Chapter 47: Wood Release

Time flowed like water.

A month quickly passed, bringing them to Konoha Year 59.

There were still four years left until Naruto and the others graduated from the ninja academy.

Shishou had returned to his school life once again.

During this month, Shishou spent his days training with Mikoto and the others, acting as a sparring partner to enhance their combat skills.

After witnessing the formidable strength of Orochimaru and Uchiha Itachi,

Uchiha Mikoto, Uchiha Izumi, and Uzuki Yūgao all started training twice as hard.

The former two sought revenge, while Uzuki Yūgao aspired to attain great power.

As for Uzumaki Eri and Karin, Shishou sent them to the Land of Demons to study basic sealing techniques with the priestess, laying the groundwork for learning the Uzumaki clan's advanced sealing techniques in the future.

At the same time, Shishou frequently visited Danzo's Wood Release laboratory, hoping to acquire Wood Release abilities through his chakra bugs.

Shishou estimated that a few more visits might finally awaken his Wood Release.

As for Danzo's experiments,

the old dog was still struggling.

The only strange thing was that Danzo had rarely appeared in the Wood Release laboratory lately.

Perhaps seeing the experiments as futile, he decided to give up.

As for Orochimaru,

Shishou had not received any information. He assumed Orochimaru was still evading Akatsuki's pursuit.

In the short term, Orochimaru likely had little time for Hashirama cell transplantation experiments.

Another month passed, bringing them to March of Konoha Year 59, with nine years remaining until the Fourth Shinobi World War.

After school, Shishou returned home alone.

Today was a small test at the academy, so Shishou didn't use his insect clone.

After setting down his backpack, Shishou used the Flying Thunder God Technique to disappear from sight.

The Forest of Death.

Inside Danzo's laboratory.

As if entering his own backyard, Shishou used the Flying Thunder God to arrive at the place where experiment corpses were stored.

"Today's haul is a bit small."

Looking at the fewer corpses than usual, Shishou muttered to himself and began releasing his chakra bugs.

Devour, rejuvenate, and leave.

Shishou then moved to the center of the laboratory, patiently searching.

Shishou had placed dormant chakra bugs on all the personnel responsible for this laboratory. If any of them got close, he would be alerted, so he wasn't worried about being discovered.

Since his Wood Release was almost awakened, Shishou set his sights on Yamato, planning to acquire some Wood Release jutsu and training methods from him.

Of course, if he couldn't find Yamato, he would settle for any Wood Release jutsu documents.

However, after searching around, Shishou found neither Yamato nor any Wood Release jutsu documents.

"Looks like Yamato isn't in this lab."

Thinking this, Shishou disappeared again.

Outside the main gate of the Root headquarters.

In a secluded corner.

Shishou's figure appeared instantly.

He had already mapped out all of Root's bases and the headquarters location in Konoha but had refrained from investigating to avoid alerting Danzo.

Because Danzo had Shisui's Kotoamatsukami.

Shishou avoided interacting with him.

After all, Kotoamatsukami was considered the strongest genjutsu.

Even if Danzo couldn't fully utilize its power,

it was still extremely terrifying.

Shishou disguised his chakra bugs as ordinary moths and began maneuvering them towards the gate.

"Hmm?"

"The smell of blood."

As soon as the moths approached the gate, Shishou sensed something wrong.

"Is that Orochimaru?"

"What is he doing here?"

"Wait, he seems to be carrying Yamato..."

Just as Shishou noticed something was off, a figure quickly ran out from the gate, and it was none other than Orochimaru.

Orochimaru was holding an unconscious Yamato.

Damn, a plant.

You're taking the real Yamato; how am I supposed to awaken my Wood Release with just clones...

Shishou didn't hesitate and prepared to follow Orochimaru.

However, as he was about to move, a dozen more figures rushed out of the gate, forcing him to remain hidden.

"Get him!"

Danzo, looking grim, led the charge using the Body Flicker Technique to pursue Orochimaru.

Damn, another plant.

Orochimaru's ability to cause trouble is astounding.

Just recently, Shishou had informed him that Danzo had hidden his experimental subjects, and now he was here to reclaim them.

After Danzo and his men left, Shishou trailed them from a distance, hoping to see if there were any scraps to pick up.

If Orochimaru summoned more creatures, it would be even better.

His chakra bugs would have more food.

In the forest outside Konoha,

Orochimaru was surrounded by Danzo's Root members.

"Danzo-sama, what do you mean by this?"

Holding Yamato, Orochimaru feigned ignorance, smiling at Danzo.

"Orochimaru, you can take Yamato."

"But you must agree to one condition."

Danzo squinted at Orochimaru, a thought forming in his mind.

"Oh?"

"What is it, Danzo-sama?"

"The cloning technology..."

"Alright, I agree."

...

Meanwhile,

Shishou, observing from a distance, muttered to himself:

"Those two didn't fight."

Since there was a Hyuga among Danzo's men, Shishou couldn't get too close and had to use his Sharingan to observe from afar.

He had no idea what Orochimaru and Danzo were discussing.

He could only tell they had reached some sort of agreement.

Judging by Danzo cutting off Yamato's arm,

Shishou guessed it likely had something to do with Wood Release and cloning.

Otherwise, Danzo wouldn't have let Orochimaru take Yamato after cutting off his arm.

With all of Root's members away, Shishou used the Flying Thunder God to return to Root's headquarters.

Before Danzo returned, he successfully looted several jutsu scrolls, including some Wood Release jutsu and other secret techniques.

With Orochimaru causing such a commotion, it was normal for Root to lose some jutsu documents.

Even if Danzo suspected something, he would blame Orochimaru.

As for Orochimaru, Shishou didn't pursue him as "Bearded Man Shishou" to question him.

That would expose his presence in Konoha.

And lead Orochimaru to investigate his identity.

A month later,

Shishou deduced Danzo and Orochimaru's transaction.

Danzo traded Yamato for Orochimaru's cloning technology.

Danzo's cloning experiments improved, and the corpses became increasingly viable.

Shishou finally awakened Wood Release during one of his scavenging operations.

The Forest of Death.

Shishou extended his right hand, concentrating chakra, and numerous branches sprouted from his palm, extending outward.

Then, Shishou formed hand seals.

Wood Release: Wood Clone Technique!

Branches and leaves extended from Shishou, forming another Shishou beside him.

When Shishou dispelled the Wood Clone, it turned into a tree.

Gazing at the tree formed from the Wood Clone, Shishou smiled.

With Wood Release, he could finally find a way to approach Tsunade.

He had coveted Tsunade for a long time.

No, he had coveted the jutsu in Tsunade's possession for a long time...

Correcting himself, Shishou disappeared from sight.