Just as Hozuki Lengyue was eagerly awaiting the main force's arrival so he could strike back at once, the Kirigakure ninja watching the town returned with bad news: the defenders on the walls had suddenly vanished. Even after watching for some time, they had not seen a single soul.
At first, Hozuki Lengyue wondered what Hiruzen Sarutobi was playing at. Then something dawned on him, and he hurried over with his men to inspect the situation himself.
The Kirigakure ninja hid among the trees not far from the town, staring at it in bewilderment. The Konoha ninja who usually kept watch there had disappeared. Worried that the enemy might have laid an ambush, they waited for their commander's orders before deciding whether to go in and investigate.
A little later, Hozuki Lengyue hurried over and told everyone, "Don't just stand here staring. Go find out what's happening."
With that, Hozuki Lengyue personally led an elite squad cautiously toward the town. Even after a sensory ninja assured him it was safe, he remained vigilant. He used his clan's secret technique, Water Gun, to blast the gates to pieces in a single shot. Seeing them crumble so easily, he could no longer stay calm.
The gates were a vital part of any fortified City. If they could not hold, the enemy could march straight in, spelling disaster for the defenders. Their defense was therefore always a top priority. Yet Hozuki Lengyue had just destroyed these gates with ease. Something was clearly wrong.
Hozuki Lengyue immediately rushed into the City. Everything before him was eerily deserted. Aside from discarded weapons, food wrappers, clay pots, and other debris strewn across the ground, there was not a soul in sight. Disbelief crossed his face, and he ordered the others to search the City for anyone