Roughly an hour later, the same ANBU operative returned, his cloak damp from the unending rain. Kneeling before Tsunade and Orochimaru, he delivered his latest report in a steady tone.
"Yesterday, a full battalion of Amegakure shinobi was annihilated. According to the conclusions drawn by Amegakure's own forces, the attackers were a group of red-haired shinobi—most likely members of the Uzumaki Clan. Hanzō is furious over this loss and has personally left Amegakure to deal with them."
The words struck like a kunai. Tsunade's eyes widened, and in one swift motion she rose to her feet.
"What? Did you just say the battalion was destroyed by the Uzumaki Clan? Are you absolutely certain?"
The ANBU kept his head lowered.
"We have not yet conducted an independent investigation, so I cannot confirm this beyond doubt. But this is the information our spies have relayed from within Amegakure. That is why I bring it directly to you."
Tsunade turned sharply toward Orochimaru, her voice laced with urgency.
"If this is true, then we cannot stand idle. We must go and protect those Uzumaki. They are our allies."
Orochimaru's golden eyes narrowed, his tone calm but dismissive.
"We cannot simply abandon our post. This battlefield is our responsibility. Whatever happens elsewhere, we cannot leave it unattended."
Tsunade's temper flared as she countered, her voice firm and unyielding.
"You speak as though we've been engaged in endless clashes, as if today will bring some great battle. But that isn't the case. For the past month, we've seen no true action—no assaults from Amegakure, no movements from Sunagakure either. Even our latest reports show no signs of imminent fighting. So tell me, Orochimaru, what harm would there be in leaving?"
But Orochimaru only shook his head slowly, his expression as unreadable as ever.
"You know the answer to that. Without explicit orders, we cannot leave this front. If we act on our own, the Hokage—our teacher—will see it as dereliction of duty. We would face reprimand."
Tsunade exhaled sharply, her decision already made.
"Then stay here if you wish. I will go. I need to see for myself whether this report is true—whether it is truly Uzumaki who struck down that battalion, and whether they are the ones Hanzō now hunts. If they are, then I won't sit back and do nothing. I will intervene, and I will save them."
Orochimaru let out a quiet sigh, his golden eyes narrowing with thought. Deep down, he already suspected the truth. The shinobi responsible for slaughtering Amegakure's battalion could only be the Uzumaki. Root had been monitoring their movements closely for months, reporting their growing presence within the Land of Hot Water. More and more members of the clan had begun surfacing, their actions stirring waves that could not easily be ignored. Their reputation was steadily rising, whispered of in surrounding lands.
Within Konoha, however, their fame remained carefully restrained. The Hokage's deliberate hand, coupled with Root's subtle manipulations in the shadows, kept their deeds from spreading too widely.
Finally, Orochimaru broke his silence, his voice calm but resolute.
"…Very well. I will go with you. If any issue arises here, Sakumo-san can handle it."
Turning his gaze toward the ANBU still kneeling before them, Orochimaru issued his command.
"We are pursuing Hanzō. Deliver this message to Sakumo-san: he is to oversee the battlefield in our absence and ensure order is maintained. Should any situation become critical, he is to summon us immediately."
The ANBU inclined his head.
"Understood. I will inform the captain of your orders at once."
With a curt nod, Orochimaru rose to his feet. Tsunade was already prepared to leave, her determination written plainly on her face. Together, the two Sannin stepped out of the command tent and into the rain, setting off in the same direction Hanzō had taken.
Meanwhile, far away from these shifting tides, the Uzumaki siblings remained unaware of the storm gathering around them. Traveling alongside the daimyo's caravan, they moved forward steadily, spirits renewed. A full night of rest had restored their bodies completely; the exhaustion of yesterday's battle was gone, replaced by fresh energy and focus. For now, at least, they pressed onward without worry, oblivious to the fact that Hanzō himself was already on their trail.
As the caravan pressed steadily onward, an uneasy silence seemed to hang in the air. Among the riders, both Guy and Antares felt it most keenly. Their expressions darkened as they urged their horses closer to Erza, who led the group from the front.
Guy broke the silence first, his tone grave.
"I don't like this. My instincts are screaming—something bad is about to happen."
Antares, riding alongside him, gave a grim nod.
"Yes. I feel it too. The air itself feels heavy… unnatural."
(A/N: I mean, these two are among the most formidable characters, so it makes sense for them to feel uneasy and for their instincts to be warning them. What do you guys think?)
Erza's brows furrowed as she heard them. If both Guy and Antares—each trusted for their keen perception—were experiencing the same sense of foreboding, then danger was almost certainly ahead. Her voice grew firm as she responded.
"If your senses agree, then we must be prepared. Something serious is coming."
Her gaze shifted toward the rear of the formation, where Makima rode quietly. Raising her voice, Erza called out,
"Makima, come forward!"
At once, Makima urged her horse ahead, pulling up beside Erza.
"Onee-san, what's wrong? Do you need something from me?" she asked, curiosity quickly turning to concern at Erza's serious tone.
Erza wasted no time.
"Send your flying summons ahead. We need eyes in the skies. Have them scout every path forward for signs of ambush or approaching threats."
Makima's face hardened, recognizing the gravity of the request.
"Understood. I'll begin immediately."
Forming swift seals, she summoned forth her creatures. In moments, a swirl of wings and buzzing filled the air around her. Birds of varying sizes and sharp cries took flight, joined by large insects, some as big as a clenched fist. With a commanding gesture, Makima ordered,
"Search ahead. Report back with anything that could threaten us."
The creatures scattered into the distance, streaking across the gray sky.
Erza exhaled slowly, then tightened her grip on the sword at her side.
"Everyone, return to your positions. Whatever lies ahead, we'll face it head-on."
The caravan resumed its steady movement. Hours passed without incident, the road stretching on beneath the falling rain. The silence might have eased their nerves, but it did not last.
Suddenly, Makima's voice rang out, sharp and urgent.
"Stop!"
Erza immediately echoed the order in a commanding shout.
"Halt!"
The caravan came to an abrupt stop, wheels creaking and hooves stamping against the wet earth. Erza turned swiftly toward Makima.
"What happened?"
Makima's eyes were sharp, her tone heavy.
"One of my summons just reported back. A massive threat is coming this way. And when I say massive—I mean it."
Her words had barely left her lips before the earth itself answered. The ground beneath them shuddered violently, sending ripples through the mud. Horses whinnied in alarm, and the Uzumaki siblings instinctively tensed, their bodies ready for combat. Whatever was coming, it was close.
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