"It couldn't have been caused by ninjutsu, either. It's hard to imagine what kind of terrifying Earth Release ninjutsu it would take to cause destruction on this scale," Naoki Senju said with a sigh, perfectly answering Orochimaru's question at the same time.
Orochimaru was bound to suspect him. After all, he had seemed a little too eager, constantly guiding everyone along as though he had known this place's secrets beforehand.
But what did that matter? No matter how wild Orochimaru's imagination was, he could never guess the truth. As long as Orochimaru couldn't catch him with any concrete evidence, there was nothing he could do.
Naoki Senju looked at Orochimaru with eyes full of "sincerity," openly provoking him.
Hiss-
Kabuto Yakushi sucked in a breath. How terrifying! Naoki Senju actually dared to provoke Orochimaru so brazenly. Was this a newborn calf unafraid of the tiger, or the boldness that came with great skill?
"Hahaha!"
Orochimaru laughed freely, showing no sign of anger at being provoked.
"Your candor exceeds my expectations, Naoki-kun. But I wonder where you learned of this country called 'Rōran'?"
Rōran?
Kabuto Yakushi adjusted the glasses on the bridge of his nose and carefully searched his memories for anything about Rōran. He had a photographic memory and could recall nearly every book he had read word for word. If he happened to have read about it before, he might even be able to unveil the mystery of this immense power...
No one could resist the temptation of great power.
Orochimaru really does know quite a lot. No wonder he's suspicious... Naoki Senju thought.
"Although Rōran was destroyed, its people weren't destroyed along with it. Unfortunately, Rōran's ruins were never found again, and the mysterious energy its people claimed could destroy a country was nothing more than a legend to outsiders. I never expected Rōran to really exist, either."
Naoki Senju's expression remained unchanged as he spouted nonsense with a perfectly straight face. Rōran did indeed have survivors, but they were even harder to find than Rōran itself, because they weren't in the "present," but in the "future"-the future in which Naruto Uzumaki saved Rōran.
In the current timeline, Rōran and its people had vanished completely when the Ryūmyaku's power went out of control, leaving behind only the ruins Naoki Senju, Orochimaru, and the others had seen.
After Naruto Uzumaki saved Rōran, although Rōran was still destroyed, it was not necessarily because the Ryūmyaku went out of control, and the Queen of Roran survived.
Although this explanation had its inconsistencies, it was the easiest one to accept, and the only avenue available to Naoki Senju.
"I see." Orochimaru cast a meaningful glance at Naoki Senju with his golden snake eyes. There was no telling whether he believed that explanation.
Everyone followed the fissure, several meters wide, onward. Kabuto Yakushi gave up on unraveling Rōran's mysteries. This country was simply too small, so small that the Land of Fire's records contained no mention of it whatsoever. Perhaps he could find records if he gained access to the Land of Wind's archives.
"Rōran... Rōran..."
Tsunade pondered with a grave expression, repeating the name under her breath over and over.
"Lady Tsunade, you know about Rōran too?" Shizune found it a little hard to believe. From what she knew of Lady Tsunade, apart from major events in the Shinobi World, Lady Tsunade rarely took an interest in ordinary matters unrelated to gambling. Could Rōran have had an enormous casino?
"It seems... a little familiar, but I can't remember right now."
Just as expected. Shizune wore an unsurprised expression. Lady Tsunade couldn't be counted on when it came to secret information like this.
"Lord Orochimaru, we're here."
Guren stopped at the front, and Tsunade stopped trying to remember. When they saw what lay ahead, Tsunade and Shizune's lips parted in disbelief.
Everyone finally understood why Guren had said Rōran had been destroyed from the inside out by a terrifying power.
Ahead of them, an area of ground nearly a thousand meters in diameter had been torn apart from within by an unknown, terrifying power, causing most of the buildings to collapse into a bottomless pit. The fissure they had seen earlier was merely an insignificant aftershock.
"Orochimaru, you were in charge of the defensive line against Iwagakure during the Second War. Could Earth Release do something like this?"
Faced with Tsunade's question, Orochimaru fell silent for a moment-an exceedingly rare occurrence-before answering:
"No. Even old man Ōnoki's Earth Release couldn't do anything on this scale."
"What about a tailed beast?"
"At the very least, the Five-Tails definitely couldn't," Orochimaru said with complete confidence.
"Let's go down and take a look."
Tsunade was the first to carefully jump down from the edge, making her way along the exposed rock walls and nearly crumbling buildings.
Naoki Senju stood at the edge and surveyed the entire scene before jumping down, rather shaken.
So this is the power of the Ryūmyaku? No wonder it can allow travel through time. Naruto Uzumaki really was lucky not to have been torn to pieces.
In the dark abyss, several faint blue glows of chakra rose and fell, crisp sounds echoing all around. Only after several minutes did the scattered footsteps gradually stop.
"Is this the source of Rōran's destruction?" Tsunade scanned their surroundings but found no unusual traces of chakra. Of course, she couldn't rule out the possibility that too much time had passed and the remaining chakra had dispersed.
"Let's search the area."
Orochimaru's golden snake eyes shifted. His vision was not affected in the slightest by the darkness; it was even better than under the scorching sunlight.
Everyone tacitly split into groups: Kabuto Yakushi, Guren, and Orochimaru in one, and Shizune, Naoki, and Tsunade in another.
But before long, Naoki Senju, who had been keeping an eye on Orochimaru, noticed him leave his group alone and head purposefully toward a particular spot.
"Sister Tsunade, I'm going to look somewhere else."
"No!"
Tsunade refused decisively, then added:
"This power is too dangerous. It destroyed a city like this, and it's even beyond the tailed beasts. It's too dangerous."
Tsunade's concern warmed Naoki's heart, but he still said firmly:
"Orochimaru probably has some information we don't. Not only did he know this place was called Rōran, but he's been moving with a clear purpose ever since we came down."
How could Naoki Senju possibly feel at ease letting Orochimaru control the Ryūmyaku's power? Even if he couldn't wrest it from Orochimaru for now, he had to secure some measure of initiative.
"In that case, can't I go with you?"
"I'm afraid not. Sister Tsunade, your strength would put Orochimaru on his guard. If he had no other choice, he might give up this opportunity."
Looking into Naoki Senju's determined eyes, Tsunade's heart trembled. She had seen that same look in her eldest grandfather's and second grandfather's eyes. Back then, she hadn't understood it, but later, she had come to understand. It was the look of someone constantly advancing toward their goal!
Tsunade hugged Naoki tightly-or perhaps threw herself into his arms. This might have been the first time Tsunade had been so forward, leaving Shizune beside them almost dumbstruck.
"I understand. Be careful. Orochimaru has become far too obsessive in his pursuit of 'immortality.' If it can't be done, take a step back of your own accord."
Once Naoki Senju reacted, he wrapped his arms around Tsunade's soft, full waist in return, unwilling to let go.
"Mm. Just wait for my good news, Sister Tsunade."