Underground, Yōkō used the Earth Release: Fish in Earth Reflection Technique for the first two meters, then switched to the Ephemeral Technique.
A large number of tree roots suddenly appearing underground startled Yōkō. Could Wood Release use roots to attack underground?
Yōkō immediately merged into the surrounding soil and quickly dodged.
The next second, Yōkō was already over a hundred meters away.
Uchiha Madara was somewhat surprised. Why did this Konoha Anbu's Earth Release: Fish in Earth Reflection Technique feel strange?
The speed of the Konoha Anbu after entering the earth was incredibly fast, almost like White Zetsu's Ephemeral Technique.
The Ephemeral Technique was a Wood Release secret technique; the Fox Anbu couldn't possibly master Wood Release.
Jiraiya, Lynx, and Ki scattered and fled, unable to take care of each other.
Ki was desperately leaping forward. Just as he landed, he suddenly felt something entangle his ankle.
He failed to jump again, lost his balance, and fell to the ground.
As he fell, a hand emerged from the ground, holding a short, thin tree branch.
The broken end of the branch was wedge-shaped and exceptionally sharp.
Thud!
The branch pierced through Ki's abdomen!
In a series of moves, Yōkō attacked from underground, stabbing the other two Root members to death with branches as well.
Lynx, glancing back from a distance, saw the wooden thorn protruding from Ki's spine and felt terrified.
Had Fox's covering the retreat not worked? Had Uchiha Madara caught up again?
He fled even more desperately into the distance.
Yōkō's face appeared on the trunk of a large tree, watching Lynx flee into the distance.
He would spare him for now; collecting Ki's corpse was more important.
Only with Ki's corpse could he break Danzo's Cursed Tongue Eradication Seal.
Yōkō's face sank back into the tree trunk.
The Ephemeral Technique truly lived up to its reputation as a top-tier stealth secret technique in the ninja world. He had acted, and an elite jōnin like Lynx couldn't detect him at all.
Using the Ephemeral Technique to ambush people finally gave him the feeling of being an expert who could move like a ghost, leaving no trace.
Just as he was feeling pleased with himself, Yōkō suddenly sensed a mass of shadow rushing towards him through the underground organic network.
Anyone who could move stealthily through the underground organic network must be a White Zetsu.
Since they both utilized the underground organic network, it seemed White Zetsu could also detect him.
That mass of shadow stopped moving.
However, it was too late. Yōkō released the Cross Seal, unleashing his last bit of chakra, and abruptly accelerated, charging towards the White Zetsu.
The White Zetsu lacked such a burst method and was captured by Yōkō.
After killing this scout White Zetsu, Yōkō quickly sealed the White Zetsu into a scroll.
He could use the White Zetsu corpse, offering it to Orochimaru or the higher-ups in exchange for some benefits.
Carrying Ki's corpse on his back, Yōkō used his contract chakra to notify the Stone Panda, Hakuji.
This time, five Root members and seven Lynx Squad members had died. Danzo was dealt another heavy blow.
Arriving at the Stone Panda clan's bamboo forest, Yōkō tried to use the Ephemeral Technique while carrying the corpse but failed.
It seemed the Ephemeral Technique could only be used on oneself.
Arriving outside the Uzumaki hideout, Yōkō left Ki's corpse for Yuka.
"Yuka, this is the corpse of a Root ninja. He had Danzo's Cursed Tongue Eradication Seal placed on him."
"Try to break Danzo's Cursed Tongue Eradication Seal. It will be very useful for me in weakening Danzo."
Uzumaki Yuka said, "Okay, I understand. I will break this seal as soon as possible."
Yōkō said, "Someone formidable has appeared by Uzumaki Nagato's side. He is being used. Yuka, you must not make contact with Nagato these next few years."
"Don't reveal yourself to him. He is no longer the Nagato of the Uzumaki clan."
"The person behind Uzumaki Nagato is Uchiha Madara, a powerhouse on par with the First Hokage."
