Konoha, reported by the Fourth Hokage at the start.

Chapter 53 Ape Demon Transformation Technique

"Li Yao, you've been hiding your true identity well. I never expected you to be a member of the Whirlpool Clan."

The third generation wanted to test the waters to see if Li Yao would reveal more details about his identity.

Li Yao was visibly startled upon hearing the Third Hokage's words. Then, noticing that the Third Hokage's gaze was fixed on the black iron chains behind him, he realized that the Third Hokage had assumed that the black iron chains were a sealing technique of the Uzumaki clan's Vajra Sealing Technique, and thus thought he was a member of the Uzumaki clan.

Li Yao smiled but didn't explain.

He glanced up at the completely sealed Four Purple Flame Array barrier and used his chakra sensing ability to perceive it.

As expected, the chakra sensing ability was blocked and did not extend outwards.

A hint of surprise flashed in Li Yao's eyes.

"bump!"

Li Yao frowned. The underground area was also sealed off, and the black iron chains couldn't pass through it.

The purple flame wall appeared to be only a thin layer, but it was exceptionally sturdy and could even burn Li Yao's black iron chain chakra.

Although the burning process consumes very little chakra.

But Li Yao didn't want to expend too much chakra.

Li Yao tried to gather the same barrier chakra to see if he could break through the barrier.

When the black iron lock touched the purple flame wall, he had already sensed the changes in the nature and form of the chakra within it through his chakra perception ability.

He can instantly condense an identical purple flame array of chakra.

"Hmm...it's no use!"

Li Yao was somewhat surprised. Barrier techniques seemed to be different from sealing techniques; copying the same chakra did not allow him to pass through the barrier.

The chakra nature transformation of barrier techniques is slightly different from that of sealing techniques.

The chakra nature transformation of barrier techniques is connected to the caster's mind and has a strong subjective initiative.

Even if Li Yao replicated the exact same barrier technique chakra, it couldn't pass through the barrier technique cast by the user.

This feeling is like a barrier technique also possessing human-like recognition capabilities.

In short, Li Yao only has two options to escape.

One method is to shatter the barrier with overwhelming force.

Secondly, by continuously attacking the barrier, the user's chakra is consumed rapidly. Once the user's chakra is exhausted, they will naturally be unable to maintain the barrier technique.

In this way, Li Yao will be able to escape.

However, Li Yao just tested the Black Iron Chains on the ground, and with his current chakra reserves, he simply couldn't withstand the combined Four Purple Flame Array Barrier Technique cast by four ANBU Jonin under the burning and depletion of the barrier.

Moreover, there were also the Third Hokage and four Anbu Jonin inside the barrier.

They wouldn't give Li Yao time to keep attacking the barrier.

In other words, Li Yao has no way to escape.

"Heh, even at this point, you still think you can escape?"

The Third Hokage sensed Li Yao's movements underground and then mocked him a few times.

The Four Purple Flame Formation is a powerful barrier technique developed to bind the Nine-Tailed Fox; how could a mere Li Yao possibly break it?

Li Yao's fate was already sealed, but when the moment came to kill him, the Third Generation couldn't help but feel greedy.

"You guys go out first," the Third Hokage suddenly said to the four Anbu ninjas inside the barrier.

"Yes, Lord Hokage." The four Anbu ninjas obeyed without hesitation and quickly left.

The four ANBU ninjas maintaining the barrier quickly opened a gap in it, allowing the four ANBU ninjas inside to come out.

Li Yao neither stopped them nor took the opportunity to go out.

This is actually a bit unusual for me, but the third generation didn't notice it.

Soon, only Li Yao and the Third Generation remained inside the barrier.

Inside the barrier was a dense forest, so people outside couldn't see the Third Hokage and Li Yao inside. Plus, this barrier was soundproof.

What the Third Generation and Li Yao were saying inside was completely unknown to the outside world.

However, the four ANBU ninjas who cast the barrier can use it to sense the chakra fluctuations within.

So there's no need to worry about anything unexpected happening in the third generation.

They didn't think anything unexpected would happen in the third generation.

After all, the Third Hokage was the "strongest Hokage in history"!

"Li Yao, if you tell me about the improved spiritification technique, I can let your soul leave."

Inside the barrier, with no one else present, the Third Generation finally succumbed to the temptation of immortality and asked Li Yao about the secrets of the Spirit Transformation Technique.

