Space shook and thundered violently. The vortex formed by the Kamui Shuriken, more than fifty meters in diameter, swallowed the statue of Great King Enma whole.
The Thunder and Wind Gods Gate, the main gate that symbolized Senso-ji, was swept up as well, gouging a circular pit more than five meters deep in the ground.
"Aaah! Aaah!"
Someone fell on their backside at the edge of the pit, frantically kicking backward and screaming in lingering terror.
"Phew."
Uchiha Senmon held one arm out diagonally toward the sky. The branches retracted into his joined index and middle fingers, and he let out a long breath.
His crisp, efficient movements resembled someone drawing a gun and firing.
Except that Uchiha Senmon had a small, white dog-like beast tucked under his arm, which looked rather odd.
"Nicely done."
Jiraiya raised an eyebrow, his voice carrying a measure of appreciation.
"You pushed Kamui's attack away just now with perfect timing. Your 'eyesight' is quite impressive."
Uchiha Senmon lowered his eyes and replied politely:
"You flatter me, Lord Jiraiya. Even without me, protecting everyone would have been effortless for you."
The black disc hurled at them had been intended to take them all out along with the statue of Great King Enma.
At the critical moment, Uchiha Senmon had used the Cutting Technique to push the Shuriken back a dozen-odd meters, allowing everyone to escape disaster.
"An attack! Where on earth did that surprise attack come from?!"
The governor of Tokyo Metropolis cried out in terror.
"What a useless fool. Stop making such a racket! Can't you look for yourself?"
Jiraiya rebuked him with mild displeasure, raising his head to look at the five-story pagoda over two hundred meters to the southwest.
Senso-ji's five-story pagoda had been rebuilt in Showa 48 using reinforced concrete and