The figure that suddenly appeared startled the Takigakure Anbu ninja, who instinctively looked into the eyeholes of the stranger's mask.
"Uchiha!"
Seeing the Sharingan through the eyeholes, he cried out reflexively.
Just as he was about to close his eyes, retreat, and call for backup, his body froze, and his consciousness sank into an illusion.
Indeed, a second after appearing with the Instant-Kill Eye, Yechen had switched to his Sharingan and brought the man under his control.
Lifting the man's mask revealed a young ninja in his early twenties.
Yechen studied him carefully, then examined his clothing before reading his memories.
But time was tight. He could not afford to linger. If anyone else entered, he would be exposed.
So he read only the man's more important memories.
These included his codename and the coded jutsu formulas needed to pass through certain areas.
Soon, he finished reading the memories. Yechen withdrew his gaze and murmured,
"Black Wolf, huh? Interesting codename."
Then he formed a hand seal, and wood energy surged from his body. The ground beneath his feet trembled faintly as a tentacle-like vine coiled around the Takigakure Anbu ninja's ankle and dragged him underground.
Once someone was ensnared by Wood Release, escaping was difficult. Yechen's Wood Release always bore thorns with a paralyzing effect. The instant they pierced flesh, the victim lost the ability to resist.
Once dragged underground, the man had only one fate: to become nourishment for the earth.
With that done, Yechen transformed into the man's likeness, put on Black Wolf's Anbu mask, and headed for the sealing chamber.
Inside, the sealing ritual was still underway-or rather, they had no choice but to keep it going.
As time passed, the Seven-Tails grew increasingly agitated, forcing them to act to keep it under control.
Previously, the Seven-Tails