Shrine.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
The water dragon, carrying the might of thunder, smashed through the three earth walls blocking its path with unstoppable force.
Even after crashing through three consecutive earth walls and weakening slightly, it still struck the wooden house behind them with its remaining strength.
The small wooden house, already on the verge of collapse under the force of the battle, fell apart like a pile of fragile building blocks.
Watching the thunder-charged water dragon whip past him, Kakashi's eyes flashed with relief.
Luckily, he had held something back when he cast Multiple Earth-Style Wall, causing the water dragon to shift its trajectory slightly.
Luckily, he had gotten Akishinomiya Yuri out of the wooden house beforehand. Otherwise, she might have been hurt by that Ninjutsu just now.
Akishinomiya Yuri's face was pale, tears gathering in her eyes as she curled up in fear and watched the scene unfold.
Beside her, Granny Shiori wore an expression of anger and lingering fear as she continuously comforted the frightened Akishinomiya Yuri.
At the same time, a desire for power ignited in her heart for the first time.
If... if I had great power, I could protect little Yuri. I could keep anyone from hurting her.
An intense longing for power began to fill Granny Shiori's heart.
The kindly, gentle-looking Granny Shiori seemed to have gained a trace of sinister red light in her eyes, making her look terrifying.
Granny Shiori's soul, which could not be seen by the living, also seemed to be slowly becoming corporeal under the influence of some force.
It was as though wooden bone spurs were protruding from her back one after another!
Yet no one present noticed the changes occurring to Granny Shiori.
Elsewhere.
In a solemn cemetery within the royal capital stood countless gravestones. On