At the south gate, relentless attacks from over a hundred elite Sunagakure ninja finally broke through the line held by the Konoha ninja.
"Charge inside!"
"Quick! Don't let the Konoha people plug the gap!"
"Charge!"
"Damn it, where's Shukaku? What went wrong with the plan?"
"Stop wasting words. Get inside first."
One Sunagakure ninja after another charged into Konoha.
But before they could rejoice, they spotted a figure hurtling straight toward them with the fury of a meteor.
"What is that?"
"A person?"
"Watch out!!!"
Within that meteor-like ball of flame, the Sand shinobi leader saw a pair of eyes as brilliant as sparks.
Like a meteor striking the earth, Shihōin Naraku became a fireball and violently erupted, waves of flame surging outward in an instant, devouring everything around him.
The ground heaved like the sea, leaving the others unable to keep their footing, and the shock wave that followed crushed every obstacle in its path.
Boom!!!
Only then did the deafening sound explode in midair!
"Urgh!"
"Aah!"
"What's happening? Why can't I see anything?"
"It hurts!"
More than a dozen elite Jonin died in that first clash, while still more screamed in agony.
Whoosh!
Shihōin Naraku had already entered his beyond-limit state. Every movement resembled teleportation, and every swing of Kurikara's blade took a life.
To his eyes at that moment, the Sand shinobi moved slowly and sluggishly, as though frozen in place, waiting for him to cut them down.
Not a single person could keep up with his movements!
Even when an occasional exceptionally skilled Sand shinobi managed to react, they discovered in horror after striking that they had hit only the afterimage Shihōin Naraku had left behind.
He was too fast, far too fast!
Never mind fighting back-most of the Sand shinobi could no longer even track