Liuyu raised his head and looked southwest.
There lay Kikyo Mountain.
The final battlefield between Konoha and Sunagakure.
And... Orochimaru's deathtrap.
"Looks like it's time to collect the last scientist."
He turned, and a Garganta opened behind him.
"Let's go. The stage at Kikyo Mountain is still waiting for us."
Mei Terumi hurried to the ruins of the Mizukage's Office with the resistance fighters.
All she saw was the collapsed building, scattered Ninja Blades, and-the Fourth Mizukage, Yagura, kneeling on the ground with clarity restored to his eyes.
"Lord Yagura!"
Mei Terumi rushed forward.
Yagura slowly raised his head, looking at Mei Terumi and the ruins around them, his eyes filled with bewilderment and pain.
"I... what have I done..."
"It's all right. It's over now." Mei Terumi clasped his hand, but her heart was ice-cold.
That man...
Uchiha Ryūha.
He really did it.
He had dispelled the Mizukage's genjutsu, subdued the Seven Ninja Swordsmen, and dragged Kirigakure out of hell.
But at what cost?
Mei Terumi lowered her head and looked at her slightly trembling hands.
Ten "special souls" every month.
How long could this peace bought with blood possibly last?
She didn't know.
She knew only that, from this day onward, Kirigakure's fate was firmly bound to the organization called Las Noches.
It could never break free again.
Meanwhile, on the battlefield at Kikyo Mountain.
Orochimaru was drenched in blood, his golden snake eyes filled with icy killing intent.
Layers of Sunagakure ninja corpses lay around him. But still more enemies poured in from every direction.
And Konoha's reinforcements had yet to arrive.
No, it wasn't that they hadn't arrived.
They weren't coming.
Orochimaru licked the blood from the corner of his mouth and gave a savage smile.
"Teacher Sarutobi... heh heh heh..."
"Do you think