The wind swept across the wasteland outside the Land of Fire Daimyo's Court.
It kicked up dry grass, leaves, and gravel, stinging wherever they struck.
The air reeked of rotting dead rats, mixed with the acrid smell of gunpowder.
"Who wants to dance?"
Madara Uchiha tossed out those words with lofty arrogance.
The surroundings fell terrifyingly silent.
No one answered.
The atmosphere turned awkwardly cold for a moment.
Naruto happened to swallow the last bite of seaweed rice ball in his hand and nearly choked, rolling his eyes.
He pounded his chest twice, producing two dull thumps.
Then he gagged loudly.
"Water, water, water... Stinky-fart Sasuke, pass me some water!"
Sasuke wore a dark expression as he kicked the military canteen on the ground toward him.
The canteen struck a rock, knocking off a patch of green paint, then rolled to Naruto's feet.
Naruto grabbed it, unscrewed the cap, tilted back his head, and gulped down half the canteen.
The spilled water ran down his chin and into the collar of his orange tracksuit, soaking a large patch and sticking damply to his collarbone.
"Ha... I'm alive again."
Naruto wiped his mouth with the back of his dusty hand, then casually rubbed his greasy fingers twice against his pant leg.
Leaving behind two black smears.
Only then did he raise his head and squint at the bare-chested old man some ten meters away.
"Hey, mister, who are you?"
Naruto let out an earth-shaking belch, sending the sour reek of pickled radish drifting over.
"It's freezing out, and you're standing around bare-chested. That rag of black cloth of yours can't even cover your ass. Aren't you cold?"
Naruto dug at his ear and flicked away a bit of earwax.
"And there's this pale dead man's face growing out of your stomach.