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"???"
As soon as Hashirama spoke these words, confusion erupted among everyone present.
All eyes turned toward Hashirama in stunned silence. They were all taken aback.
The Fourth Raikage was less surprised; he furrowed his brow and continued to glare at Hashirama, feeling that the latter was merely spouting bravado.
But the other four Kage were all in shock.
What was going on?
Was this really happening?
Was it so hasty?
Tobirama stared at Hashirama with wide eyes. This was the first time she had encountered such an inexplicable and immediate combat situation.
Even in the worst case, they usually exchanged a few words before actions began.
This situation seemed to...
Not even allow a moment of mental preparation!
Onoki looked at Hashirama deeply, remaining composed on the surface, but inwardly reflecting on the fact that Hashirama, the First Hokage, was not one to be underestimated. If he chose to act, it would be a one-on-one with all five Kage.
Gaara's expression grew tense.
Previously, he was fearless, believing that anyone who faced him would end up dead.
It was only after encountering Senju Hashirama that Gaara realized he too could experience fear. Just Hashirama stepping closer made Gaara's sand react involuntarily.
The prospect of fighting now seemed unbelievable.
Additionally, the most astonished person was none other than the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi.
The Third Hokage's eyes widened in shock, his face a picture of bewilderment. He couldn't grasp the current situation.
Wasn't the First Hokage one of their own?
Why was he now so ruthless, even attacking the Hokage?
What was happening?
How had he been dragged into this?
The Third Hokage found it hard to believe his ears, yet the First Hokage had indeed called out his name moments earlier.
For a moment, everyone's expressions were a mix of confusion and concern.
"Let's get this over with," Hashirama said dismissively, a hint of impatience showing on his face. After waiting for this day, he had traveled from Konohagakure to Kumogakure.
He was eager to finish these two tasks so he could free up slots to accept new ones, gain task rewards, and acquire more of his cells.
"…"
The crowd exchanged silent glances, realizing that the situation was more complex than it seemed, and they reluctantly stepped forward.
"Fifth Mizukage, Terumi Mei."
Terumi Mei stepped forward first, her beautiful eyes flashing with determination. After stating her name, she said coldly, "First Hokage, your strength is impressive, but challenging all five Kage alone seems rather arrogant!"
"Fifth Kazekage, Gaara."
Gaara also stepped forward, his eyes fixed intently on Hashirama. Without any unnecessary words, he let the gourd on his back fall to the ground, and large amounts of sand began to swirl around him.
"Third Tsuchikage, Onoki."
Onoki floated into view from behind Akatsuchi, having anticipated that the First Hokage might act, though he hadn't expected it to be at this moment.
In any case, since things had come to this, he would have to face the First Hokage's skill firsthand!
Onoki had only heard of the First Hokage's legendary status and had never seen it in action. The last time he visited Konohagakure, he had been driven away by Uchiha Madara before even meeting the First Hokage.
"Hmph!"
"Fourth Raikage!"
"A!"
The Fourth Raikage scoffed, his gaze sweeping over the small and elderly figures of the Kage.
Terumi Mei.
Gaara.
These names were unfamiliar to him.
As for the old man...
So, he was Onoki!
The Fourth Raikage did not regard the Third Tsuchikage and the Third Hokage as significant. They were too old. Even though they had been prominent in the past, it was no longer their era.
"Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi."
Finally, the Third Hokage stepped forward. Not out of a desire to take center stage, but because he was completely baffled by what was happening.
It was beyond belief that this situation had come to involve him.
Wasn't the First Hokage here to seek justice for Konohagakure?
The Third Hokage's mind was filled with question marks, utterly confused and disoriented.
"Now that's more like it!"
Hashirama observed the assembled Five Kage. They weren't united like they were during the Fourth Great Ninja War when they faced Uchiha Madara.
Back then, the ninja world had a common enemy.
The Five Kage had united against the strongest opponent, Uchiha Madara.
But now, each of them had their own concerns.
It was nearly impossible to make them fight with all their might.
However, Hashirama didn't intend to force them into a desperate struggle. He was here to complete a task and move on to the next.
Snap!
In the midst of everyone's attention, Hashirama clapped his hands together with a sharp sound.
"Wood Style Hidden Jutsu: Deep Forest Emergence"
Hashirama's voice rang out clearly, his massive chakra surging up and flowing into the ground, causing tremors.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
In an instant, the ground shook as if an earthquake had struck. Thick vines erupted from the earth at a visible speed, rapidly growing into a dense forest.
The vines were thick and formidable, spreading out aggressively.
They covered the entire area, leaving no room for escape.
The Five Kage's expressions changed as they saw the sudden emergence of the vines. They became highly cautious and began using their abilities to counter the entanglement and assault of the vines.
However…
The speed of the vine assault was incredibly fast.
There was no time to react.
Terumi Mei watched the advancing vines with determination. She immediately formed hand signs, and her chest expanded rapidly. From her crimson lips, she spat out a highly corrosive liquid.
"Lava Release: Lava Monster Jutsu!"
A stream of corrosive liquid sprayed from Terumi Mei's mouth, instantly dissolving the approaching vines into gas.
However, as soon as the vines were dissolved, more vines emerged immediately.
They came in a continuous stream.
"Lava Release: Lava Monster Jutsu!"
Terumi Mei started a continuous spray, trying to keep up. The vines were too thick and large; without enough acidic liquid, she couldn't completely dissolve them.
These vines were all produced by Hashirama's Wood Release.
As long as Hashirama had chakra, the vines would keep coming.
Against Terumi Mei's continuous spraying, Hashirama could still keep up for quite a while!
