Kusagakure changed hands
"A monster—" "Help!" "This is terrifying... someone, please save us..."
By now, fighting had engulfed all of Kusagakure. Countless young Grass Ninja threw down their kunai and collapsed to the ground in despair.
A gigantic monster with six tails rampaged through the village; a she-devil set everything ablaze; and in the square stood a man who killed without batting an eye...
Corpses littered Kusagakure's square, and blood flowed in rivers. A bone-piercing chill hung over the carnage, making anyone who saw it recoil in terror.
Sōji stepped over the rubble and shards of ice strewn across the ground, reaching the entrance to the imposing official residence at the far end of the square.
The heavy doors were made of Camphor Wood, carved with Kusagakure's emblem: two crossed stalks of grass.
With two horizontal slashes of the Inverted Spear of Heaven, the sealing formulas covering the doors were forcibly erased. The Camphor Wood panels shattered into fine splinters that fluttered down across the ground.
"Utakata, I'll leave things outside to you!"
Without even looking back, Sōji strode straight inside.
Utakata appeared atop a ruined wall. A little dust clung to his black hair, but his clothes remained neat and tidy.
His Tailed Beast Cloak had already dissipated. His face was a little pale, but his steps were still steady.
His first perfect Tailed Beast Transformation had lasted less time than he had expected. Just over four minutes in, his tailed beast chakra had begun to destabilize.
"Saiken, thanks for the effort!"
"It's all right. I'm happy I got to come out and stretch!" A hint of excitement colored Saiken's gentle voice.
The Ninja Chief's Residence was even more lavish inside than it looked from outside.
Silk hanging scrolls smuggled from the Land of Fire adorned both sides of