In Mitsuki Country, dark clouds drifted as the moon's outline flickered in and out of view. Across the land that had once bustled with life, only the rustling wind sweeping over the desert sands could be heard, making the silence all the more pronounced.
Yu sat cross-legged atop the highest peak, resting with his eyes closed as he waited quietly.
Less than half a day remained until Ryushiki's arrival, as foretold by the Great Toad Sage.
A hundred thousand White Zetsu had long since scattered across the region, striving to grasp Ryushiki's movements the instant he appeared.
Every slight disturbance was enough to set everyone's nerves on edge.
Those qualified to remain on the battlefield were, at the very least, Earth-Class Third Grade—equivalent to the Kage Level of the past.
After years of accumulation, the Ninja Kingdom had built up a deep foundation. Especially after the Fifth Shinobi World War, a great number of rising talents had emerged.
Twenty years ago, they would have surely made names for themselves across the Shinobi World. But today, they were merely the relatively brighter stars among a sky full of them—worthy of a second glance when one's gaze happened to fall upon them, but not enough to make anyone remember their names.
"Gulp!" In the shade, a young ninja swallowed hard. His trembling hand lifted the waterskin at his waist, yet only a single drop fell onto his cracked lips.
Overwhelmed by anxiety and tension, he had been drinking water nonstop from the very beginning.
"Damn it!" He flung the waterskin aside, his fingers digging deep into his hair as he clawed at his scalp. Bloodshot veins filled his eyes, and beads of sweat the size of soybeans seeped from his pores.
Suddenly, his chest tightened. He bent over and vomited, but all