriminately entangling and binding everyone within the area.
For those trapped within the forest, it felt as if the very world itself had turned against them.
There was nowhere to hide.
Nowhere to escape.
Even shinobi who fought with all their strength could only resist for a few breaths before the twisted trees bound them tightly.
"Be careful! These trees absorb the target's chakra to grow stronger!"
The masked leader with the severed arm shouted the warning loudly.
Because of severe blood loss, his movements had slowed considerably, and he had been captured by the trees almost immediately.
Yet this only strengthened his determination to capture Tenzō.
Wood Release was simply too powerful.
Meanwhile, Tenzō himself was pale and gasping heavily.
This technique had nearly drained all the chakra in his body.
His limbs trembled, and he could barely remain standing.
At that moment, Enma stood firm in the middle of the forest.
Relying on his indestructible adamantine body, the Monkey King ignored the incoming attacks and forcibly blocked more than a dozen shinobi—including Kakuzu—in place.
In this kind of situation, who would dare exchange injuries or risk their life just to get past him?
If Enma suffered fatal damage, he would simply return to the summoning world to recover.
But for ordinary shinobi—
Death meant death.
"Damn white-furred monkey!" Kakuzu cursed.
A lightning-wielding masked shinobi suddenly erupted with electricity. Two spheres of lightning formed in his palms as bolts lashed outward, instantly shattering the trees surrounding him and clearing a large area.
"Don't let them escape! Chase them!" the one-armed leader shouted angrily.
Meanwhile, Hiruzen Sarutobi had already regained his composure.
He grabbed Tenzō by the collar and leapt away toward the distance.
Tenzō understood clearly that Deep Forest Emergence couldn't hold these enemies for long.
They had to leave immediately.
But only a few breaths later—
A lightning-fast figure caught up to them.
The shinobi known as C, wrapped in lightning chakra, appeared behind Tenzō and swung a knife-hand strike toward the back of his neck.
Tenzō's body reacted instantly.
The hairs on the back of his neck stood on end as he sensed the incoming danger. He lunged forward in a desperate dive, barely avoiding the strike.
"Don't even think about escaping!"
At that moment—
Hiruzen suddenly threw the Adamantine Staff toward the attacker.
C was just about to continue his assault when he felt a violent gust of wind behind him.
Before he could react—
Bang!
The extending Adamantine Staff struck him directly, sending him flying.
The staff twisted in midair and transformed back into Enma, the white-furred Monkey King.
With a powerful kick, Enma smashed C further away.
"Enma, I'm counting on you," Hiruzen said without turning back.
"I'll do my best," Enma replied solemnly.
Back in the forest battlefield, Kakuzu was still being delayed.
Due to his Earth Grudge Fear (Jiongu) threads, he had been targeted by even more branches than others.
By the time he finally broke free—
Hiruzen had already disappeared into the distance.
"Tch. What a nuisance."
Just then, the lightning-style shinobi leader turned to Kakuzu.
"Why aren't you chasing them? Don't you want the money anymore?!"
Kakuzu glanced at him calmly.
"The mission I accepted was to ambush Hiruzen Sarutobi here."
"That mission has already failed."
"If you want me to continue the pursuit—"
He paused, speaking with complete seriousness.
"That's another job."
The lightning-style leader frowned.
"Isn't it still just killing Hiruzen Sarutobi?"
"The risk level is different," Kakuzu replied calmly.
"Originally, we ambush him here and retreat a thousand miles immediately afterward. Konoha wouldn't have time to react."
"But now?"
He gestured toward the burning forest around them.
"There's already been a huge disturbance. Konoha has likely noticed."
"If we keep chasing, survival becomes uncertain."
He spread his hands.
"So the price naturally changes."
The leader froze for a moment.
"So?"
Kakuzu smiled slightly.
"If you want this old man to continue chasing them—"
"That'll cost extra."
Meanwhile, several surviving Kumogakure shinobi had already begun pursuing Hiruzen and Tenzō.
The one-armed leader was being supported by another Cloud ninja as he gave the order through gritted teeth.
"C! Stop them!"
"No matter the cost!"
C wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth and activated a technique.
Lightning erupted around his body.
"Lightning Release Chakra Mode!"
His body became a streak of lightning as he shot forward at terrifying speed.
After all—
Mastering the Lightning Release Chakra Mode meant possessing the potential to compete for the position of Raikage.
However, at that moment—
Back in the forest battlefield—
Enma had finally reached his limit.
After exhaling a puff of white smoke, the Monkey King's body exploded into a cloud of summoning smoke, disappearing from the battlefield.
Meanwhile, Tenzō swallowed several soldier pills (Hyōrōgan) and continued fleeing.
Yet he couldn't help glancing at Hiruzen beside him.
He never expected that at such a critical moment—
The Third Hokage himself would intervene to save him.
"Third Hokage…"
Tenzō muttered.
Hiruzen didn't turn back.
"Don't relax yet," he said heavily.
"The danger isn't over."
Behind them—
Hiruzen suddenly formed hand seals.
"Fire Release: Great Flame Technique!"
A vast sea of fire erupted from his mouth, engulfing the forest created by Tenzō's Wood Release.
The trees instantly became fuel for the raging flames, turning the entire battlefield into a blazing inferno
◇ BONUS & SUPPORT ◇
◇ 1 bonus chapter for every 10 reviews — drop a comment!
◇ 1 bonus chapter for every 100 Power Stones.
◇ Read 70 + chapters ahead on P@treon → patreon.com/Sagamaster789