The Akatsuki's Show of Force

After reporting the intelligence they had gathered to Kakashi, Sasuke and the others naturally joined the group, becoming part of Shinji's student squad.

"Shion!"

Shion looked a little embarrassed, as if she'd done something wrong.

Shinji said, "You've got some nerve! I'll give you a proper scolding when we get back!"

Shion stuck out her tongue and slipped over to Yakumo.

Shinji then glanced at Sasuke and Sakura. "Keep up with us for now!"

"Okay!"

Sasuke and Sakura nodded and joined the group.

Compared with the route Kumogakure had taken, the Konoha-Iwagakure Alliance was clearly much closer to the Sunagakure Ninja Army. Before long, the alliance would reach the grassland where the Sunagakure forces had encountered members of the Akatsuki Organization.

Yet the closer they got to the battlefield, the more uneasy everyone felt!

By all rights, a battle of this scale should have been loud enough for its sounds to carry more than ten miles.

But now, they only needed to cross one last stretch of woods to reach the grassland, and yet not a sound came from ahead!

"This is bad!"

"Something's wrong!"

As soon as they came within range of their ocular techniques, Yakumo and Neji cried out almost simultaneously.

The two ocular ninjas' cries only heightened everyone's unease, but Kakashi, the squad leader, didn't order the group to stop.

They crossed the last stretch of woods, and the Konoha-Iwagakure Alliance finally reached the grassland where the two sides had fought.

The battle on the grassland was already over.

Sunagakure ninjas lay strewn across the field, some still groaning in pain. They seemed to have suffered serious injuries, but at least they were alive.

At the very center of the battlefield, the Fourth Kazekage lay in a pool of blood, his life or death uncertain.

Scorpion crouched