Naruto: I, who fooled the ninja world, was hailed as a savior.

Chapter 281 The Tenseigan and Rinnegan locked in a gaze
"..."

Their dry throats bobbed unconsciously, and they even ignored the lingering pain in their bodies.

Without a doubt, that devastating blow just now came from that terrifying thing.

However, the attack that was powerful enough to wipe the entire shelter off the map of Konoha was actually met head-on by Lord Hyuga Kumokawa.

Without him, everything blocking that beam of light would have turned to charred earth, and they would all have exploded into a thick, crimson mist of blood.

Just imagining that horrific scene is enough to send chills down everyone's spine.

At this moment, all the survivors' eyes were focused on the blood-soaked figure.

Their eyes were filled with the relief of surviving a disaster, a deep awe of the powerful force, and even an almost fanatical gratitude and trust.

Especially the children from the ninja academy, whose faces still showed lingering fear, but whose eyes shone with an astonishing brightness as they stared at Hyuga Kumokawa's figure.

"Lord Yun Chuan! You..."

Shizune, her face covered in dust and blood, strode forward, subconsciously changing her form of address. Looking at Hinata Kumokawa coughing up blood, her eyes were filled with undisguised anxiety and concern.

"Cough! I'm fine." Hyuga Yunchuan raised his hand to wipe the blood from the corner of his mouth. His voice was a little hoarse, but unusually calm. He handed the unconscious Uzumaki Naruto to Shizune.

His gaze swept quickly across the surroundings. Under the protection of the wings, most of the survivors were safe and sound. Although everyone was injured, they had at least survived.

Seeing this, he almost greedily took a breath. This subtle expression of relief was seen by the people of Konoha at that moment, and they were deeply moved.

Despite his own serious injuries, this gentleman's primary concern was still their safety.

However, the relief on Hinata Kumokawa's face lasted only a very short moment.

He raised his head, his gaze piercing through the huge hole in the dome, locking onto the still-floating aerial fortress in the sky.

"The war is not over yet."

His voice was calm yet carried an undeniable power, clearly reaching the ears of everyone present.

These words shattered the brief sense of relief after surviving the disaster, bringing the harsh reality back to everyone's eyes.

He withdrew his gaze and looked around, his eyes sweeping over the ninjas who were still standing. He said in a deep voice, "Now, everyone, those who can move, run."

"Move people to safer places as quickly as possible, maintain order at the scene, and prioritize the protection of all survivors."

"Those who are unable to move due to injury, lie down where you are, remain quiet, and wait for the medical team to treat you!"

His voice wasn't particularly loud, and even carried a hint of weakness, but the lingering fierce aura around him created an invisible sense of oppression.

Including Shizune, who was also a Jonin and theoretically of the same rank, all the ninjas who heard the order, regardless of age or seniority, tensed up at that moment.

"Yes!"

Without any hesitation or doubt, a unified response resounded through the ruins.

The ninjas immediately sprang into action like precise gears, helping the wounded, guiding the crowd, and clearing obstacles with swift and orderly movements.

Hinata Kumokawa slowly turned around and looked up at the hole in the ceiling.

call! !

His wings suddenly flapped downwards, and he transformed into a white streak of light.

Meanwhile, outside the shelter.

Shennong, who became the "Zero-Tails Jinchuriki", unleashed a powerful chakra attack that shot down from a great height.

The Hokage Building, located in front of the Shadow Rock, is naturally also within its attack range.

For the people of Konoha, the disaster struck without warning, yet with lightning speed. All they heard was a terrifying explosion that was more chilling than any they had ever heard before!
boom! !

In an instant, the earth shook and mountains trembled, and the world lost its color.

Centered on the Hokage Building, a gigantic mushroom cloud rose up, mixed with towering debris, smoke, and flames!

The terrifying impact spread outwards in a ring, sweeping across all directions, instantly tearing apart and blowing away the surrounding streets, houses, and forests!
A wave of scorching heat rushed towards us from afar.

Swish!Swish!Swish!
At the critical moment, several figures appeared in a flash on a still intact three-story house in the distance.

It was Hiruzen Sarutobi, Tsunade, and several Anbu ninjas.

The raging flames cast long, twisting shadows behind them, and thick black smoke billowed up, obscuring the sky and stinging their eyes.

They stared blankly in the direction where the Hokage Building used to stand.

There, the Hokage Building has almost disappeared.

Instead, there was a terrifying giant hole with a diameter of several tens of meters, irregular spiral edges, and an unfathomable depth.

The rocks and steel bars at the edge of the giant hole exhibit a grotesque and twisted shape, as if they had been instantly melted by the high temperature and then cooled. The interior presents a chaotic scene resembling the belly of a meat grinder.

Crack... Bang!