Gaara's surroundings were already covered in sand.
The sand formed a solid barrier, like an eggshell, encasing Gaara within.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
The vines relentlessly battered Gaara's sand shield, striking it repeatedly as if it were being hit by fists.
Inside the sand shield, Gaara could clearly feel the tremors from all directions, with a growing sense that it might not hold.
"Is this the First Hokage?"
A sense of fear gripped Gaara. His sand was renowned for its absolute defense.
It had been invincible until now.
No one had ever breached it!
Even during the Chunin Exams, Lee only managed to throw sand behind him at high speed.
The only one who had truly breached his sand defense was Sasuke with his Chidori.
The impact of these wooden vines wasn't as strong as Chidori, but their persistence was relentless!
A single deep and powerful thrust might not be much, but Hashirama's attacks were consistently strong!
Gaara found it difficult to withstand. He continued to endure repeated impacts, and the surrounding sand slid downward. He could sense that it wouldn't be long before his defenses would fail!
"Damn it!"
The Raikage's body was surrounded by crackling lightning as he entered Lightning Release Chakra Mode.
He moved at incredible speeds, evading the vines' entanglement and strikes.
He was furious!
This was not his usual fighting style.
"I'm being forced to dodge from just a few wooden vines!"
The Raikage furrowed his brow, irritation flashing in his eyes. He raised his hands, turning them into blades, and began hacking at the vines.
Slash! Slash! Slash!
The Raikage's hands slashed rhythmically at the wood, each strike accompanied by a forceful sound.
His speed was impressive. He aimed to clear a path through the vines to reach Hashirama.
However, the vines grew faster than he could cut them. Before long, the Raikage was surrounded by a dense mass of vines, though they had not fully ensnared him yet. He continued to strike.
"Dust Release: Detachment of the Primitive World!"
Onoki's hands summoned nearly transparent blocks that appeared and vanished, disintegrating everything within them into nothingness. This technique, developed by the Second Tsuchikage, was a powerful Bloodline Limit combining three chakra elements.
Yet...
Despite Onoki's ability to clear the vines in front of him, he struggled to keep up with their rapid growth.
The Third Hokage faced a similar situation. Upon seeing the vines, his first instinct was to use Fire Release to burn them.
But then he realized something was off.
He was inside a forest of trees.
If he used Fire Release, wouldn't he be burning himself?
Moreover, since Hashirama was the one who initiated this, the Third Hokage suspected that the real target was the other Kage, and he was merely a bonus for Hashirama's "five-man kill." So he didn't take it too seriously.
Thinking this, the Third Hokage bit his right hand and made a hand sign on his left palm. He then performed the summoning jutsu.
Buzz!
A complex seal appeared on the ground, glowing with faint spatial ripples—it was the summoning jutsu seal.
"Summoning Jutsu!"
With the Third Hokage's words, the Monkey King, Enma, appeared dramatically, striking a grand pose.
The next moment, a thick vine struck Enma's head, knocking him to the ground.
"What a force!"
Enma was startled. The force was impressive enough to knock him down. He quickly turned his head.
Another vine came down, hitting Enma in the face.
Smack!
A red mark appeared on Enma's face.
"Sarutobi, what's going on? Why is it always like this when you summon me?"
Enma was puzzled. The last time he was summoned, it was under similar circumstances.
It felt like he was being treated like Sun Wukong, expected to create chaos.
Wood Release!
It was clearly Hashirama's technique!
"There's no time to explain. Transform and help me!"
The Third Hokage said with a wry smile. As he spoke, he was already entangled by vines and became the first Kage to be ensnared.
"No, you must explain this time!"
Enma was concerned but, despite his words, transformed into his staff form and began attacking the vines that bound the Third Hokage.
"Alright, I'll explain. The First Hokage is challenging all five Kage alone!"
After gaining some freedom, the Third Hokage held the staff with one hand and explained to the transformed Enma.
"Why is the First Hokage challenging all five Kage?"
Enma was even more puzzled. Did everyone in the village play like this?
Previously, Orochimaru had a Hokage fighting another Hokage.
Now, Hashirama was challenging all five Kage.
Was the Hokage always being fought by their own?
Of course, Enma didn't voice these questions.
If he had, he would have learned the answer—it wasn't always the case that Hokages fought each other.
It was just the Third Hokage in this instance!
"I feel like I'm just a filler," the Third Hokage said with a bitter smile, feeling somewhat like a mere extra.
"So you drag me in as filler too?"
Enma's eyes widened. It seemed that the circumstances always dictated when he would be summoned.
Enma had already decided that after this, he would write a book titled...
"Summoned in the Forest of Trees"
It would surely be a hit!
---
Hashirama watched the Five Kage being relentlessly attacked by the vines from a distance. He was using only one technique so far and hadn't employed any additional jutsu.
"Everyone knows that Senju Hashirama is physically powerful, with an immense Sage Body like the Sage of Six Paths, but what they don't know is that I'm also a mage."
Hashirama's mouth curled into a slight smile.
It was almost time to finish.
A one-on-one with all five Kage didn't need much time or flashy techniques. Just a powerful chakra was enough!
"Now, let's increase the intensity."
Hashirama clapped his hands again, and a surge of chakra, much stronger than before, enveloped him. A layer of chakra surrounded him, emitting terrifying waves, pushing the air aside.
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
Thicker and larger vines surged toward the Five Kage, their terrifying growth rate outpacing their destruction. The area quickly transformed into a forested world.
"Bloom!"
Hashirama's dark pupils lit up.
Suddenly, every tree grew enormous, vibrant flowers.
The flowers bloomed silently.
(End of Chapter)