After parting ways with Uchiha Shinji, Tsunade's team immediately began retreating toward the Fire Country. However, with a large group of Hidden Grass Village refugees in tow, their withdrawal was slow.
As the first light of dawn broke on the horizon, Shizune, who had been on edge the entire time, finally smiled. "It's finally daylight!"
Yakumo let out a sigh of relief as well.
The demons that ravaged the night had become an unshakable shadow looming over the group's hearts.
Even Yakumo, who possessed the ability to confront these demons, harbored a deep-seated fear of their near-infinite regenerative capabilities and bloodthirsty cruelty.
Tsunade cautioned, "Don't let your guard down!"
Shizune asked, puzzled, "Lady Tsunade, it's already daytime. Those monsters shouldn't appear now, right?"
"That's hard to say."
Tsunade shook her head.
To counter the high-speed regeneration of the 'Upper Ranks,' she had secretly developed a super poison tailored for flesh-and-blood creatures.
She had thought this poison would make dealing with monsters like the 'Upper Ranks' far more effective, but its performance in actual combat fell far short of expectations.
This made her realize that the physical resilience of the 'Upper Ranks' far exceeded her imagination.
Their fear of sunlight might be a weakness, but having been caught off guard once, she didn't dare lower her vigilance or assume they wouldn't appear during the day.
Shizune couldn't help but ask, "Lady Tsunade, what are those monsters? I've never heard of such creatures in the shinobi world before!"
Tsunade shook her head again. "I don't know either. But…"
Shizune pressed, "But what?"
After a moment of choosing her words, Tsunade replied, "Based on their flesh regeneration abilities, they might be a kind of long-lived species, distinct from us."
"Long-lived species!?"
Shizune and Yakumo both froze in shock.
Tsunade explained, "As shinobi, our lifespans aren't much different from ordinary people's. Even someone as powerful as the First Hokage eventually succumbed to the limits of the body. But from what I've observed, the 'Upper Ranks' have surpassed those physical limits. Their lifespans could be several times ours—or even longer! That's why I believe they're a long-lived species."
Shizune's face was full of disbelief. "You mean they could live for hundreds of years, or even more?"
"Yes."
Tsunade nodded.
She hadn't been idle these past few days, dedicating herself to studying the demons.
After confirming that demons could restore their vitality by consuming shinobi flesh and directly siphoning chakra, she concluded they were likely a long-lived species.
Whoosh.
Boom!
At that moment, a distress flare exploded in the sky!
Tsunade glanced at it, then said to Shizune and Yakumo, "Let's go check it out!"
"Yes!"
Shizune and Yakumo quickly followed.
Moments later, near the flare's location, Tsunade's group encountered a panting Hidden Sand communication shinobi. From them, they learned that the Akatsuki was engaged in a fierce battle with 'Upper Rank One' and that a figure suspected to be the Akatsuki's leader, possessing the Eyes of the Sage, had appeared.
Yakumo asked, "The Eyes of the Sage? What's that?"
Tsunade explained, "They're said to be the eyes of the Sage of the Six Paths, the founder of ninjutsu. I always thought it was just a legend, but it seems someone actually possesses those eyes!"
Shizune hurriedly asked, "What do we do now?"
Tsunade weighed her options before replying, "The Akatsuki's clash with 'Upper Rank One' is our best chance to wipe them all out. Plus, we need to verify the matter of the Eyes of the Sage. We have to support the Hidden Sand!"
Shizune and Yakumo nodded repeatedly.
Soon, they made quick arrangements for the Hidden Grass Village refugees and, following the Hidden Sand shinobi's directions, raced toward the battlefield where the Deva Path and 'Upper Rank One' were fighting.
On the Hidden Leaf shinobi army's side, the forces, exasperated by the creature 'Satori' from the Box of Bliss, were currently stationed in a valley not far from the Hidden Sand army.
At that moment, Jiraiya hurriedly entered the command tent and reported to the Third Hokage, "That monster seems to sense killing intent. It escaped before the sealing team could act!"
The Third's expression darkened.
While 'Satori's' destructive power neared that of a tailed beast, it wasn't an insurmountable threat for the Hidden Leaf army. What truly frustrated them was 'Satori's' ability to perceive killing intent, allowing it to anticipate any hostile attacks. Combined with its agile form and flight capabilities, it had thrown the morale-high Hidden Leaf forces into disarray.
Jiraiya suggested, "Why don't we leave a unit to deal with that monster and have the main force rendezvous with the Hidden Sand?"
The Third turned to the communication shinobi. "Have we contacted the Hidden Sand?"
The communication shinobi respectfully replied, "Yes, the Hidden Sand army isn't far from us. Even with a full march, it'll only take half a day!"
The Third stood. "Have Shikaku and the sealing team stay behind. The rest—"
At that moment, a messenger hawk flew into the tent.
The communication shinobi untied the scroll from the hawk's leg and began decoding it. After reading the intelligence, they froze briefly before hurriedly handing it to the Third.
Upon reading the report, even the seasoned Third was visibly stunned.
Jiraiya asked, "What's wrong?"
The Third passed the intelligence to Jiraiya while saying, "Something's happened with the Hidden Sand!"
Jiraiya took a look, his brows furrowing tightly. "The Akatsuki is fighting 'Upper Rank One'? A suspected Akatsuki leader with the Eyes of the Sage has appeared? This…"
The Third fell silent for a few moments before waving his hand decisively. "Jiraiya, gather the Anbu immediately. We're going to support the Hidden Sand!"
"Yes!"
On the battlefield, the Deva Path slowly approached 'Upper Rank One.' With a casual wave of his hand, several black rods shot from his wide sleeves, pinning the charred, coal-like 'Upper Rank One' to the ground.
He then asked, "Who are you?"
The demonized Tanjiro, 'Upper Rank One,' looked at the Deva Path, his face eerily calm, as if the sunlight burning him and the black rods pinning him weren't affecting him at all.
"You won't talk?"
The Deva Path shook his head.
The Rinnegan, dubbed the 'Eyes of the Sage,' possessed a wide array of abilities. Among them, the Human Path could directly read a target's soul, interrogating them on a spiritual level. Thus, the Deva Path wasn't concerned about the enemy's silence.
Once in his grasp, no secret could escape the Rinnegan. All he needed was for the Human Path to arrive, and he'd uncover the origins of the 'Upper Rank' monsters.
Whoosh.
At that moment, a streak of light appeared on the horizon, racing toward the battlefield.