Chapter 237
The night sky was breathtaking—especially from above the clouds.
Far below, Roran hummed with energy, powering the Sky City as it climbed higher into the atmosphere. The air grew colder with each passing second, but thanks to Rossinanti's protective barrier, the chill was tolerable. Just a little nippy.
Karin leaned over the guardrail, gazing down. The clouds now lay beneath them, and everything on the ground looked tiny—so small that even ants felt too generous a comparison. People weren't visible at all. Only the scars of battle—craters and shattered earth—could still be seen, serving as reminders of the war's devastation.
Feeling dizzy from the altitude, Karin shook her head and stomped back to the center of the city, pouting.
"Maybe... maybe Hatsuizumi bailed because she's scared of heights?" she muttered. It started as a joke, but the more she thought about it, the more it made sense. Heights were the one thing that rattled her. That had to be why she chose to stay behind and support Zixu instead.
She was about to go find Chinano and talk about it, but paused when she noticed her staring blankly at the moon.
"You okay? You look kinda spaced out..." Karin followed Chinano's gaze, but all she saw was the full moon—round and bright, like a massive eyeball. Nothing unusual.
"It's nothing... It's just... I feel like something on the moon is calling me," Chinano said softly. Her tone was calm, but the look in her eyes was distant and confused. "It's like... a voice, gentle but persistent. As if someone's waiting for me up there."
Down on the floor, Kabuto crouched quietly, a glint of cold light flashing in his snake-like eyes.
"Lord Orochimaru... who do you think will win this time?"
Meanwhile, Neji was organizing the city. He'd already evacuated the residents back into their homes, and now a steel shield emerged along the city's edge. With their altitude climbing, safety had to come first.