Chapter 50: The Intricate Structure of the Sealing Array
Li Yao had already completed his custom Adamantine Sealing Chains—a.k.a. the Black Iron Chains—a year ago.
Soon after, he used his own Wood Release chakra to completely devour the Hashirama-infused Wood Release chakra that had been injected into him.
With the protective Wood Release chakra gone, the Hashirama cells in his body quickly lost activity due to rejection and were eventually dissolved.
In the year that followed, Li Yao's once-aged body, now nourished by his own Wood Release chakra, was restored to the appearance of a healthy twelve-year-old. He no longer feared dying within a few short years.
The only unfortunate thing was that the Wood Release chakra wasn't as overpowered as he had hoped—it didn't allow him to stand atop the ninja world within four or five years.
Ultimately, that was because the chakra had been replicated by Li Yao himself through transformation of his own chakra's nature and form.
His version could rejuvenate his body—but not transform his cells into the same Sage Body-type as Hashirama's.
Nor could it grant him the oceanic chakra reserves required to effortlessly suppress something like the Nine-Tails.
At his core, his body was still that of Kimura Yao.
Even after a year of Wood Release chakra nourishment, his natural talent had only slightly improved.
When it came to chakra reserves, he was still average.
Had it not been for the chakra storage capacity created via acupoint space, Li Yao would still be limited to what his dantian could hold—barely enough for two Rasengan at best.
Sometimes, talent is simply cruel.
But now, after years of effort, every one of Li Yao's chakra acupoints—including the Gate of Death—held reserves exceeding two full ANBU-level jonin.
No, it still wasn't comparable to monsters like Naruto.
But it was enough for one thing: to escape from Konoha.
Staying here wouldn't make him much stronger anyway.
He had thought of completing the Perfect Transformation Technique first to make his escape safer.
But the problem was: trapped in a glass tank in a sealed lab, there wasn't even a single mosquito, let alone birds or animals.
Without real-life samples to study, even with perfect chakra control and enhanced chakra perception, he couldn't develop a Perfect Transformation.
So, the Second Great Ninja War—when Konoha's defenses were at their weakest—was the best time to escape.
If he waited until the war ended and Danzo returned focus to him, it might be too late.
Even if he had the Perfect Transformation then, escaping would be far harder.
This was the moment.
"Such a brilliantly designed sealing array…"
Li Yao withdrew his hand from the chakra-metal bed, having fully analyzed the nature, transformation, and structure of the devouring sealing array.
He had to admit—the one who designed it was a genius.
The devouring seal was made up of multiple sealing techniques—
But it wasn't just a patchwork of different jutsu.
It was built around a central devouring seal, with several auxiliary seals embedded like engines, enhancing the primary seal's absorption ability.
This system multiplied the sealing power exponentially—tenfold, a hundredfold.
"If I integrate this into the Black Iron Chains, it'll massively increase their chakra suppression capabilities."
Li Yao looked at his chakra-cloak-like Black Iron Chains armor and smiled.
No rush.
First, get out.
But before leaving…
Li Yao glanced around the lab.
This was clearly the room Danzo had used to research Wood Release.
Several of the glass chambers still radiated a heavy Wood Release chakra presence—likely where Hashirama cells had been cultivated.
And many of the devices were definitely not ordinary.
"No time for proper revenge…"
"So a little destruction will do."
With that thought, eight arm-thick Black Iron Chains whipped out from behind him like octopus tentacles, smashing everything in sight.
Crash! Boom! Crack!
The glass pods shattered, their contents spilling. The Hashirama cells quickly decayed outside the fluid, and their chakra dissipated.
Pipes, wires, equipment—everything was wrecked. Even the chakra-metal sphere beneath the lab was destroyed after Li Yao removed the seal and smashed it with his chains.
That he could pulverize a metal sphere the size of a small building proved that the Black Iron Chains were now physically powerful enough.
Having thoroughly trashed the lab, Li Yao turned toward the exit.
Crack! Whip!
Three of the chains lashed out like whips, striking the door.
Clang!
A loud metallic echo rang through the lab.
The door remained intact.
Li Yao's gaze swept over the spiderweb-like black sealing symbols covering the door, walls, and floor. His eyes narrowed—then he chuckled.
Danzo clearly valued this lab.
Every inch of it, including the door, had been reinforced with defensive sealing jutsu. His Black Iron Chains weren't strong enough to break it.
Had it been anyone else, they would've given up.
But unfortunately for Danzo, he was dealing with Li Yao, who could manipulate chakra with absolute precision.
He approached the door and placed his hand on it.
In that instant, something flickered in his eyes.
He withdrew his hand—then rapidly began forming seals.
Meanwhile—
Outside the lab, three of the four Root guards had already arrived. One had been sent to alert the Third Hokage.
The moment Li Yao had emerged from the glass chamber, the sensory barrier had been triggered.
Upon realizing the alert came from Lab Zero, they immediately recognized it was a serious breach. One of them raced off to notify Hiruzen, while the other three positioned themselves outside the door—ready to strike.
"Captain, what kind of test subject is inside?"
One asked. He was puzzled—why was the captain so tense?
If the subject was a mere experiment, how dangerous could it be? Was it really necessary to alert the Hokage?
After all, everything in Lab Zero was Danzo's most prized secret—not even Hiruzen was supposed to know.
"Shut up and focus."
The captain shot him a glare. Some things were better left unspoken.
Yes, if the Hokage found out, Danzo would be furious.
But if the test subject escaped the Root base… let alone Konoha itself…
Danzo would do far more than just get angry.
They'd all pay dearly for it.
That's why the captain immediately sent for the Hokage—no risks allowed.
"No matter what, the test subject in Lab Zero cannot escape."
"…Yes, Captain."
Realizing the gravity of the situation, the shinobi stopped asking questions and readied himself.
Among the lab's defenses, the door was the weakest point. If the test subject was going to escape—it would be through here.
The three of them tensed, ready to strike.
Suddenly, the door rippled like a calm surface struck by a pebble.
Then, from the center of that ripple, a figure stepped out.
A boy in a black cloak.
Thin. Pale. His face almost sickly white, like someone gravely ill.
Long black hair hung down to his shoulders.
Clearly, someone who had been submerged in a nutrient chamber for a long time.
From the outside, Li Yao looked like a fragile child on the verge of death.
But the moment he stepped through that door—
The three Root operatives' faces changed drastically. They nearly gasped.
"What dense chakra…"
"What terrifying chakra control!"
All three were jonin-level—battle-hardened warriors with experience crawling out of death.
Their perception was sharp.
Li Yao's black clothing, shoes—everything—was chakra-made.
They saw it clearly.
That kind of chakra control—
Creating full clothing indistinguishable from real fabric?
Unheard of.
And for someone with that level of control…
Unimaginably dangerous.
(END CHAPTER)
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