Chương 116: Chapter 116: Stunned Faces

"..."

Kakashi was speechless.

Or perhaps, the entire Anbu squad felt a wave of discouragement.

Defeated effortlessly by Kiyoshi, they all lowered their once-proud heads.

Even Kakashi's signature S-rank jutsu, Raikiri, renowned for its power to cleave through lightning itself, was something their opponent could casually replicate—without even needing to form hand signs.

It was almost impossible to believe.

"Gulp..."

"Is this?"

"Could it be…?"

"Are we really still at the Third Training Ground?"

"Is this... the legendary Wood Release, the one used by the First Hokage to bring peace to the warring states?"

"Everyone, stay back. These trees attack anyone who gets close, and if they bind you, they'll drain your chakra instantly."

"What?"

"Who on earth did this?"

Meanwhile—

One after another, figures were drawn to the commotion.

They gathered outside the Third Training Ground.

Looking at the lush, towering forest that had overtaken the training ground, transforming it beyond recognition, they could only gape, struck speechless by the sight.

Both visually and emotionally, they were overwhelmed.

Initially, a few Chunin instructors rushed in from the nearby academy, but upon touching the trees, they were quickly ensnared by vines that wrapped around them, draining their chakra until they lost all combat capability.

Rescuers eventually freed them, only to find these Chunins completely depleted of chakra.

Everyone was visibly shaken.

No one dared to step forward.

"Shikaku!"

"Inoichi, Choza, you're here too."

"Asuma, Guy."

The Ino–Shika–Cho trio, along with Asuma and Guy, arrived at the scene.

All of them gazed at the Third Training Ground, unable to hide their shock.

"Shikaku's expression was especially solemn as he turned to Inoichi, who was carrying his daughter, Ino, and asked, "Are you sure that the one who attacked Kiyoshi used Wood Release?"

"Yes, Shikaku-uncle. Those trees covering the Hokage Rock were created by the attacker, but I'm not sure if it's the Wood Release you're talking about."

Ino looked at the forest before her with astonished eyes, mixed with worry as she clutched her father's robe, her voice tinged with anxiety.

"Dad, do you think Kiyoshi-nii will be okay?"

"Don't worry, that kid won't go down so easily." Inoichi said reassuringly to his daughter, his own skilled chakra perception at work.

He formed a hand sign and closed his eyes, concentrating.

"There's more than one person in there, and I recognize several of them, including Kakashi and other Anbu members."

But his expression abruptly changed, breaking into a cold sweat.

He looked at the forest with a mix of alarm and disbelief. "But that massive chakra presence. It's almost familiar."

"What's wrong, Inoichi.?"

"It's Kiyoshi."

Inoichi's gaze fixed on the forest, his expression awash with surprise and suspicion. "His chakra has grown incredibly strong, far surpassing the Third Hokage's level from two years ago."

"And his chakra is the same as what's in the forest."

"What?"

Shikaku, Choza, Asuma, Genma, and others were visibly stunned.

"Are you saying that this was created by Ishikawa Kiyoshi?"

Genma muttered in disbelief, "He actually has the legendary Wood Release?"

"I heard there's an Anbu member named Tenzo who can use Wood Release. Maybe this mysterious attacker sent by the Third Hokage was meant to test Kiyoshi's strength."

"After all, Kiyoshi just returned to the village. It's unlikely that enemy shinobi would act this quickly, even if they were targeting him," Shikaku added, stroking his chin thoughtfully as he looked at Inoichi.

"Could you be mistaken?"

"No, I've encountered Tenzo on missions, and his Wood Release is nowhere near this powerful."

Asuma, the Third Hokage's son, shook his head grimly.

As a direct family member, he knew far more about the village's secrets than most Jonin.

Tenzo was the only successful subject of Orochimaru's experiments to implant the First Hokage's cells, taken in by Danzo and raised secretly.

The Third Hokage eventually took him from Danzo, assigning him to Anbu.

Though Tenzo could use Wood Release, its power was nowhere near that of the First Hokage. It was merely a respectable Kekkei Genkai ability.

"I see," Shikaku nodded slowly, his gaze lingering on the sprawling forest before them.

Touching his chin, he speculated aloud, "To summon a forest on this scale would require a massive amount of chakra."

"If Inoichi's perception is correct, this forest must indeed be Kiyoshi's doing."

At this, something clicked in Shikaku's mind.

He recalled why, two years ago, Kiyoshi's grandmother had asked him to pull strings through the Nara family to get a letter delivered to Lady Tsunade.

