Few people know that beneath the Leaf Village, there exist two astonishingly large underground bases.
One is located beneath the Hokage Building, while the other is situated near the Hokage Rock, beneath the mountains and forests.
These two bases have numerous entrances, allowing for swift movement underground and rapid emergence at various locations throughout the Leaf Village.
However, these entrances are all sealed and integrated with nature. Unless one is a member of the Root Organization or the Anbu, it is impossible to find these entrances or break the seals.
Even if someone accidentally discovers these entrances, they would be spotted by the nearby surveillance, and Anbu operatives would immediately come to drive them away.
In severe cases, the intruder might even be marked with a seal or have their memories extracted.
The underground bases are also protected by barriers, making them impervious to both the Byakugan and the Sensing Technique.
These two underground bases are undoubtedly the most concealed locations in the Leaf Village.
Yet, in Izayoi's eyes, both the hidden entrances and the seals, as well as the barriers enveloping the entire base, are as good as nonexistent.
Using the Body Flicker Technique, Izayoi appeared a few meters away from a mountain wall. He glanced at a protruding rock on the wall, then used Attraction to gather a pebble from the ground and Repulsion to launch it.
The pebble turned into an afterimage, like an armor-piercing bullet, instantly shattering the protruding rock and destroying the hidden surveillance device within.
In the surveillance control room, one of the screens immediately turned to static.
The Root Organization members noticed it right away and hurried to report to Shimura Danzo.
"Lord Danzo, the surveillance at entrance A-3 has been destroyed. It seems an intruder has breached the base."
Hearing this, Shimura Danzo, who was sitting on a stone chair, slowly opened his left eye, which was not bandaged, and said indifferently, "Is it someone from the Anbu?"
"Unclear. The intruder hasn't revealed themselves, but this method doesn't seem like the Anbu's style," the Root member replied.
"Send Fu or Torune to deal with him. If it is the Anbu, then…" Danzo was about to seize the opportunity to weaken the Anbu's strength as he had done before, but then, as if remembering something, he suddenly changed his tone, "Spare his life and imprison him. He might become my subordinate in the future."
Danzo didn't take the intruder seriously at all.
During this special period, the Sensory Barrier of the Leaf Village even covered the village entrance.
Except for a few high-ranking officials, no one knew the rotation schedule of the Sensory Team.
Currently, the most dangerous figure in the village is Orochimaru, who has already started a fight with Hiruzen Sarutobi.
With Izanagi as his trump card, Danzo didn't even regard Orochimaru as a threat.
In the current Leaf Village, no one could be his match.
Moreover, someone using such methods to infiltrate the Root base must be a cowardly rat, trying to sneak in and steal secrets during the chaos.
But the next moment, a voice that echoed in Danzo's mind caused his expression to change drastically, and he stood up abruptly.
"Lord Danzo, the intruder has been identified. It's someone from the Akatsuki."
Yamanaka Fu's voice exploded in Danzo's mind.
Danzo's face immediately turned grim. "Why is someone from the Akatsuki here? Why now, of all times? Damn Orochimaru…"
The first person Danzo suspected was not Uchiha Itachi, who was undercover in the Akatsuki, but Orochimaru, who had once been a member of the Akatsuki.
After all, Uchiha Itachi had even annihilated his own clan for the sake of his younger brother.
As long as Uchiha Sasuke remained in the Leaf Village for a single day, Uchiha Itachi would be the Leaf's most loyal dog. It was impossible for him to be the one targeting me.
However, just to be safe, Shimura Danzo still asked, "Is it Uchiha Itachi?"
"No, the opponent's Yin Release Chakra doesn't carry the aura of the Sharingan. It's a man wearing the Akatsuki uniform, with purple ripple-patterned eyes and short orange hair," Yamanaka Fu described.
Shimura Danzo's breathing suddenly became heavy, and he hurriedly asked, "Purple ripple-patterned eyes? Are you certain?"
As if sensing Shimura Danzo's emotional shift, Yamanaka Fu remained silent for a few seconds before replying, "I am certain. The opponent possesses a pair of purple ripple-patterned eyes... Such immense Eye Power! He has already detected me and destroyed the surveillance device."
