Konoha, reported by the Fourth Hokage at the start.

Chapter 113 Sarutobi Tenshin's Determination

"Lord Tsuchikage, look over there."

Suddenly, one of the Iwagakure members next to Ōnoki pointed to the forest to the lower left, where a small part of a huge wing was visible.

Upon hearing this, Onoki looked over and his gaze instantly sharpened.

"Walk."

The four arrived at the spot where the giant eagle's wings were exposed and saw the full appearance of the summoned beast giant eagle: grayish-brown feathers and sharp talons. It was the summoned beast giant eagle that Li Yao had killed.

Because it was too big, the Third Raikage couldn't take the body with him and had to leave it there.

"Lord Tsuchikage is a summoning beast raised by the Daruma family of Kumogakure."

"A member of the Iwagakure Anbu ninja who followed us said in a low voice."

As mortal enemies of Kumogakure, the Iwagakure Anbu were very familiar with the giant eagle, a summoning beast bred by the Kumogakure Daruma family. They immediately recognized the giant eagle that had died underground as a summoning beast bred by the Daruma family.

Upon hearing this, Onoki narrowed his eyes slightly and looked at the Iwagakure Jonin who had rescued his youngest daughter. He asked, "Iwakatsu, is that the giant eagle that the Third Raikage rode in?"

The Jonin named Iwagakure, named Iwakatsu, was the captain of the border patrol team that first arrived in the small town in the Land of Earth and discovered that the Third Tsuchikage Onoki's youngest daughter had been kidnapped.

He stepped forward and took a closer look. After making sure he wasn't mistaken, he turned back to Onoki and nodded, saying, "Lord Tsuchikage, it's the giant eagle that the Third Raikage and his group rode back then."

"And the forest here..."

Upon hearing this, Onoki's heart sank. He knew who the Third Raikage was chasing, and that was why his most beloved youngest daughter had suffered such severe injuries and almost died.

If it weren't for Iwakatsu, who was chasing after Li Yao, having just witnessed the battle between the Third Raikage and Li Yao in the distance through his binoculars and saving his precious daughter who had fallen into the sea and was still breathing, he would have been saved.

Then his precious daughter...

"Can you sense Li Yao's chakra?"

Pulling himself back to reality, the Third Hokage's gaze sharpened, and he turned to ask the Anbu ninja.

Even if Li Yao possesses Wood Release, so what? He's no longer the Onoki who was paralyzed with fear by Madara Uchiha back then.

No matter who it is, whether it's the Third Raikage or Li Yao who knows Wood Release.

He will not let anyone who dares to hurt his precious daughter get away with it.

"Lord Tsuchikage, we can no longer sense Li Yao's chakra, but we have found the chakra traces in the direction the Third Raikage left."

An Iwagakure member came from the right. He had just come down and had been checking the surroundings. He was not familiar with Li Yao's chakra, and since Li Yao could fly, it would be difficult to track him using chakra traces.

The Third Raikage, however, made no attempt to conceal his tracks when he left, heading towards the Sea of ​​War while in Lightning Release Chakra Mode.

"Chase."

Without saying a word, Onoki immediately flew into the sky and followed the trail left by the Third Raikage.

Following the previous logic, the Third Raikage should be chasing Li Yao. Once the Third Raikage is found, the culprit behind all this will naturally be found – Li Yao.

at this time.

The culprit mentioned by Onoki, Li Yao, flew over a mountain range in the Land of Earth and could no longer suppress the pressure points within his body.

He quickly dispersed the last shadow clone, recalled the Black Iron Giant Eagle, and then landed on the mountain below. He randomly found a cave, sat down, and focused all his energy on controlling the chakra in his acupoints to restrain the aura that was constantly leaking out of the acupoint space.

At this moment, seven kilometers above the cave, a large, ink-wash-like bird is watching this place.

"Are we really going to do it now?"

Sarutobi Ayase looked at her husband with concern and said softly, "Why don't we wait for Father's backup plan?"

"You saw it too."

