Slumber

After leaving the battlefield by the shelter, Shinji found a tall building in the village and stood atop it, surveying the area.

There was no more activity by the village gate.

The battlefield at the breach in the outer wall seemed to have quieted down as well.

Clearly, Hiruko had alerted the others while retreating, so the Akatsuki members who had been covering him—Scorpion, Moryo, and Shinnō—had also decisively withdrawn.

"Were Nagato and Obito not involved in this attack?"

Shinji wondered to himself.

With Konoha's elite forces all deployed, this was indeed a good opportunity to abduct Naruto. Shinji had therefore been keeping a close watch, and had used Naobi to instruct Haku and Karin to stay hidden nearby and remain on standby, in case Nagato and Obito showed up.

He hadn't expected Akatsuki to actually retreat so decisively.

"Why?"

Shinji frowned slightly.

At least when it came to reviving the Ten-Tails, Nagato and Obito were both unwavering in their resolve. There had to be a reason they hadn't taken part in the attack.

At the breach in the outer wall.

Because of the rampage of the monster Moryo, the destruction here was even worse than on the battlefield by the shelter. Streets and houses had been devastated in huge swathes. Everywhere he looked, there were ruins and villagers who hadn't managed to evacuate, lying dead or injured.

Whoosh.

The Third arrived on the wrecked battlefield with a large contingent of ANBU under his direct command.

After Hiruko escaped, the Third had immediately led the ANBU toward this battlefield. But before he could get there, Moryo and Shinnō had already withdrawn.

When they saw the Third arrive in person, the Konoha Ninja scattered across the battlefield immediately gathered around him.

The Third asked, "Where are the enemies?"

An ANBU reported,