Aftermath

Meanwhile.

Deep within a forest shrouded in night, the sounds of battle echoed.

"Swish!" "Swish!" "Swish!"...

As the sharp whistling of kunai suddenly erupted through the jungle, a series of shrill screams was immediately followed by the heavy thud of bodies hitting the ground.

High up in a distant tree, a Rock Ninja hid within the shadows, his face pale and his expression filled with terror as he listened to the screams emanating from the forest.

In his eyes, the forest—which should have been the perfect place for them to ambush the Konoha ninjas—now felt like a terrifying behemoth devouring everything in its path.

The murderous aura revealed by the gloom of the night made his very soul tremble with fear.

To be caught in the middle of this was to die without ever knowing why!

Just then, the scene before him caused his pupils to constrict violently!

"Swish!"

Under the moonlight, a flash of cold light suddenly streaked toward him!

The Rock Ninja's expression turned to horror, and he threw his body to the side!

"Clang!"

A uniquely shaped kunai had suddenly slammed into the thick tree trunk right behind where the Rock Ninja had been standing.

Without any warning, a figure appeared atop the trunk.

His body was parallel to the ground, crouching lightly, his feet resting firmly against the straight, thick bark as he maintained a steady, low-slung posture.

Aided by the pale moonlight, one could see his golden hair hanging slightly, his calm cheeks stained with specks of blood—a stark contrast to the gentle smile he usually wore.

It was as if time had slowed down.

The Rock Ninja's suddenly contracting pupils, the lingering look of terror on his face, and the young man's cold, indifferent expression as he drew a perfect arc with his kunai