"Ōnoki! Black Zetsu! Tobi! This is huge!"
As Kei flew up into the sky, he left behind a Flying Thunder God mark when his palm hit the ground.
With one hand shielding his eyes, he gazed at the battle unfolding above, his grin nearly reaching his ears.
Just now, after recognizing Yagura's identity, he had merely speculated that the opponent might be under the control of the Rinnegan or Sharingan.
But once he charged in, even from dozens of meters away, thanks to [Zero-Frame Start]'s reaction speed and system abilities, he could instantly see through them.
Three figures, yet five status screens popped up in front of him.
Ōnoki was indeed the real Ōnoki.
Yagura was also the real Yagura.
And Black Zetsu was actually attached to Yagura, who was being controlled by the Rinnegan. Even the guy beside them, with strange gill-like organs faintly visible under his forehead protector was being controlled by Tobi.
And the Rinnegan in their eyes was the real deal. So, without hesitation, he unleashed his senjutsu enhanced Wood Release attack.
Ōnoki, Black Zetsu, Tobi, plus the controlled Yagura—this was four major catches in one go. If it weren't for Ōnoki's Dust Release being so fast, and giving him an overwhelming sense of danger, forcing him to avoid the risk of staying airborne too long, Black Zetsu might already be down.
Dust Release's attack power... Kei licked his lips, formed a single-hand seal, and over ten wood clones surged from behind him.
Following the trajectory in the sky, two of the clones disappeared in an instant, vanishing using the Flying Thunder God marks he had left at his waist.
As a bloodline selection, Dust Release had major drawbacks like high chakra consumption, long charge time, and limited versatility.
But its attack power was absolutely insane.
In the original story, the Detachment of the Primitive World Technique had completely annihilated all fifteen of Madara's Wood Release: Susanoo-clad clones in one go.
Even his own Wood Release, which had already reached the bloodline selection level, couldn't withstand it for more than a few seconds.
Not to mention, just now when he was targeted by the Dust Release, even with Sage Mode fully activated, he could clearly sense the lethal threat.
This technique was only held back by its lack of senjutsu chakra, making it vulnerable to the Ōtsutsuki clan's chakra absorption abilities. Otherwise, no one would dare to take it head-on.
"Descend! We're not as agile as him in the air!" Black Zetsu, enveloped in red tailed beast chakra, was still sent reeling by a Sage Mode wood clone's powerful kick, nearly being forced out of Yagura's body.
"Shinra Tensei!" Tobi, controlling the body of a Hoshigaki clan member, forcefully repelled two wood clones. Using the Six Paths technique, he barely managed to fend off the dozen wood clones flying around, relentlessly attacking with various Sage Arts.
Forming hand seals, he dispelled the floating ability on himself and Black Zetsu, grabbed onto his companion, and unleashed Banshō Ten'in with full force toward the ground below.
With a sharp sound piercing the air, Black Zetsu and Tobi hurtled downward, catching up to Ōnoki, who had already initiated Added-Weight Rock Technique to accelerate his descent.
Tobi faintly noticed the white glow once again forming in Ōnoki's hands. His battle instincts kicked in immediately—his free left hand reached out and grabbed onto Ōnoki's robe.
The three of them plummeted at full speed.
The dozen Sage Mode wood clones in pursuit couldn't keep up.
On the ground, Kei stood, looking up at them.
No words were needed between Tobi and Black Zetsu. With his extensive combat experience, Ōnoki decisively thrust his hands downward, unleashing the Dust Release he had charged up.
The cylindrical Dust Release beam pierced straight through Kei's chest.
Yet, none of the three showed any signs of relief, because the moment it hit, Kei's body began to transform, into wood.
Damn it! Is there no jutsu that can distinguish between a wood clone and the real body?! Black Zetsu and Ōnoki cursed simultaneously in midair.
Ōnoki quickly formed hand seals again, raising his hands to use the Ultralight-Weight Rock Technique, slowing down their descent.
Tobi revealed the Rinnegan previously hidden beneath his forehead protector and unleashed Shinra Tensei toward the ground. Using repulsive force, he neutralized the downward momentum of all three of them.
The ground within a hundred-meter radius collapsed several meters downward.
Black Zetsu, Tobi, and Ōnoki successfully landed on the ground in the shortest possible time.
[Career: Dutiful Son]
[Traits: Creation of Yin-Yang (Red), Absolute Mind Control (Purple), Millennia-long Scheme (Purple), Master of Acting (Blue), Parasitic Adaptation (Blue), Unwavering Devotion (Blue), Mother Complex (White), Lack of Affection (Gray)]
"Damn, you're good!" Kei, who had teleported beside the wood clone struck down by Dust Release using Flying Thunder God Technique, only managed to catch a glimpse of Yagura's scalp before the short-statured opponent completely vanished into the ground.
Ōnoki, who had been ready to fight, immediately followed his ally's lead. Reacting just as quickly, he used an earth technique to burrow underground.
Kei abruptly slammed both palms onto the ground.
He had already predicted that the three of them, unable to match the wood clones in aerial speed and maneuverability, would definitely choose to land.
While they were still engaged in aerial combat with the wood clones, he had secretly activated Wood Release, channeling its energy underground to unleash a vast network of tree roots infused with senjutsu chakra, completely sealing off all possible escape routes.
Sure, Black Zetsu and Tobi had abilities that let them phase through the ground and trees, but against trees infused with senjutsu chakra?
The earth within a kilometer radius trembled violently. Countless massive tree roots surged from the ground, displacing the soil as they erupted into towering trees.
Ōnoki was the first to be overwhelmed and forced out of his underground concealment. Staring at the ever-growing forest of colossal trees around him, he struggled to stay calm. He dashed across the battlefield, narrowly dodging roots, branches, and vines that lashed at him, trying to bind, entangle, and obstruct his movement.
Forming hand seals, he channeled the power of Dust Release into his palms once again.
The devastating beam sliced through everything, reducing giant trees to nothingness in an instant.
He fought desperately to escape beyond the expanding forest's reach. But the felled trees merely merged with the surviving ones, growing even denser and more vigorous.
Even worse, wood clones were beginning to emerge from the massive trees one after another!
Ahead of Ōnoki, Black Zetsu and Tobi, unable to escape or hide any longer, burst from the crumbling soil. Tobi grabbed Black Zetsu and pulled him behind him for protection.
With his other hand, he aimed at Kei.
Countless enormous trees were violently uprooted. The immense repulsive force of the Rinnegan hurled splintered branches, shattered wood, and flying leaves like an unstoppable tidal wave toward Kei.
Seeing this, Kei's face darkened. He instantly realized, Black Zetsu and Tobi were afraid of suffering the same "unknown attack" that had once struck Madara.
Back then, Madara's Mangekyō Sharingan had been instantly erased, and even the Sage Body he gained from transplanting Hashirama's cells had mysteriously lost most of its effects. Even if they couldn't understand the mechanism behind it, Black Zetsu, with his millennia of caution, would never take any chances against it.
Kei teleported via Flying Thunder God Technique, using a Flying Thunder God mark left behind by a wood clone to instantly appear east of Black Zetsu.