Chapter 237: Not Everyone Who Uses Wood Release Is Necessarily Uchiha Yasushi
Feeling Sage chakra successfully merge into the Rasengan, Jiraiya's spirits soared dramatically.
"This level isn't nearly enough!"
"I need even greater attack power!"
With Jiraiya's roar, the fist-sized Rasengan rapidly expanded and swelled, gradually bloating until it exceeded his own body in size.
He continuously channeled Sage chakra into the Rasengan until reaching the limits of his control. Only then did Jiraiya cease, leaping from Gamahiro's back. He raised the massive chakra sphere high overhead and brought it down toward Susanoo's form ahead.
"Awaken, Itachi!"
"Sage Art: Super Large Ball Rasengan!"
The instant the Rasengan contacted Susanoo, the collision point erupted with supernova-like brilliance, nearly blinding the distant spectators.
The impact shockwave expanded spherically, evaporating the entire lake and exposing the dry lakebed beneath.
Fish and shrimp were swept skyward by the blast, cooked instantly by the energy, releasing a pungent fishy odor.
The tremendous friction produced a deafening drone like ten million buzzing bees, forcing both combatants to furrow their brows.
The Super Large Ball Rasengan diminished progressively as it ground against Susanoo. Yet under the spiral's relentless abrasion, Susanoo's armor gradually began cracking. Energy turbulence—blue and orange intertwined—burst from the fissures.
Jiraiya's white hair whipped wildly in the chaotic chakra currents. The Sage markings on his face dimmed considerably from excessive energy expenditure.
But his gaze remained firm as iron and stone. Without the slightest hesitation, he threw his entire body weight behind the attack.
After several seconds of deadlock, Susanoo's energy armor, flesh, and bones were all peeled away layer by layer by the Rasengan.
Susanoo's defense finally collapsed!
A massive cavity opened in Susanoo's chest. Jiraiya drove forward with the now fist-sized Rasengan, slamming it heavily into Itachi's body.
"Gah!" Itachi instinctively attempted to block but was struck directly.
The Rasengan's high-speed rotational force acted upon Itachi's body, transforming him into a meteor. He shot from Susanoo's interior, tracing an arc through the air before falling far away.
"Huff... huff..." Jiraiya gasped heavily, calming his wildly pounding heart.
His Sage markings were fading. Sweat dripping from his forehead evaporated before hitting the ground, consumed by residual chakra.
That technique demanded excessive chakra. Even he found it difficult to sustain. Even Fukasaku and Shima lay exhausted on his shoulders, panting continuously.
But before his body could touch down, the ground suddenly trembled violently. An enormous tree root burst from below, shooting skyward and sweeping toward him.
This strike perfectly exploited the gap between Jiraiya's exhausted strength and renewed power—an incredibly devious timing, nearly impossible to evade.
Jiraiya's pupils contracted sharply. He hastily adjusted his posture mid-air, twisting his body at the critical moment. Simultaneously, his white hair rapidly grew, lunging at the root like a python to intercept it mid-strike.
With a sharp sound, the root's spike was deflected by his hair, grazing his cheek and leaving a bloody trail.
Nearby Gamahiro also rushed over, dual blades slashing repeatedly to chop the newly emerged tree into sections.
Jiraiya landed on Gamahiro's head, eyes scanning all directions as he roared furiously:
"Uchiha Yasushi!"
"Show yourself!"
His heart mixed anger with fear—rage at Yasushi's interference, terror that Itachi's mind might have deteriorated further, allying with such a person.
However, to his shock, his searching gaze revealed no trace of Uchiha Yasushi. Instead, he saw an elderly figure clad in red Warring States-era armor emerging from the shadows.
The fragmented patterns covering the man's body immediately identified him as another Edo Tensei corpse.
"Lord Jiraiya, not everyone who uses Wood Release is necessarily Uchiha Yasushi!"
A mocking voice emerged from behind the figure. But Jiraiya's gaze remained completely fixated on the reanimated body, not sparing the speaker even a glance.
He'd gazed upon that face on the Hokage Monument for decades. It was burned into his memory.
"Lord First?"
Jiraiya's shock left his jaw hanging open.
But immediately, his fury intensified even further.
The current Senju Hashirama's eyes were vacant and lifeless—clearly unlike the previous Edo Tensei bodies he'd witnessed.
Whether Uchiha clan reanimations or Hyuga clan corpses, all possessed their own consciousness. Though their bodies were controlled, they could communicate freely and express independent thought.
But this reanimated body was completely dominated. All consciousness locked away tightly. Not a shred of autonomous will remained.
Such Edo Tensei bodies wouldn't lose control, but every movement required the controller's direction—even speaking a single word was impossible.
Jiraiya's brow furrowed. His gaze shifted to the person who'd spoken earlier.
After brief consideration, he recalled—this man was originally an Academy instructor named Mizuki who later allied with Kazuma, becoming Kazuma's highly-valued assistant.
During previous dealings with Kazuma, Jiraiya had encountered him frequently. But the man typically maintained a low profile, rarely expressing personal opinions. Jiraiya's impression was of someone who honestly completed his work. Why today—
"Mizuki, where did you learn Edo Tensei?"
"Who gave you the audacity to desecrate our predecessors' remains?"
"Kazuma?"
"Or that Sora Tani Shingo?"
In his rage, Jiraiya even directly invoked Lord Sora Tani's name.
"Now, now, Lord Jiraiya—don't get so agitated!"
Mizuki smiled knowingly, waving dismissively as he deflected:
"I'm merely a humble shinobi, completely obeying Lord Kazuma's commands."
"Don't take your temper out on me!"
Jiraiya had no interest in venting rage on this minor figure. His fierce glare swept toward distant Kazuma.
Before Jiraiya could speak, Gamahiro beneath him obligingly charged toward Kazuma's position.
But Mizuki altered his hand seal. The Hashirama he controlled flew to intercept Jiraiya's path, clapping his hands together.
"Wood Release: Advent of a World of Flowering Trees!"
The earth groaned under unbearable strain. Hundreds of massive vines burst through the soil, coiling toward Gamahiro's limbs.
These vines bristled with thorns across their surfaces. Demonic red blossoms bloomed at their tips, spraying visible yellow pollen toxin that rapidly dispersed throughout the area.
Simultaneously, the previously defeated Uchiha Itachi recovered. Ignoring his injuries, he rushed to Kazuma's side and reactivated Susanoo, firmly protecting Kazuma and his cohort behind its defense.