Both time-traveled characters ended up as villainous henchmen.

Since Danzo returned the Izumi family's ancestral home and original properties to Izumi Nen, the two sides have established a preliminary connection.

However, Izumi Nen later looked down on the meager benefits offered by Root, so he never took the initiative to contact Danzo.

Danzo also wanted to use the power of Root to make Izumi Nen work for him, but Orochimaru was in the way.

The small movements at the root had no effect whatsoever.

Even when Izumi Nen was lured with offers of benefits, he didn't take the bait.

The main principle is: if you give me benefits, I'll take them; if you don't, I'll just listen, but I won't do anything.

With Orochimaru's backing, Izumi Nen could do these things with complete confidence.

Originally, Danzo, seeing that he could not get Izumi Nen under his control, temporarily gave up his plan to continue trying to win Izumi Nen over.

As a result, Izumi Nen quietly pulled off a big move.

Although Danzo didn't know exactly what Izumi Nen had done, the secrecy surrounding the news often indicated something.

Izumi Nen probably really did something extraordinary, otherwise the Root wouldn't be unable to detect accurate information.

What Danzo found most unacceptable was that Izumi Nen was now openly Hiruzen Sarutobi's man.

When the final research results are published, Hiruzen Sarutobi's reputation will surely rise even further.

This is definitely not the result Danzo hoped to see.

"Izumi Nen, I hope you can make the right choice. Konoha can only become stronger in my hands."

Danzo looked up and gazed in the direction of the second stage of the Chunin Exams, muttering to himself.

A small child shouldn't easily get rid of the roots.

……

After a short break, the group assignments for the second round of the Chunin Exams were completed.

The rules remain the same: a survival drill involving grabbing the reel.

Izumi Nen had little interest in this; his mind was now preoccupied with choosing a safe location to complete the construction of his Yin-Yang Sealing Technique.

Even though there were many ninjas around, especially the two Uchiha who had awakened their Sharingan during the first written test, they all targeted him because he was alone.

Faced with such undisguised ferocity, Izumi Nen merely glanced at the eyes of the two Uchiha, silently assessing in his mind which one's eyes were more suitable to be gouged out.

They all seem to be at the level of one magatama, not very valuable.

Izumi Nen couldn't help but show a hint of disgust on his face.

This scene was witnessed by the other party, and as a result, the eyes of the two Uchiha turned red.

Seeing this, the supervising teacher coughed lightly, briefly controlled the atmosphere, and then announced the start of the second assessment.

The genin entered the training ground in batches and quickly disappeared completely into this training ground filled with a wild and primitive atmosphere.

Upon entering this primeval forest, Izumi Nen sensed a slight change in his immortal body.

Clearly, the concentration of natural energy in the exercise area is far greater than that in the outside world.

It's even possible that these unusually large trees in the forest training grounds of Konoha Village are traces left by the First Hokage, Hashirama Senju, using his Wood Release ninjutsu.

Hashirama Senju also possessed the Sage Body.

Thinking of this, Izumi Nen was no longer in a hurry to find other genin to rob the scrolls. Instead, he directly followed the senses of the Sage Body and found the largest and most vital tree in the vicinity.

After landing on the thick tree trunk, Izumi Nen found a comfortable spot to sit cross-legged. Then, he formed hand seals, released the Netherwater Yin Release, and controlled the streams of Netherwater that he created to slowly spread and erode the giant tree beneath him.

Faced with the erosion of the Netherwater, even though this giant tree has extremely strong vitality, it is completely unable to resist the Netherwater Yin Release Chakra, which is a higher-level energy form.

In just a few breaths, Izumi Nen successfully used his Dark Water Yin Release to control the vital point of the giant tree beneath him.

At the same time, he also sensed an extremely abundant life force.

Within this abundant vitality, he also sensed another familiar force—natural energy.

However, the natural energy accumulated within the giant tree is far too little compared to its enormous size.

The total amount of natural energy accumulated within this giant tree is roughly equivalent to the amount contained within a Ryuchi Cave serpent, as thick as an adult's arm, which Izumi Nen summoned.

Plants are inherently less spiritual than animals, let alone spirit beasts from the three sacred sites, so this phenomenon is normal.

Izumi Nen didn't pay too much attention to this. After briefly sensing it, he controlled the Netherwater Yin Release and extracted about one-third of the life force and natural energy from the giant tree beneath him.

As the more agile and active Yin Release chakra returned to his body, Izumi Nen was able to clearly perceive the subtle changes in his own body.

Aside from the significantly increased amount of Yin Release chakra in his blood, he seemed to have developed a special hierarchical connection with the giant tree beneath him.

He seemed to have gained control of the giant tree beneath him for a short time through the residual effects of the Yin Water Escape.

"Indeed, sometimes being too spiritual can be an advantage."

Izumi Nen only needed a moment to think before he understood the reason.

The Netherworld Water Yin Escape technique inherently possesses a powerful control over liquid substances. Furthermore, because the trees have very low spirituality, after their sap is corroded, the technique also indirectly gains control over the trees.

Logically, this method of control should also be able to affect animals. However, animals are more spiritual, so the simple Yin Water Escape technique is difficult to completely control and requires a more advanced method of application.

A vague idea of ​​a control-type ninjutsu, called Dark Water Release, was forming in Izumi Nen's mind.

"Unfortunately, it's still not as simple and direct as illusion techniques like eye magic."

However, if he continues to absorb the life force and natural energy from the trees, and with the help of his own evolutionary power, he might be able to bypass Earth Release and directly obtain Wood Release.

After temporarily suppressing his rough ideas, Izumi Nen got up and began searching for traces of the other genin.

He needs to collect all the scrolls for the race as soon as possible before he can begin practicing his Yin-Yang Sealing Technique.

To his surprise, not long after he began his search, he sensed a squad of genin heading straight towards him.

It didn't seem like they were just passing by by chance, nor did it seem like they were specifically there to steal the reel; it seemed more like they came as a group to deliver it.

This slightly unusual action made Izumi Nen stop in his tracks and actively increase his perception in the direction of this small group.

A moment later, Izumi Nen looked dazed.

He stopped hiding himself and walked out, waiting in the same spot.

About five minutes later, the three genin from the squad appeared in front of him.

These are three children around twelve or thirteen years old, and their behavior after their appearance showed obvious signs of strict training.

None of the three showed much emotion on their faces, only a deathly silence and strict obedience to orders.

Clearly, these three are already qualified ninjas at such a young age.

The only place in Konoha Village capable of training young ninjas to this level is Root.

"Tell me, what message did Danzo send you with?"

Izumi Nen directly pointed out the purpose of the three genin, speaking calmly.