Chapitre 96: Chapter 96: The Arrival of the Advent of a World of Flowering Trees, The Senju Clan Rises Again, Yagyu's Fame Spreads Across the Ninja World, and Reactions from All Sides
After leaving the Hokage office, Yagyu immediately activated his Kagura's Mind Eye, expanding his sensory perception to cover all of Konoha. He quickly pinpointed several areas where large concentrations of powerful chakra were gathered.
Refining his sensory abilities, Yagyu soon located the chakra signatures of Kurenai Yuhi, Karin, and Shizune among the many others.
Sizzle...
With a sound like crackling electricity, Yagyu transformed into a blue-white streak of lightning, swiftly leaving the city.
Within moments, Yagyu arrived at a quarry devoid of trees, where only traces of excavations remained.
At the far end of the quarry stood a building, surrounded by a large number of ninjas clad in green flak jackets. This was Konoha's quarry prison, where some criminals were sent to atone for their crimes through labor, or to reduce their sentences.
More dangerous criminals were sent to Hozuki Castle, a prison built by Kusagakure at the request of various nations, depending on their crimes and identities.
"Yagyu-kun, you're here," Karin greeted him as soon as his chakra signature was detected using her Kagura's Mind Eye.
The moment Yagyu appeared, Karin immediately called out to him. Yagyu nodded in return and asked Shizune, "What's the situation?"
"Not great," Shizune responded, shaking her head. "Although we responded quickly, many prisoners have already escaped. Those still inside have freed themselves from their restraints and are holding guards hostage. Kurenai-san and members of the Yamanaka clan are trying to negotiate with them or find an opportunity to control the situation."
"Who is the ringleader?"
"A Chunin named Mizuki. He manipulated two prisoners, Fuujin and Raijin—who had killed their comrades over food—to attack the guards."
"Are they still in a standoff?"
"Yes."
Yagyu glanced at the surrounding Jonin, then looked toward the prison and asked, "Does it matter if the prison is destroyed?"
Hearing this, many of the surrounding Jonin turned their attention to Yagyu, their expressions full of surprise and skepticism.
Destroy the prison?
How powerful a technique, or how much chakra, would it take to destroy an entire prison? Did he have that kind of strength? Moreover, wasn't he worried about harming the hostages inside?
Most of the Jonin present were skilled ninjas who had mastered at least two chakra natures. They could easily form a small team and eliminate all the prisoners inside. But they were holding back due to the hostages being taken by the prisoners.
Shizune, aware of Yagyu's capabilities, quickly spoke up. "Building a new prison would require a lot of resources, so if possible, we should avoid destroying it."
Upon hearing this, the nearby Jonin were even more surprised.
Did this boy really have the power to destroy the prison?
Even Jonin who had recognized Yagyu as a potential Senju clan descendant were astonished. After all, wasn't he just a newly promoted Chunin? How could he have grown this strong so quickly, even with the Senju bloodline?
"I understand. Gather everyone," Yagyu replied, crouching down and placing two fingers on the ground as if sensing something.
Beep beep
Shizune blew a series of signals using a whistle.
Hearing the signal, the surrounding Jonin quickly gathered.
The prisoners inside the prison, having also heard the whistle, became tense and tightened their grip on the hostages, seeking a false sense of security.
In a short while, all the Jonin who had been surrounding the prison gathered in front of Shizune, including Kurenai Yuhi and Inoichi Yamanaka.
Before they could speak or Shizune could give any orders, Yagyu stood up and stepped forward, facing the prison.
"I've already located the positions of all the prisoners inside, as well as those who've escaped," Yagyu said calmly. "Apologize on my behalf after this, but let's put them to sleep now."
Clap!
Yagyu suddenly clapped his hands, and a powerful surge of blue chakra flared from his body.
The Jonin, unfamiliar with Yagyu's identity, were stunned by the sheer amount of chakra he displayed. Those who knew him better and were aware of his recent activities around the Hokage's office were now certain he had awakened the Senju bloodline.
