Beneath the pale moonlight.
Nawaki, who had forced the Rock Ninja troops to retreat, lowered his eyes slightly and glanced at the Konoha shinobi not far away, seemingly pondering how to begin the conversation.
After all, he had been away from Konoha for far too many years.
As he mulled it over, he slowly walked toward the Konoha Ninja, with huge fissures in the ground and shattered trees all around him.
Before he could speak, a trembling voice came from ahead.
"Excuse me... who are you? Why did you help us?"
Captain Dajiu watched Nawaki approach and asked, his tone complicated.
The Konoha Ninja beside him also watched Nawaki expectantly, eager to learn his identity.
At the question, Nawaki paused. His brown eyes flickered as if he were considering something. After a long moment, he looked up at everyone and calmly replied,
"I am Senju Nawaki."
As soon as he said this, all the Konoha shinobi, including Captain Dajiu, froze. Then they cried out in surprise.
"He's a descendant of the First's family! No wonder..." someone exclaimed.
"If I remember correctly, Lady Tsunade once had a younger brother named Nawaki! Could it be him?!"
After thinking it over for a while, someone suddenly lit up with realization and exclaimed.
Others voiced their doubts.
"Wasn't Lady Tsunade's younger brother killed? Could there have been a mistake?"
Hearing their hushed discussion, Nawaki glanced calmly at the speaker and said softly,
"Tsunade really is my sister. I didn't die."
Captain Dajiu waved lightly to quiet the shinobi behind him, then turned to Nawaki with delight and respect in his expression.
"Whatever the case, we're grateful to you, Lord Nawaki, for saving us. Konoha is currently under attack by the Rock Ninja and Sand Ninja. Please lend your strength to Konoha."
With that, he