Hiruzen Sarutobi led hundreds upon hundreds of Konoha ninjas into action less than five minutes after Xia Yan disappeared.
He had already left enough reserve forces behind to rescue the village, and with the Nine-Tails gone from Konoha, the ninjas who had been forbidden from joining the battle had also been released.
Those following him now were all ninjas still capable of fighting, and their numbers really were not that great by Konoha's standards.
Even though most of Konoha's regular forces were stationed at the borders, Konoha was the wealthiest village in the entire shinobi world, as well as the village with the most comprehensive ninja training system.
Even if the war had left Konoha with fewer ninjas than Kumogakure, its numbers were certainly nothing the other three villages could dismiss.
Boom!
The earth shook violently, and the Nine-Tails' roars grew ever more deafening. They could clearly feel just how fiercely it was resisting.
Hiruzen Sarutobi steadied himself. Looking back at the countless ninjas who had fallen from the violent tremors, he shook his head helplessly.
"Hiashi, take a look at the situation ahead."
Hiruzen Sarutobi took a deep breath and spoke directly to Hyuga Hiashi beside him.
"A descendant of the Senju Clan is fighting the Nine-Tails."
Hyuga Hiashi activated his Byakugan instantly. In truth, he knew they could vaguely make out what was happening ahead even without it.
But to obtain more accurate and complete information, he was better off using his Byakugan. Besides, he was very curious about what exactly had happened.
Yet that glance left him stunned for a moment. Only then did he slowly describe everything.
"If I'm not mistaken, that child from the Senju Clan used the Wood Dragon Technique. The Wood Dragon has coiled around the Nine-Tails and is continuously devouring its Nine-Tails