Sakumo's eyes reflected an incomparably furious light as he spoke in a deep voice.
"That man... he's already dead..."
"It can't be him!"
Hearing Sakumo's words, everyone's expressions turned grave, their heads lowered. Kakashi slowly pulled down his forehead protector and said calmly.
"But... all the evidence points to... the most likely identity of the person who appeared here being..."
At that point, he slightly raised his head, a sharp gleam flashing through his eyes as he said in a low voice.
"Aizen... Sosuke!"
The moment Kakashi's words fell, a strange ripple suddenly flashed across the surface of the walls!
Sensing that fluctuation, even Sakumo, whose expression had been grim, suddenly jolted. Together with everyone present, he turned to look toward the top of the tower!
"It's complete!!"
Might Guy looked pleasantly surprised and immediately shouted excitedly.
Kakashi beside him also let out a soft breath of relief, saying calmly.
"With this, even if we don't know where the other side is, at the very least, with this barrier in place, we'll be prepared to fight them no matter what!"
Meanwhile.
In the infirmary not far away, Sakon, who was speaking with Sasuke, was briefly stunned.
Seeing the shifting expression on his face, Sasuke's expression tightened slightly as he asked gravely.
"What is it...?"
Sakon glanced at Sasuke, the strange smile returning to his face as he chuckled.
"Nothing, kid. Just something interesting happened... Of course... it's not something you can get involved with yet..."
At the competition grounds, Kimimaro and the others standing on the elevated platform were also momentarily stunned.
Kidomaru's expression was extremely grave as he slowly approached the wall and gently extended his hand.
A strange glow swirled around his palm. The instant his fingertips touched the wall, black smoke rose from it as though paper