44 Chapter 44: Wood Release

After the third group of Shadow Clones located their target, they proactively dispersed, transforming into a cloud of white mist and vanishing.

"We finally found it. It wasn't easy," Sato thought to himself.

Upon receiving the memories from the Shadow Clones, Sato swiftly changed course and made his way toward the Hokage building.

Being transparent due to his unique ability, Sato effortlessly infiltrated the Hokage building. However, instead of ascending to the top floor or exploring other levels, he discovered a door that led to the underground base of the building.

Similar to Root's underground base, this particular facility housed the operatives known as Anbu, the covert assassination force. In Konoha, Anbu held a distinctive position among the Five Great Ninja Villages.

What set them apart? Anbu consisted of two separate branches: the official Anbu affiliated with the Hokage and the Root Anbu affiliated with the Hokage's assistant.

Upon joining Anbu, individuals relinquished their original names, adopting only a codename. They pledged their loyalty to the Hokage, undertaking missions when assigned and protecting Hokage-related matters during downtime. It was their duty to defend the village against external threats, while also safeguarding Konoha's leadership, their clansmen, and the Hokage's workplace.

Due to their role, Anbu membership from outside the village was scarce. The area with the highest concentration of Anbu members was outside the Four Violet Flames Formation, the location where the Third Hokage and Orochimaru had clashed.

The target Sato sought was also a member of Anbu and not just any member. He was the top expert among the regular Anbu affiliated with the Hokage. He was the sole survivor of Orochimaru's Wood Style experimentation, known as "Yamato ."

With the assistance of the byakugan, Sato swiftly identified his target. Utilizing his exceptional Chakra control, Sato, still transparent, wielding a short sword and silently approached Yamato, who was giving orders to his subordinates via a walkie-talkie.

As Sato closed in on Yamato, the byakugan beneath his mask transformed into a scarlet Three Tomoe Sharingan. Then, akin to the speed at which he neutralized the Yamanaka and Nara clans, Sato employed a sequence of Sharingan illusions—Sharingan Illusion, GDemonic Illusion: Shackling Stakes Technique—against Yamato.

Sato's three illusions took effect on Yamato as intended. Yet, just as Sato was about to swiftly sever Sky Burial's limbs with his short sword and immobilize him, a massive dead tree branch, resembling a constricting snake, abruptly emerged from Yamato's body, blocking Sato's blade.

With a flash of his sword, Sato deftly severed the feeble branches of the dead tree, resuming his assault on Yamato. However, this brief interval allowed Yamato to break free from the illusion and evade the attack.

"Are you the intruder who infiltrated the building?" Yamato leaped backward, swiftly assessing Sato. Surprise flashed through his eyes beneath the mask, as he asked in a deep voice, "Three Tomoe Sharingan, ... Are you a survivor of the Uchiha clan?"

Thus, upon witnessing the Sharingan, Yamato immediately assumed that Sato was a surviving member of the Uchiha clan.

Sato did not respond to the inquiry. Instead, he held the short sword in one hand and swiftly formed hand seals with the other.

In the next moment, two identical Sato figures materialized on his left and right sides, emerging from the mist-like white fog. Together with the main body, they charged toward Yamato.

Observing this spectacle, the expression beneath Sky Burial's mask changed abruptly as he exclaimed, "Phantom Body Flicker Technique... You... You are Uchiha Shisui!"

Swish...

In response to Yamato's words, the Three Tomoe Sharingan suddenly ignited within the dimly lit underground base.

Instantly, Yamato lost control of his body, experiencing a searing pain that engulfed him. Though he managed to free himself swiftly from Sato's Demonic Illusion: Shackling Stakes Technique and Shiranui's illusion, it was already too late.

Sato's plan had succeeded.

Sato and his two illusory Shadow Clones, instead of engaging Yamato in close combat, encircled him in a triangular formation. Together, they performed hand seals, and from the unguarded mouth beneath their masks, they forcefully expelled a jutsu: "Fire Release: Extinguishing Curtain Field!"

Boom...

Although the two clones lacked physical substance, three colossal waves of fire surged toward Sky Burial, converging on him in a triangular pattern.

"Water Release: Wild Water Wave!"

Confronted by these three mighty fire waves, Yamato, having just broken free from the Demonic Illusion: Shackling Stakes Technique and Shiranui's dual illusions, could only resort to a defensive maneuver.

Leveraging his mastery of yang, earth, and water attributes, Yamato employed his Water Style jutsu, which Sato excelled in, creating a massive 360-degree waterspout in an attempt to counter the incoming fire waves.

The collision between fire and water caused a tremendous explosion, resounding within the dark underground base.

Soon, a dense fog formed from the water vapor blanketed a significant portion of the underground base.

As the fog dissipated, Yamato stood intact, once again appearing in his original position. However, his eyes beneath the mask were now filled with fear. While he moved in a particular direction, his gaze fixated on a shadowy figure within the thick mist. He exclaimed incredulously, "Shadow Imitation Technique of the Nara clan... Who in the world are you?"

Upon closer inspection, a black line, an extension of the shadow, connected the figure with Yamato. His movement was no longer his own, instead mirroring that of the mysterious individual.

Though Yamato was familiar with the Shadow Imitation Technique as the top powerhouse of Anbu and even had members of the Ino–Shika–Chō trio among his subordinates, he was stunned by the fact that the supposed "Uchiha Shisui" in front of him was utilizing the Nara clan's secret technique.

Imitation's suspicion of the figure being "Uchiha Shisui" dwindled. Who was this enigmatic individual possessing Sharingan, Transparency, and Shadow Imitation Techniques?

Unfortunately, Yamato would not live long enough to unravel the mystery.

Approaching Yamato, Sato extended his hand and gripped his neck. Simultaneously, influenced by the Shadow Imitation Technique, Sato tightened his hold around Yamato's neck.

However, when Sato's palm released a voluminous amount of black mist, engulfing Yamato's body, an immense suction force twisted him into a dark void. With frightened eyes, Yamato traversed through space, entering the refining space within the mysterious beads.

In an instant, the supreme power of rules encompassed him. The celestial burial, possessing the strength of an Elite Jōnin and being the foremost Anbu and Root powerhouse, transformed into an endless stream of molecules, morphing into black and blue energy halos. Sato absorbed his physical energy, mental prowess, and spiritual power from all directions.

His brain and soul's memories compressed into a visual memory film, akin to a floating ball of light within the seemingly boundless refining space devoid of light sources or direction, awaiting the space's owner to come and peruse it.

Meanwhile, outside, beneath Sato's mask, a look of satisfaction adorned his face.

Within this soul- and body-enveloping warmth, something entirely new took root within Sato's being.

That something was none other than the bloodline limit possessed by the First Hokage to bring peace to turbulent times—the Wood Style!