I'm retrieving corpses in Konoha.

Just then, a group of ninjas dressed in ANBU uniforms and wearing masks rushed towards them from a distance.

The three men spotted the secret service team when they were still far away.

Scorpion knew that today's mission was doomed to fail.

Ironically, they didn't even get to see their target before this madman ruined their plans halfway there.

"Hmph, Senju Kamima, is it? Very well!"

Scorpion said fiercely, then gave Pipa Juzo a wink.

Pipa Juzo immediately understood, formed hand seals, and shouted, "Hidden Mist Technique!"

Instantly, a thick fog filled the forest.

The figures of Pipa Juzo and Sasori also disappeared.

"Two prey, still trying to leave?"

Uchiha Natsu's wood clone snorted coldly, then slammed his right hand against the tree trunk beside him.

"Wood Release Technique!"

This is the basic ability of Wood Release ninjutsu. As long as you channel Wood Release chakra into the trees or the ground around you, you can control the trees.

However, this simple Wood Release technique is not as powerful as the Great Forest Technique.

However, this is exactly the kind of time that comes in handy.

Suddenly, the large tree next to Uchiha Natsuki's clone began to wriggle and eventually transformed into a giant windmill.

Then, the windmill slowly began to rotate, faster and faster.

A strong wind blew up, dispersing the thick fog. Scorpion and Juzo Biwa, who hadn't run far, were now completely exposed.

"That damned guy!"

Scorpion cursed under his breath and turned around with Pipa Juzo.

Once their positions are exposed, they cannot turn their backs to the enemy, otherwise they will most likely be ambushed.

"Ha, it would be so embarrassing to fail here."

Juzo Biwa glanced to his left; four Konoha ANBU members were on their way.

Looking to the right, the huge windmill had stopped.

Scorpion was so angry that he gritted his teeth.

If they fall here, the prestige of the Akatsuki organization will definitely suffer a blow.

He was on an assassination mission, but before he could even see his target, he was ambushed and killed on the way.

If word gets out, fewer employers will be willing to hire members of the Akatsuki.

Most importantly, his reputation as Sasori of the Red Sand will be completely ruined.

He left no fame after his death, but became a joke.

Moreover, he didn't want to die, otherwise he wouldn't have turned his own body into a puppet.

Uchiha Natsu's wood clone ignored the approaching ANBU squad and continued to reach out to Sasori.

"Wood Release: Great Forest Technique!"

The wooden vines reappeared and shot out suddenly at the scorpion.

The scorpion was furious and its tail shot out, colliding violently with the vine.

"Pfft!"

Sparks flew everywhere, and wood chips flew all over the place.

However, Sasori's tail was ultimately no match for Wood Release vines.

When the scorpion realized that its tail was about to give way, it instantly retracted it.

The wooden vines continued to charge towards the scorpion.

"boom!"

Sasori and Juzo Biwa used the Substitution Jutsu to barely dodge the vine attack.

The vines slammed into the ground, the powerful force creating cracks in the earth.

In the distance, the approaching secret service squad suddenly stopped.

Kakashi, the team leader, wore an expression of utter shock beneath his mask.

"Could it be the armor from the root?" Kakashi wondered, uncertain.

However, judging from the Wood Release ninjutsu this person used, its power is not even in the same league as that of Armor.

Just like the difference between adults and children.

"Who exactly is this person?" Kakashi stood still, signaling to his teammates behind him not to approach easily.

He himself instantly activated his Sharingan in his left eye and looked at the Uchiha Natsuki clone standing on the tree.

When Kakashi saw the surging chakra within Uchiha Natsuki's clone, he was even more shocked.

He had never seen such a large amount of chakra before.

It is almost ten times his own.

Kakashi was unaware that this was the amount of chakra remaining after Uchiha Natsu's wood clone had used many wood-style ninjutsu and suffered a huge loss of chakra.

The Wood Clone already possesses half the chakra of the original body; the combined chakra of fifty ordinary Jonin is less than that of a single Wood Clone.

On the big tree.

Uchiha Natsu's wood clone was also constantly sensing the chakra within its body.

The Wood Dragon Technique consumed a terrifying amount of chakra, directly draining a significant portion of his chakra.

However, this may also be related to the fact that he gave it his all.

If we control it and reduce the power a little, we might be able to reduce the consumption of chakra.

Just now, Uchiha Natsu himself felt that the power he used was too exaggerated.

There was no need to use that giant dragon to deal with a puppet.

Thinking this, Uchiha Natsu's wood clone looked at Sasori and Biwa Juzo, who were cautiously retreating.

Then, he formed hand seals and carefully controlled his chakra.

"Wood Release..."

Just then.

Suddenly, the air around Sasori and Juzo Biwa distorted.

Immediately afterwards, a figure completely shrouded in black matter emerged from it.

The figure grabbed Scorpion and Pipa Juzo, and shouted in a gruff voice, "The leader sent me!"

Sasori and Juzo Biwa were initially startled, but upon hearing the shadowy figure's words, they were secretly delighted.

Then, the shadowy figure grabbed the two and disappeared into the distorted vortex.

Uchiha Natsu's wood clone frowned and canceled the ninjutsu.

The dark figure, though completely shrouded in black, looked just like a mud figure covered in mud.

But Uchiha Natsu knew.

That vortex is Obito's Mangekyou Sharingan, Kamui.

Obito usually appears in Konoha as a masked man.

This time, he dressed up like this probably because he didn't want Sasori and Juzo Biwa to see him wearing a mask.

If I'm not mistaken, the thing covering Obito's entire body should be Black Zetsu.

After all, Obito and Zetsu often acted together.

Turning his head, Uchiha Natsu's wood clone looked at the ANBU squad not far away.

Chapter 49 Are you qualified to be my prey?

Kakashi noticed that Uchiha Natsu's shadow clone was looking over, and immediately became alert.

He didn't know who the masked man was, but he was certain that he wasn't a Konoha ninja.

At the very least, Konoha ninjas wouldn't be dressed like this.

Moreover, Kakashi had never heard of any other Wood Release ninjas in Konoha.

The thought that this powerful Wood Release ninja might be from an enemy country made Kakashi's heart sink.

Konoha is already at a disadvantage.

If there are still such powerful individuals in Kumogakure or Iwagakure who haven't made a move, that would definitely not be good news for Konoha.

"Captain, what should we do?"

One of the secret agents asked in a low voice.

Kakashi hesitated for a moment, then glanced at the large area of ​​damaged trees around him.

Then he said, "This person has just been through a major battle and must be exhausted. If we confirm that he is the enemy later, we should try to stall him."

"With such a commotion here, the Third Hokage must have already noticed and will likely arrive soon."

Kakashi believed that now was a perfect opportunity.

If this masked ninja is an enemy, then they must take advantage of his isolation and defeat him beforehand.

By the way, the best app for reading aloud right now is Wildfruit Reading; install the latest version.

To avoid releasing them back onto the battlefield and posing a greater threat.

The other members of the secret service all nodded in agreement.

Apart from Kakashi, everyone in their ANBU squad is at least a Special Jonin.