"Clan Head Hyūga is being a little too aggressive."
Inside the central command pavilion of the Royal Court Shinobi Army, Soren was still immersed within the Sea of Magic, absorbing knowledge.
Minato, Uchiha Hikari, and several strategists were observing the battlefield through the crystal sphere carried by a Uzumaki sensor within the reconnaissance squad.
Minato's brows drew together slightly.
"The strength of the Great Tomb is already well known. Clan Head Hyūga wishes to earn merit—testing the limits of the barrier, attempting to draw out enemy elites. The tactic itself is not wrong."
Her voice grew firmer.
"The mistake lies in overestimating his own strength."
From the Destruction Dragon King, to the Three Demon Generals captured and taken to Konoha, to the Platinum Armor that nearly wiped out Yagura's forces—
The waters of the Magic Continent were deep.
Hyūga Hizashi knew this.
Yet he pressed forward.
"I reminded him personally."
Minato exhaled lightly, troubled by his impatience.
Hikari leaned against the table, chin resting on her hand, mimicking Soren's usual thoughtful posture.
"Don't worry so much, Minato-nee. Clan Head Hyūga isn't foolish. If he's acting like this, he must have confidence."
Her eyes glinted.
"The Hyūga of the shinobi world have strengthened ties with the lunar Hyūga clan recently."
Minato's gaze shifted.
"Perhaps he obtained something from them."
Hikari's lips curled with anticipation.
"And he carries a Flying Thunder God formation marker. We can teleport at any time. If he truly cannot handle it…"
She stood up slightly.
"I'll finish it."
She added, deliberately emphasizing certain words,
"After all, among Soren's women, I'm the only one who can move freely."
Minato smiled gently.
"Yes… we'll be relying on you, Vice Commander."
Hikari's eyelid twitched.
(That sly cat… one day I'll strip that composed smile off her face.)
But she restrained herself.
On matters of war, she never acted recklessly.
—
Above the Great Tomb.
Five shadows burst from the barrier.
Even with the Byakugan, Hizashi barely caught their movement.
Black shinobi attire.
Forehead protectors bearing the symbol of a shinobi.
They drew their blades midair.
In a blink—
Five jōnin were cleaved apart.
Ink eagles split in two and dissipated into black mist.
"Gain altitude!" Hizashi barked.
Too late.
The five figures removed their headcloths.
Beneath them—
Demonic faces.
Their arms flicked outward.
A storm of shuriken descended like a meteor shower.
Hyūga clan members stepped forward instantly.
Blue chakra domes bloomed in succession.
Rotation.
The once-absolute defense.
Metal rang sharply.
Then came the wet sound of flesh being pierced.
The chakra barriers shattered almost instantly under overwhelming force.
Bodies fell.
Hizashi's heart tightened.
Every shinobi here was jōnin-tier—heroes by the Magic Continent's standards.
Backbone pillars of their villages.
Large-scale casualties without tangible results would be disastrous.
Even with resurrection magic confirmed usable on shinobi—
The price was steep.
Jōnin revived would drop to chūnin level.
Recovery would take years.
"These monster shinobi are not to be underestimated," Minato murmured from within the command pavilion.
She did not panic at the losses.
Uzumaki clan members could be offered as "tribute" to Soren for high-tier resurrection with minimal side effects.
Others…
Likely would receive Seventh-Tier Resurrection at best.
Currently, only Soren could cast that tier reliably.
High Priestess Lilynette had barely stepped into the Hero Domain with Soren's support—becoming the second resurrection-capable caster in their forces.
"Let me go," Hikari said, rising abruptly.
Her Eternal Mangekyō spun, crimson brilliance blazing.
It had been too long since she fought seriously.
Her body felt restless.
Minato remained calm.
"Clan Head Hyūga has not requested aid. We observe."
There was more she did not say.
That place was the enemy's core territory.
If Hikari fell—
Soren would intervene.
If Soren intervened recklessly—
The prophecy of tragedy might unfold.
Without Soren, balance against Ōtsutsuki Hagoromo and Hamura would collapse.
The shinobi world itself might fracture.
Hikari did not argue.
She folded her arms and continued watching.
—
Then—
Golden light ignited on screen.
Both women narrowed their eyes.
Deep within Nazarick—
Ainz felt unease surge through him.
Each summoned Level 80+ Mercenary Monster "Hanzo" did not possess such ability.
From the battlefield, a calm voice drifted through the air.
"I had hoped to claim greater merit at a decisive moment. What a pity."
The next instant—
A pillar of golden radiance pierced heaven and earth.
The sky turned molten gold.
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