Afei shouted powerfully, urging the wooden man and wooden dragon to advance.
The forest center had turned into a desolate land due to the fierce battle.
Trees were uprooted, exposing their roots.
Pits appeared one after another, just from being crushed underfoot.
The water snake glared at the imposing wooden man and wooden dragon, opened its massive mouth, and torrents of water surged out, rushing toward them.
"Hmm?"
Within the water, the wooden man's movements suddenly slowed down significantly, hindered by the water's resistance.
The stone giant's body rumbled and disintegrated into countless large stone fragments that floated in the air, shooting toward the wooden man.
The wooden man caught one giant stone with its hand but was immediately hit by another, staggering backwards.
The stones followed relentlessly, accurately striking the wooden man's body, smashing it and affecting the wooden dragon as well, which let out a howl akin to a pained cry.
Afei frantically dodged the flying stones, several times being hit himself, making it difficult to properly control the wooden man and wooden dragon to fight back.
Once the stone attack ceased, he turned back to see that the stone giant and giant water snake were nowhere to be seen, having disappeared.
"Heh heh, afraid of my power, they actually fled in panic? As I thought, feces is just feces, totally no match for me."
Afei laughed, self-satisfied, although it took him considerable effort, he successfully repelled the troublesome enemies, and he would surely receive praise from Lord Madara upon returning.
Afei truly considered himself a clever child. He praised himself narcissistically in his heart.
Afei released the Wood Dragon Jutsu and headed back in the direction where the White Zetsus were gathering.
After he left, a shadowy figure emerged from the devastated land, staring with darkened eyes towards the direction where the Earth General and Water Dragon God retreated.
In the end, it said nothing, diving back into the earth, vanishing without a trace.
◎
Shikkotsu Forest Realm.
Hakushi stood bare-chested, surrounded by the humid air, feeling extremely comfortable.
On the mountaintop, feeling the power nurtured by nature, he could refine natural energy well here, merging it with the Chakra in his body to form Immortal Technique.
At that moment, suddenly countless Shadow Blades whirled out from the surrounding shadows, slicing across his bare chest and spilling blood.
However, Hakushi endured the intense pain and could clearly feel a surge of Sage Art Chakra within his body.
He clasped his hands together, using some kind of jutsu.
The frightening wounds on his upper body healed instantly, leaving only red traces of blood.
The pallor on his face vanished, returning to its original ruddy color without a trace of weakness.
A small replica of Katsuyu wriggled over, speaking in an astonished tone: "Master Hakushi is truly formidable, mastering my Immortal Technique in just a few days."
Hakushi was using the healing-type Immortal Technique of Katsuyu—Life Regeneration.
It converted Sage Art Chakra into rich life force to revive vitality and heal injuries.
This was the highest level of Secret Medical Ninjutsu Hakushi had encountered.
"But it's still not perfect because it requires Sealing, and if sometimes the injuries are too severe to form seals, this Ninja Technique cannot be activated."
Hakushi lamented.
Sealing is for better adjusting the chakra within to activate the Ninja Technique.
But with proficiency in Ninja Techniques, the step of forming seals can be omitted.
Even though Hakushi had streamlined this Immortal Technique to a certain extent, he still couldn't omit the sealing step, unable to release it seamlessly.
"No need to rush, Master Hakushi; you've achieved this level just in a few days, already the fastest I've seen learning this Ninja Technique. It took Lady Tsunade a month to just start learning it."
Katsuyu said.
"Did Teacher Tsunade also learn this technique?"
Hakushi was somewhat surprised.
He recalled that Tsunade should not know Immortal Technique.
Katsuyu replied: "Lady Tsunade doesn't know Immortal Technique, so she couldn't grasp all the mysteries of this move. Therefore, she based her development on this Medical Ninjutsu, blending her own medical principles with Chakra as the foundation, creating her own S-rank Secret Medical Ninjutsu—Creation Rebirth."
"Is that so?"
Hakushi, upon hearing this, realized that although Tsunade was limited by the inability to learn Sage Art: Life Regeneration, she developed an S-rank Secret Medical Ninjutsu of her own, which was notable.
"Nonetheless, Lady Tsunade's technique remains a semi-finished product. Moreover, the Sage Art: Life Regeneration I created can be used on others, but Lady Tsunade's creation applies only to herself. Although it can't resurrect the dead, when mastered to its highest form, Sage Art: Life Regeneration can recover an injured person's wounds completely within seconds if used on someone on the brink of death. Under special circumstances, it can also extend the lifespan of oneself and others."
Katsuyu patiently explained the nuances of Sage Art: Life Regeneration to Hakushi.
Hakushi marveled, having to admit the extensive versatility of Katsuyu's Sage Art: Life Regeneration.
It provides oneself and others with powerful healing abilities, allowing any severe injury to heal within seconds so long as there's a breath remaining, and it can even extend life.
Aside from not being able to resurrect the dead, it is almost omnipotent within the medical realm.