Chapter 035: Tobirama Shuts Down: I Studied for Years Without Results, and a Rabbit Bite Awakens Wood Style?
Wood Style.
What is Wood Style?
Wood Style is the exclusive ability of the First Hokage—a Kekkei Genkai.
At first, people thought it was a Kekkei Genkai unique to the Senju clan, but after the First's death, not a single person inherited it.
After the First died, the Shinobi World War broke out.
Considering the danger of the Nine Tails and the need to shift the tide of war, Tobirama took his brother's cells and began research.
He wanted to recreate Wood Style.
Those cells would later be known as Wood Style Cells.
But...
It failed.
Even members of the Senju clan couldn't handle the First's cells, and none of the captured test subjects from other villages survived.
Wood Style never even appeared.
So...
Although disappointed, Tobirama eventually suspended his research on Wood Style.
The matter was shelved.
After that, he could only rely on himself in battle, using Edo Tensei alongside Tandem Paper Bombs and launching various reckless, shameless attacks against enemy generals.
Eventually...
The First Shinobi World War ended with Konoha's victory.
However, when he took his personally trained squad—Hiruzen Sarutobi, Koharu Utatane, Danzo Shimura, Torifu Akimichi, and Kagami Uchiha—to sign a treaty with Kumogakure, they encountered the rebellion of the Gold and Silver Brothers.
To protect Hiruzen and the others, Tobirama fell in battle.
That was essentially the end of his life's record.
But...
If Wood Style could have been mastered and passed on, maybe the village wouldn't have fallen to the point of having fewer than 3,000 usable shinobi today.
So...
Deep down, he was still unwilling to let it go.
And now.
The ninja rabbit bites Kitahara Kaede, and suddenly Kitahara Kaede has Wood Style?
He didn't believe it.
So...
[Senju Tobirama]: It can't be Wood Style.
[Senju Tobirama]: I studied it extensively.
[Senju Tobirama]: I poured my heart into the research.
[Senju Tobirama]: If Wood Style could be awakened so easily, what was the point of all my work?!
[Senju Tobirama]: I don't accept it.
[Senju Tobirama]: If that really turns out to be Wood Style, I'll stand on my head right now.
[Minato Namikaze]: Uh... Second Lord, you're getting very emotional.
[Big Dumb - Hashirama]: Mmm… Tobirama, don't just say things like that.
[Senju Tobirama]: Anyway, it's impossible.
[Kakashi Hatake]: Actually...
Kakashi Hatake spoke up.
[Kakashi Hatake]: After Second Lord, the Third continued Wood Style research to prepare for the Shinobi World War.
[Kakashi Hatake]: And...
[Kakashi Hatake]: Eventually, Konoha did produce one successful user.
[Kakashi Hatake]: His name was Tenzo. Later, the Third renamed him Yamato. He was my junior in the ANBU and now serves as an ANBU vice-captain.
[Kakashi Hatake]: He can use Wood Style.
[Nine Tails - Kurama]: Hahaha...
The previously silent Nine Tails - Kurama suddenly burst into laughter.
[Nine Tails - Kurama]: That's hilarious...
[Nine Tails - Kurama]: Senju Tobirama, look! There's your Wood Style! Time to stand on your head!
[Senju Tobirama]: ...
[Senju Tobirama]: ...Beasts are the worst. I meant Kitahara Kaede can't awaken Wood Style that easily...
[Senju Tobirama]: Not that later research was fruitless.
[Senju Tobirama]: Hiruzen's team built on my foundation.
[Kakashi Hatake]: That's true.
[Kakashi Hatake]: But Yamato's Wood Style isn't complete.
[Kakashi Hatake]: It's not like the legendary First Hokage's Wood Style that could conquer the world.
[Kakashi Hatake]: Still, Yamato's Wood Style is quite useful—it helps the village, can build basic infrastructure and housing, and is very practical.
[Senju Tobirama]: I see...
[Senju Tobirama]: So it's just incomplete Wood Style, not like my brother's.
[Big Dumb - Hashirama]: Yeah... but it can build houses? That's the first I've heard of it.
[Big Dumb - Hashirama]: Hm?
[Senju Tobirama]: What's wrong, Anija?
[Big Dumb - Hashirama]: Tobirama...
[Big Dumb - Hashirama]: Wait a minute!
[Big Dumb - Hashirama]: I sense it—on Kitahara Kaede—there's a familiar aura... this feeling is...
[Ding!]
[Third Tsuchikage - Onoki has joined the chat]
At that moment, Onoki came online.
[Third Tsuchikage - Onoki]: Hmm… so it's not a genjutsu after all.
[Third Tsuchikage - Onoki]: Looks like I've entered quite the remarkable place.
[Third Tsuchikage - Onoki]: Lord Hashirama, Second Hokage, I've already written the alliance treaty with Konoha.
[Senju Tobirama]: Oh, Onoki. Then leave it with Hiruzen.
[Senju Tobirama]: I'm not in the mood to deal with you.
[Third Tsuchikage - Onoki]: …
Onoki really felt Tobirama was a lot like Uchiha Madara—both were cold and indifferent once the objective was achieved.
They just ignored the people who helped them.
It was harsh.
But...
Onoki dared not speak more. Among the current Five Kage, he might be the strongest, but under Hashirama and Tobirama, he was the weakest.
Not to mention...
He quickly checked the group members list.
Senju Hashirama, Senju Tobirama, Minato Namikaze, Kakashi Hatake, Onoki, Mei Terumi, Nine Tails - Kurama...
Even the Nine Tails is here.
But... Onoki didn't care much about tailed beasts.
He only feared one person.
Yes...
Uchiha Madara wasn't in the group yet.
But... with so many Konoha members here, what would happen if Uchiha Madara appeared?
So...
He didn't fear Tobirama—he feared Uchiha Madara.
Someone like Madara wouldn't care if you were right or wrong. If he thought you were wrong, then you were wrong.
That's why...
Konoha had long labeled Uchiha Madara a rogue ninja.
But...
Who knew if Madara would still side with Konoha?
So Onoki decided it was safer to stay close to Konoha.
Then he looked at the livestream in the group.
In the stream, green chakra surged from Kitahara Kaede's body.
Onoki's brow twitched.
[Third Tsuchikage - Onoki]: Eh... this kid...
[Third Tsuchikage - Onoki]: He really does have Wood Style.
Onoki sighed.
[Third Tsuchikage - Onoki]: As expected, even a starved camel from Konoha is bigger than a horse.
[Third Tsuchikage - Onoki]: Someone has inherited the First's Wood Style, just like I inherited my master's Dust Release.
[Big Dumb - Hashirama]: …
[Senju Tobirama]: …
[Minato Namikaze]: …
[Minato Namikaze]: Eh? Third Tsuchikage, Kitahara can use Wood Style?
[Third Tsuchikage - Onoki]: Yeah. That green chakra... it's unmistakably Lord Hashirama's.
[Big Dumb - Hashirama]: I understand now. No wonder it felt so familiar... that's the same chakra as mine.
[Senju Tobirama]: Cough, cough, cough...
Tobirama began coughing violently.
Because... he had poured so much effort into failed research.
Hiruzen's team built a mediocre Wood Style based on his groundwork.
And now...
Kitahara Kaede awakens Wood Style... just like that?