The moon hung above the treetops like an uncut salted duck egg yolk.
Son Goten lay on the water tank atop Anko's apartment building, a foxtail grass stem between his lips, swinging his legs in utter boredom.
Anko's unrestrained snores drifted faintly up from below, making even the roof tiles tremble slightly.
"That woman snores louder than thunder."
Son Goten rolled over, pillowed his head on his hands, and stared blankly at the night sky.
He had wanted to go inside and borrow a spot on the bed, but the woman's sleeping posture was so terrible that she had taken over the entire thing, leaving him nowhere even to set a foot.
Suddenly, his ears twitched.
A restless presence appeared on a rooftop several hundred meters away.
That presence was impatient, its anxiety tinged with a madness that knew no limits of its own strength.
Son Goten turned his head, his gaze passing through layers of buildings to settle near Kikyo Castle in the distance.
Two people stood there.
One was the Sound Ninja he had seen during the preliminary matches, apparently named Dosu, his face covered in bandages with only one eye exposed and a strange sonic emitter strapped to his back.
The other was none other than Gaara, whom Son Goten had just scared witless.
"Oh? An extra match?"
Son Goten narrowed his eyes and watched the show with interest.
He had no intention of getting up and going over.
On the distant rooftop.
Dosu looked at Gaara, who stood alone, an all-or-nothing gleam flashing in his single eye.
"As long as I kill you, I can prove my worth."
Dosu's voice trembled slightly, but he forced down his fear.
Orochimaru had already abandoned them.
Unless he did something earth-shattering, he would forever remain disposable trash in that