"What... what kind of eyes are those?"
Outside the barrier, someone met the gaze of the man behind the mask. His body involuntarily trembled.
"Such terrifying eyes... Even through the sealing barrier, just making eye contact with him gave me a sense of danger... like he could kill me in an instant."
That gaze—it was like staring into the eyes of a king who ruled over everything, while he looked at you like you were just an insect.
"Wait, his aura... it's changed too!"
"It really has..."
"Hmph, what a joke. He's just struggling before death!"
A few of the ninja sneered again. To them, this was just the masked man's final act of desperation.
Yeah, that's all it was—if he really had the power, he would've broken the barrier by now. No need to bluff like this.
"No... Look closely. His wounds—they've started to heal. And the chakra around him… it's moving again! It's like he recovered his chakra all of a sudden!"
Someone had noticed something strange about the man, and couldn't help but become cautious.
"Stay alert. There's something weird about this guy..."
Another voice chimed in, warning everyone to be careful.
It was true.
The masked man was far more dangerous than expected.
Strong. Really strong.
Especially that strange body of his that could recover from injuries—it gave off an eerie feeling.
With those words, the group surrounding him changed.
Their expressions grew serious.
"Everyone, stay sharp. Don't let him break through the barrier and escape!"
The barrier specialist leading them gave the command, his voice turning grave.
The ninja stationed at the barrier nodes nodded solemnly, focusing even more chakra into the barrier, making it stronger than before. Things had reached the final step — there was no room for mistakes now.
Otherwise,
All of their earlier efforts would be for nothing.
"The situation's changing? Look at that Wood Release user—did he just activate a secret taijutsu technique?" Kurenai Yuhi kept her eyes fixed on the battle, especially on Hayashi. She immediately noticed the shift in his presence.
She could feel it—Hayashi had become even more terrifying than before.
"Taijutsu? A secret technique?" Kakashi's expression sharpened, his Sharingan glowing as he observed the change closely.
"No... this doesn't look like a regular secret taijutsu. It's more like a forbidden jutsu. His depleted chakra is recovering, and even his injuries are healing... normal taijutsu can't do that!"
He glanced toward Might Guy, as if seeking confirmation. "Guy, could your Eight Gates technique achieve something like this?"
"The Eight Gates?" Guy frowned slightly, then shook his head. "If it were my Eight Gates, it would be damaging the body, not healing it. But this technique… it actually restores the damage done to the body. That's completely opposite."
"But what?" Kakashi pressed, picking up on Guy's hesitation.
If it's not the Eight Gates… then what is it?
Kakashi's mind was already racing. Did Hayashi have other hidden cards? Could this be a forbidden jutsu from the Scroll of Seals?
"If this healing technique could be combined with the Eight Gates... it would be a perfect match. If the recovery is fast enough... I might even be able to open the Eighth Gate and survive," Guy said, his voice serious. He was clearly considering the possibility.
As a ninja who specialized in taijutsu, he was extremely sensitive to anything related to it.
The moment they saw Hayashi use Creation Rebirth, he immediately paired it with the Eight Gates.
It was exactly what Genya had envisioned back then.
"These two jutsu... can they really be used together?" Kakashi frowned, his tone growing increasingly serious.
"That black mark... I think I know what jutsu this is!" Kurenai Yuhi suddenly spoke, having noticed the strange seal mark peeking through the torn fabric on Hayashi's clothes.
"I've seen Lady Tsunade use a secret technique before. She had the same kind of mark.
And just like him, she could rapidly heal and restore her chakra!"
{Both the First Hokage and Tsunade had similar markings when using their jutsu. It's unclear whether it was from the Yin Seal, the Strength of a Hundred Technique, or from Creation Rebirth itself.}
Kurenai had once seen Tsunade in action. That insane healing speed and raw destructive power had left a deep impression.
"A jutsu used by Lady Tsunade? A combined jutsu technique..." Kakashi's eyes lit up with realization. His voice carried certainty now, though a hint of sadness flickered across his face.
He suddenly recalled a forbidden combination jutsu recorded in the Scroll of Seals: Yin Seal, Creation Rebirth, and the Strength of a Hundred Technique!
It seems Genya really did teach Hayashi a forbidden technique—
And Hayashi not only learned it, but mastered it.
This combo was perfectly suited for someone like him.
But then...
Does that mean Genya himself knows even more forbidden jutsu now?
As those thoughts ran through their minds, they all turned their focus back to the battlefield.
Inside the barrier!
Hayashi slowly raised his hand. A surge of overwhelming chakra burst out from within him.
Buzz~~~
The withered vines under his feet suddenly came back to life, blooming green once more. They wrapped around most of Hayashi's body, forming a natural shield of vines.
Only his cold, distant eyes were visible—gazing down from above at the people below.
Those chilling eyes sent shivers through the ones maintaining the barrier outside.
"How does he still have chakra left?"
"Is this his final defense?
Hmph. Does he think that'll keep us from capturing him?"
"He's just bluffing!"
"...Why do I have a bad feeling about this? I don't even dare look him in the eyes."
"What is he trying to do?"
Even though they were alert, some of them started to panic. A few still scoffed in disbelief.
"Since I've already released the Yin Seal, I'll show you what real Wood Release looks like." Hayashi's calm voice echoed inside the barrier as he slowly raised his hand.
In an instant—
The ground began to stir. A green sprout broke through the surface, spreading over the burning earth.
More and more sprouts emerged, vines quickly covering the flames. Life returned to the ground, and the blazing inferno was smothered completely. Instead of destruction, the barrier now felt refreshed. Even the heat had vanished.
"Stay sharp. Strengthen the barrier! This is just his final desperate struggle!"
The ninja maintaining the barrier finally sensed something was wrong. Massive chakra surged into the formation, reinforcing it with another layer.
"Hold the line!"
"It's too late."
Hayashi's voice was calm as ever. He lifted his palm again.
"Rise, great tree. Shatter the chains that bind you!"
As his words fell, the writhing vines on the ground began climbing upward. They wrapped around one another, fusing and twisting, forming the shape of a massive tree trunk.
As the vines reached where Hayashi stood, a hollow tree chamber formed around him, shielding him completely.
The vines kept growing.
Eventually, the entire barrier was filled with the enormous tree trunk.
Flames licked at the wood, but where they scorched, new buds would sprout instantly.
The barrier began to tremble and crack—
Crack. Crack.
Like a mirror, it began to split with web-like fractures.
****
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