Sarutobi Tenjuro turned to look at his wife, his eyes flashing back to the scene of a forest tens of meters high suddenly rising from the ground. His voice trembled as he said, "Li Yao's Wood Release... that monster's Wood Release... his body is only twelve years old. If we wait any longer, we'll be facing the God of Shinobi, not some Li Yao!"

"..." Thinking of the Wood Release technique that Li Yao had demonstrated in the valley, Sarutobi Ayase also fell silent.

However, she still felt that dealing with Li Yao now was too dangerous and not safe.

If Li Yao's soul leaves and possesses someone else, the plan to seal Li Yao will be indefinitely delayed unless Li Yao is found again.

But finding a Li Yao who possesses another's body is no easy task.

The fact that the Third Hokage has been investigating for years without finding the identity of the person who possessed Kimura Yao is a testament to this.

After Li Yao possesses another person's body, it is very difficult for anyone to notice.

If it weren't for Minato Namikaze, who happened to be there with his special chakra perception ability, Konoha wouldn't have been able to tell that Kimura Yo had been possessed.

Therefore, the safest approach is to refrain from making any rash moves and wait for the Third Hokage's contingency plan.

Thinking of this, in order to dispel her husband's concerns about making a move now, she continued, "Perhaps this is just the power that Li Yao possesses when he unleashes his secret technique; his Wood Release isn't actually that powerful."

"No, you're mistaken." Sarutobi Tenjuro shook his head and said, "The fact that he can unleash such a terrifying Wood Release technique after using his secret technique means that his Wood Release will definitely reach this level in the future."

"But……"

"No buts. Li Yao must be sealed now. Even if we can't seal him, we must make him give up this body."

Sarutobi Tenjuro's eyes were resolute. No matter what, he couldn't let Li Yao continue to possess this body that would allow him to unleash the perfect Wood Release in the future.

Of course, we can't let this body fall into the hands of the Third Raikage.

This is also why Sarutobi Tenjuro didn't tell the Third Raikage, Li Yaoxing, whereabouts.

The potential of Wood Release in Li Yao's body is terrifying.

God knows the shock he felt when he saw a forest two kilometers in diameter suddenly rise from the valley floor.

The Third Raikage was unaware of Li Yao's situation and assumed that Li Yao had undergone fusion with the First Hokage's Wood Release cells since childhood, which was why he possessed such powerful Wood Release.

However, as a member of the Anbu, he had also participated in the Wood Release revival plan back then. He knew very well that Li Yao's ability to possess such powerful Wood Release in just two or three years indicated that his body adapted to the First Hokage's cells very quickly.

And... it's all that old bastard Danzo's fault!

Considering that Li Yao fused with the original cell fluid of the First Hokage without any weakening treatment, theoretically Li Yao could reproduce the power of the First Hokage's peak Wood Release.

Thinking of this, Sarutobi Tenjuro couldn't help but curse Danzo, that old bastard who had always held his father back, in his heart.

Why use something so complicated? Why insist on using the original cell stock solution for experiments?

Now things are fine, Li Yao's current body is integrating Wood Release cells too quickly.

If they continue to wait, even if his father has a powerful backup plan, all his efforts will be in vain against Li Yao, who possesses Wood Release techniques comparable to the First Hokage.

Back then, the First Hokage was able to quell the chaos of the world with his Wood Release. What powerful ninjutsu hadn't he seen? In the end, who could possibly defeat him?

Faced with the terrifying wide-range attack of the Tree World Descent, even the strongest ninjas, like the Third Raikage, were exhausted and unable to get close to Li Yao.

If we wait any longer, and Li Yao develops the Wood Man and Wood Dragon Technique, then the God of Shinobi will truly return to the world, and Konoha and even the entire ninja world will be destroyed by Li Yao.

Because at that time, the entire ninja world combined was no match for Li Yao.

This is the terrifying power of peak Wood Release, possessing the terrifying power to sweep across the world.

Sarutobi Tenjuro would never allow such a future to occur.

"But... Li Yao, he..."

Sarutobi Ayase understood the reasoning, but she still wanted to say that Li Yao had unknown methods, and it would be too risky for them to take action directly.

However, Sarutobi Tenjuro had already made up his mind to die.

(End of this chapter)