The sudden, terrifying boom made Naruto, who had been lost in his wandering thoughts, shudder from head to toe and leap to his feet. The smile vanished from his face, replaced by sheer panic.
The entire Ninja Academy erupted into chaos!
Students screamed and scrambled for cover, running in every direction. Teachers hurried to restore order amid the pandemonium!
It was not just the Ninja Academy. All of Konoha plunged into panic!
Doors and windows rattled in every home, and the ground kept shaking. Terrified residents rushed outside and looked toward the source of the deafening blast.
Inside the Hokage Office, Tsunade, Jiraiya, and Hiruzen Sarutobi, who had been watching the Sky Screen, all abruptly changed expression!
All three whipped their heads around, staring fixedly toward the roaring explosion.
Hiruzen Sarutobi's face instantly turned ashen with fury. His eyes filled with disbelief and grave concern, and his voice sank.
"That direction... that's the Sarutobi Clan Compound!"
Barely had he finished speaking when-
BOOM-!!!
More explosions erupted, even more terrifying and violent than the first!
Flames shot into the sky, and thick smoke billowed!
There was no mistaking where the explosions had come from!
"The Shimura, Mito, and Mitokado clan compounds!"
Several clan compounds had come under attack in succession, rocked by a chain of explosions!
The situation had taken the worst possible turn!
Without a moment's hesitation, Tsunade kept her composure and barked orders in a stern voice!
"Quick! Deploy the Anbu immediately! Notify the Konoha Military Police Force and have every member assemble!"
"Evacuate all nearby villagers immediately! Every clan is to gather its members and maintain order in the village. Stay alert for further unrest and surprise attacks!"
After issuing a string of emergency orders, Tsunade turned to Jiraiya beside her, her expression utterly grave.
"Jiraiya, come with