Shinji, having left the battlefield at the shelter, found a tall building in the village and stood atop it, gazing out at the surroundings.
The village gate had fallen silent.
The battlefield at the breach in the outer wall seemed to have quieted as well.
Clearly, when Hiruko withdrew, he had signaled the other members, so Sasori, Moryo, and Shinno—three Akatsuki shinobi who had been covering his retreat—also decisively pulled back.
"Nagato and Obito didn't take part in this assault, huh?" Shinji muttered to himself.
With Hidden Leaf Village's elite forces fully deployed, it was indeed a prime opportunity to abduct Naruto. Thus, Shinji had been secretly vigilant, instructing Haku and Karin through Jikibi to remain hidden in the shadows, ready to act at a moment's notice to counter any potential appearance by Nagato or Obito.
Yet, unexpectedly, the Akatsuki had truly retreated without hesitation.
"Why?" Shinji frowned slightly.
At the very least, when it came to resurrecting the Ten-Tails, both Nagato and Obito were resolute. Their absence from this assault must have a reason.
At the breach in the outer wall...
Due to the rampage of the demon Moryo, the scene here was far more devastating than the battlefield at the shelter. Streets and houses were destroyed in swathes, leaving only rubble and ruins as far as the eye could see, along with villagers who hadn't evacuated in time, lying dead or injured across the ground.
Swish. The Third Hokage, leading a large contingent of his personal Anbu, landed on the ravaged battlefield.
After Hiruko escaped, the Third had immediately led his Anbu to rush toward this battlefield, but before they arrived, Moryo and Shinno had already withdrawn.
Seeing the Third arrive in person, the Hidden Leaf shinobi scattered across the battlefield quickly gathered around him.
The Third asked, "Where's the enemy?"
An Anbu reported, "Just moments ago, the two Akatsuki members attacking this area suddenly withdrew for unknown reasons!"
Glancing around with a furrowed brow, the Third ordered, "Immediately send people to track them!"
"Yes!"
With that command, several of the Third's personal Anbu dashed out from the breach in the outer wall, pursuing the traces of Moryo and Shinno.
Surveying the battlefield's devastation, the Third's expression grew deeply somber.
Like Shinji, the Third and the council of elders had suspected that the Akatsuki's assault involved more than just the few members who appeared. Thus, the Third's personal Anbu hadn't immediately joined the fight but had been observing the situation, waiting for the perfect moment to strike.
Yet, he hadn't anticipated that with Shinji's defeat of Hiruko, the Akatsuki would retreat entirely.
"Notify the medical team to treat the wounded with full effort!" the Third ordered, suppressing the doubts gnawing at him.
Soon, the dazed Hidden Leaf shinobi who had survived the battlefield sprang into action under the Third's command.
Not far from the battlefield...
Neji, limping, approached Hyūga Hiashi. After a moment's hesitation, he spoke, "Lord Clan Head, I…"
Hiashi shook his head, cutting Neji off.
During the battle, Neji had struggled to hold off Shinno in his 'Shock Gate' state, clearly using some unknown power. Though Neji had deliberately worn long-sleeved clothing to conceal his body, such efforts were futile before Hiashi's Byakugan.
Moreover, the mysterious pair of Byakugan on Neji's back made it clear to Hiashi that Neji was hiding something.
But one thing was certain: Neji had fought with everything he had against the Akatsuki to protect him.
Thus, Hiashi said calmly, "All I need to know is that you fulfilled your duty as a Hidden Leaf shinobi and as a member of the Hyūga branch family."
"Clan Head…" Neji was touched, unsure of what to say.
"If I know too much and don't report it to the village, it could implicate the clan. So, you don't need to explain, and I don't need to take responsibility for you," Hiashi said, patting Neji's shoulder before continuing, "Neji, you've grown."
Well-versed in politics, Hiashi knew the village's leadership harbored deep suspicions toward Bloodline Limit clans. Either he remained ignorant, or if he knew and didn't report, it could raise doubts among the village's higher-ups, potentially leading to a fate like that of the Uchiha clan.
Neji had now grown to a point where even Hiashi had to take him seriously, likely becoming a pillar of the Hyūga clan for decades to come. Rather than probing Neji's secrets, it was better to turn a blind eye, protecting both Neji and the clan.
Understanding Hiashi's intentions, Neji stopped trying to explain and instead approached Kimimaro. "Thank you."
"He seems… off," Kimimaro said, leaving those words before turning to depart.
Unlike Neji, who was covered in wounds, Kimimaro was unscathed. He had lingered on the battlefield partly to eliminate potential threats and partly to deliver that message to Neji.
Hiashi's stance meant Kimimaro didn't need to risk silencing anyone, especially since he, too, had unleashed his 'bio-exoskeleton' to save Neji.
The 'he' Kimimaro referred to was none other than the 'bio-exoskeleton' both he and Neji possessed.
Neji, of course, had sensed it too. In the latter half of his fierce battle with Shinno, 'H' seemed to have fallen into some sort of slumber, and even now, Neji couldn't awaken it.
…
In a grand estate...
Danzō, leaning on his cane, stood in the courtyard, his expression somewhat downcast.
"Hey, looks like they're not planning to call you out of retirement!" a mocking voice called from inside the house.
Danzō's face darkened as he glared toward the house. "Orochimaru, watch your tone!"
Orochimaru slowly emerged from the corridor into the courtyard. "The Akatsuki picked a good time, didn't they? Shame it fell just short."
Danzō sighed.
Even he couldn't quite discern whether he was hoping the Third would summon him or wishing for the Third to fall to the Akatsuki.
Orochimaru said, "The village took a heavy blow this time. The old man's missteps might give you a chance to rise again."
Danzō's eyes flickered at the words.
…
After quietly leaving Danzō's estate, Orochimaru met Kabuto in a grove.
Kabuto, who had just covered Sasori's retreat, reported respectfully to Orochimaru, "Lord Orochimaru, the Akatsuki members who attacked the village totaled six: Hiruko, Kurosuki Raiga, Moryo, Shinno, Sasori, and Deidara. Aside from Kurosuki Raiga, the other five successfully withdrew."
Beyond being Orochimaru's assistant, Kabuto had another identity: a spy planted by Sasori to keep tabs on Orochimaru.
What Sasori didn't know, however, was that Kabuto was a double agent.
Orochimaru asked casually, "Kurosuki Raiga is dead?"
Kabuto nodded lightly. "Kurosuki Raiga was killed by Uchiha Shinji, and even his ninja blade was left behind in Hidden Leaf."
Orochimaru's gaze sharpened. "Uchiha Shinji…"