The Search Team continued onward for several minutes before the space ahead suddenly opened up.
The area illuminated by the firelight abruptly expanded, revealing a vast underground space.
The dome was so high that its outline was indistinct. The surrounding walls extended outward to form an almost circular open area, at least a hundred meters across by eye.
The floor consisted of polished black stone slabs fitted seamlessly together.
"This place..."
Sasuke, who was at the front, stopped.
Naruto stopped behind him, his gaze sweeping their surroundings.
The firelight extended more than ten meters upward before barely reaching the dome.
Like the passage, parts of the ceiling here were damaged. Large quantities of rubble and earth had fallen, covering a sizable area.
After who knew how many years, the floor slabs were covered in a thick layer of dust, but the care taken when they were first laid was still evident.
The joints were straight, forming precise horizontal and vertical lines.
"...What a massive undertaking," a Jonin murmured in wonder.
Their footsteps produced faint echoes in the hall, much clearer than in the passage.
The torchlight stretched everyone's shadows long, casting them onto the distant walls, where they flickered indistinctly.
Three passages extended from the other three sides of the hall.
Their entrances were roughly the same width, likewise built from neatly cut stone blocks, and led into deeper darkness, their ends hidden from view.
Sasuke's gaze lingered on each of the three passage entrances before he looked away.
"Split up and search. Two people in each direction. The rest-"
"Wait."
Naruto's voice suddenly rang out.
Sasuke paused and turned toward him.
Naruto had his head tilted back, his gaze fixed on the dome.
Naruto raised a hand and pointed overhead.
Sasuke followed his gaze and looked up.
Several Jonin