[Wood Release: Hand Tool Manipulation!]
Within the roaring flames, a wooden shield shaped like a fanged demon face completely concealed Hashirama.
Against a shield capable of withstanding a full-force chop from Susanoo wielding the Amaterasu Blade, even the Great Fire Annihilation paled in comparison.
It barely blackened the shield's surface before losing all momentum.
[Summoning: Demonic Statue!]
Nagato revealed a triumphant smile. With a puff of smoke, the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path appeared on the battlefield—had already absorbed three Tailed Beasts.
Its tremendous size and overwhelming aura immediately drew everyone's attention the moment it appeared.
But before anyone could recover from their shock, the statue suddenly gaped open, and chains glowing purple shot directly toward the Two-Tails.
It now became clear—Nagato's Great Fire Annihilation had only been a feint. His real target had always been the Two-Tails.
"You won't get away with this!!!"
The wooden shield exploded open as Hashirama watched the Two-Tails being dragged toward the Demonic Statue's mouth, fury rising within him.
[Wood Release: Wood Human Technique!]
With Hashirama shouting loudly, an enormous wooden figure instantly shot up from the earth.
Standing atop the wooden colossus' head, Hashirama controlled it to quickly step forward, gripping the purple chains tightly with both hands.
The immense pulling force from those chains nearly dragged the entire wooden colossus along.
Yet Hashirama stood firm on top of the colossus as if rooted there, gritting his teeth against the Demonic Statue in a deadlock.
Veins stood out on his forehead, his eyes filled with determination.
As long as he stood here, not one more Tailed Beast would fall into the Demonic Statue's grasp.
Sensing resistance, the Demonic Statue's hollow eye sockets flickered strangely, and the pulling force from the purple chains grew stronger.
The surrounding air seemed to churn chaotically from this power, howling winds whipping up clouds of dust.
Bound by the chains, the Two-Tails struggled violently while letting out continuous roars; its eyes filled with terror.
Meanwhile, Mito and Tobirama wanted to help but felt powerless.
Once free again, Retsuto instantly rejoined the group targeting Mito and Tobirama.
Originally struggling to fight three against two, now Mito and Tobirama faced even greater danger.
"Hashirama, do you really think you can stop me?"
"The power of the Tailed Beasts will ultimately become mine—a tool for reshaping the world."
Nagato's voice echoed from atop the Demonic Statue, filled with mockery.
"Your thinking is insane, Madara."
"All your actions will only bring destruction upon this world!"
Hashirama roared in fury, pouring even more chakra into the wooden colossus.
The wooden colossus' arms swelled again, the grain of the wood becoming clearer and stronger.
The wooden giant, previously sliding helplessly under the Demonic Statue's pull, gradually steadied itself.
"That's only what you believe."
[Great Five Elemental Combination!]
Nagato created four clones. Five figures formed different seals simultaneously.
In an instant, five powerful elemental techniques merged together, launching toward the wooden colossus.
The swirling mass of multicolored energy shot forward like a destructive star fallen from the skies, unleashing the fused might of all five elemental forces.
*BOOM!*
A deafening roar shook the heavens, as if the Thunder God himself had slammed his hammer down with full might.
Amid the violent explosion, the massive form of the Wood Human was hurled backward, carving a deep trench across the ground.
In the rising dust, half of the Wood Human's body lay in ruins.
Splintered planks rained down like hailstones, each still crackling with residual energy from the blast.
*Naruto: A Journey Beginning with Courting Tsunade*
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