The boundless, blood-red sky roiled with endless chakra.
Ninja from every faction now dared not make a move.
Because Menma stood right before them.
Even at the Konoha camp.
"There's still no word from the Second, and the Kage haven't returned from gathering intelligence either..."
"Lady Kushina, is Naruto really inside the Shinobi War barrier? Why hasn't he come out yet?"
Kushina, who had emerged ahead of him, shook her head and frowned slightly at Menma in front of the camp.
Everyone knew he was only a shadow clone.
But his intent was equally clear.
He would let no one out.
What made the wait even more agonizing was that Jiraiya, Tsunade, and the others had also headed to the Plaza to investigate shortly after Tobirama left. Before they could return, Menma—or rather, the Nine-Tails' clone—had appeared here.
Kakashi looked gravely at everyone. "We can't keep waiting. Whatever's happening, our immediate priority is to rendezvous with Lord Jiraiya and the others. Some of us also need to check whether the village is safe."
Sasuke glanced at the others. "I'll go."
He trusted Naruto to resolve the situation more than anyone else did, but he would not simply stand around waiting.
Before Sasuke could step out of the camp, however, a green figure beat him to it and blocked his path.
"Young Sasuke! You've all already fought in the Shinobi War, and your chakra hasn't recovered yet..." Guy turned his head, flashed his gleaming white teeth, and pointed his thumb at himself. "Leave this to me, the Blue Beast of the Hidden Leaf!"
"Guy!"
"Kakashi, sorry, but if there's another round of the Shinobi War, you'll have to find someone else..."
"Guy-sensei, I'm coming too!"
Rock Lee leaped out of the ranks, burning with enthusiasm.
The instant the two green-clad figures