It was likely more than just her desire to find a good teacher for her prodigious grandson before her passing.

Perhaps, Kiyoshi had already awakened Wood Release back then.

Azumi, who had witnessed the fall of the Senju clan and knew the village's darker side, had her reasons for wanting Tsunade, one of the Sannin, to train Kiyoshi.

Likely, she feared he would become a target of the village's leaders.

Otherwise, knowing Tsunade's stubborn personality, she might not have taken Kiyoshi as a student, even for an old friend.

"If I'm not mistaken, Kiyoshi's grandmother Azumi was a member of the Senju clan. Kiyoshi's high chakra levels and exceptional chakra control would make this ability a natural fit."

Inoichi nodded in realization. "If he's inherited the First Hokage's Wood Release, it isn't too far-fetched."

And he could sense that, though Kakashi and others had been drained of chakra, their lives weren't in danger.

This suggested Kiyoshi had held back.

"Wait, so Kiyoshi-nii did this?"

Ino's previous worry vanished, replaced with awe and admiration that sparkled in her eyes.

Her Kiyoshi-nii was that powerful—capable of creating such a massive forest that could even absorb an intruder's chakra.

It was simply amazing.

"Shhh... Shhh..."

At this moment—

Three figures appeared at the edge of the Third Training Ground.

Leading them was the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi.

"Hokage-sama."

Upon seeing the Third Hokage's arrival, the Ino–Shika–Cho trio, Guy, Genma, and others straightened up and saluted him.

"You're correct, it wasn't Tenzo who created this forest. It was indeed Ishikawa Kiyoshi."

As he looked at the deep-rooted, lush forest that had overtaken the Third Training Ground, Hiruzen held his pipe, his murky eyes unable to hide his excitement.

"Since the passing of the First Hokage, the long-lost Wood Release has finally reappeared in Konoha."

This was not the watered-down Wood Release of Tenzo.

This was true, overwhelming Wood Release, bordering on the level of the First Hokage.

In Hiruzen's eyes, this development placed Kiyoshi on a potential path to rival Hashirama himself.

Within a few years, once Kiyoshi fully matured, his mastery of Wood Release would enable him to counter even tailed beasts effectively.

While he might never quite match the First Hokage, Kiyoshi could become one of Konoha's greatest assets, a strategic deterrent to rival nations.

"This matter is of the utmost importance and is now classified as an S-rank secret. All present must maintain strict confidentiality and act as though they've seen nothing."

Hiruzen took a deep breath, issuing his command decisively.

At the same time, he signaled the Anbu to seal off the area, preventing other Konoha shinobis or curious villagers from approaching.

"Yes, Hokage-sama—"

---------------

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Chương 117: Chapter 117: Silent Threat

"Ah, so everyone's here?"

Inside the forest of the Third Training Ground.

Sensing the chakra signatures gathering outside the forest, Kiyoshi couldn't help but shrug.

"Looks like I might have overdone it a bit."

He glanced at Kakashi, Tenzo, and the other restrained Anbu members.

With a light tap of his foot, vines wrapped around them began to retract as if alive, releasing the bound Anbu members.

However, instead of feeling the joy of freedom, Kakashi and the others, looking bedraggled and defeated, stared at Kiyoshi with a mixture of awe, fear, and respect.

There was no resentment or envy in their eyes—only admiration.

The gap in strength between them was glaringly obvious. If it weren't for the fact that Kiyoshi had restrained himself, they'd likely have been severely injured or even killed.

They couldn't deny it—they were utterly outclassed by a young prodigy.

Cough! "Don't look at me like that," Kiyoshi cleared his throat and clapped his hands lightly, his tone casual.

"I'm not compensating you for mental damages."

He turned away without further words, raising a hand in a lazy farewell to Kakashi and the others.

"Tell the Third Hokage I'll stop by the Hokage Office later. For now, let him handle the cleanup."

He had no interest in sticking around to be gawked at.

This entire show of power had a simple purpose, to discourage the Third Hokage from sending people to bother him every other day. A small show of strength was enough to intimidate those in power.

As for the cleanup?

That was Hiruzen's job.

It had nothing to do with him.

"Wait, Kiyoshi."

Kakashi tried to call out, but he and the others could only stare wide-eyed in shock. "Is that…chakra manifestation?"

Kiyoshi's body radiated a visible aura of chakra, transforming into striking blue wings of pure energy.

With a powerful gust, he took flight, disappearing into the distance.

"He can manipulate chakra to this degree and control it effortlessly." Kakashi muttered, his Sharingan narrowing as he observed the scene, an ache of realization hitting him hard.