Such a vast chakra reserve was characteristic only of the Senju clan and jinchūriki.
Unlike the astonished Jonin, Kurenai, Shizune, and Karin smiled in anticipation, eager to witness Yagyu's next move and the reaction of the other Jonin.
The legendary Wood Style, a bloodline limit that had been dormant for decades, was about to be revealed to the world once more.
As expected...
After gathering his strength for a moment, Yagyu abruptly opened his red eyes and uttered the name of a jutsu that caused everyone's expressions to change drastically: "Wood Style..."
These simple words sent a chill through the Jonin, who were already overwhelmed by the power of Yagyu's chakra. Their bodies shivered involuntarily beneath their uniforms.
Before they could voice their disbelief, Yagyu shouted, "Advent of a World of Flowering Trees!"
Boom...
Just like the plains outside Tanzaku Town, the ground beneath them began to shake violently.
The sudden earthquake caught many Jonin off guard, nearly causing them to lose their balance and fall.
Inside the prison, numerous prisoners were already knocked to the ground by the tremor.
The earthquake's magnitude was high, and its reach extended far, even to the village's outskirts.
Crack! Crack!
Large cracks soon appeared across the ground. Remarkably, these fissures avoided the prison itself, instead encircling it from both sides.
From these cracks, massive tree branches, as thick as several men, erupted from the earth. They rose like giant serpents from Ryuchi Cave, quickly sprouting leaves until they formed towering trees, each tens of meters high.
The enormous shadows cast by the trees plunged the prison into near-total darkness.
Before the panicked prisoners could make sense of what was happening, giant red flowers bloomed on the trees, releasing a vast amount of pollen.
The pollen spread rapidly, forming a mist that seeped into the prison through vents, windows, and any other openings.
In the dim light, no one noticed the pollen entering the prison.
Prisoners, just recovering from the earthquake and on high alert, inhaled even a little of the pollen and immediately collapsed, eyes rolling back and bodies limp.
The same fate befell the hostages they were holding.
Thud, thud, thud...
In mere moments, all the prisoners and guards inside the prison had lost consciousness.
The escaped prisoners being pursued by the Jonin outside the prison were also caught in the technique.
Once the earthquake stopped, massive tree branches sprang from the ground in several locations outside the village, forming forests or groves that trapped both the escaped prisoners and the Jonin pursuing them.
Before the Jonin and prisoners could react, the trees also bloomed with red flowers, releasing pollen that quickly put everyone to sleep.
After all the prisoners in the outskirts had been subdued, small branches and vines extended from the trees, binding them tightly and absorbing their chakra.
A few minutes later, Yagyu lowered his hands, glanced at the prison, which had now turned into a forest, and turned to Shizune. Though still in shock, she had witnessed the technique before.
Yagyu smiled and said, "The prisoners inside, as well as those who escaped, are all unconscious now. You can go in and arrest them, and rescue the hostages."
"The mission is complete. I'll head back to report to the Hokage."
With that, Yagyu vanished with a flicker.
Only after his departure did the Jonin snap out of their stupor.
Gulp...
Someone swallowed audibly, breaking the silence.
Voices, still trembling from the shock, began to murmur.
"W-Wood Style... why does he have the First Hokage's bloodline limit?"
"Who is that boy?"
"I've heard of him. He's the one who's been making waves lately, suspected to be a descendant of the Senju clan and capable of using Shisui's body flicker illusion technique. I heard he just graduated this year as the top student."
"So it's him! I can't believe the rumors were true. He really is a descendant of the Senju, a descendant of the First Hokage."
"That's... amazing! The legendary Wood Style has returned, and with Lady Tsunade as the Fifth Hokage, Konoha will surely return to the glorious days of Senju rule!"
"A jutsu of this scale... it's terrifying! No wonder the First Hokage was called the God of Shinobi. This is power from another dimension!"
