By then, the distant warships were drawing closer, and Orochimaru and the others atop the Hokage Building could finally make out their appearance.
Their wingless flight, their island-sized bulk, and their steel exteriors all captured Orochimaru and the others' attention.
For researchers, nothing stirred their interest more than the unknown. Even Tobirama Senju and Hiruko stared fixedly at the distant warships, unable to snap out of their fascination for a long time.
The warships moved fast. Within minutes, they had arrived above Konoha. Five vessels the size of small mountains blotted out the sky, their enormous shadows enveloping the entire village.
These colossal things they had never seen before, together with the danger signal Chihane had personally issued, left Konoha's ninja feeling as though a heavy stone weighed on their hearts.
Ugh, with steel constructs the size of small mountains, throwing a kunai at one would probably leave nothing more than a pale scratch. How were they supposed to fight enemies like these?
"Listen, people on the ground. Someone in your world is researching immortality, a forbidden power that mortals must not control. Hand that person over, or Lord Bal's wrath will descend and destroy your entire world."
The warships stopped moving once they reached the skies above Konoha. A moment later, strange sounds emerged from them, resembling the roars of animals. Yet, oddly enough, everyone could understand what they meant.
"The monsters talked?!"
"The steel monsters made a sound?"
Hearing the voices from the warships, the ninja in front of the Hokage Building were astonished that they could understand them, but they also turned complicated gazes toward Orochimaru.
From the announcement, they had roughly grasped the situation: these flying monsters were not from their world, and Orochimaru's research into immortality ninjutsu had drawn them here.
Once that thought surfaced,