"Fire Release: Flame Bullet!"
With his hands rapidly forming seals, Tobirama opened his mouth, unleashing a massive fireball toward the towering trees in front of him.
Huge. Too huge!
The fireball's diameter reached nearly 20 meters. Scorching heat rippled out in waves as it roared forward, incinerating everything in its path. The blazing sphere barreled through hundreds of meters before finally losing momentum and dissipating into the air.
On the ground, at least a dozen towering trees were reduced to ash, leaving behind a charred corridor stretching through the forest. Scattered embers clung to the air, smoldering and releasing trails of smoke.
"Hiss..."
Tobirama stood at the edge of the scorched path, his expression uncharacteristically shaken.
"So strong… Is this the power of ninjutsu infused with natural energy? Its strength is at least three times greater than normal."
He jogged forward, casting Water Release techniques to extinguish the lingering embers along the way. Around his eyes, dark markings resembling shadows emphasized his transformed state.
Tobirama hadn't anticipated the system to be so generous this time. Simply allowing Sasuke to join the Anbu had rewarded him with the Sage Mode.
His Sage Mode bore little resemblance to the styles of Mount Myoboku or Ryuchi Cave. Instead, it mirrored the appearance of his elder brother, Hashirama Senju.
Eager to test his newfound power, Tobirama had immediately left for the forest outside Konohagakure.
"This Fire Release: Flame Bullet alone might rival the strength of Uchiha Madara's techniques."
Making a mental comparison, Tobirama's competitive spirit flared.
"Now that I think about it, I've yet to try using Wood Release. This is the perfect chance to see how powerful it becomes when enhanced with natural energy."
With that decision, Tobirama took a deep breath, eager to witness the results of combining Sage Mode with the legendary Wood Release.
"Sage Mode: Wood Release Secret Technique: Nativity of a World of Trees!"
The moment his hands came together in a seal, countless trees erupted from the ground with a thunderous roar, spreading rapidly in all directions.
"Boom!"
The earth quaked violently.
Even in the distant streets of Konohagakure, civilians felt the tremors.
"An earthquake?!"
"Everyone, get down!"
Panicked citizens scattered, seeking cover. But as quickly as it began, the shaking subsided. Bewildered, the villagers looked around, their confusion evident.
"Holy…"
Even Tobirama, accustomed to witnessing colossal battles, found himself stunned.
Before him stretched an endless forest, lush and dense. Hidden within the canopy, sharp wooden spikes glinted with deadly precision, their tips capable of piercing steel.
The scale of the technique was staggering. Even the vast Forest of Death, with its ten-kilometer diameter, seemed like a small patch of land after Tobirama's display. It was as if he had dropped a missile in the heart of Konoha.
However, such a massive technique came at a price. Tobirama's Sage Mode automatically deactivated, his reserves of senjutsu chakra nearly depleted.
"It seems this will have to be saved as a trump card. Its power is immense, but the cost is just as steep."
Exhaling deeply, Tobirama steadied himself and rose to his feet.
"Swish. Swish."
Suddenly, several figures darted through the dense forest, appearing behind him.
"Hokage-sama, we were sent to investigate the disturbance in the Forest of Death. Now that you're here, may we ask what happened?"
The lead ninja, a middle-aged man, stepped forward and inquired respectfully.
"Ah, that. It was just me practicing a new technique. Inform the village there's no need for alarm."
Tobirama wiped the sweat from his brow and explained in a calm tone.
"This… This!"
"This is your doing, Hokage-sama?!"
"Wood Release… The First Hokage's technique!"
The fact that Tobirama had awakened Wood Release was known only to the upper echelons of Konohagakure. To the rank-and-file shinobi, this revelation was nothing short of earth-shattering.
Peering past Tobirama at the sprawling forest behind him, the group was left speechless. Then, as one, they bowed deeply.
"As expected of our Hokage! Your mastery of Wood Release must have surpassed even the legendary First Hokage!"
"Heh, hardly," Tobirama replied with a small shake of his head. Turning away, he began to walk off.
"Oh, and one more thing—don't let this spread," he added, glancing back at them.
With that, his figure flickered and vanished, leaving the group to marvel at the divine-like spectacle they had witnessed.
----------------
For every review, I'll add +1 more chapter. Once this story gets 10 reviews, I'll start posting 2 chapters per day!
+70 chapters on patreon.com/Jixo