The Serpent in the Woods Finally Revealed Its True Form

"The next one didn't keep you waiting long."

An unfamiliar voice rang through the woods, and several sealing tags flew out from behind the trees, sticking to the roots by Chiba's feet.

The moment the paper touched the ground, black patterns seeped across its surface, locking the silvery-white roots into the soil.

Three Hidden Grass examinees emerged from ahead. They were the team that had changed their forehead protectors before entering.

The man standing in the middle raised a hand.

"Hand over the Wood Release sample from your right hand, and leave the Heaven Scroll behind."

Chiba looked at his palm.

"Did you plant the mycelium?"

"You deliberately let it follow you?"

"Saved me the trouble of finding you."

The Grass Ninja rolled his wrist.

"The people from Amegakure thought the same."

"They're hanging now."

"Who are you trying to scare?"

"Walk back a little, and you'll see."

The short Hidden Grass ninja beside him leaned closer to the captain.

"Amegakure's tracking water line broke. He might be telling the truth."

"Those three from Amegakure didn't even dare fight head-on. It's not strange that they lost to Wood Release."

The captain took a sealing tube from his clothes.

"We have the Earth Scroll. Do you want it?"

Chiba held out his left hand.

"Give it to me."

"Put your right hand into the sealing array first."

"Open the scroll tube."

"You're not qualified to make demands."

"Then that's the Heaven Scroll."

The other man covered half the sealing tube with his palm.

"What if you guessed wrong?"

"We'll check after the fight."

The Grass Ninja on both sides formed hand seals at the same time, and the sealing tags on the ground advanced along the roots toward Chiba's feet.

Chiba raised his right hand, and golden-green wood patterns lit up