The Sand Ninja Army Arrives at the Land of Rivers Border

After the tsunami, the once vast sea area was left in ruins.

The sea was littered with countless pieces of ship debris, as well as the corpses of Sand Shinobi and Sea Serpent Group members.

High in the sky, Hagoromo looked down at the scene below, activating her senses to the maximum extent.

"Did you find it, Sansan?"

After a long while, Hagoromo shook her head and asked Sansan at her feet.

"Not yet, I think he's probably dead."

Sansan closed her eyes and sensed it, while speaking to Hagoromo.

"If that were the case, it would be fine, but I have a feeling this guy isn't dead."

Hagoromo shook her head.

The Glue-Steel Release Kekkei Genkai is practically his home turf in the sea.

If that guy had just abandoned his subordinates and used the Kekkei Genkai he created to envelop himself in the submarine, he would have been able to survive the tsunami.

"I must say, your intuition is spot on!"

The next instant, a hint of speechlessness flashed in Sansan's demonic eyes, and she rushed directly towards a certain location.

On the sea surface, a cocoon-shaped object is drifting with the waves.

Hagoromo jumped down from above Sansan's head, sensing that there was indeed a person wrapped inside the cocoon-like object in front of her.

But... it seems she's fainted.

Without hesitation, Hagoromo stepped forward and smashed the object with a punch.

Inside, Kizō, whose face bore grotesque burn marks, lay.

Presumably due to the tsunami, he couldn't maintain his balance inside and passed out.

Hagoromo reached out and pressed down on Kizō's head, a Black Threads forming a seal.

"Alright, that way his Kekkei Genkai can't be activated."

As Hagoromo spoke, she suddenly grabbed the gap she had just made and threw the entire steel-like cocoon toward Sansan's head, then jumped directly onto Sansan's forehead.

"Let's go and meet up with Choza."

--

As the sun rose, Choza sat slumped on the beach, panting heavily.

Looking at the debris and corpses constantly crashing onto the beach with the waves, he couldn't help but shake his head.

"This destructive power is even more exaggerated than Lady Tsunade's."

"Choza!"

Above him, Hagoromo's voice came, and Choza squinted to look.

A huge cocoon-shaped object crashed onto the beach near Choza.

"This is?"

Choza stood up and asked in confusion.

"That one Glue-Steel Release Kekkei Genkai." Hagoromo landed smoothly and replied.

"Choza, are any of us injured?"

"It's alright, as long as we catch this person, that's fine. I've already arranged for medical-nin to treat the injured."

Upon hearing Hagoromo's words, Choza knew what she was asking and waved his hand to indicate that there was no need to worry.

"If my Chakra hadn't been still recovering, I would have come to find you already."

Hagoromo nodded and looked at Kizō, who was still unconscious, and said:

"Should we arrange for someone to take this person back?"

"Yes, it's definitely needed, but we need to get the Sealing Squad team here first."

Choza crossed his arms and nodded as he observed the Kekkei Genkai user.

After several days and nights of travel within the Land of Rivers, the hundreds of ninjas rested for a few hours on the coastal shore.

The ninja sent by the village to make the handover finally arrived.

Hagoromo never expected that the one leading the team would be Asuma Sarutobi.

It's worth noting that Asuma was stationed at Moon Wheel Gorge before leaving the village.

"Choza, it's your turn to take them back to the village."

Asuma looked at the nearly half of the wounded on the beach and said...

"No problem."

Choza nodded, then looked at Hagoromo beside him and couldn't help but say:

"Hagoromo, please take care of yourself from now on."

"No problem, Senior Choza." Hagoromo nodded.

Watching Choza lead his team back to Konoha, Hagoromo turned to Asuma beside him and said:

"Old man!"

"Get lost! Stop calling me that!"

Asuma had just lit a cigarette, rolled his eyes upon hearing this address and kicked Hagoromo.

Hagoromo lightly jumped and dodged with a grin.

"Alright, although this old man would also like you to go back and rest, it seems that your actions with Choza Sand Shinobi."

"Before I left the village, the Sand Shinobi army was already almost at the border of the Land of Rivers."

Kakashi has gone to resist.

Asuma paused here.

"The old man means that since the Sand Shinobi is so eager to cause trouble, we should give them a good beating."

Hagoromo raised an eyebrow, thinking of Kizō who had been taken back.

"I think the Sand Shinobi ninja are probably worried about the supplies that were transported over; this Kizō's Kekkei Genkai allows him to dive."

"Perhaps the supplies are stored somewhere deserted, even if there are Sand Shinobi guarding it."

"I reckon without Kizō's help, they wouldn't be able to get in or out."

Asuma paused, and the more he thought about it, the more sense it made. He quickly walked over to the communications soldier and connected directly with the village.

After a while, Asuma finally came over.

"Hey~ The old man said that once Choza returns to the village, he'll interrogate this Kizō as soon as possible."

Asuma spoke with a malicious expression, seemingly in a good mood.

Hagoromo raised an eyebrow. With Kizō captured, the situation for the Sand Shinobi would become even more difficult.

As for Choza, who escorted Kizō back, the two tacitly refrained from mentioning it.

If the Sand Shinobi really dared to attempt a kidnapping, not to mention whether they could even get through all these lines of defense, Choza would certainly show them the true power and prestige of the Sand Shinobi Akimichi Clan.

"Alright, now it's time to go to the battlefield. Are you confident?"

Asuma looked at the Hagoromo before him, lit another cigarette, and asked.

"Confidence?"

Hagoromo twitched the corner of his mouth, listening to Asuma's words, it sounded like he himself would have an easy time going to the battlefield.

"I don't have that mindset. Even renowned ninjas can die on the battlefield."

"I will follow Kakashi's instructions."

Upon hearing Hagoromo's words, Asuma chuckled softly and said:

Before I came, I was actually quite worried that you might have some bad intentions.

"After all, it's been almost a decade since Third Shinobi World War, and you're still very young. I'm afraid you'll get carried away on the battlefield."

"It seems I was overthinking it; it's best if you can think that way."

As he spoke, Asuma reached out and patted Hagoromo on the shoulder, even though his relationship with the old man was just so-so.

However, he also didn't want to see his old man lose such a close disciple.

Moreover, they were consciously grooming a candidate for the next Hokage; otherwise, Hiruzen Sarutobi wouldn't have given up the position of vice-principal of the Ninja Academy to someone else.

Even if that person is one's own disciple.

Hagoromo showed no dissatisfaction, after all, Asuma was showing concern for her.

"Don't worry, but Old Ma, aren't you smoking a bit too often?"

Hagoromo watched as Asuma lit another cigarette; he had already smoked three in such a short time.

"Don't talk to me, you little brat." Asuma retorted irritably when he heard Hagoromo call him that again.

"Tsk, looks like I'll have to chat with Kurenai sometime~" Hagoromo glanced at Asuma and said.