The capital of the Land of Fire was not very far from Konohagakure, which made it convenient for Konoha's shinobi to provide assistance and protection.
However, "not very far" was only relative to the speed of shinobi. For ordinary people in the shinobi world, since convenient means of transportation such as electric trains had not yet been invented or widely adopted, traveling between the two places still required quite a bit of time.
This strange world was like that: barbarism and technology coexisted. Everywhere was full of things worth complaining about, yet it was also filled with a peculiar charm.
Early in the morning, the Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen, set out for the Fire Capital with two squads of ANBU.
These two squads were Makoto's team and a team led by Kakashi. Their members were generally quite young, and the Third Hokage was deliberately training the next generation.
As for his own direct ANBU, after Obito's rampage, only a few remained. They were all extremely busy at the moment. After careful consideration, Hiruzen had entrusted Kumomi with the task of selecting and training the new ANBU.
In terms of status, the Kage of a village was equal to the Daimyō. However, the Kage themselves were also shinobi, so when they traveled outside they did not maintain the same grand entourage as the Daimyō or the nobility. They traveled light and kept everything focused on efficiency.
The group of seven left Konoha and soon increased their speed, leaping forward through the forest.
The Third Hokage was protected in the middle.
This was the real person, not someone in disguise.
The changes brought about by the Night of the Nine-Tails had caused many things to develop differently. For example, Minato and Kushina were still alive, and Kakashi had not fallen into deeper darkness, so naturally he had not been tempted by Danzō.
Without Kakashi's change of heart and warning, the Third Hokage would not have known in advance that his old friend intended to kill him.
When they had covered roughly half the distance, Makoto, who was leading the group at the front, suddenly stopped.
Knowing that Makoto possessed powerful sensory abilities, the Third Hokage casually asked, "Makoto, have you discovered something?"
"Yes, Hokage-sama. Six kilometers ahead there is an ambush. There are sixteen enemies in total, all with strength at or above the level of chūnin."
"Oh? That is quite unexpected. Continue forward. Let us see who is trying to make a move against this old man."
His expression did not change at all, but he had already formed a few guesses in his mind.
When the Kage of a village traveled outside, the itinerary was classified at the highest level of secrecy. Very few people could know it. It seemed that one of his old companions had developed a foolish idea.
The only question was whether that person had sent their own men to carry out the mission, or had sold the village's intelligence to outsiders.
If it was the latter, then the nature of the matter would be completely different.
As the group approached the ambush site, Kakashi's squad, Hayate, and Yūgao all became more vigilant.
Suddenly, Makoto, who was walking in front, stopped. He drew his short blade and swiftly swung it several times. Dozens—nearly a hundred—wind blades shot forward like bullets in a dense barrage.
Huge trees were torn apart and sent flying, kunai scattered like rain, and even the hidden explosive tags were completely destroyed, reduced to useless scraps.
For someone whose sensory ability was so abnormal that it approached the Byakugan, traps were meaningless.
Seeing their carefully prepared measures broken, the assassins hidden in the shadows all began to launch their assault. From the technique Makoto had used, they had already judged who had arrived—but should they abandon the mission?
No. This was not like obstructing someone in front of the Uchiha clan's gate. If Root shinobi carrying out missions outside ran into difficulty and then abandoned the mission, Danzō would wring their heads off when they returned.
Kunai and shuriken flew densely toward the seven of them. Kakashi and the others quickly moved to the front. After deflecting the barrage of ninja tools, they became entangled with the assassins rushing up at them.
Makoto remained at the Third Hokage's side, occasionally making a move to block attacks that came shooting through the chaos.
Although this group had altered their appearance and dressed themselves up as wandering shinobi, their coordination with one another was practiced, and their advances and retreats were well ordered. This was simply not something so-called wandering shinobi could achieve; that lot rarely had such discipline.
In the hearts of Root's shinobi, there was only Danzō and the mission. There was no such thing as the concept of comrades. When they attacked shinobi from the same village, every move was ruthless, all aimed at killing.
Watching Kakashi hold Chidori in his hand and kill two people in the blink of an eye, looking as though he were about to begin a wholesale slaughter, Hiruzen let out a sigh.
From that familiar aura and combat style, he already knew where these people had come from.
But no matter what, they were still Konoha's shinobi.
Perhaps because he was getting old, he found himself increasingly unable to bear this kind of slaughter between shinobi of the same camp. Originally, everyone should have been comrades.
"Makoto, go help them. End the battle quickly, but try not to kill them."
"Yes."
Makoto was not surprised by this man's softheartedness. He merely glanced to the left, giving a hint, then used the Body Flicker Technique to charge into the battlefield.
With the enhancement of Wind Release nature transformation, his speed far surpassed everyone else present. At the same time, his movements were erratic and elusive, as though a ghost were weaving through the midst of those Root shinobi.
All they saw was a figure suddenly appear before them. Instinctively, they swung their blades to cut him down, but in almost every case Makoto casually blocked the strike aside, then lightly tapped them once on the body, and their bodies immediately went out of control and fell from the trees.
When they struggled back to their feet and tried to continue fighting, they discovered in horror that their bodies were already covered with curse marks. They could no longer mobilize any chakra and had become nothing more than slightly stronger ordinary people.
