Just as Sarutobi Hiruzen soared past in the Immortal Dragon King,
Sarutobi Hiruzen suddenly stopped and looked toward a nearby pile of ruins.
He landed and sensed the area. Then, without hesitation, he slammed his fist into the ground!
Bang!
The earth and stones cracked apart, revealing a hollow beneath the rubble.
Moonlight fell into the opening, revealing a dusty face full of helplessness.
"Are you..."
The person inside startled at first, then immediately looked delighted. They didn't recognize Sarutobi Hiruzen's face, but they recognized his Forehead Protector.
"A Konoha Ninja!"
"A lord from Konoha!"
More excited voices came from the hollow. There were quite a few people inside—around forty or fifty.
"You're survivors from the Tsuchigumo Clan, aren't you?"
Sarutobi Hiruzen guessed.
Then he looked over the surroundings. More precisely, this hollow was what had saved the Tsuchigumo clansmen.
It had been built not only from sturdy metal but also equipped with multiple barriers. It had clearly been designed to withstand a jutsu like Fury of the Heavens.
That sturdy structure was what had allowed these people to survive the force of Fury of the Heavens.
"That's right..."
"It was the Great Elder..."
"After Orochimaru attacked us,"
"the Great Elder had some of our clansmen hide here"
"so we wouldn't get caught up in the battle."
The man at the front was middle-aged and a Ninja.
"I see."
Sarutobi Hiruzen nodded. The old man had been wise enough to prepare a way out.
Since Sarutobi Hiruzen had arrived today, the survivors probably hadn't had a chance to leave yet and were still hiding here.
That was how they'd been lucky enough to survive.
"In that case, stay here for now..."
"I'll find the nearest Konoha Ninja to escort you to Konoha."
For Sarutobi Hiruzen, it was a simple favor.