Kaito's Tree World Is Here!
Upon seeing the giant toad Gamabunta, Sarutobi Hiruzen summoned Enma, his personal Summoning beast, the Monkey King. However, even with Enma's assistance, Hiruzen struggled against Gamabunta's sheer power.
"Danzo, it's your turn!" Hiruzen called out. "Five Elements: Great Consecutive Bullet Technique!"
Swiftly forming hand seals with both hands, Hiruzen unleashed his most powerful elemental ninjutsu. A barrage of attacks combining fire, lightning, water, earth, and wind shot toward Namikaze Minato.
Reacting instantly, Minato activated the Flying Thunder God Technique, teleporting away before the attack could reach him.
"Boom!!!"
A deafening explosion erupted as the five elemental forces collided, shaking the battlefield. Seizing the opportunity, Danzo summoned his colossal Summoning Beast—the Baku, a tapir-like creature with an elephant's trunk, a rhinoceros' eyes, an ox's tail, and a tiger's feet.
Minato's gaze sharpened as he observed the Baku. The situation had just become more complicated.
Just then, a figure suddenly appeared beside Minato in a blur of movement.
"Who are you…?" Minato asked, his expression puzzled.
Across the battlefield, both Hiruzen and Danzo also struggled to recognize the newcomer. Kaito had used a Transformation Technique enhanced by the system, making it impossible for even a Byakugan user like Hyuga Hiashi to see through it.
"Me? I just can't stand their shameless actions, so I came to help you."
Minato scratched his head, momentarily taken aback by Kaito's nonchalant response.
"I appreciate it, but… these two…" Minato hesitated. He was facing two Kage-level opponents. Was Kaito truly strong enough to assist? Or would acknowledging that sound too condescending?
Nonetheless, the battle was far from over.
"So, you think you can defeat me? You're underestimating me. People came here to help you—is it too arrogant to accept their aid?"
For a moment, Namikaze Minato was at a loss for words. He simply stared at Kaito in silence, his usual confident demeanor momentarily shaken.
"It's fine. As for Danzo, leave him to me," Kaito said casually, as if dealing with one of Konoha's most cunning shinobi was no big deal.
Minato scratched his head, conflicted. He could guess what Kaito was thinking, but he still hesitated.
"Then... I'll leave it to you," Minato finally relented, though his instincts told him to be cautious.
While Kaito prepared to engage, Minato discreetly placed a Flying Thunder God seal on him. If anything happens, I'll intervene immediately, he thought.
Kaito, however, was no fool—he noticed the mark the moment Minato placed it. Yet, he said nothing, merely smirking before dashing toward Danzo.
Danzo's eyes flashed coldly as he watched Kaito approach. "Hmph! So, the boy thinks he can challenge me?"
Without hesitation, Danzo formed a hand seal. At the same time, the enormous Baku, his summon, roared beneath him.
"Wind Release: Vacuum Great Sphere!"
The Baku inhaled deeply, creating a powerful vacuum to pull Kaito in, while Danzo unleashed a slicing wind technique directly at him. The combination was deadly—one attack to disorient, the other to kill.
But Kaito only sneered. Without stopping, he clapped his hands together and roared:
"Wood Release: Deep Forest Emergence!"
Chakra surged through his body, flowing into the ground like an unstoppable current. The earth trembled violently, and then—BOOM!—the ground cracked open.
Massive tree roots erupted from the fissures, growing at an unnatural speed. In mere seconds, towering trees engulfed the battlefield, transforming the once-busy Konoha street into a dense forest.
Danzo barely had time to react before the branches wrapped around him, constricting his limbs with unyielding force.
"Impossible...!" Danzo struggled in disbelief, his eyes widening as he gazed at Kaito.
"How… how can you use Wood Release? Just who the hell are you?!"
As soon as he saw Jukai Kōtan (Deep Forest Emergence) manifesting, Danzō was frozen in fear and shock, unable to react in time. Even if he had tried to dodge, it would have been impossible to escape the rapidly expanding forest.
It wasn't just Danzō—both Sarutobi Hiruzen and Namikaze Minato, who were engaged in battle nearby, were equally stunned by the sight before them.
Seeing the familiar Mokuton (Wood Style), Hiruzen momentarily hesitated, a brief lapse that left him ensnared by Kaito's Wood Release.
The entire battlefield was in disbelief at the overwhelming power on display.
In the Dimensional Chat
[Senju Hashirama]: What the hell?! Isn't this my Mokuton?!
[Uchiha Izuna]: Who is this? Someone else can use Mokuton? Is Konoha still this strong?!
[Uchiha Fugaku]: Incredible... Mokuton is truly terrifying!
[Fourth Raikage – A]: Is this the power of the First Hokage? This is insane!
[Third Tsuchikage – Ōnoki]: Indeed. Just from this Mokuton, you can see why the First Hokage was unrivaled.
[Uchiha Madara]: No… This Jukai Kōtan is even stronger than Hashirama's…
[Fifth Mizukage – Terumi Mei]: Stronger than the First Hokage? The only one capable of that must be the administrator, right?
[Senju Tobirama]: Yes. Aside from the administrator, I can't think of anyone in this world who could wield such terrifying Mokuton.
[Uzumaki Kushina]: Thank goodness! Minato is safe—thank you, Admin!!
[Konoha Salted Fish]: It's fine! I admire the Fourth Hokage, so I decided to help!
In the Outside World
Meanwhile, the spectators watching the battle were left utterly speechless.
Seeing an entire forest erupt into existence within moments was far more shocking in reality than it was through a live broadcast.