Konoha cat breeder

Chapter 125: Wood Release!

One month later.

Hokage's Office.

Thankfully, the Hokage's office was spacious enough to accommodate a crowd. Standing before the Hokage were Konoha's young shinobi, along with their respective team leaders.

"You are departing today to participate in the Chūnin Exams in the Land of Rain," Hiruzen Sarutobi began. "As your elder, I hope you won't prioritize rankings above all else. What matters most is that each of you returns safely.

"Remember, becoming a chūnin or earning a remarkable rank is less important than coming back alive."

Looking at the youthful faces below, Hiruzen felt a pang of emotion.

The Chūnin Exams often carried a high casualty rate, but this was the reality of being a shinobi.

Each of these young ninja represented Konoha's future. Losing any one of them was something Hiruzen deeply wished to avoid.

This year's participants included Tonari's team, Minato and Kushina's team, and two other teams consisting of older genin that Tonari hadn't interacted with much. It was later revealed that these were second-year students whose skills were formidable.

Originally, Tsunade was supposed to lead the group, but her hemophobia had kept her confined to her room. Thus, the role of leading the mission fell to Nara Shikashin.

Additionally, with Orochimaru and Sakumo Hatake stationed in the Land of Rain, the participants' safety was well-assured. Outside the scope of sanctioned battle fatalities within the exams, any further harm would likely be deterred by the presence of these two powerful figures.

After delivering a motivational speech and a few life lessons, Hiruzen dismissed the crowd.

"Shikashin, Tonari, please stay behind."

Nara Shikashin, looking his usual nonchalant self, remained in place. Meanwhile, Tonari's body stiffened as he stood silently, a hint of unease visible on his face.

This peculiar behavior caught Shikashin's attention. He scrutinized Tonari for a moment before his expression turned to one of surprise and even astonishment.

Once everyone else had left, Hiruzen lit his pipe and took a satisfying puff, exhaling smoke into the air.

"Is this the state you plan to be in for the Chūnin Exams?" he asked, raising an eyebrow.

Clack, clack, clack.

At his words, "Tonari's" body emitted the sound of gears turning. Suddenly, a slender blue snake emerged from his mouth, slithering forward before revealing the real Tonari, who wore an embarrassed smile.

"Haha, well… I just finished testing it last night," Tonari admitted sheepishly. "I'm still not entirely used to it, but with more practice, it should function just like a real person."

Shikashin, who had been processing the bizarre sight, grew even more surprised after hearing this explanation.

"Is this… a puppet? Combined with a shadow clone?" he asked, uncertain. "If the Hokage hadn't pointed it out, I wouldn't have noticed. This puppet is… incredibly lifelike."

Tonari rubbed his nose, clearly pleased with the compliment.

Hiruzen shook his head with a mix of admiration and exasperation.

"It's more than just that. A special puppet framework mimicking a human body, fused with a summon beast, a transformation jutsu, and a shadow clone. Add in a touch of medical ninjutsu and some secret techniques…"

He sighed. "You've really diversified your studies, haven't you? And somehow, you've managed to integrate all these elements into this…"

"Shadow-Shift Dynamic and Versatile Entity Puppet!" Tonari interjected proudly.

"...Let's just call it an Entity Puppet," Hiruzen said, his voice tinged with awkwardness.

After a brief stare-down with the Hokage, Tonari finally relented. "Fine, Entity Puppet it is. But the name isn't what's important—the utility is."

Hiruzen, the "Professor" of the ninja world, couldn't help but nod at the innovation. The puppet was clearly inspired by future innovations, including Sasori's human puppets and the discarded Puppet Scroll that Tonari had studied. With some personal modifications, it now served his needs for the Chūnin Exams.

Crafted from a special metal framework for enhanced durability, the puppet was cloaked in a transformed shadow clone and summon beast to replicate a human appearance. Tonari himself could hide within the puppet, channeling chakra to use ninjutsu.

