Yuu had actually vaguely sensed Root's surveillance.
After all, the observation and sensing training he had done recently had not been for nothing. Detecting something like White Zetsu was indeed rather difficult, but a group of Root ninja whose average strength was below jōnin level was basically plain to see.
But…
Yuu couldn't really do anything to these people either. He couldn't just drag them out and kill them on the spot.
After all, Shimura Danzō still held quite a bit of power at this time. Declaring war on him without sufficient preparation would not be wise. Besides, Danzō and Orochimaru had always had an ambiguous relationship. It was hard to say whether Orochimaru had given some instruction behind this surveillance.
Of course, if something happened later and he had to act, then there would be no helping it.
With the Transformation Technique that could alter body structure, plus the Transparent Escape he had learned from Jiraiya, Yuu had no fewer than nine ways to kill those Root guys without anyone noticing, while also removing himself from responsibility.
Whether he should do that would depend on whether the benefits afterward outweighed the price he had to pay.
Soon,
Yuu returned to the mountain and regrouped with Kakashi and the others waiting there.
Out of curiosity and concern, Asuma and the others naturally asked them what had happened.
Yuu did not say much about it. It was mainly Obito and Rin who briefly told Asuma and the others what they had seen at the foot of the mountain. The group sighed with emotion, but at the same time, they could not come up with any perfect solution. After some lamenting, they could only set the matter aside for now.
Over the next few days,
Yuu led Rin, Obito, Kakashi, and Asuma's team in a rapid and intensive trap-laying operation across the Mount Kikyo region.
The specific work included, but was not limited to, setting up explosive tag arrays, hidden arrow mechanisms, rolling logs, falling rocks, digging trenches, and establishing ambush points…
These things were all taught at the Ninja Academy.
But even Yuu and the others had not had much practical experience with them. After all, when they came here last time, they had mostly fought encounters and raids. They had not really experienced defensive warfare or ambush operations.
At times like this, it was Maruboshi Kosuke's turn to shine.
As a hidden veteran who had fought through all previous Ninja World Wars, the old man had rich experience in these matters. While demonstrating, he explained,
"Explosive tags should be buried deeper. That way, they're harder to detect. Put more tripwires in the pits. That way, they'll be effective against Suna's puppets…"
"And also paralysis poison powder and smoke bombs…"
Naturally, Yuu and the others did not have to pay for all of these things out of their own pockets.
They were uniformly issued by the village and brought here by Orochimaru.
Because Orochimaru himself had already gone to Wildfire City with Nara Shikaku to discuss the battle plan with Jiraiya, these things were handed over to Maruboshi Kosuke for safekeeping and distribution. Then, through Yuu and the others, they were placed in suitable locations.
Since the scale of the work was quite large, almost all the ninja participating in this setup mission used Shadow Clones to help advance the work.
Yuu and the others were the same.
As for the remaining time, they were not idle either.
Yuu studied the medical scrolls Tsunade had given him, along with the Water Release training notes left behind by Senju Tobirama. These things were backed by Tsunade, so there was no need to explain their origins. Whether he read them or practiced them, he had an entirely legitimate reason.
During this time, Yuu tried using the Tobirama version of Water Formation Wall twice. As his chakra surged, a rotating circular water wall quickly rose around him as if drawing a circle, firmly protecting his body. Its defensive power was visibly far beyond ordinary Water Release.
"Not bad, not bad. I finally have a proper defensive ninjutsu."
Yuu nodded slightly.
Strictly speaking, he actually had two defensive ninjutsu. The other was Great Fire Wall. However, Fire Release still leaned more toward offense. It wasn't unusable for defense, but it was indeed not as professionally durable as Water Release.
With these days of practice,
Yuu's Water Formation Wall once again gained affection, finally breaking past the 75-point mark and entering the "Attachment" stage.
Its trait also upgraded by one level because of this:
[Trait · Merging Body of Water: Your Water Formation Wall has strong self-management awareness. It will actively observe your battle habits and predict flaws you are likely to expose. When released, its defensive strength receives an additional boost of 40 → 55%. There is also a 30% chance it will trigger on its own to block an attack that would be difficult for you to withstand.]
Mm. Water Formation Wall's defensive boost had already reached fifty percent. Combined with Water Wave's Shapeshifting Flow, which reduced chakra consumption for all Water Release, its overall strength was already quite impressive. Ordinary ninja would find it very hard to break through Yuu's defense with ninjutsu.
On the other side,
Obito was working hard on Fire Release and shuriken throwing, while also finding time to ask Kakashi and Kurenai for advice on genjutsu.
Mm, yes.
A Sharingan user asking Kurenai for genjutsu advice could be considered turning the natural order upside down.
But Kurenai's genjutsu system did not really match Sharingan genjutsu. Kakashi's attainments in this area were also limited. They could basically only give Obito some general pointers. If he wanted to truly achieve something, he would probably have to wait for that old man to appear, or for Obito himself to gain enlightenment and dig out the potential hidden in his DNA.
In addition,
Rin practiced Monster Strength and Water Release. Asuma and Namashi Raidō sparred in close-quarters weapon combat. Everyone had a bright future.
As for the veteran genin Maruboshi Kosuke, he stood nearby with a cheerful smile, watching this group of energetic young people. Occasionally, he gave a few pointers on taijutsu power generation or small tricks for releasing ninjutsu. Most of the time, he sat off to the side and leisurely wiped down his large clay pot.
When the fourth day arrived, Orochimaru and Nara Shikaku returned from the direction of Wildfire City. Both looked somewhat travel-worn.
"Lord Orochimaru, you're back."
Seeing him, Yuu took the initiative to step forward and bow.
"No need for ceremony, Yuu-kun. You've all worked hard these past few days. You did well."
Orochimaru licked his lips, his pale golden snake eyes sweeping around the area as he spoke in his eerie tone.
Obito and the others silently stood to the side, not daring to casually speak to this Sannin with such a powerful aura.
Afterward, Yuu tentatively asked Orochimaru about the result of the discussions at Wildfire City.
"…Hmph. That Jiraiya truly is an idiot who can't distinguish priorities. He actually fantasized about winning this war without any losses."
Orochimaru clearly had quite a few complaints about his old teammate.
"Fortunately, that man isn't completely stupid. Shikaku and I have already successfully persuaded him."
~~~
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