With Miroku joining them, the Ninja Sect became even more confident about defeating Ryobu.
Of course, that confidence still came from Tobirama's final measure.
If Hashirama were brought back through Impure World Reincarnation, then there would be no need to fear Ryobu.
But that was the most despicable method, disturbing the peace of the dead.
They could not place all their hopes on the dead!
They had to defeat Ryobu with their own power.
Still, everyone remained extremely cautious about fighting Ryobu.
They could not rush forward in a huge swarm of ninjas like before. That would just be sending troops for Ryobu to control.
So only a small number of Elite Ninjas could take part in this battle.
The other ninjas escorted the villagers underground to keep them from being controlled by Ryobu's Yachihoko.
Once the strategy had been set, the ninjas sprang into action. They divided up the combat zone, while lower-ranking ninjas escorted the Leaf's villagers underground.
Then they waited—for Ryobu's arrival.
Time passed bit by bit as Reconnaissance Ninjas continuously reported the Mountain-Moving Great Buddha's distance from the Leaf.
"Uchiha Ryobu will arrive at the Leaf in four hours!"
"All the villagers of Takehara Village have been evacuated!"
"The residents of Aizuwakamatsu have been safely relocated!"
The ninjas were not merely defending the Leaf. Large numbers of them had scattered out to evacuate the people and residents from the villages and cities along the Mountain-Moving Great Buddha's path to the Leaf.
"Uchiha Ryobu will arrive at the Leaf in one hour!"
"Uchiha Ryobu has entered the Ninja Sect's territory!"
Boom! Boom! Boom!
The earth shook violently, as though a giant's feet were stomping upon people's hearts.
Standing atop Kage Rock, the Leaf Ninjas could already see the Mountain-Moving Great Buddha in the distance.
A wooden buddha