While it lacked the sophistication of Sasori's human puppets—unsuitable for a place like Konoha where such practices were taboo—it was still a remarkable creation.

The puppet's core was composed of cells cultivated in Tonari's lab, ensuring it retained a semblance of life. Equipped with self-destruction mechanisms throughout its body, Tonari could detonate it as needed.

Shikashin, though impressed, asked bluntly, "You plan to use this for the Chūnin Exams?"

Tonari nodded without hesitation.

"Of course. I'm a Jinchūriki. Konoha's Jinchūriki, no less. Sending me to a hostile environment like this is a huge risk. If my identity is exposed—or worse, if I'm killed—it wouldn't just be a personal loss. It'd be a loss for all of Konoha."

Shikashin opened his mouth to retort but ultimately said nothing. Tonari's point wasn't without merit.

Hiruzen, however, addressed the concern directly.

"The exams are being held in the Land of Rain. With Sakumo and Orochimaru overseeing the event, alongside our alliance with Hanzō of the Salamander, you're as safe there as you would be in the village.

"I've also contacted Jiraiya and requested he monitor the event. From a security standpoint, this is foolproof. That's why I allowed both you and Kushina to participate."

Hiruzen's voice grew firm. "So no excuses, Tonari. Whether you use your own power or that puppet, I expect you to bring home a title. You're strong enough to contend with Jōnin. What are you worried about in a Chūnin Exam?"

Hearing this, Tonari left the Hokage's office dejectedly.

Why was he the only one burdened with expectations?

---

Three Days Later.

The Konoha delegation arrived in the Land of Rain without incident.

The constant rain brought back unpleasant memories for Tonari. While traveling, he had refrained from using the puppet, opting instead to remain in his natural form among familiar faces like Minato and Kushina.

Their team leader, Shikashin, was accompanied by Mokume Kōtō, an experienced Jōnin who could provide additional support.

"Hey, Tonari," Minato called out, noticing Tonari fiddling with lightning chakra during the trip. "Since when do you have lightning affinity?"

Minato and Kushina were well aware of Tonari's chakra affinities—fire, earth, and water. Yet here he was, casually manipulating bolts of lightning, their crackling forms constantly changing shape.

Tonari smirked, forming a fist to extinguish the lightning. "Oh, this? Just something I awakened recently. It's still weak compared to my other affinities, so I've been practicing to build it up."

Minato nodded thoughtfully, sensing it was likely related to their previous mission.

For Kushina, this marked her first mission outside the Land of Fire since arriving in Konoha. Her curiosity was evident as she observed the unfamiliar scenery.

Soon, they reached Konoha's base within Amegakure, where Sakumo Hatake and Orochimaru were waiting.

"Shikashin, you're finally here!" Sakumo greeted warmly. "You're cutting it close. Everyone else has already arrived except the Hidden Mist."

"Well," Shikashin replied with a wry smile, "the Mist is always unpredictable. But since I'm here, why don't I brief everyone?"

As the Konoha team gathered, Shikashin addressed them, explaining the rules of the exam and sharing intelligence on other villages' participants.

---

After the briefing, Orochimaru stood and motioned for Tonari to follow him.

Curious, Tonari followed his mentor to a smaller laboratory within the base.

Inside, he was met with a shocking sight—a mass of tangled vines resembling a living plant, pulsating faintly as if it were alive. At its base was a small white rabbit, still breathing despite being enveloped by the growth.

"Is this…" Tonari began, stepping closer.

"Yes. This is Wood Release," Orochimaru confirmed, his tone filled with a mix of fascination and pride.

Tonari's heart raced. Wood Release? The power of the First Hokage?

Orochimaru nodded, a twisted smile forming. "Using a small sample of the First's cells, combined with earth and water chakra, I've managed to replicate this phenomenon.

"Fascinating, isn't it? The cell's vitality is unparalleled. Imagine… such power, yet the First Hokage perished. How could such a thing happen?"

As Tonari stared at the experiment, a dangerous curiosity began to grow within him.

---

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