Konoha, reported by the Fourth Hokage at the start.

Chapter 93 The Raikage is on the move, Madara's gaze

"Boss, this is intelligence from the underground bounty operation."

Not long after the sealing squad leader left, an ANBU ninja came in and handed over a communication scroll.

The Third Raikage's secretary, with her round, large buttocks swaying, took the communication scroll from the Anbu's hand and placed it on the Third Raikage's desk.

The Third Raikage opened the scroll and looked.

"Li Yao..."

"The art of immortality... Ha!"

The Third Raikage scoffed at the intelligence report about the technique of immortality. He didn't believe in such a thing; it was clearly just a ploy to attract attention.

However... you can check it out.

The Third Raikage didn't believe in immortality, but Li Yao managed to escape from Konoha... wait, Li Yao escaped from Konoha!!

Realizing what was happening, the Third Raikage frowned, recalling the intelligence sent by the delegation that had previously visited Konoha.

On the night they kidnapped Kushina, a brief but extremely large battle took place outside Konoha.

The two sides in the battle were Mito Uzumaki, the current Nine-Tails Jinchuriki and one of the strongest ninjas in the world, and an unknown ninja who used a black chakra chain sealing technique similar to the Uzumaki clan's Adamantine Sealing Technique.

Intelligence indicates that the ninja wielding the black chakra chains was able to briefly hold his own against Mito Uzumaki, who had activated the full-power Adamantine Sealing Technique, suggesting that she possessed sealing techniques no less powerful than, or even stronger than, those of the next Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, Kushina.

The intelligence from the underground bounty office did not mention that Li Yao would use a black chakra sealing technique, but only that Li Yao would use a flying ninjutsu that involves condensing chakra into a giant eagle.

"It's all black chakra... Heh!"

"It seems the information was deliberately leaked by Konoha. What is their purpose?"

The Third Raikage pondered for a moment, then shook his head. Never mind, whatever the reason.

It is now confirmed that Li Yao is the ninja who can use the Black Chakra Chain Sealing Technique.

As long as this is confirmed, that's fine.

The original reason for capturing Kushina was that the girl possessed the Adamantine Sealing Chakra of the Uzumaki clan, which could help Kumogakure research similar sealing techniques and develop a perfect sealing technique to seal the tailed beasts.

Unfortunately, Shinobu was eventually taken back by Konoha.

Now, a glimmer of hope has appeared: a black-clad, even stronger than Kushina, locks down a ninja. The Third Raikage instantly made a decision.

This time, he will personally lead the team to capture that ninja named Li Yao, ensuring that nothing goes wrong.

……

When the Third Raikage decided to personally capture Li Yao.

A certain place in the Land of Grass, located between the Land of Fire and the Land of Earth.

In a secluded cave chamber, under the dim candlelight, an old man sat leaning against a stone seat, his head bowed. Even though his long hair was already gray, his hairstyle was still unconventional, standing up as if he had applied hair gel.

The old man simply sat there quietly, like an emperor unwilling to die on his throne, exuding an aura of authority without anger.

Suddenly, the old man, who had been motionless, slowly raised his head, and a pair of scarlet Sharingan eyes appeared on his face.

Just then, two white men, their bodies seemingly made of solidified latex, emerged from the floor of the secret room.

"Madara-sama!"

"Madara-sama!"

"I know what the urge to poop smells like..."

"Shut up!"

The White Zetsu with swirling patterns on his face danced around excitedly, exaggerating the smell of needing to defecate in a playful, childlike tone, only to be glared at by the other White Zetsu with a spiky protrusion.

Then, Madara, who had just woken up, suddenly said, "Lord Madara, you've finally woken up. During your slumber, a major event occurred in the ninja world."

"Let me tell you..."

Before the White Zetsu could finish speaking, the vortex-faced White Zetsu interrupted, chattering on about the battle that took place outside Konoha the night Li Yao escaped, as well as some information about Li Yao afterwards.

The old man, Madara Uchiha, rubbed his temples. The words spoken by the vortex-faced White Zetsu were incoherent, but he still understood the general idea.

A ninja named Li Yao escaped from Konoha.

This ninja named Li Yao possesses Hashirama's power—Wood Release chakra.

Secondly, this ninja named Li Yao also possesses a powerful sealing technique comparable to Mito Uzumaki's: a black chakra chain.

