"Not good!"
Realizing that his body had been frozen by the Shadow Imitation Technique, Shikamaru's expression changed drastically.
As Konoha's most intelligent ninja, he had gained increasing favor from Tsunade in recent years, coupled with his father's deliberate training.
Therefore, he possessed a deep understanding of Konoha's overall political structure and its various flaws.
Upon confirming that he was immobilized by the Shadow Imitation Technique, he immediately understood that Danzo was targeting Goku.
Ninjas from other villages didn't know the Shadow Imitation Technique; the attackers were undoubtedly from his own clan.
And the only ninja from his own clan attacking him, the young lord, could only be members secretly recruited by Root.
As the young head of the Nara clan, even Danzo wouldn't do anything to him, nor would he have any reason to.
Therefore, the only reason he was immobilized was naturally because of Goku, whom he was with.
Tsunade had previously stated that Danzo had a special attention to Goku.
He hadn't expected Danzo to be so bold, openly attacking Goku on his very first day in Konoha.
Normally, he wouldn't have been worried. Having witnessed Goku's strength firsthand, he didn't think Danzo could easily subdue him.
If a commotion were made, the Jonin in the village would definitely react.
But now, Goku had just trained all day using the Shadow Clone Technique and was at his most exhausted.
Let alone fighting, even walking normally would be a problem.
Remember, just two hours earlier, Naruto had been carried away from the training ground by Kakashi after completing his new ninjutsu.
"Goku, watch out!" Having grasped the situation in less than three seconds, he immediately shouted a warning to Goku.
The Shadow Imitation Technique could immobilize a body, but it couldn't seal a mouth.
However, in the instant he was immobilized, Goku had already been attacked.
"Earth Release: Heart-Slaying Decapitation Technique!"
A hand suddenly emerged from beneath the ground where Goku was standing, grabbing one of his feet and pulling half his body into the ground.
"Secret Technique: Shadow Imitation Technique!"
Simultaneously, the shadow that had immobilized Shikamaru split off, connecting to Goku's shadow.
"Illusion Technique: Nirvana Abode Technique!"
"Illusion Technique: Dark Form Technique!"
"Secret Technique: Poison Dust Technique!"
"Secret Technique: Mind Transfer Puppet Curse Seal Technique!"
To deal with a taijutsu master like Goku, the Root ninjas' plan was to first use the Nara clan's secret techniques and the genjutsu of Root's top genjutsu ninjas to control Goku's body.
Then, they would use Aburame Torune's nano-sized poisonous insects to paralyze Goku's nerves.
Finally, a special secret technique developed by Yamanaka Fu sealed Goku's soul onto the puppet, taking away Goku's physical body.
If a mistake occurred and Goku couldn't be controlled, twenty elite Root ninjas were ready to surround and kill him at any time.
The entire mission would not exceed thirty seconds. If the mission failed within thirty seconds, they would immediately retreat.
If there was no time to retreat, they would commit suicide on the spot, ensuring that Root and Danzo would not be implicated.
Those members who were lured into joining Root and valued by Danzo were fanatical believers willing to sacrifice their lives for him.
"Huh, what's going on?"
At this moment, Goku, surrounded and attacked, was still somewhat dazed.
Exhausted and hungry, he had no energy to perceive his surroundings, and therefore did not notice the ambush targeting him beforehand.
However, even a Lion in a state of extreme exhaustion wouldn't be surrounded and killed by dozens of ordinary rabbits.
Realizing he was being attacked, Goku instinctively stomped his foot.
The powerful force instantly tore the earth apart, also tearing apart the Root ninja using Earth Release beneath him.
This force also forcibly broke free from the Shadow Imitation Technique that had immobilized his shadow.
While the Shadow Imitation Technique can indeed immobilize an enemy, it's only effective if the difference in strength between the two sides isn't too great.
Just like Shikamaru can immobilize an ordinary Chunin for over ten minutes, a Jonin for several minutes, and someone like Hidan wouldn't last even a minute.
