The wind and snow raged. The temperature atop the altar had fallen below freezing.
Samui stared fixedly at the churning energy mist below. A flash of realization passed through her ice-blue eyes before they turned grave.
"Energy-Gathering Array." Her voice was cold and hard, her words rapid. "What Xi set up isn't an escort formation—it's Hidden Cloud's secret Energy-Gathering Array. Beneath the Land of Iron lies an accompanying Starry Sky Ore Vein. They want to use that Ōtsutsuki Clan corpse as a conduit, drain the earth vein's energy, and forcibly blast open the altar's lower defenses."
Mifune's expression changed drastically. If the Land of Iron's earth veins were drained dry, the entire city of samurai would sink underground.
"I'll stay behind and cover the rear." Samui gripped the short blade at her waist, her blonde hair whipping wildly in the freezing wind. "I know Xi's command habits best, and I know where the Energy-Gathering Array's core is. Root's hounds are on their heels now, so their formation will inevitably loosen. As long as I sever the core, the corpse's energy will backlash."
She turned to look at Hyuga Xiao, her eyes full of resolve.
This was not merely about sabotaging Hidden Cloud's plan. It was also a pledge of allegiance she, as Xiao's subordinate, was offering. She did not want to remain a burden who only needed protection.
Xiao held his teacup as his azure Tenseigan calmly watched her.
Wind and snow swept between them.
"Your chakra has only recovered to sixty percent." Xiao set down his teacup, porcelain striking the stone table with a crisp sound. "Xi is a sensory-type Elite High Ninja, and he has two hundred elite troops around him. If you go, you'll have a narrow chance of survival."
"Hidden Cloud ninja have never feared death."