"The physical level?"
Masahiko was lost in thought.
It was true; for instance, the Second Mizukage's mirage was ultimately broken by Gaara's sand.
When Chakra sensing fails to achieve its purpose, physical protection might be more effective than Chakra.
Physical—
He vaguely had some ideas.
However, this method required a massive amount of Chakra to support, making it impossible to use as a regular means.
"As expected, I still need to stir things up to further increase my exposure!"
Masahiko pondered.
Kurenai Yuhi knew he was thinking and didn't disturb him. The two continued running and exercising, but their speed wasn't fast.
Rather than calling it exercise, it was more like—
"Are you two on a date here? I've already lapped you!!"
Mitarashi Anko caught up from behind.
Masahiko snapped back to reality, tilted his head slightly, and then smiled. "Right, I have some things to do, so I'll be going first."
"Mm, okay!"
Kurenai Yuhi nodded.
Anko was stunned for a second, then looked at Kurenai and stuck out her tongue.
After Masahiko left, she whispered, "Sorry, I didn't mean it, I just—didn't think before I spoke."
"I know, and Masahiko isn't the type to mind such things."
Kurenai Yuhi sighed softly. "He probably really does have things to do."
"Is that so?"
Anko scratched her head. "Isn't he a school teacher? Busy with lesson plans?"
"Uh—"
Kurenai Yuhi didn't know how to answer for a moment.
After all, the fact that Masahiko had taken over the management of the Root Organization was currently only being circulated within a small circle.
She only knew because she was in the intelligence department.
After some thought, Kurenai replied, "He's currently serving as the head of the school's education department, managing a large group of teachers—he's still very busy."
"True, then let's keep running. I want to eat dango after we're done!"
Anko shouted.
Kurenai Yuhi slowly exhaled and quickly kept pace with her.
On the border of the Land of Rivers.
"Baki-sama—"
"The Land of Rivers isn't what it used to be. Once we enter, be cautious in everything to avoid being detected by Danzo's people."
"Yes!"
Everyone responded in unison.
Baki took a deep breath, then quietly crossed the border to scout the Land of Rivers.
The pressure on him was also immense.
His opponent was Danzo, after all, a Ninja famous throughout the Ninja World. Even if he defected from Konoha, he still led a large group of subordinates.
And—
Whether the other party had truly defected was still hard to say.
For several days, all the hidden villages had been sending Anbu to the Land of Rivers on a large scale, precisely to figure out what Konoha and Danzo were up to—
Exactly.
However.
So far, very few Anbu who entered the Land of Rivers have been able to return, let alone find the location of Danzo's base.
Taking a few steps forward, Baki suddenly had an eerie intuition of danger!
This was a combat instinct nurtured under the many harsh environments of the Land of Wind.
Baki immediately jumped back.
In the next second, Kunai shot out from the forest one after another, forming a sky-covering network of hidden weapons.
Beneath the hidden weapons, there were also hidden senbon.
Baki's figure jumped back as his hands quickly formed seals—Wind Release: Great Breakthrough!
The gale roared, blowing away all the Kunai and hidden weapons, while the wind blades mixed within shredded them.
In just a moment, those senbon and Kunai all disappeared.
It was the Shuriken Shadow Clone Jutsu!
Baki's expression was grave.
Someone who could master this kind of Ninjutsu, even if they weren't a Jonin, wouldn't be far from it.
He didn't think Danzo would personally crouch in a forest like this.
Danzo's forces were even stronger than he had imagined!
"My Lord, what should we do?"
"Retreat."
Baki took a deep breath. "Our people cannot be lost here for nothing."
Facing an invincible enemy—
Rushing in like this would simply be throwing their lives away!
Meanwhile, on the side of the Land of Rivers bordering the Land of Fire.
A figure walked into the forest.
Suddenly, Kunai were fired.
Masahiko didn't stop; he just used a slight Body Flicker, and all the Kunai and senbon seemed to pass directly through him.
Eerily—
All along the way, he didn't step on a single trap, as if he knew exactly where the Kikaichū and traps were.
By the time the people from the Root Organization came to their senses, Masahiko was already behind them, heading toward their origin.
They looked at each other.
"What do we do?"
The opponent entered as if no one was there; it seemed they had no chance of winning at all.
"The Lord gave orders to let him pass if he came. Besides, we're no match for him even if we catch up."
The squad leader was somewhat helpless.
Masahiko's speed was very fast; even his insects could hardly keep up. In a direct confrontation, they were simply not his match.
This kind of strength—
A year ago, was he really just a Chunin?
What a monster!
He sighed softly.
Masahiko broke through all the way without stepping on a single trap. They could only detect that the opponent seemed to be using some kind of barrier-like Ninjutsu.
Deep in the forest, Masahiko looked up.
"Senior Toge, this kind of welcome makes me feel a bit overwhelmed."
"Didn't it still fail to stop you? But you are no longer one of us, so I still can't let you into the base."
Toge replied with a smile.
Masahiko shrugged indifferently and then threw over a scroll.
Toge opened it and looked, suddenly surprised. He asked, "This is?"
"As you can see, I'm trying to research a sensory barrier technique that doesn't rely on Chakra. There are currently some results, and I believe it will be of some use to the Lord."
Masahiko said, "Of course, besides that, there are some small requirements."
Three days had passed since he last received a reward.
In these three days, he had come up with a relatively crude method—Water Mist Sensing.
The inspiration came from the Hidden Mist Technique, but the difference was that Masahiko's water mist could penetrate underground in addition to being above.
Through the penetration of Chakra, movement deep underground could be sensed.
He had used this sensory method all the way here just now.
The drawbacks were:
High Chakra consumption and a limited range!
Fortunately, by combining it with the Chakra Absorption Technique and his own Chakra control skills, he could reclaim the dispersed Chakra.
After forming a cycle, the consumption wasn't too great.
It would be different for others.
This was also the reason why Masahiko was so generous.
Toge understood the other's intentions and thoughts and couldn't help but feel some admiration.
Danzo-sama was right—
Masahiko Yagyu clearly knows the requirements and understands exactly what to do.
He thought for a moment and said, "I'll go report to the Lord."
In the next moment, a clone was created and ran into the distance.
In just a short time, Toge's clone returned, bringing back a scroll.
"The Lord asked me to give this to you."
"Thanks."
Masahiko took it, opened it to take a look, and quickly put it away.
Toge said, "Well then, see you next time."
"Until we meet again."
Masahiko nodded, took the scroll, and left.
After watching him leave, Toge retreated back into the base.
"Lord—"
"Take a look; he's declaring war on me."
Danzo sneered.
Toge took it and saw that besides the so-called sensory technique, there was also a part that was a challenge—Konoha's Anbu would be conducting reconnaissance and invasion exercises here in a few days.
"If it were the same old tricks, he wouldn't be so confident—get ready."
Danzo said.
Toge lowered his head. "This subordinate will definitely not let them take a single step forward!"
"Are the other bases ready?"
Danzo asked.
Toge nodded. "Terai has already led people to prepare; it's currently finished, on a mineral mountain to the south."
"Prepare for relocation; move the main base there."
Danzo was very calm. "Regardless of whether we win or not, it's only a matter of time before this place is exposed. We must prepare in advance."
"Yes!"