This time, the insect-shaped lump on his chest rapidly grew in an even more exaggerated manner until his body swelled up like a round balloon.

There was a roar.

Exploded on the spot.

Burnt black flesh and blood were scattered everywhere, accompanied by intense firelight.

The two root ninjas and the only medical ninja in the team fled from the fireball in embarrassment.

I originally suspected that the companion's death was related to the release of ninjutsu, so after the companion released the ninjutsu and caused his body to explode, he knew that he would definitely die if he released the ninjutsu.

To make matters worse, the only medical ninja in the team was also recruited.

A huge insect-shaped lump appeared on the body, as if it was alive, trembling slightly in the flesh of the chest.

With a few whooshing sounds, five figures suddenly stood on the surrounding trees, surrounding them.

"You guys are... the Xuan Yuans?"

The only two root ninjas who were safe and sound seemed to recognize the figures and appearances of these five people.

It is Xuan Yuanzhong, a mercenary group that has become somewhat famous in the underground black market in recent years.

What they do is to use people's money to eliminate disasters.

"It's such an honor that the names of mercenaries like us can appear on the list at the root of Konoha."

The insect man put his hands in his pockets and looked down at the remaining three root ninjas.

"hateful!"

Since we know that the other party is a mercenary group in the underground black market, it means that someone is eyeing their roots and wants the lives of their ninjas.

But when it comes to fighting, the comrade who dies is the one who leads the way.

I'm afraid that once they use chakra, strange insect-shaped lumps will appear on their bodies, causing them to explode to death.

"let's go."

Without giving these roots a chance to think of countermeasures, the insect man led four members and swooped down from the tree to hunt the ninjas in the roots.

"ah!"

From time to time, shrill screams and explosions were heard in the woods.

In just one minute, only the medical ninja who was in agony from the insect-shaped lump survived.

One of the two root ninjas was killed by the explosion, and the other was burned by the fire escape.

"Take him back and see if we can find any useful information."

Insect Man broke off the medical ninja's limbs and injected him with anesthetic so that he could not commit suicide under questioning.

"What to do with these brats?"

Pointing to the eight children who were unconscious outside the battlefield.

"Send it to a nearby town and let officials from Yuno Country make arrangements. It has nothing to do with us."

◎

Tang no Kuni stronghold.

The interrogator, wearing an off-white windbreaker, a white faceless mask on his face, and an asster symbol embroidered on his back, walked out of the interrogation room.

When the insect man outside saw the interrogators coming out, he walked over and asked, "How are you doing? Did you get any information?"

"This root team doesn't know much. They just follow orders from their superiors and come to the Kingdom of Tang to steal children."

"Stealing children? To take them back and train them?"

The insect man pondered.

"If this is the case, then it would be better to look for children with special physiques. After all, ordinary people will not be allowed to join in places like the root."

The interrogator analyzed.

"makes sense."

The insect boy nodded. The eight children stolen by this root team were just ordinary people. There was nothing extraordinary about them. They were worthy of being taken back and trained by the root ninjas.

"In this case, that guy is no longer useful, let's get rid of him without leaving any traces."

It’s really impossible to guess Genbu’s purpose of coming to Tang Country to steal children, Bug Man said to the interrogators.

"Don't worry, our interrogation department is professional when it comes to handling corpses."

Watching the insect man leave, the interrogators reopened the rusty iron door and walked inside.

◎

In the cold laboratory, a dozen children stared blankly at the pale walls around them and the almost pale light above.

There were several medical ninjas wearing white masks around, injecting them.

Poof!

Poof!

Poof!

A large number of trees grew from inside these children's bodies, and blood was everywhere.

Outside, through the glass wall, Danzo watched indifferently what was happening inside, with the two guarding jonin following the root beside him.

Not long after, a medical ninja came out of the laboratory.

"Danzo-sama, the experiment failed."

"I know, just use a new batch."

"But if this continues..."

The medical ninja had a look of reluctance on his face, his head bowed deeply, and his body was already trembling slightly.

"I will give you two more months to cultivate an adult. As for the experimental subjects, don't worry, there are as many of these as you need."

Danzo's cold gaze pierced the medical ninja's heart.

"I'm sorry, Danzo-sama, I, I can't do it anymore, you'd better find someone else."

The medical ninja's voice was trembling.

Danzo glanced at him coldly and snorted in displeasure.

Just when he was about to say something, suddenly a large number of people burst open the iron door and rushed in from the outside.

The two Jonin guards beside Danzo quickly set up their formation to protect Danzo.

However, when they recognized the identity of the person who rushed in, they were all stunned.

He has the same clothes as them, but the type of paint on the mask is different. He is an ANBU ninja directly under the Hokage.

With this number, there are at least four squads and one detachment of personnel.

Danzo narrowed his eyes and looked at the ninja leading the ANBU ninja.

The Third Hokage Sarutobi Hiruzen.

Hiruzen had a gloomy face and without saying a word, walked up to Danzo and ordered the medical ninjas who were conducting the experiment: "Stop the wooden escape experiment. You all can get out."

"Yes, Hokage-sama."

Upon hearing the Hokage's order, these medical ninjas breathed a sigh of relief and quickly left here.

"Danzo, I should have asked you to stop the Wood Release experiment two months ago. Why are you still conducting it secretly?"

Hiruzen stared at Danzo with a cold face, his eyes filled with all-consuming anger.

Although the wood escape experiment was something he acquiesced to, it was done on the premise that the ninjas in his village volunteered.

Due to the slow progress and extremely low success rate, all Konoha ninjas who volunteered for the Wood Release experiment died during the experiment. Their records were also marked as having died in the line of duty, and their families would be compensated.

At that time, the wood escape experiment was stopped by him, the Hokage, and no one was allowed to conduct such experiments again.

Facing the furious Hiruzen, Danzo felt a little afraid in his heart, but he still said stubbornly: "I am doing this all for the sake of Konoha. As long as we can cultivate Wooden ninjas, those sacrifices will be meaningful."

"The Country of Rain, the Country of Fields, the Country of Tang, the Country of Tea... You have been sending root ninjas into these countries these days. You should know better than me what you have done."

Having said this, Hiruzen sighed.

"Fortunately, there was no international dispute. I can forgive you this time, but I will not do it next time. I will clean up all traces and information."

"If you stop the Wood Release experiment at this time, you will definitely regret it, Hiruzen."

Danzo knew that Hiruzen was involved in this matter and that the wood escape experiment would completely end here, and he felt unwilling to do so.

Because he is not Hokage, he can only obey Hiruzen's orders. It is estimated that he will be monitored more strictly in the future.

But this won't end.

It is of great significance to train a wood escape ninja for the roots.

With Wood Release, one is not afraid of Uchiha's Sharingan, and can even control tailed beasts.
To be continued...