The forest was pitch-black and stiflingly silent, not a sound to be heard.
Under the moonlight, the sprawling branches looked all the more terrifying. It was as if someone was watching them from the shadows.
"How is this possible...? The village was attacked, so how can there be no sign of fighting here?"
Tsunade furrowed her brow slightly and spoke in a cold voice.
At her words, Jiraiya's expression turned grave. He surveyed the surroundings and said solemnly,
"I'm afraid there's more to it than that. Listen closely. There doesn't seem to be any fighting at all... There's only one explanation for this."
Tsunade and Jiraiya exchanged a look. Her lovely eyes grew grave, and the same thought crossed both their minds.
Behind them, Minato's young face was solemn. He said nothing, but Kushina beside him couldn't help asking,
"Tsunade-senpai, Jiraiya-senpai, what's the reason?"
Tsunade and Jiraiya kept their eyes fixed on the surroundings, taking guarded stances as they watched for a possible attack. Neither answered Kushina.
Minato gently tugged at her arm, his expression grave.
"Kushina, the Ninja who came from the village may already have all been killed here..."
Kushina's face changed, and she cried out in shock,
"How is that possible?!"
Tsunade stared hard into the dark forest ahead and said solemnly,
"Nothing is impossible. Now that Aizen has gotten involved, this attack is definitely more complicated than it seems."
As soon as she finished speaking, several holes suddenly split open in the ground beneath them!
"Boom!"
A golden wave of sand surged toward the four of them like a crashing tide!
Everyone's expression changed at the sight of the vast golden sea of sand rushing toward them.
"Get out of the way!"
Jiraiya swept out his hand with a shout, then stepped forward to shield the