"I've seen this jutsu before—it's the Advent of a World of Flowering Trees. The red flowers release a type of pollen that knocks out anyone who inhales it. It's even more powerful than a genjutsu."
"Let's check on the prisoners and hostages..."
"…"
The Jonin were first shocked, then incredulous, and finally, ecstatic.
Unlike lower-ranked ninja, Jonin occupied a special tier, with classifications within their rank.
There were specialized Jonin, who excelled in certain fields, generalist Jonin, who had mastered at least two chakra natures, and elite Jonin, who served as a village's trump card and were candidates for Kage.
Jonin were the backbone of the Five Great Ninja Villages, the strongest shields of their respective military bases.
There weren't many Jonin, but there weren't few, either. Many of the heads of major ninja clans were Jonin.
So, within this circle, certain matters were transparent.
Although they didn't voice it, many had been disappointed with the Third Hokage.
The incidents involving the Hyuga and Uchiha clans over the past twelve years had shown the Third's weakness and ineffectiveness, though no one dared speak out.
Veterans of the First and Second Shinobi Wars had witnessed Konoha's decline, from being the strongest village capable of fighting three or four other villages at once, to one that had to bow to Kumogakure.
This is why they had unanimously supported Tsunade when the Third died.
Konoha needed a younger, more capable leader, and no one was better suited than the granddaughter of the First Hokage.
During the sixty years since the founding of Konoha, the First Hokage's reign was marked by invincibility, and during the Second's rule, Konoha could stand firm even when facing four other villages.
Both the First and Second Hokage were Senju.
The Senju were Konoha's rightful rulers, and the greatest clan in Konoha—a well-known fact throughout the ninja world.
Now, with the First Hokage's granddaughter as the Fifth Hokage and the legendary Wood Style reemerging, it was clear to everyone that Konoha was on the path to revival and that the Senju clan would rise again.
With Tsunade and Yagyu's presence, Konoha would never need to bow to any other village again.
Once Yagyu fully matured, Konoha would reclaim its position as the strongest in the ninja world, and no one would dare disrespect or challenge them again.
The Jonin, trembling with excitement, couldn't wait for the news to spread.
Once it did, Konoha and the Land of Fire would rally behind Tsunade and Yagyu, and Yagyu's future as the Sixth Hokage would be all but guaranteed.
This was the power of the Senju and the weight of the Wood Style!
Inoichi Yamanaka, one of the Jonin, was among those overwhelmed by excitement. He muttered to himself, "Ino's taste in men is impeccable…"
——————
The news spread at an unbelievable speed.
Within just a few days, the story of Wood Style's reappearance had spread beyond the ninja world, reaching the general populace, the towns and cities of the Land of Fire, and finally the entire ninja world.
Thanks to spies stationed in the Land of Fire and even Konoha, the name Yagyu quickly reached the desks of the Five Kage and the leaders of certain organizations.
Even in Kirigakure, located far away in the Land of Water, they received intelligence and photographs of him.
Yagyu, age 12, Chunin of Konoha, Ninja ID: 012601. Bloodline limit: Wood Style.
Bounty: 100 million ryo, dead or alive.
A bounty appeared quietly on the black market's wanted list.
The amount was astronomical, reaching nine digits.
Some elite Jonin with distinguished backgrounds had bounties as low as fifty million ryo. Even the top three combatants in the Five Great Nations rarely saw bounties above fifty million.
But Yagyu, a mere Chunin, had been marked for 100 million ryo by an unknown force.
It wasn't a bounty on Yagyu, but on the Wood Style!
Clearly, some forces were frightened—terrified that Konoha was about to produce another "God of Shinobi."
Their fear also prompted numerous merchants, tycoons, and nobles to turn their gaze toward Konoha with renewed interest.
A village with the descendant of the God of Shinobi and the Wood Style must be incredibly powerful. Doing business there or commissioning missions from them would surely be safe and secure.
And this was only one of the many benefits Yagyu's newfound fame brought to Konoha.
