After the Battle

Afterward, the furious Iwa ninjas dug three feet into the ground but still couldn't find where Hyuga Ao had gone. They never imagined she had already escaped through the sky.

As for the shocking battle within the Iwa Camp, it naturally couldn't be concealed—in fact, a fight of that caliber was impossible to hide, especially with the Rain Ninja right next door.

A summary of the day's events quickly landed on the desks of the major nations' leaders.

Iwa had been attacked by a Kirigakure Shikotsumyaku user, who gravely wounded the Four-Tails Jinchuriki right in front of Ōnoki.

Now, the Four-Tails Roshi's fate was unknown, Iwa had suffered heavy losses, and the Bone Forest still stood there. It was said Ōnoki was so furious he'd broken his back.

Iwa had lost all face.

Deep in the pitch-black earth, a rotting, dying man.

"There's still someone in this world with Shikotsumyaku of such purity? Tobi, go find this person." Madara Uchiha said.

"Yare yare, in that case, I'll go investigate, Madara-sama." Tobi replied.

Kumogakure, Raikage Building.

The Third Raikage looked at the intelligence in his hand. "Chi, how are the troops?"

The Secretary beside him, holding documents, bowed slightly. "Raikage-sama, the troops are ready. They can depart at any time."

"Hm." The Raikage nodded, set the intelligence on the table, and ordered, "Prepare defensive measures against Kirigakure."

The Secretary paused, then answered, "Yes, Raikage-sama."

Land of Wind, Sunagakure.

The Third Kazekage looked at the intelligence in his hand and sneered.

"Hmph, Iwa. They've really fallen."

"Iwa can't be relied on. We'll have to depend on ourselves."

Land of Fire, Konoha's Hokage Building.

Hiruzen Sarutobi drew on his pipe, his eyes deep and thoughtful, and ordered, "Send two Anbu squads to keep constant watch on Kirigakure's movements."

Land of Rain, Konoha Camp.

Orochimaru set down the intelligence, a sinister smile curling at his lips.

"Interesting. To think they could pull off something like this!"

Then he commanded, "Prepare to attack!"

Kirigakure.

No one was more bewildered than Kirigakure.

Kirigakure was isolated overseas and had no intention of joining the fight yet. The best plan was to let the major nations wear each other down until they were exhausted, then Kirigakure would step in and reap the rewards.

Now, the Third Mizukage suddenly received reports from his subordinates that the four great nations had all dispatched Anbu to monitor Kirigakure.

For a moment, he was alarmed. What was this? Had the four nations decided to take out the Land of Water first?

Then, one after another, Iwa's accusations came pouring in.

What's your deal, Kirigakure? Are you trying to avenge the Second Mizukage now? I'm telling you, Iwa will drop everything else and come for you!

Kirigakure was baffled. How had the situation taken such a sharp turn?

They quickly investigated what was going on.

And they found that, well, it probably, maybe, definitely was Shikotsumyaku. No other jutsu in the ninja world could create such a scene.

But with a pot dropped on them from the sky, Kirigakure naturally couldn't accept it.

I didn't! I didn't! Don't talk nonsense!

After a triple denial, they hurriedly called the Kaguya Clan Leader to a meeting.

What's going on with you? Hiding a powerhouse of this level?

Speak up! Are you eyeing my Mizukage seat?

The Kaguya Clan Leader's head was spinning. How was he supposed to explain this? Already not good with words, he found it even harder to defend himself.

And while the leaders of the great nations were in chaos and panic...

Where was our protagonist?

Land of Grass, inside a valley.

That day, Hyuga Ao had felt a gust of wind blow in. On the verge of losing consciousness, she adjusted her Shikotsumyaku Winged Suit, reinforcing its gliding ability and durability, then blacked out, carried by the wind to an unknown destination.

In the haze, Hyuga Ao felt the wind that had carried her dissipate.

Then came an endless fall.

Hyuga Ao crashed into a mountain, slamming through countless trees as she tumbled down the slope. Without Chakra to sustain it, her Winged Suit shattered under the repeated impacts.

As the Winged Suit broke apart, the clothes she wore beneath also tore into shreds.

Finally, completely unclothed, Hyuga Ao collapsed by the mountain stream, her body covered in scratches.

Waking in a daze, Hyuga Ao felt a searing pain all over. Through her blurry vision, she saw someone approaching.

That person seemed to whisper something in her ear, then Hyuga Ao felt herself bite down on something. A warm current flowed from her mouth, spreading through her body, and a cool sensation soothed her wounds.

Knowing she was safe, Hyuga Ao fell unconscious again.

The chirping of birds at dawn, accompanied by the drip-drop of water.

Hyuga Ao woke to find herself in a wooden cabin.

"Hah, an unfamiliar ceiling." Hyuga Ao smiled bitterly—she finally had a chance to say that line.

"You're awake!" A gentle voice came.

Hyuga Ao followed the sound and saw that her rescuer was a girl of seventeen or eighteen.

The girl had red hair and red eyes, with delicate features that carried a hint of tenderness.

Dressed in plain linen clothes, it only accentuated her pure aura, as if she had been isolated from the world for years.

One hand behind her back, she watched Hyuga Ao cautiously, like a startled deer—the slightest stir might scare her away.

Hyuga Ao forced herself to sit up, noticing she was wearing a thin silk robe. She looked at the wary red-haired girl and said helplessly:

"Don't be afraid of me. I'm half-paralyzed right now. Just put the kunai away."

Hyuga Ao had overexerted her chakra earlier, and with that hard landing—though lucky not to have died—the shocks and bruises on her body wouldn't heal anytime soon.

Hearing Hyuga Ao's words, the red-haired girl blushed, put down the kunai behind her back, and stepped closer to ask:

"Who are you? Why were you lying there?"

Hyuga Ao studied the approaching girl. The red hair, combined with the warm current she'd felt that day, reminded her of something. Looking at her face, she could vaguely see similarities to Kushina.

An eighteen-year-old girl living alone in a valley—that was even more suspicious.

"Are you an Uzumaki clan member?"

"Clatter!" The girl flinched like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, scrambling backward and knocking over a series of things.

Fear filled her eyes, as if she carried deep psychological scars. She grabbed the kunai again, holding it with both hands, her body trembling slightly, and screamed hoarsely: "What more do you want? Even after all this, you won't leave us alone?"

The girl's extreme reaction startled Hyuga Ao. She quickly tried to calm her down.

"I'm not your enemy. Really, I'm a Konoha ninja."

"Look at my eyes—aren't they white? That's the mark of the Hyuga clan. You know the Hyuga, right? The Hyuga are from Konoha."

After Hyuga Ao swore and promised, the girl finally slowly lowered her guard.

Then, as if meeting a long-lost relative, she burst into tears.

Hyuga Ao couldn't help but lament Konoha's incompetence.

After finally calming the girl down, Hyuga Ao's barely recovered energy was spent. She gave a few brief instructions and fell into a deep sleep again.