"Assemble all squads, everyone, and follow me to surround and eliminate that guy!" Shimura Danzo immediately issued the order, personally striding out of the room with a look of fervor in his eyes.
The Rinnegan! That brat from back then has actually come to me on his own.
Then I won't hold back! With the Ninja Art·Mind Communication Technique, and the barriers and devices in the base, Yamanaka Fu's notification ensured that all Root Organization members who hadn't gone out to support, engage the enemy, or escort villagers to shelters instantly turned into streaks of black afterimages, swiftly moving toward Izayoi's direction.
All of this was seen by Izayoi.
Izayoi chuckled softly to himself, "Good, this way I can capture all of you in one fell swoop." Immediately, several figures appeared behind Izayoi—none other than Kurosuki Raiga, who had been turned into a Human Puppet, along with his Black Hoe Family.
Izayoi raised his hand and made a covert signal. The Shadow Clone in the Naka River cave immediately took control of these Human Puppets, sending them rushing in a certain direction.
Ranmaru, who was responsible for making the three hundred puppets invisible, also turned his gaze toward the Root Organization's direction, his eyes glowing red.
Meanwhile, Izayoi's main body strode toward Shimura Danzo's location.
The underground base was vast, filled with ancient structures from the Warring States period. The dim lighting made it an ideal place for concealment.
Soon, Izayoi arrived at a bridge.
At that moment, four overlapping shouts suddenly echoed from all directions.
"Ninja Art·Four Violet Flames Formation!"
Four purple, transparent barriers rose from both sides of the bridge, above and below.
Simultaneously, figures emerged from the heights of the ancient structures, some using Earth Release Ninjutsu to half-emerge from the base's ceiling, all forming hand seals and shouting in unison.
"Fire Style·Fire Dragon Flame Bullet!"
"Water Style·Water Formation Wall!"
"Wind Style·Vacuum Great Sphere!"
"Earth Style·Underworld Swamp!"
"Lightning Style·Thunderclap!"
"Compound Ninja Art·Thunder Water Dragon Bullet..."
A variety of highly complex and devastating Five Elements Release Techniques, even combined techniques formed from two Nature Transformations, poured down from above the not-yet-completed Four Violet Flames Formation.
Even the ground beneath Izayoi's feet turned into a swamp, attempting to seal his mobility.
The Root Organization had gone all out from the very beginning.
Facing such tactics and coordination, even the S-class rogue ninjas of the Akatsuki would feel immense pressure here, with the exception of a select few.
After all, the battle of ninjas is a battle of intelligence.
Without intelligence, the best way to deal with the enemy is through overwhelming firepower.
Even among the Five Kage, aside from Ōnoki, the others would struggle to handle such a barrage of high-level ninja techniques.
Unfortunately, Izayoi is no ordinary Kage-level ninja.
He is a Kage-level powerhouse who, like Uchiha Obito with his Kamui, wields rule-based powers.
Thus, Izayoi floated into the air, effortlessly breaking free from the restraints of the Yellow Spring Marsh, and with his hands spread open, he softly chanted, "Almighty Push!"
Chakra was rapidly converted into repulsion, then compressed to form a transparent green dome that enveloped Izayoi.
In an instant, the dome shattered, and an invisible storm of repulsive force roared out.
A force akin to Wind Release, yet far surpassing it, like an adult's hand slapping foam.
The various ninja techniques pouring down were instantly blasted apart, transforming into multicolored energy and aura, slowly dissipating into nothingness.
After scattering these techniques, the repulsive force storm, like a wild bull crashing into a wooden door, slammed heavily against the four purple transparent barriers.
The barriers instantly bulged outward and deformed, like a balloon being inflated.
But soon, the balloon deflated and returned to its original state.
The remaining repulsive force was unable to shatter the Four Violet Flames Formation, which could trap Kage-level powerhouses.
"Ninja Art·Mind Body Switch Technique!"
Taking advantage of Izayoi's floating state as he released the repulsive force, a shout suddenly rang out from the dark shadows.
An invisible Yin Release energy penetrated the barrier and seeped into Izayoi's body.
(End of Chapter)