Compared to Kiyoshi, his own so-called talent felt nothing.

Not long after, with the Third Hokage leading the way, Shikaku, Asuma, and Guy arrived, only to find the disheveled and demoralized Anbu members getting ready to leave.

"Hokage-sama,"

"Kakashi."

Before Kakashi could speak, the Third Hokage interrupted, "Where's that boy Kiyoshi?"

Kakashi pointed to the horizon helplessly, "He flew off in that direction. He said he'd visit the Hokage Office later, but for now. Hokage-sama, he suggested you handle the aftermath first."

The Third Hokage: "..."

Glancing around at the towering, crisscrossed trees that now blanketed the Third Training Ground, Hiruzen's face twitched, his heart aching especially as he thought of the newly fractured Hokage Rock.

A half hour later—

In front of the Hokage Building, the Third Hokage reassured the nervous villagers and ninja about the sudden damage to the Hokage Rock, explaining that a long-hidden spy had attempted to create chaos in the village but had already been apprehended by the Anbu.

The news soon reached the ears of Homura and Koharu, the village's two senior advisors, who quickly made their way to the Hokage's office.

"Hiruzen, what happened exactly?" Koharu demanded, her voice low. "Has that brat Kiyoshi really awakened the Wood Release?"

Beside her, Homura's expression was serious as he frowned. "To think Tsunade's disciple was hiding this all along—it's quite the shock."

Hiruzen nodded, a faint smile tugging at his lips.

"Yes, he possesses the Wood Release Kekkei Genkai, and it's far more powerful than Tenzo's experimental abilities."

But before he could finish, Koharu interrupted sharply.

"Wood Release's reappearance isn't necessarily a good thing for the village," she said, her eyes narrowing.

"Strictly speaking, he's a descendant of the Senju clan. You know Tsunade's biases against us, don't you, Hiruzen?"

"More than that," she continued, "Ishikawa Kiyoshi clearly held back his skills during his time in the academy. What exactly is he guarding against?"

Her eyes fixed on Hiruzen, her voice tinged with unease. "I fear he might be influenced by his grandmother. After all..."

Both advisors knew exactly what they'd done to the Senju over the years. For all their claims of acting "for the good of the village," they knew those excuses could only fool the naive.

Under Tsunade's influence, it was likely that Kiyoshi held little good will toward them.

"Now is not the time for Konoha to take unnecessary risks," Hiruzen replied, his expression solemn as he puffed on his pipe.

Once a bastion of strength, Konoha had earned its reputation as a cradle of geniuses. But now, the village's power was waning.

The Sannin had left and refused to return. And Konoha's youth, once filled with promise, had seen a sharp decline.

The Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze, known as the Yellow Flash, was lost nine years ago in the Nine-Tails' attack.

Kakashi, who had been hailed as a prodigy since he graduated from the academy at five, became a Chunin at six, and a Jonin at twelve, was now trapped in a spiral of despondency, his once-bright future dulled by repeated blows.

In the new generation, geniuses like Shisui and Itachi Uchiha had either died or defected. As the most powerful of the five great ninja villages, Konoha's strength had dwindled.

Day by day, it seemed to weaken further.

Sometimes, Hiruzen couldn't help but wonder if he'd made the wrong choices.

"Hiruzen, Koharu didn't mean it like that." Homura hurriedly interjected, noticing Hiruzen's displeasure.

"But such a strategic asset is too important. We have to find a way to keep Kiyoshi under the village's control. We can't let him continue wandering around with Tsunade."

He feared the longer Kiyoshi stayed with Tsunade, the more he'd be influenced by her. Eventually, he might grow to distrust the village elders entirely—a risk they couldn't afford.

"There's no denying it, he easily defeated an entire Anbu squad led by Kakashi without a scratch.

And with that ridiculous chakra reserve, he's practically a match for a Tailed Beast. Maybe even stronger."

Hiruzen tapped his pipe against the table, observing his old friends who now wore determined expressions.

He replied in a quiet voice, "He has the power of Wood Release, right now even I don't know if I would be able to defeat him. How do you plan to control him?"

He had reviewed the reports from Kakashi and the others in detail, which had led him to a startling conclusion.

Ishikawa Kiyoshi's strength was already on par with that of a Kage; no maybe even greater than that.

And seeing how that boy dared to alter even the Hokage Rock, it was clear that he held no fear of authority.

If they provoked him too much, he'd likely just walk out of Konoha.

Trying to restrain him with the usual tricks was out of the question.

---------------

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