Naruto: Nara's skill set is incredibly sneaky.

After leaving Hoshigakure.

Lu Shi and Kurama once again embarked on their journey to the temple of the Six Paths Immortal.

"Kurama, do you think if I find a large amount of Yin Release chakra, combined with the Yang Release chakra I have now, I'll have enough?" Shikatoki asked casually.

Nine-Lama rolled his eyes.

"The Ten-Tails' chakra is different from the others; it must find a source of the same kind to achieve perfect fusion."

"You tailed beasts are such a nuisance!" Shikatoki sighed.

"Hey! I've gone to such lengths to help you, and you still complain that I'm a burden?" Nine-Tailed Fox immediately protested, "You have to make it up to me with a good meal tonight."

"Alright, alright, if we can get to town today."

"Then what are you waiting for? Come with me!"

Nine Lamas immediately darted out.

Deer had no choice but to follow closely behind.

A moment later, the two arrived at a city of moderate size.

"I sensed it, there's even a hot spring here!" Nine-Lama said proudly.

"Alright, then relax a bit."

Upon arriving at the hot spring resort, Lu Shi requested a private room.

Before I even stepped inside, a hoarse voice rang out, "Lu Shi-kun, you don't mind if I come along, do you?"

Shika was taken aback. "Orochimaru?"

"Long time no see, Shikatoshi-kun."

Inside the hot spring.

Shikatoki and Orochimaru sat facing each other.

"Why aren't you researching things in Konoha? What are you doing here?" Shikatoki asked curiously.

Orochimaru smiled slightly, "I came here specifically to find Shikatoki-kun."

How did you find me?

"I never expected that Shikatoshi-kun had signed a spirit contract with Ryuchi-dong."

After Orochimaru said that, Shikatoki understood.

In order to train Bai Si, Shika often summoned this little guy, or rather, he could no longer be called a little guy.

Bai Si has grown quite a bit.

"I see. So, what did you want to see me about?"

"Wood Release!"

Orochimaru spoke frankly.

Shika paused, his brow furrowing slightly. "Shimura Danzo is looking for you again?"

"Not only Danzo Shimura, but also our teacher."

Orochimaru's voice sounded somewhat tired.

Orochimaru now would never agree to anything that was merely Danzo Shimura's request.

The problem is that Hiruzen Sarutobi also sought out Orochimaru.

"Sandaime?"

Shikatoki truly didn't expect Hiruzen Sarutobi to end up in this situation.

In the original work, he always remained hidden in the shadows, and he mostly tacitly accepted the blame, shifting the main responsibility to Danzo.

"My teacher specifically sought me out, hoping I would begin researching Wood Release."

"What's the reason?"

Lu scratched his head.

Logically speaking, it's normal for Danzo to crave Wood Release, but the Third Hokage shouldn't have had such a strong desire at this point in time.

"Two reasons."

"First, the Senju clan agreed to participate in the experiment."

"Secondly, intelligence from the Land of Rain indicates evidence of Wood Release being used there!"

Upon hearing this, Lu Shi immediately understood.

"Perhaps the latter is the key?"

"That's right. The First Hokage's Wood Release suddenly appeared outside. Someone who doesn't belong to Konoha can actually use Wood Release. Neither Konoha nor the Senju clan can accept this."

Orochimaru's statement is also correct.

Don't be fooled by Hiruzen Sarutobi's current position at the Ninja Academy, where he boasts of being the strongest Hokage.

But he had personally witnessed Hashirama Senju's Wood Release prowess.

As the saying goes, it's okay to fool others, but don't fool yourself too.

Back in the day, the First Hokage was invincible with his Wood Release technique.

Since Hashirama Senju's death, Wood Release has never appeared again.

Since no one has any issues, things will definitely be peaceful.

Then suddenly, someone appeared who could use Wood Release, and Hiruzen Sarutobi definitely couldn't sit still.

However, judging from Orochimaru's information...

Hanzo must have hidden information; Konoha has only obtained very limited intelligence.

"So what's the point of you coming to see me?" Lu Shi asked, puzzled.

"I'd like to hear Shikatoki-kun's opinion. Should I get involved in the Wood Release matter?"

"You won't interfere just because I tell you not to?"

"Of course! There's still a lot I haven't fully figured out about the topic Shikatoshi gave me last time! I just want to know if Wood Release is worth studying!" Orochimaru's eyes were full of fervor.

Lu Shi finally understood.

Orochimaru doesn't listen to him.

I just don't want to waste time.