Sage Art: Fūinjutsu: Self-Binding Cursed Seal!
This was a byproduct Makoto had created while developing the Two Forms Seal. It had only one effect: sealing the opponent's physical energy and spiritual energy.
Those who had been struck by the cursed seal could no longer refine chakra. Their own physical energy and spiritual energy were continuously absorbed by the seal to maintain the duration of the restraint.
It might appear to have only a single simple effect, but it belonged to the same system as the Two Forms Seal. It used Yin–Yang attributes and was also senjutsu.
Yin–Yang attributes—not Yin–Yang Release. Makoto had not yet reached that higher level.
Even so, aside from Makoto himself, the number of people in the shinobi world capable of undoing this cursed seal could be counted on one hand. In any case, Danzō certainly could not undo it. In other words, without Makoto's permission, these subordinates of his would remain useless for the rest of their lives.
Just as Makoto left the Third Hokage's side to join the battle, several sharp wooden spikes suddenly shot out from the nearby forest.
Wood Release: Silent Strangling Binding Technique!
This was a Wood Release ninjutsu that could both bind an enemy and pierce them to death with its sharpened tips.
Even without Makoto's earlier hint, someone of Hiruzen's strength could not possibly be killed so easily. Nevertheless, while jumping aside to dodge, he was still startled.
"Wood Release? How is that possible?"
Kakashi, who had voluntarily returned to guard him after Makoto took over the battle, was also shocked. If the Hokage were stabbed to death, that would be a disaster.
He immediately formed hand seals and used Chidori. While cutting through the Wood Release, he flashed forward and knocked the attacker to the ground, Chidori aimed at a vital point.
It could only be said that Wood Release sounded intimidating, but Kinoe was still too inexperienced. He could not last even a single exchange against Kakashi.
However, Kakashi understood the significance of Wood Release to Konoha, so unlike before, he did not deliver a killing blow.
Hiruzen came to Kakashi's side and picked up a piece of wood from the ground. His heart was filled with mixed emotions. He had not expected that within his lifetime he would see this signature Kekkei Genkai of Konoha once again.
It seemed that Danzō and Orochimaru had not obeyed his orders and had continued their Wood Release research in secret—and had already achieved results.
At that moment, Makoto had already finished the battle. Together with Hayate and the others, he threw all the Root shinobi beside Kinoe, including several corpses.
Kakashi stepped forward and pried open the mouths of several of them. After confirming, he said, "Third Hokage-sama, they are Root shinobi."
Hiruzen was not surprised. He said to the captives, "Go back and tell Danzō to stay in Root and wait for me to return."
They gave no reply. Silently, they picked up the corpses and left the place.
Now, aside from Kinoe, they had all become ordinary people. They could only walk back step by step.
Kakashi looked at the smallest figure.
"Third Hokage-sama, that was Wood Release."
"Mm, I understand what you mean. We'll deal with it after we return. A dark place like Root is indeed not suitable for a child's growth."
Only then did Kakashi feel relieved.
Yūgao and the others were also curious. They had not expected to see the legendary Wood Release, so they all picked up fragments of wood from the ground to examine them. However, they discovered that they were nothing more than ordinary pieces of wood.
What was even more remarkable was that these pieces of wood did not disappear like other elemental techniques. Instead, they remained there permanently, completely inconsistent with the usual concept of the Five Nature Transformations.
Makoto also picked up a piece and played with it in his hand.
After the battle ended and the group set out again, he led the way in front while using chakra to explore the mysteries of Wood Release.
The Third Hokage asked, "Oh? Makoto, are you also curious about Wood Release?"
"Yes, Hokage-sama. After all, it is the First Hokage's secret technique. I have long admired it."
"Don't force it, Makoto. The synthesis of Kekkei Genkai is highly accidental. Spending time studying this may not lead to any results. Not possessing a Kekkei Genkai technique is nothing—you are already very powerful."
"But Hokage-sama, I do know one. When I fought shinobi of the Yuki clan from Kirigakure on the eastern front before, I saw them use Ice Release. After that, I learned it. It didn't seem that difficult."
Given Makoto's current strength, revealing that he could use Ice Release did not matter much. This ability held little significance for him and would not enhance his combat power.
Its greatest use was that whenever Yūgao went on missions during the summer, she treated him as a mobile ice-making machine.
Kakashi: What the hell—you really can use it?
Hiruzen said, "Makoto, you're not joking, are you?"
Makoto did not answer. With a casual motion, he condensed two ice kunai and tossed them to Kakashi and the Third Hokage.
Feeling the icy chill of the kunai in his hand, the faint cold they emitted told Kakashi that this was real.
Hiruzen was also stunned. "It really is Ice Release."
Immediately afterward, the cold sensation in his hand ignited a warmth in his heart. The village had long hoped to recreate Wood Release, but it had relied on transplanting and cultivating the First Hokage's cells. Many people had died, yet there had been no real sign of success.
Now, however, there was one subject—the child from earlier.
If Makoto could truly rely on his own talent to develop Wood Release, then for Konoha it might mean the emergence of another inheritable secret technique—one that was none other than Wood Release itself.
This boy was truly a treasure.
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