A little earlier.
This was the Demon Country. Swarms of bees flew overhead in formation with a shriek, and as the incendiary bombs landed, the factory district was engulfed in flames while the city's functions gradually began to collapse.
People on the streets streamed toward the Underground Shelters, every explosion accompanied by the frightened, helpless cries and screams of the crowd.
The city's only counterattack came from a few Anti-Aircraft Guns that were still roaring, their sparse, wavering bursts of fire pitifully feeble.
The ninjas defending the ground could only watch the sky in vain.
Ninjutsu didn't have enough range, and Kunai couldn't be thrown that high. They could only watch helplessly, unable to do anything.
The only aerial forces were the few Clay Birds left behind by Hidden Rock Village.
Within less than ten minutes of being deployed, they were all shot down in the face of Konoha's enormous escort swarm.
This was only Konoha's vanguard. No one had any confidence that they could withstand the following attacks. The situation had already reached its worst point. To make matters worse, the only reinforcements they could count on, the Allied Shinobi Forces stationed in the Land of Water, had failed to break through and could not retreat smoothly back into the Demon Country.
After several days in a row, anyone could see that the Allied Shinobi Forces had run out of luck.
Before the statue, the priestess knelt and prayed, praying for the war to end.
"Lady Priestess." Chiyo walked before the priestess, raised her head to look at the sinister yet sacred statue, and said, "I've always been curious. Who are you praying to?"
"God," the priestess answered coldly.
"If you're counting on God to save this country, I advise you to give up," Chiyo said.
"It's already over,