The Konoha Main Fleet broke through the sea mist like a torrent of steel, sailing into the cleared shipping lane.
On the flagship deck, Kagami Uchiha watched the rapidly approaching fleet, a flicker of anticipation flashing in his crimson Sharingan. He could finally report the complete battle results of the eastern sweep in person and receive the next direct orders from Lord Hokage.
However, when the ships stopped steadily beside the wreckage of the Kirigakure command ship, the first to step off the gangway was Hokage Assistant Hiruzen Sarutobi, dressed in full military attire with a solemn expression.
Kagami froze slightly and hurried forward to greet him, "Assistant."
His gaze swept past Hiruzen Sarutobi's shoulder, searching among the landing main forces, but he never saw that familiar figure draped in the Third Hokage's Hokage Robe.
"Assistant"
Kagami turned to Hiruzen Sarutobi, a trace of imperceptible urgency in his tone, "Where is Lord Hokage? He should have accompanied the main force to—"
"Lord Hokage has already departed ahead of time."
Hiruzen Sarutobi's voice was steady, but Kagami keenly caught a flash of gravity in his eyes.
"Before receiving your report that 'the shipping lane is cleared,' we intercepted an emergency distress signal sent by the Uzumaki Clan Head through a secret technique."
The signal was accompanied by an encrypted map of the Land of Whirlpools' underground passages, marking a secret route leading directly to the core area of the Uzumaki Clan Head's residence.
Kagami's pupils contracted sharply, "Lord Hokage went to the main battlefield alone?
Yet right now the Four Violet Yang Formation is on the verge of collapse, and the internal chakra turbulence is extremely violent.
If Lord Hokage happens to be trapped inside when the formation breaks, I'm afraid he will face the combined forces of the Four Kage