Neighboring countries and ninja villages near Konoha quickly sent their congratulations to the Land of Fire and Konoha. Ninja from hostile nations ceased their border skirmishes and retreated.
This was the influence of Wood Style.
Few knew that the Mangekyo Sharingan was the bane of tailed beasts.
But it was common knowledge, written in textbooks, that Wood Style was the ultimate counter to tailed beasts and jinchūriki.
After all, the First Hokage had distributed the tailed beasts among the villages.
Now, knowing that Konoha possessed the power to subdue tailed beasts and cast massive, landscape-altering jutsu, no village dared provoke them.
Who knew when their own village or bustling city might suddenly turn into a forest?
The thought of the destruction, manpower, and resources required to rebuild chilled even the most powerful village, Kumogakure.
This was the deterrent power of the Wood Style, greater even than that of a tailed beast.
After all, every village had a tailed beast—what was there to fear?
But the ability to subdue tailed beasts? That was something else entirely.
With the enemy wielding a more potent strategic weapon, who would dare be the next to make a move? Only a fool.
The influence of the Wood Style continued to spread...
"Advent of a World of Flowering Trees... This is true Wood Style!"
Deep within Konoha's underground Root headquarters, Danzo Shimura gazed at a photograph, fixating on the towering trees with their giant red flowers, the bound prisoners hanging from them, and the unconscious Jonin in the picture. His eyes gleamed with envy.
He had Wood Style, too, but its power paled in comparison to the Advent of a World of Flowering Trees in the photograph—it wasn't even in the same league as "Kinoe's" Wood Style, and Kinoe's Wood Style wasn't even close to Yagyu's.
Regret welled up in Danzo's heart.
In this new generation, he had missed not only Naruto and Sasuke but also this true gem in Yagyu, failing to recognize or prioritize his potential.
If only he had known that Yagyu was a Senju descendant with the Wood Style bloodline limit...
Even if Hiruzen had forbidden Danzo from touching the new generation, Danzo would have found ways to orchestrate Yagyu's mysterious "disappearance" and "death."
An orphan at school age was the perfect candidate for brainwashing.
With Yagyu under his control, Danzo would have undoubtedly risen to the position of Hokage.
He might even have accomplished something the First Hokage hadn't—unifying the entire ninja world!
The thought that he had missed this chance gnawed at Danzo's heart, filling him with even deeper regret.
And what disgusted him even more was that Yagyu now had the support of the people. When Tsunade eventually stepped down, Yagyu was sure to be the Sixth Hokage.
If that happened, Danzo would never have the chance to become Hokage.
——————
"Good, good, good..."
In the Hyuga Clan's compound, Hiashi Hyuga, usually stoic and serious, stared at a photo in his hands, his face breaking into an uncharacteristically wide smile, repeating the word "good" over and over.
He had originally thought Yagyu was a decent match for Hinata, a connection that could change the fate of both her and Hanabi.
But now it seemed Yagyu was far more than a "good match"—he was a golden match.
A descendant of the Senju Clan, a wielder of the legendary Wood Style, and with such an identity and strength, Yagyu wasn't just destined to become the future Sixth Hokage but also the next clan head of the Senju Clan.
Marrying Hinata to Yagyu would elevate the Hyuga Clan above even the distant relatives of the Senju—the Uzumaki Clan.
After all, the Uzumaki Clan wasn't based in Konoha, whereas the Hyuga Clan was one of the village's last noble houses.
If Hinata and Yagyu's children inherited both the Wood Style and the Byakugan, it would shatter the current limits of the Hyuga Clan.
Hiashi was so excited by this prospect that he hurried to gather the clan elders to share his thoughts.
Now that Yagyu's Wood Style had been revealed, the elders would surely be overjoyed and supportive.
"Big brother, you're so cool!"
Meanwhile, in a room in the Hyuga Clan's mansion, Hanabi lay on her bed, her feet swinging in the air. She gazed at the photograph in her hands, her white eyes sparkling with admiration, looking every bit like a lovestruck fan.
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