Upon hearing the words "spiritual transformation technique" again, Li Yao's body trembled involuntarily, and he almost lost control of the dark hatred deep in his eyes.

Everything he experienced began with this spiritual art.

But Li Yao still couldn't recall any information about the Spirit Transformation Technique, and he didn't know anything about it.

Seeing that the third generation still couldn't forget about the art of spirit transformation, Li Yao became curious as well.

What exactly is the Spirit Transformation Technique?

That's why three generations have been so obsessed with him for so long.

"Do you still have any hope?"

The third generation suddenly frowned, and his gaze toward Li Yao became uncertain.

"No, something's not right."

The third generation did not see any panic in Li Yao.

Even though he was bound by the barrier, Li Yao remained calm and composed throughout.

This...is not normal.

The Third Generation quickly considered any suspicious points he might have missed since he first saw Li Yao above the Root Base.

"hehe!"

Li Yao smiled slightly, giving the Third Generation no time to think, and made his move immediately.

Clang clang clang!

Three black iron chains instantly broke through from the ground and appeared in front of the Third Hokage. Once the black iron chains pierced his body, what difference would it make if he was the Third Hokage?

If your chakra is sealed and you can't use it, you'll still be defeated.

However, it is clear that the Third Hokage's strength is far beyond that of an ordinary Jonin.

As the third generation nimbly retreated, he swung his Vajra Ruyi Cudgel, knocking away the black iron chain that had been pulled at him.

"No, no."

"Something must have gone wrong."

While easily dealing with Li Yao's black iron chain attacks, the Third Generation recalled the entire process of chasing Li Yao.

Several attacks were deflected by the Third Hokage's Vajra Ruyi Staff. Li Yao frowned slightly as he carefully sensed the staff that the Ape Demon had transformed into.

"This guy's transformation technique is very special."

"It's as if it has truly turned into a stick, completely unaffected by the black iron chains' binding effect on chakra, and it continues to maintain the shape of a stick."

Generally speaking, when the body is affected, imprisoned, or has its chakra bound by Li Yao's black iron chains, the ninjutsu used will automatically dissipate.

Just like that Nara clan ninja from Root, when he used the Shadow Imitation Technique, his chakra was sealed by his black iron chains, and he immediately lost control of the Shadow Imitation Technique and it dissipated.

The Transformation Technique is a ninjutsu similar to the Shadow Imitation Technique, requiring the user to continuously output chakra to maintain the transformed state.

Logically, the moment Li Yao manipulated the black iron chains to become ethereal and penetrate the Vajra Ruyi Staff, the Vajra Ruyi Staff transformed by the Ape Demon should have reverted to its original form because the chakra was imprisoned and sealed, interrupting the continuous output of chakra.

However, the Monkey King was not affected by the black iron chains' binding effect on his chakra, and could maintain the effect of the transformation technique indefinitely.

It's like the Monkey King has really turned into a stick, and he can maintain the transformation technique without using chakra.

This is no longer a transformation spell; it's more like a metamorphosis spell.

"This is somewhat similar to the perfect transformation technique that Kimura Yo's father has always wanted to develop!"

Li Yao's eyes suddenly lit up. While manipulating the black iron chains to attack the Third Hokage, he carefully sensed the changes in the chakra nature of the Enma's transformation into the Vajra Staff.

He wanted to write it down and study it later.

At this moment, the only difference between the Enma's transformation technique and the perfect transformation technique is that he still has chakra in his body, so he can't hide it.

Otherwise, the ape demon would have transformed into a rod with indestructible hardness.

"Perhaps the key to the perfect transformation technique lies in the Ape Demon."

Li Yao stared intently at the staff in the third generation's hand, which represented the transformation of the ape demon, his eyes burning with fervor, his face filled with infatuation.

Clang clang clang!

Inside the barrier, both the Third Hokage and Li Yao seemed intent on stalling for time.

However, Li Yao could afford to delay, but the third generation could not.

"Forget it, let's just kill them."

After thinking for a while, he still couldn't figure out where the problem was. The Third Generation also realized that it was impossible to get the secret of the Spirit Transformation Technique from Li Yao.

To avoid making the same mistake as Danzo in not killing Li Yao sooner, the Third Hokage stopped holding back and used all his strength.

(End of this chapter)