Chapter 231: Always-on Limitless
At that moment, the sunset's lingering glow stained the earth blood-red.
The iron gates of Otogakure's headquarters remained shut even after Sōji announced his name.
The two guards at the gates exchanged a glance, and the one on the left pressed his hand against the purple python-rope knot at his waist.
It was standard issue for identifying Otogakure ninja, and it also concealed a simple communication device.
As he fed a thread of chakra into the knot, the snakehead-shaped tassel at its end lifted slightly, sending a silent signal into the village.
Then the gates opened-not pulled open from within, but battered open by the tide of people pouring out from behind them.
Dozens, hundreds, and then even more...
Otogakure ninja surged out simultaneously through the iron gates, hidden doors in the rock walls on either side, and underground passage exits, swiftly spreading into an arc that surrounded Sōji on three sides.
The purple python-rope knots at their waists swayed like a dark-purple wave beneath the torches, and almost every one of them had some measure of Orochimaru's chakra swirling around them.
That cold, viscous, bloody presence wove an invisible net through the air.
The front rank held kunai and tachi to anchor the formation, the middle rank formed hand seals in readiness, and the sensory ninja in the rear were already providing target locks for those at the front.
Their movements were perfectly synchronized. They were clearly a rigorously trained elite unit.
"Yamada Soji, commander-in-chief of Hidden Mist's ANBU, candidate for the next Mizukage..."
The Sound Ninja jonin at the very front of the formation slowly recited that string of titles, an undisguised, vicious grin on his lips.
"Lord Orochimaru left instructions. If you came to visit, we were to make absolutely certain to keep