Finally, the information from the underground bounty agency revealed that Li Yao possesses a ninjutsu that can grant immortality.

"Wood Release chakra?"

Madara Uchiha paid no attention to the other two pieces of information. Faced with absolute power, sealing techniques could only bully tailed beasts. As for the technique of immortality... heh, after awakening the Rinnegan that controls life and death, Madara had seen through the boundaries of life and death. He did not believe that any ninjutsu could compare to the immortality granted by the Rinnegan.

The immortality technique that Li Yao possessed was most likely a hoax, but Madara didn't care.

However, Madara was somewhat concerned about why Li Yao possessed Wood Release chakra.

"Tell me in detail what happened that night."

Madara pointed at White Zetsu, while simultaneously giving White Zetsu a look that said, "Don't cause trouble."

The vortex-faced White Zetsu immediately shut up and suddenly recounted in detail the events of the night Li Yao escaped from Konoha.

Konoha has always been a key target of White Zetsu's surveillance, or rather, the Uchiha clan within Konoha is a key target of White Zetsu's surveillance.

However, because of Mito Uzumaki's special ability to sense malice, White Zetsu dared not get too close to Konoha.

On the night Li Yao escaped, he only watched the battle between Li Yao and Mito Uzumaki from a distance.

After Li Yao escaped from Konoha, he created a clone to follow him. When Li Yao used Wood Release chakra to heal his injuries, he sensed the Wood Release chakra within Li Yao's body.

White Zetsu was created using Hashirama's cells, the Rinnegan, and the Gedo Mazo. Not only are they born with the ability to use Wood Release, but they can also merge with the earth and trees, becoming a part of nature.

Li Yao's special chakra perception ability allowed him to detect the White Zetsu's whereabouts from beginning to end; it was this ability to become one with nature.

It could even be said that, apart from Mito Uzumaki, who could sense malice, no one in the entire ninja world could detect the White Zetsu hidden underground.

With this ability, White Zetsu naturally has very sharp senses, especially for Wood Release chakra.

He sensed Li Yao using Wood Release chakra to heal his injuries.

"After Li Yao went to sea, I didn't know anything," Sudden White Zetsu said finally.

Their senses are only acute on land; at sea, due to the isolation of the ocean, their senses are very weak, or even almost nonexistent.

"Tobirama, it seems someone in Konoha has inherited your ruthless methods!"

After listening to White Zetsu's detailed account, Madara sighed softly.

Throughout his journey, Li Yao's interactions with the Konoha ninjas, especially his suppressed excitement at wanting to devour the female ninja, led Madara to conclude that the Wood Release technique within Li Yao was a product of Hashirama's cell transplantation experiment.

Madara had only ever witnessed such insane experiments with Tobirama. He never imagined that someone in Konoha would be so crazy.

But this is for the best!

Ban smiled inwardly and said to Bai Jue, "Find that brat named Li Yao and bring him back when necessary."

Madara wasn't really bothered by the powerful sealing techniques and Wood Release chakra. After awakening the Rinnegan, his strength had completely surpassed that of Hashirama at his peak.

Adding one more Hashirama cell clone would at most result in a whitening effect, so freckles wouldn't matter.

However, the hatred that Li Yao showed towards Konoha bothered him a lot.

The vessel for the Rinnegan not only requires a vast amount of chakra to nourish it, but also intense hatred.

Li Yao's intense hatred, combined with his Wood Release chakra, made him a perfect vessel for the Rinnegan.

Unfortunately, he had already transplanted the Rinnegan to Nagato Uzumaki and made corresponding arrangements, which filled Nagato's heart with hatred.

However, it is necessary to consider this further.

Li Yao could serve as a potential vessel for the Rinnegan in the event of an accident involving Nagato.

Therefore, he needs Li Yao to live.

"Understood, Lord Ban, I will not let Li Yao die."

Bai Jue clearly understood Bai Zi's meaning and nodded, assuring Li Yao that he would save him at the crucial moment.

Based on the information about Li Yao circulating in the ninja world at present.

As seasoned schemers, Jue and Ban immediately realized that a deadly scheme targeting Li Yao was inevitable in the future.

All they need to do is save Li Yao at the crucial moment; they don't need to interfere with anything else, nor should they. It's not the time for them to make their move yet.

(End of this chapter)