On the ground.
Hundreds and thousands of ninjas marched mightily towards the direction of 'Infinity Castle'. Leading the way, Kakashi issued various orders while listening to reports from Intelligence Division ninjas.
With the battle over at the camp, preliminary casualty statistics had come out.
The Land of Grass camp attacked by 'Satori' had over three hundred ninjas killed in action, and countless wounded.
Although the ninja army led by Kakashi didn't fight for long, due to the surprise attack by eight Akatsuki members, the losses were also huge, close to one-quarter. Many elite Jonin like Asuma were heavily injured and temporarily lost combat capability.
After hearing the report, Kakashi's face was gloomy.
Such heavy losses somewhat exceeded his expectations. Plus 'Upper Rank One' suddenly taking action made him feel vaguely uneasy.
Immediately, while speeding on the grassland, he looked up at the sky.
Unlike the mighty force on the ground, there was only one huge black shadow in the sky, which was Hiruko's flying fusion beast.
Hiruko, Sasori, Itachi, and Juzo Biwa, four Akatsuki members, were currently on the back of that flying fusion beast, and their target was also the 'Infinity Castle' ahead.
Not long after, both the Ninja Village Alliance on the ground and the Akatsuki organization in the air stopped.
Because in front of them, a gloomy and eerie city appeared.
Guy exclaimed: "This is 'Infinity Castle'?"
No wonder Guy made a fuss. One must know that in the current Ninja World, the scale of towns was generally not large. A town like Konoha Village that could accommodate over a hundred thousand people was already considered very large.
But the 'Infinity Castle' in front of them was simply a super metropolis.
Under the dim night, it almost merged with the endless grassland. At a glance, it seemed to have no end.
Kakashi looked solemn: "It's somewhat different from the description in intelligence!"
Kurenai aside asked: "What's different?"
"Too big!" Pausing, Kakashi frowned: "According to my own experience and intelligence summarized by the Intelligence Division, 'Infinity Castle' shouldn't be this big. This... this is obviously excessively big!"
Kurenai frowned: "What do we do now?"
"Yakumo and others are still trapped inside. No matter what, we have to rescue them first." Saying that, Kakashi turned to instruct the Intelligence Division ninja standing by: "Notify the headquarters of the situation here immediately!"
"Yes!"
The Intelligence Division ninja dared not delay and immediately contacted the Communications Division.
In the air.
Looking at the almost endless 'Infinity Castle' below, the faces of the few people on the back of the flying fusion beast were also somewhat solemn.
Juzo Biwa said: "Is it that ability of 'Upper Rank Demon' again?"
Hiruko observed for a while and said: "The boundary outline is completely blurred. This city seems to be squeezed into this space forcefully."
Sasori said: "It's called 'Infinity Castle', at least that's what the Ninja Village Alliance calls it! But... it shouldn't be this big, right?"
Juzo Biwa asked hesitantly: "Are we going in?"
For a moment, no one answered.
Logically speaking, for Akatsuki members who feared nothing, there generally wouldn't be such hesitation.
But the 'Infinity Castle' in front of them was indeed too weird, forcing them to be vigilant.
Itachi remained silent, observing 'Infinity Castle' seriously all along.
According to intelligence from the last Land of Grass battle, although 'Infinity Castle' involved space-time, if a huge explosion or noise occurred inside the city, it could be seen and heard from the outside.
But the 'Infinity Castle' right now lay quietly on the grassland like this, as if a force isolated the inside from the outside, making him unable to pry into what was happening inside 'Infinity Castle' even with Mangekyo Sharingan.
Inside 'Infinity Castle'.
Unlike the relatively calm outside, a battle like a mountain of corpses and a sea of blood was taking place inside 'Infinity Castle'.
Swish...
A sword light flashed, and a Hidden Mist ninja skilled in Mist Assassination Technique was cut in half at the waist by Tanjiro, blood spurting out violently.
Suddenly, the ground under Tanjiro's feet cracked, and a pair of hands reached out from underground, trying to grab Tanjiro's legs.
With a light snort, the blood-soaked Tanjiro flicked his wrist holding the sword, stabbing the sword tip downwards into the ground.
"Ah!"
With a wail, the hands reaching out from underground instantly drooped weakly.
Pulling out the long sword stabbed into the ground, Tanjiro swept his gaze around coldly.
"Damn it!"
"Mo... monster!"
"What do we do?"
Panic and confusion were written all over the faces of surrounding ninjas.
The strength Tanjiro displayed at this moment was stronger than when he participated in the Land of Grass battle as 'Upper Rank One'. Even Jonin skilled in taijutsu and kenjutsu had no power to fight back in front of him. In just a short while, corpses were strewn all over the ground!
And the mutilated corpses all over the ground constantly impacted the mental defense of surrounding ninjas. As ninjas, they were long used to the cruelty of the world, but the scene in front of them was still too shocking!
Seeing surrounding ninjas trembling, many having lost the will to fight, Tanjiro didn't tangle with them but walked directly towards the unconscious Muku aside.
His urgent task right now was still to absorb Muku. If not for wave after wave of ninjas fearlessly stopping him, he would have absorbed Muku long ago.
"Lightning Release: Black Panther!"
Just then, a black lightning attacked like a leopard, instantly hitting Tanjiro.
Swish...
Another figure descended from the sky, shouting: "Hiramekarei, Release!"
Although his body was paralyzed by Lightning Release, relying on powerful flesh and blood strength, Tanjiro barely swung his sword to block the incoming figure!
Clang!
Ear-piercing sound of metal clashing resounded through the whole long street.
Undoubtedly, this surprise attack was jointly performed by Cloud's Darui and Mist's Chojuro. Darui took the opportunity to sneak attack, while Chojuro was responsible for the forceful attack.
However, unexpectedly for both, Tanjiro, hit by Darui's 'Black Lightning', could actually still swing his sword to block Chojuro's full-force strike with 'Hiramekarei'. Simply incredible!
"Die!"
Just as Tanjiro was wrestling with Chojuro, with a 'swish', Ameyuri Ringo wrapped in lightning flashed behind Tanjiro. The twin swords 'Kiba' in her hands stabbed fiercely, instantly piercing through Tanjiro's body.
After succeeding, Ameyuri Ringo didn't forget to follow up, using 'Kiba' inserted into Tanjiro's body to launch several powerful Lightning Release ninjutsu.
Chichichi...
Instantly, huge lightning pierced through Tanjiro's body. Tanjiro was like a filament in a light bulb, glowing all over from being roasted by huge electric currents in an instant...