At this moment, the Nara clan ninja from Root possessed Jonin-level strength, and his Shadow Imitation Technique could immobilize Goku for... 0.1 seconds.
As for the two genjutsu... The principle of genjutsu is to manipulate the flow of chakra in the enemy's brain to achieve a mental attack.
Firstly, what's inside Goku isn't chakra, this makes it much more difficult for genjutsu users to control, significantly weakening the genjutsu's power.
On the other hand, Goku possesses a brain-sealing technique specifically designed to target the mental space.
Having received guidance from the Ancient One and Kami, he's quite proficient in using mental techniques.
Therefore, it ultimately had no effect.
"Giant's Wrath!"
His internal energy exploded in a giant magic style, instantly killing all the poisonous insects that surrounded him.
"Get out of the way!"
Simultaneously, Yamanaka Fuu's soul, which had just rushed into Goku's body, intending to forcibly send Goku's soul into the puppet, was kicked out by Goku's soul.
The plan to capture Goku completely failed.
Seeing that Goku had so easily broken through their perfect control, the captain of this operation, Danzo's most trusted subordinate, Aburame Ryoma, paled.
Even the Fifth Hokage, Tsunade, wouldn't have been able to break through that series of sneak attacks so easily.
Especially considering the opponent was extremely exhausted. This made him feel uneasy, realizing he might have underestimated the opponent's strength.
Hearing Captain Aburame Ryoma's order, the remaining Root members, who were already prepared, coordinated perfectly, launching a coordinated attack on Goku.
"Fire Release: Fire Dragon Bullet!"
"Earth Release: Earth Dragon Bullet!"
"Compound Ninjutsu: Earth Dragon Flame Stream!"
"Lightning Release: Lightning Dragon Bullet!"
"Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet!"
"Compound Ninjutsu: Lightning Dragon Water Bullet!"
In pairs, various powerful compound ninjutsu simultaneously attacked Goku.
"Secret Technique: Phosphorus-Destroying Insect!"
"Secret Technique: Insect Swamp!"
"Secret Technique: Shadow Head Neck Binding Technique!"
Secret Techniques.
Hidden Weapons.
Following the Five Elements Escape Techniques came various bizarre attacks.
Afterwards came explosive tags, shuriken, and other ranged attacks.
Finally, ninjas skilled in close combat, using taijutsu and swordsmanship, finished them off.
The entire process was incredibly brutal, absolutely top-tier in the entire ninja world's encirclement and kill sprees.
However, it was all for naught.
"I'm so hungry! You guys are delaying my meal! I'm going to get angry!"
The golden aura formed by the Giant's Wrath around Goku's body directly blocked all the general techniques, secret techniques, and hidden weapons.
Then, with a few "bang bang" punches, he instantly sent the close-range ninjas flying backwards, severely injured and lying on the ground.
If the attackers were powerful masters, Goku would eat a Senzu Bean and happily fight them.
But they were a bunch of weaklings, which made him, already dizzy from hunger, somewhat angry.
"What kind of defensive ninjutsu is this? It's so strong!"
Seeing that all his attacks combined couldn't even break through the golden aura surrounding their opponent, and he was completely overwhelmed in close combat, Aburame Ryoma's face showed disbelief.
This... their opponent was exhausted, how could he still be so strong? Isn't this cheating?
"Retreat!"
His heart tightened, and he immediately gave the order to retreat.
All the Root ninjas in this operation immediately used the Body Flicker Technique to escape into the distance, disappearing from sight in the blink of an eye.
However, how could the angry Goku let them leave so easily?
"Dodon Wave!"
Goku raised his finger, his sensory network catching the ninja's ki that had just attacked him and attacked them in return.
"Biubiubiu..."
Each time the Dodon Wave shot out, a Root ninja in the distance was pierced through the body and fell severely injured.
No matter what techniques they used to dodge, no matter what defensive ninjutsu they used, no matter whether they hid behind a thick tree or a small hill, the result would not change.
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