Hearing the slight tremor in Kabuto's voice.
Ibiki, whose face had turned grim, let out a breath as well. A flicker of relief crossed his eyes as he said in a deep voice.
"That isn't impossible... If it was Orochimaru... he might have mastered that Forbidden Technique too..."
As he said this, his expression eased slightly, though his voice remained heavy.
"I hope that's the case... Otherwise..."
"I truly can't imagine how powerful that man would have become over the years if he were still alive..."
Hearing him, Kabuto nodded as well, but an incomparably complicated gravity flashed through his eyes.
At that moment, Kyoka Suigetsu, whom Naruto and the others had mentioned, suddenly surfaced in his mind again.
Could it really not be him...
Kabuto did not dare think too deeply about that question. Whether it was Konoha or the current Ninja World, neither could likely bear the truth of such a possibility!
Just as the two of them were stunned by their own thoughts.
Inside the ruined and devastated tower.
"Crash..."
Sakura, dressed in red, crawled out from the rubble with her face covered in dust. Her fair little face was filled with confusion, and her long eyelashes were speckled with debris.
She blinked slightly and felt herself over. After realizing that she had not suffered any injuries, she suddenly seemed to remember something and hurriedly looked around!
Naruto!?
Seeing the destruction all around her, her face instantly turned deathly pale. The final scene from her memories resurfaced in her mind!
That crimson figure, like some kind of monster... had been pierced through by several long bone spears while protecting her...
At the thought, tears welled at the corners of her eyes. Her pretty face was filled with worry and panic as she cried out.
"Naruto!!"
Her cry