"No need for further research, I can tell you directly that the fusion of Water Release and Earth Release is the origin of Wood Release."

Orochimaru's eyes lit up. "Shikatoki-kun really knows."

"Then why not do research?"

"It's because Hashirama Senju is strong, not because of Wood Release! Or rather, Wood Release only seems so strong because of Hashirama Senju."

"To put it bluntly, if Hashirama Senju used Ice Release, then what you're researching now is Ice Release."

"The real strength wasn't in Wood Release, but in Hashirama Senju himself!"

After hearing what Shikatoki said, Orochimaru fell into deep thought.

The deer are happy to have some peace and quiet.

In the original story, Konoha spent so much manpower and resources, only to end up creating Yamato.

Wood Release can be used.

However, its power is only about 20% of that of Hashirama Senju.

Shikata still remembers that joke: "The First Hokage used Wood Release to conquer the world, while Yamato used Wood Release to do landscaping."

"I understand about Wood Release. I have another mission with me this time. I wonder if Shikatoki-kun knows about the people in the Land of Rain who use Wood Release?"

Shika glanced at Orochimaru speechlessly.

"You don't want to put in any effort yourself! But I actually do know that! But believe me, you don't want to know!"

"However, that person who uses Wood Release won't reappear anytime soon."

Orochimaru was a smart man and didn't hesitate.

"In that case, that's fine. My mission is complete, so I'll head back to Konoha now."

Orochimaru got up and left, and Kurama slowly swam over.

Why didn't you tell Konoha about Madara Uchiha?

"What good would it do to tell them?"

"Let's unite and defeat Uchiha Madara!" Kurama replied with some anticipation.

"Forget it, if the news that Madara Uchiha is still alive gets back, the Uchiha clan will definitely be in an uproar. At that point, the radical faction of the Uchiha might even turn against them."

"Besides, you expect Hiruzen Sarutobi and Danzo Shimura to defeat Madara Uchiha? Those two have witnessed Madara's strength firsthand. Don't be fooled by their boasts; they'd be the first to run away when they see Madara!"

If Minato Namikaze were in power now...

Shika will definitely have a good talk with Minato.

Let's forget about Hiruzen Sarutobi and Danzo Shimura.

"Yeah, your current Hokage is always bragging and promoting the Will of Fire. I'm tired of hearing it."

"Haha, you know that's good."

After relaxing in the hot springs, the man and his beast set off again, their destination being the Land of Lightning, near the Hidden Cloud Village.

"The Sage of Six Paths really knows how to choose a location for his temple. It's too close to Kumogakure. If things go wrong, we'll become a prime target again." Shika glanced at the Kumogakure sealing barrier in the distance.

This distance is the distance of two teleportations.

"Get this straight, the old man came first, and they built the Hidden Cloud Village later," Kurama said irritably.

"Okay, okay, see if you have any."

Nine Lama calmed down.

After a moment, Nine Lamas shook his head.

There is no sign of life here.

"Alright, that'll save us from lingering in Kumogakure. Let's go."

Lu Shi was just about to turn around and leave.

A sense of danger crept in from behind.

Kurama raised his vertical pupils, "Tailed Beast Ball!"

As the deer turned around, a huge tailed beast ball came hurtling towards it.

"What the hell?! I didn't do anything?! The Cloud Village just blasted me with a Tailed Beast Ball?!" Shikatoki instantly activated Sage Mode, stretched out his right hand, and a large number of black chains shot out from behind him.

As the chains coiled, the Tailed Beast Ball gradually came to a stop.

"What do we do now?" Lu Shi asked, looking at Nine Lamas.

Kurama yawned. "Judging from the power of this Tailed Beast Ball, it must be the Eight-Tails going berserk."

"I'm asking you what to do! This place is too close to Kumogakure. If it explodes here, something terrible will happen." Shikatoki could actually just turn around and leave, but that Tailed Beast Ball would explode inside Kumogakure.

Besides ninjas, there were also many civilians there. If you let Shika do nothing, that would be a disservice to nine years of compulsory education.

"I directly used the Ten-Tails' chakra to absorb the Yang Release chakra inside. The Tailed Beast Ball is essentially a combination of Yin and Yang Release chakra. Without the Yang Release chakra, it lost its support and naturally wouldn't explode. It dissipated in a short while."

Lu Shi was somewhat uncertain upon hearing this.

After all, he had already used the Ten-Tails' chakra as a template, so how could he still absorb it?

"I'll give it a try."