The night was as dark as ink, and the faint lights flickered within the Konoha camp.A heavy pre-war atmosphere pressed on everyone's mind like an invisible weight.The air carried the faint scent of medicinal herbs, mingled with the distant clang of weapons, crafting a tense symphony in the cold night.
Furukawa Itoshiki stood outside the camp, his gaze fixed on the heavens, the stars twinkling above him.Inside, a new force stirred within his body—his incomplete Wood Release bloodline, gradually fusing with his chakra.The sensation was foreign yet powerful.
"Itoshiki."
Tsunade's voice pierced the quiet, carrying an undertone of deep concern.Itoshiki turned, his eyes falling on Tsunade's tired face. The sight of her, despite her exhaustion, stirred a warmth in his chest.
"This mission is too dangerous. I don't want you to participate," Tsunade said, stepping closer to him, her voice filled with worry.
She searched his face, her eyes intense, trying to read the resolve behind his calm expression.
Itoshiki smiled softly and shook his head, a hint of unshakable confidence in his eyes.
"Tsunade-sama, I'll be fine."
Her hesitation lingered in the air. She knew him too well—once his mind was set, nothing could sway him.
"Don't forget, I'm the man they call the 'Mad Lion.'" Itoshiki's lips curled up in a confident grin, his voice a low, steady promise.
He reached out, gently taking her hand, and his touch was warm against the cool night.
"I promised you that we would change Konoha together. And I won't break my word."
Tsunade's breath caught in her throat. The warmth from his hand seeped into her, soothing the anxiety gnawing at her heart.For a brief moment, she allowed herself to believe in the strength of his conviction.
Then, without warning, Itoshiki extended his hand, and his fingers formed the "End" seal.From the soil, a small branch sprouted swiftly, its tender green leaves unfurling at a remarkable pace.
"This is… Grandpa's Wood Release!" Tsunade gasped, her voice trembling with disbelief.She stared at him, her eyes wide with shock, a whirlwind of emotions and thoughts colliding in her mind.
A bold idea began to form—should she…
Itoshiki didn't notice the change in her expression, nor the way her eyes seemed to shine with new understanding.He was lost in the sensation of the new power awakening within him.
"The power of Wood Release is slowly coming alive," he murmured to himself, savoring the sensation.This would be his strength, his edge in the battles to come.And under the starless sky, a squad clad in Anbu uniforms moved silently through the forest.The leader was Hatake Sakumo, his sharp eyes scanning every corner of their surroundings, each step calculated, precise.
"Everyone, stay silent and keep your movements stealthy," Sakumo's voice was low and purposeful, relayed by hand gestures to his elite team.The ninjas—Konoha's finest—merged with the shadows, their movements fluid and silent.
Furukawa Itoshiki trailed at the back, his focus inward.He felt the pulse of the Wood Release chakra within him, the energy flowing like a river."This power…it's as though I'm becoming one with the land. There's a current running through me," he mused.But when he tried to control it, the force was volatile—sometimes turbulent, like crashing waves; other times, calm as a placid lake."I need more practice," Itoshiki thought, his determination unwavering.Mastery was never immediate; it came with time.
"Target spotted."The reconnaissance ninja ahead signaled.
Sakumo halted immediately, signaling his team to crouch and hide."Sand Ninja patrol ahead, about ten of them," the scout reported in a low whisper.
A cold flash crossed Sakumo's eyes."Eliminate them quietly."
Without a word, the Anbu squad moved like phantoms, slipping into action, forming hand seals as they closed in on the unsuspecting Sand Ninja patrol.The battle was over before it had even begun, ending as silently as it had started.
A few minutes later, the team reconvened, returning without a trace of the fight on them—aside from the bloodstains that marked their victory.
"We've reached the location," Sakumo said, his voice sharp, scanning the terrain.They had arrived at a hidden valley, a narrow path winding deep into the forest—the perfect spot for the Sand Ninja's supply route.
"Our objective is to destroy this supply line completely," Sakumo's voice was filled with lethal intent."We'll set up traps and explosive tags along the route. Once the Sand Ninja transport team enters the ambush, we'll take them out in one swift strike."His plan was meticulous, every detail accounted for.
"Itoshiki, you'll handle the Wood Release traps," Sakumo ordered, his gaze locking with Furukawa's.
"Understood," Furukawa replied, a glimmer of resolve in his eyes.He drew on his chakra, feeling the Wood Release energy surge through him as he began to form hand seals.
The ground trembled lightly as thick vines emerged, quickly winding their way around the trees, forming concealed barriers.The vines shifted, adjusting themselves like living creatures, creating an intricate, almost invisible trap.
The night deepened, and after what felt like hours, the Sand Ninja transport team finally appeared—carriages loaded with supplies, guarded by a small squad of Sand Ninja.They moved slowly through the valley, unaware of the deadly trap awaiting them.
"They're here."A glint of anticipation flashed in Sakumo's eyes.
"Prepare," he signaled his team, his voice steady and sure.
The last of the carriages entered the ambush zone, and Sakumo's hand rose sharply.A silent command. And the battle began.
"Detonate!"
Boom! Boom! Boom!
A series of deafening explosions shattered the night, their fiery brilliance lighting up the valley in an instant.Flames erupted into the sky, and the ground trembled violently under the force of the blasts.The Sand Ninja transport team was thrown into utter chaos—screams and desperate wails filled the air, a cacophony of panic.
"Attack!"Hatake Sakumo's voice cut through the mayhem like a blade.With precision and speed, the elite squad sprang into action, charging forward like tigers leaping from a cliff.
Furukawa Itoshiki's hands blurred through the seals as he lowered his voice, speaking with deadly intent:"Wood Release: Tree Binding Eternal Burial!"
In an instant, countless tiny branches shot up from the ground in every prepared location, sprouting as if summoned by a storm, growing at an alarming rate.The branches twisted and expanded, thick trunks rapidly emerging to entangle and ensnare the panicked Sand Ninja. They had no room to move, trapped like prey in a hunter's snare.
"Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique!"
"Wind Release: Great Breakthrough!"
The Konoha ninjas followed suit, their jutsu unleashed in a torrent—fiery blasts and raging winds converging upon the trapped enemy.Under the oppressive control of Itoshiki's Wood Release, the Sand Ninja had nowhere to run.Helpless, they could only watch as flames consumed them, wind blades sliced through their ranks, and their cries of terror were drowned by the violence of the assault.
The battle was over in mere moments.The Sand Ninja transport team was obliterated, their supplies reduced to smoldering ruins.
"Well done!"Sakumo's eyes gleamed with approval as he surveyed the aftermath.He clapped Itoshiki on the shoulder, his smile one of genuine pride."Itoshiki, your mastery of Wood Release is becoming more and more refined."
Itoshiki nodded, a small, satisfied smile on his lips. He could feel the power of his Wood Release growing, his control improving with every battle.
Sakumo's gaze shifted toward the horizon, his expression hardening with resolve."Next target: the Sand Ninja logistics camp."
His voice was filled with quiet intensity, the battle spirit of the Hidden Leaf's elite rising again.
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