Just as the Zero Magic World was "working hard" to draw the World Government's attention.
The Shinobi World was also growing more tumultuous as Sand Village and Hidden Rock Village waged war in the Sea of Sand.
However, in this world.
Neither Sand Village, Hidden Rock Village, nor Cloud Village and Rain Village, who were on their way to raid Loulan, could truly be called the "protagonists."
Because the center of the Shinobi World would always be Konoha Village in the Land of Fire.
At this very moment.
Konoha Village had entered its highest state of combat readiness.
Aside from the border shinobi who absolutely could not be recalled, and those unable to return in time due to missions.
Nearly every Konoha shinobi had returned to the village.
This made the atmosphere in Konoha Village extremely tense.
The civilians consciously stayed indoors, watching shinobi figures darting rapidly outside through their windows as they silently prayed that all would remain well.
As the commander appointed by Hiruzen Sarutobi, Jiraiya knew very well how powerful the enemy Konoha was about to face would be.
Combined with the sudden loss of contact with Mount Myōboku, it gave him a powerful sense of unease.
Thus, he was no longer as frivolous as usual. He seriously displayed his military expertise, organizing nearly ten thousand Konoha shinobi to establish two defensive lines south of Konoha Village.
He also had all the forests in the area cleared away.
Even though Jiraiya knew Aramaki's Wood Release could create a boundless forest at any time.
He still did it.
Because he hoped this would drain more of Aramaki's strength.
Although they still had no idea what kind of energy Aramaki, who possessed no Chakra, used to activate Wood Release.
By all reason, using an ability would certainly consume something.