The blood coursing through Chiya's body quickened, his fighting spirit soaring. He had spent a long time waiting for this moment.
The Ten-Tails' immense chakra surged freely above the plains. The oppressive auras of Six Paths Obito and Madara Uchiha intertwined. This clash of higher-dimensional energy over the scorched earth would not be decided anytime soon.
Farther out, countless discarded ninja tools lay scattered in the mud around the plains on the Land of Fire's border. Deserters from the Five Great Nations Allied Forces were running for their lives. These shinobi, stripped of their will to fight, fled at full speed, terrified that falling even half a step behind would let those Black-Gold Flames capable of burning through space reduce them to ash. With every step the routed troops took, the seeds of panic spread throughout the shinobi world.
Konoha. The backup underground command center.
The room was dimly lit, and several Chakra Communicators emitted monotonous beeps. Shikaku Nara sat behind a broad, long table. More than a dozen urgently delivered intelligence scrolls lay scattered across its surface. Every scroll bore a red clay seal marking the highest level of danger.
Shikaku reached out with his right hand and picked up a newly delivered scroll. His fingers trembled slightly. He broke its clay seal and scanned the brief report written in code.
A few seconds later, Shikaku closed his eyes and leaned back in his chair.
The report was extremely short. Its impact was devastating.
"Orochimaru, reduced to ashes. Lord Jiraiya, killed in action. Lady Tsunade, the Fifth Hokage, captured alive. Steel cables have been driven through her shoulder blades, and she is currently hanging on the walls of Flame Emperor City for public display."
Shikaku drew a deep breath and pressed both hands hard against his throbbing temples. Konoha's