Just as Naruto and Jiraiya were showing off their bond as master and student, a figure glowing red all over rushed toward them.
"Move, move, get out of the way!
The Demon Squad is on duty! Bystanders, stand aside!"
Hearing that voice, Naruto and Jiraiya instinctively cleared a path.
They saw a man in samurai robes charge past with a massive sword on his back, then plunge headfirst into the deep pit in the ruins' main hall.
Everyone froze at the sight. Naruto exchanged a look with Jiraiya before speaking.
"Master Jiraiya, was that Mr. Zabuza who just rushed past?"
"I think so.
The Demon Squad... I believe that's an organization the President established, something like the ANBU.
Their job seems to be overseeing the shinobi world."
"Oh no! Why did Mr. Zabuza go in now? The Zero-Tails is about to explode!"
Naruto looked down anxiously.
Jiraiya, however, was much calmer.
"Don't worry, Naruto. The Demon Squad represents the President's will.
If they've appeared here now, they might have a way to solve all our problems."
At that moment, the Zero-Tails at the bottom of the pit had already swollen to his limit and was on the verge of exploding.
Without a trace of fear, Zabuza tore the talisman from around his neck and hurled it at the Zero-Tails below.
"Go!"
The talisman streaked toward the Zero-Tails like a meteor.
"Vmmm!"
The instant it touched the Zero-Tails' chakra, the talisman burst with light.
The swollen Zero-Tails immediately shriveled like a deflating ball.
Zabuza landed with a flip and reached out to catch the falling talisman.
By then, the Zero-Tails had been completely drawn into the talisman. The dark chakra erupting across the shinobi world vanished in an instant, as though nothing had ever happened. Even the sealing formulas Shinnō had