"I was completely defeated and almost didn't make it back alive."
Yuka nodded repeatedly.
She felt even more grateful to Fox in her heart.
Fox had actually confronted Uchiha Madara for Uzumaki Nagato's sake, a legendary figure.
"Fox, you must be careful. There's no rush for revenge."
"I know my limits," Yōkō said:
"Yuka, time is tight this time. Others don't know I survived. I need to return to Konoha quickly, otherwise they'll probably erect a tombstone for me."
"So... we only have two days."
"You go deal with the corpse first. I'll be waiting for you in our little cabin!"
When Uzumaki Yuka heard Fox say time was tight, she felt regretful, but then hearing that Fox would be waiting for her in their secret cabin made her heartbeat quicken and her legs go weak.
Meeting with Fox was the only colorful scene in her harsh, gloomy times... a slightly yellowish-colored scene.
Two days later, Yōkō left the Uzumaki hideout and quickly headed in the direction of the Land of Fire.
After entering the Land of Fire, Yōkō encountered the first Konoha outpost fortress.
He went in to learn about the aftermath of the Uzumaki Nagato incident.
The Konoha jōnin at the outpost fortress verified Yōkō's identity and exclaimed repeatedly:
"Fox Jōnin, a few days ago Lord Jiraiya and Squad Leader Lynx passed by here and asked me to keep an eye on intelligence from the Land of Rain."
"They said it was highly likely you had sacrificed yourself covering the retreat. Your Anbu subordinates wanted to return to the Land of Rain to search for you, but Squad Leader Lynx gave a strict order: all Anbu must return to the village first."
"Who would have thought you're actually alive and completely unharmed."
Yōkō said, "My offensive abilities are average, but my defensive abilities are quite good. Killing me isn't that easy."
Confirming that Kika, Jiraiya, and the others had escaped back, Yōkō felt relieved.
After spending another seven days, Yōkō returned to Konoha Village.
The outpost fortress had already sent a message via ninja hawk about Fox being alive back to Konoha Village.
White Ram and Kika were waiting early at the village gate.
Seeing their Squad Leader Fox return safely, their breathing grew heavy.
"Squad Leader! You're back!"
Yōkō said, "It was just a minor scene. Although Uchiha Madara is strong, he's over seventy after all. Who can he actually kill?"
Kika said, "Squad Leader, five Root members and seven Lynx Squad members died. Even though Uchiha Madara is old, he can still kill."
"When we reported back to the higher-ups in the village, you have no idea how panicked the Hokage and Lord Danzo looked."
"Only someone like you, Fox Squad Leader, could come back alive."
White Ram said, "Squad Leader, the various higher-ups want you to go to the Hokage Building immediately. They are already waiting for you there."
"Good, let's go to the Hokage Building first."
They leaped across rooftops, moving quickly.
The Uchiha Security Force members on the streets initially wanted to arrest them, but seeing it was Anbu moving at high speed, they said nothing.
Flight was forbidden in Konoha Village, but the higher-ups and Anbu were exceptions.
Entering the Hokage's office, Yōkō saw quite a few people.
The Third Hokage, Danzo, Mitokado Homura, Yellow Dog, Orochimaru, Jiraiya, and Lynx.
Adding White Ram and Kika, whom Yōkō brought in, the office was somewhat crowded.
The Third Hokage said, "Fox, it's fortunate you returned. The losses this time were heavy enough. Your return is a relief to me."
Yōkō said, "Lord Hokage, Lord Yellow Dog, I specialize in defensive ninjutsu. I was lucky and managed to escape using Earth Release."
Yellow Dog nodded repeatedly.
When he first learned that Fox might have died at the hands of Uchiha Madara, he had been distraught.
Fox was his most capable subordinate; many tasks could only be handled by Fox, others would just be sending themselves to their deaths.
Yellow Dog glanced at the Third Hokage. Even the death of his own father wouldn't have caused him this much pain.
Danzo asked, "Fox, what about the five Root ninja?"
***
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(Chapter End)