The walls of the Land of Iron's capital were taller than expected.
They were not temporary fortifications piled up with Earth Release like Leaf Village's, but entirely forged from black mystic iron, their surfaces covered in densely packed sealing runes. A watchtower stood every ten meters along the wall, each occupied by armored, blade-bearing samurai whose hawk-like gazes swept over the people entering and leaving below.
Hyuga Xiao stood on a hill three hundred meters outside the city gate, the deep blue radiance of the Tenseigan flowing within his pupils.
His vision penetrated the walls, the buildings, and layer upon layer of barriers.
"Three defensive systems," he said softly. "The outermost layer is the physical wall. The middle layer is a chakra-sensing barrier. The innermost layer..." His gaze fixed on the faint blue points of light within the walls. "...is an early-warning network woven from Astral Force. The moment chakra fluctuations above Kage Level force their way in, the entire city will enter combat readiness."
Kurenai Yuhi stood beside him, her red hair fluttering slightly in the cold wind. She narrowed her eyes toward the city gate, where a long line had formed—merchant caravans, travelers, diplomatic delegations. Everyone had to submit to the samurai's strict inspection.
"The security is even tighter than during the Konoha Crush Plan." Hong's voice was quiet. "There are still seven days until the Five Kage Summit, yet they're already like this..."
"That means they know there will be 'uninvited guests.'" Samui approached from behind, holding a simple map she had just bought. "I asked around. Over thirty percent of outsiders entering the city over the past three days have been invited away for 'tea.' The samurai families of the Land of Iron are purging suspicious people."
Xiao's gaze shifted from the city walls to the