Cold-Blooded Counterattack Against Root, Danzō's Vicious Assault at the Hidden Leaf Camp

Danzō's men!

Sosuke's heart instantly sank to the bottom.

He immediately understood everything.

The so-called hold-the-line mission had been a conspiracy from the very beginning.

Danzō, the Third Hokage, and the other higher-ups wanted to use the Rain Ninja Village's hands to completely wipe out the last male of the Senju Clan.

Now that they saw he was still alive, they had sent their own Root operatives to "finish him off."

Once he was taken back to Root, there would be only one outcome.

He would be dissected alive for research into the secrets of the Wood Release bloodline limit.

"They really... think highly of me."

Sosuke remained outwardly calm. He even put on a frail expression, leaning against the tree trunk and coughing violently.

In secret, he had already pushed his chakra to its limit.

He knew that today, one of them would die.

"Surrender without resistance, Senju Sosuke," another Root ninja said coldly. "Resisting will only increase your suffering."

The two leaped down from the trees, one to his left and one to his right, slowly closing in from opposing angles.

Their movements were precise, and their coordination flawless. They were clearly battle-hardened elites.

Sosuke's mind raced.

Killing the Rain ninja earlier had already consumed a considerable amount of chakra.

Facing two Root elites at once, a head-on fight was definitely not the best option.

He had to... kill them in a single strike!

"Cough, cough... My lords, I don't understand what you mean."

As Sosuke played weak, he quietly planted one foot on the soft earth.

The Wood Release chakra within him seeped silently into the ground beneath his feet like a spiderweb.

"The dead do not need to understand."

The Root ninja on the left lost patience. His figure flashed, and the short blade in his hand carved a pale, chilling arc straight for Sosuke's neck.

So fast!

Sosuke's pupils contracted.

Now!

"Wood Release: Hellish Rampage!"

The ground within dozens of meters beneath his feet instantly transformed into a warped forest.

Countless thick roots burst madly from the earth like vicious giant serpents, coiling toward the two Root ninjas.

The charging Root ninja reacted swiftly. He tapped the oncoming roots with the tip of his foot, flipped through the air, and landed steadily on the ground.

But the other Root ninja was half a beat too slow and was instantly bound tightly by several roots, unable to move.

"Seeking death!"

The Root ninja who had dodged the attack flew into a rage, rapidly forming hand seals.

"Wind Release: Vacuum Sphere!"

He took a sharp breath, then spat out several high-pressure wind bullets, slicing apart every root attacking him.

However, at the very instant his vision was obscured by the splinters of severed wood—

A figure appeared before him like a ghost.

It was Sosuke!

"When did—"

The Root ninja was horrified. Just as he tried to retreat, he discovered that his feet had somehow already been entangled by thin roots burrowing up from beneath the ground.

A deathly smile hung on Sosuke's face.

"It's over."

"Wood Release: Thorn Kill Technique!"

Splat!

A massive thorny vine covered in countless spikes burst through the Root ninja's chest, bringing with it a large spray of warm blood.

He looked down at his chest, his eyes filled with shock and confusion.

Until his death, he could not understand why this boy, described in the intelligence report as "mediocre in talent," could use such terrifying Wood Release.

"You..."

He failed to utter his final word before all life left him.

"Bastard!"

The other Root ninja, trapped in place, glared until his eyes nearly split. He frantically circulated his chakra and tore free from the roots around him.

But what he saw was Sosuke's cold face already before him.

"Don't rush. I'll send you down to keep him company."

Sosuke spread his five fingers and pressed them against the man's face.

"Wood Release: Deep Forest Emergence!"

Rumble!

Centered on the two of them, a small primeval forest rose from the earth.

Countless towering trees grew madly, intertwining and tangling together.

The Root ninja could not even let out a scream before he was completely crushed and swallowed by the violently growing trees, turned into nourishment for the forest.

[ Ding! Successfully killed Root Elite x2! ]

[ Reward: Sage Body Development +10%, acquired skill: Chakra Sensing! ]

[ Warning! The host has overused the power of Wood Release. Divine corrosion has intensified, and the body has developed early-stage "lignification" symptoms! ]

The system's voice rang out one after another.

Sosuke panted heavily, seized by an intense sense of exhaustion.

He raised his left arm and saw several distinct, bizarre markings on its skin, like tree bark.

So this was the price?

If I do not produce offspring to share this immense life divinity, I will turn into a tree.

Sosuke's gaze sharpened as he forcibly suppressed his discomfort.

He quickly used Wood Release to completely destroy the corpses of the two Root ninjas, leaving no trace behind.

Then, he used a kunai to cut several wounds into his body and drained his chakra, disguising himself as severely wounded and unconscious after a desperate battle.

Only after finishing all this did he finally relax completely and collapse into the mud and water.

After an unknown amount of time, Sosuke was discovered by a Hidden Leaf patrol squad and brought back to the frontline camp.

He lay in a crude medical tent. Just as he regained a trace of consciousness, the tent flap was violently thrown open.

Shimura Danzō entered with a dark expression, leaning on his cane and escorted by two Root members.

His exposed eye was as sharp as a hawk's, fixed firmly on Sosuke in the sickbed.

"Senju Sosuke."

Danzō's voice was like the cold wind of a graveyard.

"Your entire squad was wiped out, yet you alone returned alive."

"According to Hidden Leaf military law, those who flee in battle are to be executed."

"Now, I suspect that you colluded with the Rain Ninja Village and betrayed your comrades. Come with me to Root for interrogation."

What a vicious accusation.

Sosuke sneered inwardly.

The old dog could not even be bothered to come up with a better excuse.

"Lord Danzō..." Sosuke put on an extremely weak appearance, barely breathing. "I... did not..."

"Whether you did or not is not for you to decide."

Danzō gave him no chance to explain and directly ordered his subordinate beside him.

"Take him away!"

A Root ninja immediately stepped forward, extending a cold hand toward Sosuke's shoulder.

A bone-deep chill flashed in Sosuke's eyes.

He was already prepared to risk lignification and fight Danzō to the death here.

Just as that hand was about to touch his body—

A furious feminine shout suddenly rang out from outside the tent.

"Danzō! Take your filthy hands off my Senju Clan member!"