The massive water dragon, stretching several dozen meters long, left the enemy ninja utterly dumbfounded.
Their minds were reeling—Was that really a Water Style jutsu? Are we sure it's not Sea Style?
What they saw had far surpassed their understanding of ninjutsu.
But this was no time to question reality. The attack was coming, and they had no choice but to grit their teeth and respond.
One after another, anguished screams filled the air as the ninja collapsed to the ground, completely incapacitated.
Tobirama's attack was ruthless—but he pulled back at the last moment, deliberately sparing their lives.
He understood well: living "specimens" were far more valuable for research.
At that moment, Orochimaru let out a cold chuckle. His hands moved rapidly, forming seals. The ground began to tremble.
A moment later, blood began seeping from the cracks in the earth. The eerie sight sent chills down the spines of all present.
But Orochimaru remained entirely unfazed. He glanced at the collapsed ninja and sneered:
"Did no one teach you that using Earth Style like that will get you killed?"
Before he could finish, the surrounding soldiers had already locked into formation. Guns raised, they fired without hesitation.
A hailstorm of bullets roared through the air like rain.
But Orochimaru and Tobirama seemed fully prepared. They moved with unnatural agility, dodging the gunfire with ease—while launching counterattacks of their own.
Suddenly, nine shikigami burst from the shadows.
Each unleashed its unique technique, charging at them.
Their appearance only added to the chaos of the battlefield.
As the fight escalated, more and more reinforcements were drawn to the scene.
Watching the growing crowd, Orochimaru and Tobirama exchanged knowing smiles.
"Looks like everyone's here. Time to begin," Orochimaru said in a low voice, laced with anticipation.
Tobirama gave a firm nod in agreement.
"Four Violet Flames Formation!"
The moment those words left his mouth, a tremendous shift occurred.
The entire Palace of the Lord Commissioner was suddenly sealed within a glowing crimson-violet barrier—like a colossal cage trapping all within.
Some tried to break through the barrier, but the instant they touched it, they were engulfed in flames. The rest wisely backed off in terror.
At each of the four corners of the barrier, shadow clones of Tobirama and Orochimaru stood silently, hands sealed.
This sudden shift plunged the defenders of the Sakura Country into complete despair.
They stared at the smiling faces of the two intruders, hearts filled with dread and foreboding.
Only now did they realize—they'd walked right into a carefully laid trap.
Thinking back on the earlier battle, the truth dawned on them.
Tobirama and Orochimaru had fought just hard enough to lure in more reinforcements.
The realization that they'd been manipulated like chess pieces sent a chill down every spine.
But there was no time to dwell on regrets.
Because the real battle had just begun.
Tobirama and Orochimaru's movements blurred into afterimages, far too fast for the human eye to track.
The overwhelming pressure they gave off was terrifying—no jutsu seemed capable of halting their advance.
Within minutes, the once-mighty palace was quiet again.
Only Tobirama and Orochimaru remained standing.
All those valiant warriors of the Sakura Country now lay in pools of blood.
Their task complete, the two exchanged a look and—without a word—each took out a sealing scroll, releasing it to summon a full set of research equipment.
After all, as scientists, carrying portable gear was just good sense.
Especially after Hikaru had told them they'd be visiting another world—they had come fully prepared.
With an amused smile, they began their experiments.
The next day, the news that the Lord Commissioner of the Sakura Country had been assassinated exploded across the world like a typhoon.
The once-grand palace had become nothing but a field of ruin—silent testimony to the carnage of the previous night.
The sheer scale of the deaths and disappearances made it impossible to suppress the truth. Shockwaves rippled through the nations.
Meanwhile, elsewhere, Uchiha Hikaru had returned to Luoxia Town via teleportation, accompanied by Kaguya and Chinatsu.
Night had fallen. The ancient town glowed with a unique charm under the starlit sky.
Hikaru strolled leisurely with the two women through the busy streets, enjoying a rare moment of peace.
They wandered among the bustling crowds, sampling the town's unique local delicacies.
Chinatsu was brimming with curiosity and excitement over the unfamiliar flavors, while Kaguya—despite her ancient origins—was quickly won over by the tasty treats.
Her mouth was stuffed, and her hands kept moving as she ate and praised at the same time.
Hikaru couldn't help but laugh softly at her adorable eating habits.
Hearing his laugh, Kaguya suddenly realized she'd lost her composure. Her face flushed slightly, and she lowered her head shyly.
To hide her embarrassment, she chewed faster and quickly swallowed her mouthful.
Chinatsu noticed her blushing cheeks and flustered manner and giggled softly.
Looping her arm around Kaguya's, she said gently:
"Kaguya-nee, don't be so shy. Lord Hikaru was just teasing you."
Kaguya peeked up through her long lashes and gave Hikaru a playful glare, a hint of a smile curling her lips.
She gently patted the back of Chinatsu's hand in thanks, then turned to Hikaru and said,
"You scoundrel… always making fun of me."
Hikaru watched the exchange between the two women, his heart full of warmth and contentment.
He smiled and said,
"Alright, alright. I'll stop teasing. Let's keep walking—see what else there is to eat."
And so, the three of them continued their nighttime stroll through Luoxia Town.
They sampled all sorts of treats, admired the night scenery, and took in the town's unique architectural charm.
Along the way, Hikaru shared interesting tidbits and customs of this world with the two women.
And amidst that peaceful and harmonious atmosphere, a familiar figure suddenly appeared in their sight.
Standing at the entrance of an inn was Zhang Zhiwei, looking disheveled and letting out a long sigh.
Though the child he had brought back had recovered physically thanks to Hikaru's treatment, the emotional trauma ran deep.
Those children—once cruelly transformed into dog-faced human hybrids—had internalized the belief that they were no longer human.
They couldn't escape those terrifying memories, nor reintegrate into normal life.
Zhang Zhiwei had poured tremendous patience and effort into comforting them.