The noon sun dyed the rolling mountains gold.
Three figures sped silently along the rugged ridge like ghosts.
Their speed defied common sense. With every seemingly simple step, their bodies seemed to melt into the wind, sweeping dozens of zhang in an instant.
They were none other than Ba Cangyue, Yumen Luo, and Guiwang Jie.
They had left the hidden village several days ago and were heading southeast, toward the location of the person of destiny.
"Once we cross this mountain, we should be able to cut down the route by quite a bit," Ba Cangyue said, scanning the area ahead.
Before long, the three of them reached the summit.
The view suddenly opened up, but the sight that entered their eyes made Yumen Luo's brows knit slightly.
Not far below the mountain, the ruins of a settlement were a shocking sight.
Charred beams jutted crookedly from piles of rubble, and broken walls silently told of violent destruction.
With a trace of pity, Yumen Luo sighed. "In the flames of a chaotic age, the ones who suffer most are still these defenseless common folk.
Their homes destroyed, forced to wander with nowhere to go—how innocent they are."
Guiwang Jie's cold, hoarse voice sounded. "Innocent? They are nothing more than pawns and sacrifices in the games of the strong.
All calamity is born from those insatiable schemers."
Ba Cangyue said in a deep voice, "That is why the appearance of the person of destiny is so important.
Only he can end this endless age of chaos and rebuild order and peace."
Just as the three were about to continue on their way.
At the foot of the mountain, three elite jonin from the Hyuga Branch Family, dressed in traditional white garments, keenly sensed the unusual aura at the summit.
"Something's wrong!