With a sickening sound, the steel bars and load-bearing structure snapped completely, falling together with rubble.

A few burning flames drifted in the wind, swaying and landing in front of Hiruzen Sarutobi. The flames struggled for a moment before him, then silently went out, turning into a wisp of blue smoke.

Hiruzen Sarutobi stared blankly at the scene before him, at the Shadow Rock that was also engulfed by the explosion and flames.

"..."

His lips trembled uncontrollably as he tried to say something, but it was as if a hand was gripping his throat. His face turned pale and then flushed, finally becoming sickly red.

"puff!"

A mouthful of scalding blood gushed from his mouth, splattering onto the charred ground in front of him.

Already severely injured and still recovering, the person suffered such intense mental stress that it felt as if all their strength had been drained away. They staggered backward several steps, on the verge of falling to the ground.

"Old man!" Tsunade, who was also in a state of fear and confusion behind him, suddenly woke up and subconsciously reached out to support Hiruzen Sarutobi's swaying body.

However, upon seeing the blood at the corner of Sarutobi Hiruzen's mouth, her face paled, her legs trembled, and even the arm supporting Sarutobi Hiruzen was shaking uncontrollably.

All the surviving ANBU ninjas around, as well as other Konoha ninjas who witnessed this scene, stood frozen in place as if petrified.

Their faces were filled with disbelief, shock, and fear, as well as a sense of bewilderment and emptiness, as if their faith had collapsed.

Are you kidding me? !

The Shadow Rock symbolizes the great achievements of the four Hokage and the villagers' respect and admiration for them. It can be said to be a spiritual symbol for the people of Konoha.

The Hideout Rock and the Hokage Building are the most iconic buildings in Konoha. Below them is Konoha's largest underground shelter, where thousands of survivors live!
There, too, are students from the Ninja Academy, and Naruto, the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki!
but now……

"Nagato!!"

Jiraiya, in the distance, let out a hysterical, furious roar.

Pain ignored them completely, his gaze passing over the furious Jiraiya and the deathly silent Konoha, and looking towards the distant Shadow Rock shrouded in smoke and dust.

On that expressionless face, his brows furrowed slightly.

He didn't actually intend to kill the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki.

If the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki truly dies, the Nine-Tails will also perish, and it will take a very long time for it to reassemble and revive somewhere in the world.

This will delay his plan to collect all the tailed beasts and create the ultimate weapon.

Thinking of this, the chill in Pain's eyes deepened, and he sent a message to Shennong, who was far away in the fortress, through his black rods.

"What are you doing? Who gave you permission to attack the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki?"

After a brief silence, Pain's eyes widened.

What do you mean?
Is Miyajo En about to die?
Before he could completely sort out his chaotic thoughts.

hum! !

All eyes were drawn by an invisible force towards the Shadow Rock, still shrouded in thick smoke and dust from the explosion.

Suddenly, the billowing smoke curtain bulged inward.

Immediately afterwards, a pure white streak of light ruthlessly tore through the thick haze and shot into the sky.

"What is that..." The Konoha members were stunned for a moment.

It was a figure enveloped in white wings, hovering in the air. The wings slowly unfolded, and every feather was clearly visible, revealing Hinata Kumokawa's face.

The marks resembling the Sage Mode had appeared on his face, with blue marks outlined at the corners of his eyes like eyeshadow, adding to his inhuman divinity.

Under everyone's watchful eyes, Hyuga Kumokawa's gaze shifted slightly, sweeping over the air ninjas who were still circling like vultures.

call!
Its wings suddenly spread open, fully extended to their limit, with countless pure white arrow feathers densely covering the entire wingspan, trembling slightly and emitting an almost inaudible buzzing sound.

The next moment, the huge wings on Hinata Kumokawa's back suddenly flapped.

Whoosh! !

The feathers on its wings transformed into arrows, drawing countless beautiful yet deadly arcs at a speed beyond the limits of visual perception, sweeping towards the astonished air ninjas in the sky!

"No..." The air ninjas' eyes widened suddenly.

Boom! Boom!
A violent explosion, followed by a brief but shrill scream, instantly resounded throughout the sky above Konoha!

Clusters of brilliant yet cruel flames bloomed in the sky like fireworks!

The sky, which had previously offered only sporadic resistance, was suddenly cleared, leaving only scattered ashes and deathly silence.

Having done all this... Hyuga Kumokawa withdrew his gaze, his eyes spanning the distance of space to land on Pain, the Deva Path, dressed in a black robe with red clouds, in the distance below.

The two locked eyes, one purple and one blue, the former deep and profound, the latter magnificent.

What they had in common was that the scorching firelight reflected in their eyes could not melt away the coldness in each other's eyes.

(End of this chapter)