"Hmph. Jiraiya, it seems this younger generation is underestimating us," Tsunade said, cracking her knuckles. Hearing that Fugaku was only leaving two Uchiha to deal with them, a vein throbbed on her forehead.
"Let's go, all of you!" she roared. "With me here, not a single one of you is getting past!"
"My lords, please do not blame me for being rude, then," Fugaku said, his hands blurring as he clasped them together. "Wood Style: Great Forest Technique!"
In an instant, a torrent of wildly growing wooden vines erupted from Fugaku's sleeves, snaking through the air toward Jiraiya and Tsunade.
"Wood Release?!!"
The two Sannin were shocked, quickly leaping back to dodge the unexpected assault.
"Fugaku! How can you use my grandfather's Wood Release?!" Tsunade shouted, her voice a mixture of anger and disbelief.
Fugaku completely ignored her question, his focus entirely on controlling the vines that pursued them relentlessly.
"Lord Fugaku, I am here to help you!" Yashiro Uchiha clasped his hands together. "Wood Style: Great Forest Technique!"
The number of vines instantly multiplied, filling the air with a writhing, wooden thicket. Jiraiya and Tsunade, who had been able to easily avoid the initial attack, suddenly found themselves under immense pressure.
"How is this possible?" Tsunade panicked. "Even Yashiro can use Wood Release!"
Jiraiya's expression was grim. "We'll find out how. There's something more going on here. Tsunade, we need to capture them alive! Be ready to strike back. Just dodging won't solve anything!"
"Of course I know that!" Tsunade nodded. "Cover me! I'm getting in close!" As she spoke, she broke free from a pincer attack of two vines, appearing behind Fugaku and Yashiro in the blink of an eye.
Jiraiya, holding a mouthful of oil, quickly formed a series of hand seals. "Fire Style: Flame Bullet!" A powerful stream of fire erupted from his mouth, aimed directly at the two Uchiha.
Fugaku sneered. "That kind of fire jutsu is useless against our Wood Style!"
At that moment, a voice roared from behind him. "Haaah!" Tsunade's fists, glowing with chakra, swung down with incredible force, slamming into the two Uchiha.
"?"
"Is this… a Wood Clone?" Tsunade thought she had succeeded, but to her surprise, the bodies of Fugaku and Yashiro dissolved into splintered wood upon impact.
Jiraiya frowned. "It seems they saw through our attack long ago. What a headache… The Sharingan combined with the power of Wood Release is simply too troublesome."
During the brief battle, the other members of the Uchiha clan had already scaled the wall and poured into Konoha Village. Although Jiraiya and Tsunade noticed, they could do nothing about it. They had a more important task at hand: capture the two Uchiha who could use Wood Release alive.
Soon, the real Fugaku and Yashiro appeared in the branches of a nearby tree. "Lord Jiraiya, Lady Tsunade, please let us pass," Fugaku said, his arms crossed as he narrowed his eyes. "You are shinobi I have always admired, and I do not wish to see you get hurt."
"Although I have mastered the power of Wood Release, I am not yet proficient in it. If we continue to fight, I'm afraid I won't be able to control the strength of my attacks."
"Hehehe…" Jiraiya laughed. "Honestly, I'm surprised you can use Wood Release, but you think too highly of yourselves. Or rather… you're underestimating us." As he spoke, he raised his hand and bit his thumb.
"Fugaku, don't forget why they call us the Sannin!"
"Summoning Jutsu!"
POOF!
Jiraiya slammed his palm on the ground, and a massive cloud of smoke erupted. Tsunade followed suit, performing her own summoning technique. From within the smoke, the giant figures of Gamabunta and Katsuyu began to emerge.