The Root Ninja knew there was no way out, nor could they send out any information from here. Resolutely, they dragged their battered body and charged directly towards Hakushi.
Even if it means death, I'll take someone down with me.
According to the intel, this guy is a Medical Ninja. Even if I'm severely injured, I can take him down with me.
Seeing the Root Ninja rushing towards Hakushi, Ruri merely glanced indifferently and did not intervene.
Hakushi remained still, allowing the Root Ninja's hand to touch his body.
I've won!
The Root Ninja was momentarily delighted, but the next moment, their face was full of astonishment.
"Guh—"
Somehow, they found themselves inside a giant water sphere, water pouring into their mouth, choking them as they bubbled and struggled painfully within the sphere.
This is the Water Prison Jutsu?
When did it happen?
The Root Ninja couldn't comprehend what was happening before their eyes.
There were no seals, when did the Water Prison Jutsu activate?
Could it have triggered the moment they touched the opponent's body?
This guy's Ninja Techniques... truly insidious!
With the last of their strength, the Root Ninja opened their eyes, staring at Hakushi's harmless smile, with only one thought in mind.
This was a trap-triggering Water Prison Jutsu that activated upon attack on his body.
Setting such a jutsu on oneself to ambush enemies unfamiliar with his fighting style was indeed a cunning tactic.
Moreover, the intelligence collected by the Root about Hakushi was ridiculously inaccurate.
"How many traps do you have on your body?"
Ruri walked over calmly, somewhat speechless at the scene.
"Oh, there's a lot to that. After all, I am quite careful with my life. This technique is a combination of the Substitution Jutsu and Water Prison Jutsu, pretty creative, right? Although it's not very aggressive, for those unfamiliar with me, anyone who contacts me for the first time will definitely be controlled by the Water Prison." Hakushi said with a smile.
Though his safety was ensured by the Shadow Dancer in the shadows, if even the Shadow Dancer couldn't attend to him, the triggering jutsu on his body would prove useful.
Here, Hakushi merely wanted to test the practical results of this move, hence he didn't have the Shadow Dancer control the Root Ninja.
So far, there seemed to be no major issues; the effect and response were quite satisfactory.
Moreover, due to the integration of Natural Energy, it could be maintained even without Hakushi himself until the natural disappearance of Chakra and Natural Energy.
It could be called a highly convenient trap Ninja Technique.
"Ruri, do you want to test an Illusion Technique in Sage Mode on this guy?"
Hakushi inquired.
They had already tested Ninja and Taijutsu, and the power was incomparable to normal states. Now only the Illusion Technique was left untested.
"No need, I'm in a hurry now; I'll leave him to you."
Ruri looked at the Root Ninja struggling painfully in the Water Prison, as they now held no value for testing the power of Immortal Techniques, and shook their head, leaving with an Instantaneous Body Jutsu.
Seeing Ruri leave decisively, Hakushi didn't say much, thus sealing the jutsu to release the Water Prison.
The moment the Water Prison was released, the earth's soil surged, and the Earth General swallowed the already incapacitated Root Ninja, vanishing underground.
A free experimental body, especially of valuable Jonin level, was a rare find, making it quite cherished.
In truth, Hakushi didn't even know how to properly thank the Root Leader, Danzo.
This token of gratitude, he could only accept with humility.
◎
Land of Demons.
This is a country rich in mystique.
This country differs from others as there is no ruler in the form of a Daimyo. Instead, it is led by an entity known as the 'Witch'.
A completely Witch-led Neutral Country.
In this era of frequent conflicts among nations and villages, the Land of Demons, being secluded, has become one of the few countries to enjoy peace amid turmoil.
The territory of this country cannot compare to the Five Great Nations, but among smaller countries, it has a relatively large expanse.
The internal political environment is clear, and people live in peace, making the Land of Demons an undoubtedly stable place within the Ninja Realm.
It can be seen that on the existing capital map of the Land of Demons, a small city was newly built to the north, considered an annex to the capital.
This city is surrounded by large white walls with only two gates as entrances and exits. One gate leads south to the capital, while the other leads north to the plains outside.
On both gates, the words 'Entry Prohibited' are clearly marked, separating it entirely from residential and commercial areas.
This signifies that it is an important military stronghold, with no access granted to ordinary residents or outsiders.
There are numerous guards closely watching over both gate locations of the military stronghold.
Initially, it attracted spectators from the public, but after a while, they grew accustomed to it.
After all, this military stronghold beside the capital has the explicit approval of their supreme and unblemished Witch.
The people of this country are not keen on the rule of Daimyos and nobility. For them, the Witch is the sole ruler and faith, and following her orders unwaveringly is all that matters.