Night draped over Iwagakure like a heavy black cloth, smothering it completely.
The lights in the village were sparse, and the patrolling ninja moved with heavy steps, their faces full of the exhaustion and vigilance left by the golden-flame demon's attack during the day.
No one had expected that the madman who had wreaked havoc in the mission hall in broad daylight, killing several elders and elite jonin, would actually dare to return.
Boom—!!!
A deafening blast, like thunder out of nowhere, shattered the night's quiet.
Iwagakure's heavy main gate, a fortification forged from solid rock mixed with special metal, was now like paper, smashed straight to pieces by an utterly savage force!
Broken stone and metal shards scattered like cannonballs, injuring several genin at the gate who had been caught off guard.
Amid the spreading dust and smoke, a figure slowly walked in.
Golden aura rose around him like blazing fire, dyeing even the surrounding night in a bright sheen of gold.
It was Uchiha Arashi!
There was no expression on his face, only icy killing intent and undisguised arrogance.
Those scarlet Double Tomoe Sharingan looked especially eerie against the glow of the golden aura.
"Scum of Iwagakure," Arashi said. His voice was not loud, but it carried a penetrating force that spread clearly through the village entrance. "It's time to settle the debt from today!"
"Enemy attack!!!"
A shrill alarm instantly rang through all of Iwagakure.
"It's that golden-flame demon! He's back!"
"Quick! Notify the Tsuchikage!"
"Stop him! Don't let him get closer to the village center!"
Countless ninja surged out from every direction, shuriken and kunai shooting toward Arashi like rain.
There were genin, chunin, and even some special jonin.
Their faces carried fear, but even more than that, they carried enraged determination.
Arashi gave a cold