The great Wooden Human gently set Naruto down on the ground before striding away toward the northern forest.
No matter how one looked at it, the wooden construct Senju Haruto had summoned this time was far larger than the Nine-Tails itself.
If he were to release the Wood Release here, the aftermath could easily harm the cluster of shinobi gathered nearby.
Naruto, after enduring so many twists and turns, had finally slipped into deep sleep.
"First, take Naruto somewhere he can rest."
Sarutobi Hiruzen sat on the ground, taking several moments to recover his chakra before he could even stand. With a gesture, he dispelled his Summoning Technique, allowing Enma the Monkey King to return from the village.
Yet every shinobi present — including Hiruzen himself — understood one thing clearly.
They all might have played their part tonight, but none of their contributions could compare to that of a single man:
A descendant of the Senju clan.
Senju Haruto.
"Haruto, we owe you everything," Hiruzen said as he turned to him.
It was no flattery — only heartfelt gratitude for saving them all.
Because of Haruto's overwhelming presence tonight, many couldn't help but compare him not only to the Fourth Hokage, Namikaze Minato, but even to the First Hokage himself, Senju Hashirama.
The Hyūga clan heads, Hiashi and Hizashi, still hadn't recovered from their shock.
That Nine-Tails, a creature that had driven them all into fear and despair, had been subdued by Haruto — with one hand.
What kind of power was that?
"Haruto's strength… I fear it has already surpassed that of every Hokage in history," Hiashi murmured in awe, his gaze fixed on Haruto.
In Haruto, he saw another possibility entirely.
The Senju name itself carried a natural aura of prestige, just like the Hyūga and Uchiha names.
His lineage alone gave Haruto weight… but combined with this kind of strength, there was no doubt — if he continued to grow, he would inevitably replace the Third Hokage and become the most powerful Hokage in history.
Yes… Hiashi looked at Haruto's back with absolute conviction that day would come.
"Clan leader…"
Now that the crisis in Konoha had been averted, Hizashi had reverted to addressing Hiashi by his title. But he had heard his leader's words clearly — words about Haruto possibly becoming Hokage.
Hizashi also knew that in the shinobi world, raw power alone was not enough to become Hokage. One needed the recognition of the entire village.
"If that day ever comes…" Hizashi whispered to himself. He had already resolved to follow Haruto, but in the end, he was just a member of the branch family.
He had no authority to decide anything for Hiashi.
In truth… he barely had the right to decide anything for himself.
"If that day truly arrives… I believe I'll choose to support him."
Hiashi, supported by branch family members, steadied himself.
Haruto wasn't only the hero who had subdued the Nine-Tails and saved the village — he had also saved his daughter Hinata.
"If only Haruto had been born a few years earlier…"
Elsewhere, Akimichi Chōza let out a sigh.
During the Third Great Ninja War, he had been close friends and squadmates with Namikaze Minato. Even to this day, he still grieved the Fourth Hokage's death.
And now, after witnessing Haruto's terrifying power firsthand, he couldn't help but feel an even deeper sense of loss for Minato.
Seeing his expression, Nara Shikaku could only pat Chōza on the shoulder.
No matter what regrets they carried, they had all escaped with their lives thanks to Haruto.
Though the village had been left heavily damaged, they still considered themselves fortunate.
As for the other shinobi present, they needed no explanation. The fear and despair the Nine-Tails had brought them was immeasurable — and their gratitude to Haruto for appearing in time was just as great.
Without his Wood Dragon, they all knew the Tailed Beast Bomb would have wiped them out instantly.
Without Haruto stepping in, no one dared to imagine what a fully unleashed Nine-Tails might have done.
In that moment, every gaze fixed on Haruto was filled with heartfelt thanks.
Konoha's true hero.
It was unclear which ninja found the courage first, but soon others followed. They surged toward Haruto, grabbed hold of him, and tossed him high into the air.
He came down, only to be thrown up again.
Their cheers for Haruto's name grew louder with each toss, voices rising like waves.
Naturally, Haruto didn't stop them.
He knew well that after being crushed under such overwhelming pressure moments ago, these shinobi needed some way to release their emotions.
"Haruto…"
Watching him silently, Hiruzen's heart swelled with complex feelings.
In that instant, when Haruto had descended from the sky to shield them, he had seen the shadow of the First Hokage — the same love for the village, the same resolve to protect its people, and the same mastery of Wood Release.
"Lord Hashirama… you truly have a worthy successor."
A faint smile tugged at Hiruzen's lips. Perhaps it was time to summon Jiraiya back to the village.
Yet sentiment aside, he knew the night's troubles weren't over. Naruto's rampage might have been stopped, but the Uchiha clan's coup was still unresolved.
And given that Haruto had only just arrived here, with Uchiha Itachi nowhere to be seen, Hiruzen guessed Itachi had been forced to remain at the Naka Shrine to hold back his own clansmen.
Before long, the shinobi finished venting their emotions.
As Hokage, Hiruzen knew there was still work to be done — the injured needed to be sent to Konoha Hospital, medical teams had to be dispatched, and frightened villagers needed reassurance.
Only after these matters were addressed did he finally approach Haruto.
"Uchiha clan."
Behind Hiruzen, the elite members of both the ANBU and Root stood ready.
With a single order, they would storm the Naka Shrine and subdue the Uchiha.
"Indeed," Haruto nodded, understanding exactly what Hiruzen was worried about.
"But… there's no need anymore."
A small smile appeared on Haruto's face as he told Hiruzen and the assembled forces:
Every Uchiha who had planned to take part in the coup had already been subdued by his Deep Forest Emergence.
Even the Uchiha who had awakened the three-tomoe Sharingan couldn't break free from his technique.
"You…"
Hiruzen sucked in a sharp breath, once again stunned by Haruto's words.
That meant Haruto had defeated every Uchiha elite single-handedly before even arriving here.
And before summoning the massive Wooden Human — a jutsu that consumed enormous chakra — Haruto had already used another equally draining technique.
His chakra reserves… were terrifying beyond reason.
It was no exaggeration to say…
Haruto wasn't using chakra anymore. He was using "ch-ton-ra".
Easily a thousand times what Hatake Kakashi possessed.