The wind on the Wood Dragon's back whipped the ragged strips of my coat into the air.
Morning light fell across the rolling yellow desert to the west. Everything was deathly still.
"Lord Sen, up ahead... the border camp in the Land of Lightning is completely deserted."
The ANBU girl's voice was hoarse beneath her mask, and her hands shook uncontrollably.
"Our people have all retreated to Windbreak Valley behind us."
I smacked my lips. The jerky in my mouth was as hard as a slab of raw iron.
"Retreated? Auntie's doing a fine job as Naruto. First place in leading everyone in a getaway."
I brushed the sand off my trousers and stamped hard beneath me.
The Wood Dragon gave a low growl and plunged down the steep dune.
Hot sand blasted my face, carrying the smell of burned paper.
"ROAR!!"
Suddenly, waves of agonized screams rose from the valley below.
Sobbing, steel blades snapping, the dull thuds of heavy objects hitting sand.
The whole racket sounded like an enormous meat grinder running at full tilt.
The Wood Dragon's massive skull slammed onto the hilltop, throwing yellow sand into the sky.
Standing atop its head, I peered down through the swirling grit.
Huge swaths of Red Cloud Cloaks and White Zetsu had been skewered full of holes by massive tree roots.
And in the hottest stretch of yellow sand stood a man wearing the Red Armor.
His unruly black hair tossed in the wind, and cracks covered his face.
It was Madara Uchiha.
The bastard stood in the mud with several corpses lying at his feet.
His right hand was clamped tightly around a Sunagakure Chunin's throat.
The Chunin's face had turned purplish blue, his arms and legs flailing weakly in midair.
Madara stared coldly at him with those