Wood Release.
The signature ninjutsu of the First Hokage, Hashirama Senju—a memory etched into the Nine-Tails' very soul, steeped in humiliation and terror.
Before Kurama's eyes, that crimson-armored, godlike figure seemed to rise once more.
Back then, when it had believed itself invincible, it was crushed with absurd ease by Hashirama's peerless Wood Release—by the heaven-reaching True Several Thousand Hands. A single palm, casual as plucking a flower, had pinned it down completely.
Even now, Kurama could vividly recall the despair of being restrained by that colossal wooden construct, and Hashirama's words, spoken close enough for its hot breath to fog its snout:
"Nine-Tails, your power is simply too great."
Across the long centuries, very few things had ever inspired genuine fear in it. Yet three stood unchallenged at the peak of that list: the First Hokage's Wood Release, the Uzumaki Clan's sealing techniques, and the Uchiha Clan's Sharingan.
And now this brat standing before it dared to question the very nature of Wood Release itself?
Proposing a conjecture so outrageous it could shake the foundations of the shinobi world.
Seeing Kurama bristle and snort, Naruto knew he had its full attention. He stopped provoking it, sat down cross-legged, and began explaining his theory in a calm, structured manner.
"I believe the First Hokage's Wood Release isn't a simple Earth-and-Water Bloodline Limit at all," Naruto said evenly.
"It's a Kekkei Tōta—Earth Release, Water Release, and the Yang half of Yin–Yang Release combined."
He raised three fingers.
"First point: heredity."
"Bloodline Limits—whether ocular ones like the Uchiha's Sharingan or the Hyuga's Byakugan, or elemental ones like Ice Release or Lava Release—are normally inherited. They give rise to powerful clans."
"But Kekkei Tōta don't."
He gave an immediate example. "The clearest case is Dust Release from Iwagakure."
"It was created by the Second Tsuchikage, Mū, by fusing Wind, Earth, and Fire."
"The Third Tsuchikage, Ōnoki, isn't related to Mū by blood. He learned Dust Release as his disciple."
"But Ōnoki's own son, Kitsuchi, can't use it at all."
"That alone proves Dust Release can be taught—but not inherited."
Having made his point, Naruto smoothly brought the discussion back around.
"After Hashirama died, neither his direct descendants nor the entire Senju Clan ever produced another living user of Wood Release."
"That directly contradicts the rules of a Bloodline Limit."
"But it perfectly matches the behavior of a Kekkei Tōta."
He continued, his tone growing more confident.
"Hashirama's overwhelming vitality, his rapid regeneration, and Wood Release's ability to create and sustain life all go far beyond a simple Earth–Water fusion."
"They make perfect sense if Yang Release is involved."
Yin Release gives shape to form through spiritual energy.
Yang Release breathes life into form through physical energy.
Together, they are the foundation of all creation.
In Naruto's eyes, Wood Release was the most outrageously powerful art in all of ninjutsu—an outright bug in the system.
It could reshape battlefields, suppress enemies on a massive scale, and seamlessly combine offense and defense, almost without flaw.
And above all else—
Hashirama's True Several Thousand Hands defied common sense entirely.
Even a single palm of that wooden titan was larger than the fully manifested Nine-Tails, already a mountain-sized being. The sheer visual pressure alone could crush an opponent's will to fight.
The Senju and Uzumaki clans shared the same origin. Both descended from the younger son of the Sage of Six Paths, Asura Ōtsutsuki.
Hashirama and Naruto themselves were successive bearers of Asura's chakra.
To Naruto, this so-called "transmigration" wasn't literal reincarnation. It was more like fragments of chakra carrying will and influence, attaching themselves to new eras.
"If it were true reincarnation," Naruto reasoned, "then Asura, Hashirama, and I would all share the same soul."
"But that's impossible. Hashirama's soul was summoned with Edo Tensei, yet I'm still alive."
That logic sealed his conclusion.
Knock. Knock. Knock.
The crisp, measured sound echoed faintly—even into the depths of the Sealing Space—like a pebble dropped into still water.
Their intense discussion came to an abrupt halt.
Naruto cut himself off mid-thought, a trace of amusement surfacing in his mind.
He gestured casually toward the massive fox behind the bars.
"Looks like we've got a visitor. Probably the Third Hokage. I'll deal with it."
With that, his consciousness withdrew like a receding tide, leaving behind the iron cage, the scarlet eyes, and Kurama's unsettled thoughts about Wood Release.
Back in the real world, Naruto's eyelids fluttered open. He sat up at once.
Putting on a sleepy act, he yawned and shuffled toward the door.
"Coming, coming!"
He pulled it open.
Cold night air rolled in along with a familiar figure.
Standing there was Hiruzen Sarutobi, dressed in his ceremonial robes and conical hat, snow-bright moonlight reflecting off his gentle smile.
He held a bulky package in his arms.
"Grandpa Third? What brings you here?"
Naruto opened the door wider, surprise and delight perfectly measured, and stepped aside.
"Please, come in!"
He ushered the Hokage into the small living room, cleared a chair, and gestured for him to sit—all in one smooth motion.
Hiruzen's gaze swept over the tidy room before settling warmly on the boy.
"Nothing in particular," he said kindly. "I just missed you, so I came by."
He placed the package on the table and pushed it forward. "I picked up a new winter coat for you. It's getting colder—see if you like it."
"Really? Thank you, Grandpa Third!"
Naruto's eyes lit up as he eagerly tore open the wrapping.
Inside was a thick kraft envelope and a neatly folded black winter coat.
"Whoa!"
His blue eyes sparkled with genuine excitement.
Hiruzen chuckled, stroking his beard. "Try it on. If it doesn't fit, I'll get you another one."
"Mm!"
Naruto nodded enthusiastically.
He shrugged off his old coat—its sleeves and hem already far too short.
Beneath it, a worn autumn shirt clung tightly to his growing frame, threadbare and stretched.
Without hesitation, Naruto put on the new coat, zipped it up, and smoothed it down.
Perfect fit. Warm. Comfortable.
But as that frayed undershirt caught his eye, the Third Hokage's smile slowly faded.