Killing Intent in the Bamboo Forest

Meanwhile.

Far away in Kirigakure of the Land of Water.

This place was shrouded in thick fog year-round. Even a dog would get lost passing through, and today, an especially sinister wind hung in the air.

Inside the village, a large number of Kirigakure ANBU and elite Jonin, reeking heavily of blood, poured out like a swarm of bees leaving the hive.

They did not head for the front lines. Instead, they turned around and launched a surprise attack on the Three-Tails Isobu's hiding place in the deep-sea region.

The Kirigakure ninja fought like madmen, throwing lives into the fray until they forcibly subdued the rampaging Tailed Beast.

At this moment, the Tailed Beast, as enormous as a small mountain, had been compressed into a specially made gigantic stone vat.

Gray Chakra leaked madly through the cracks, accompanied by despairing howls that made their eardrums ache.

The Kirigakure ANBU captain leading the group stood atop a rock, a terrifying scar running across his face.

He gripped a sealing talisman covered in tadpole-like script and pressed it against the stone vat, madness filling his one eye.

"Lord Mizukage's final orders!"

"Take the Three-Tails! Force-march immediately to the border of the Land of Fire!"

"Meet the informant there and stuff the Three-Tails into the designated 'container'!"

The scar-faced man paused, revealing an almost deranged smile.

"Then! Send that container into the center of Konoha! Release the seal!"

"Let the Three-Tails explode throughout Konoha! Turn Konoha into ruins!"

The Kirigakure ninja standing in the bloody water below erupted into hysterical cheers.

By now, the civilian ninja who had emerged from the Bloody Mist Village no longer had any normal logic left in their heads.

After all, Lord Mizukage had nearly slaughtered all the bloodline-limit ninja. To these civilian ninja, the Mizukage's words sounded