Morning mist filled the forest, slowly drifting away.
A wisp of black smoke gradually rose from the clearing.
"All right, all the traps in the forest have been dismantled. Let's set out."
Amid the morning mist, a figure suddenly appeared somewhere among the five scattered silhouettes, followed by that voice.
"Mm, Lord Chiba will lead the way."
Then came a voice that sounded rather pleased.
"Please follow me."
Hearing this, the earlier speaker did not decline. He spoke bluntly, then leaped out without hesitation, speeding toward Konoha.
The remaining five did not hesitate either. With a flash, they followed after him.
Only that wisp of black smoke remained, slowly fading away.
"Captain... are we still following them?"
After the smoke had dissipated and silence had returned for quite some time, a voice sounded from the woods beside the clearing.
"Follow? Follow my ass!"
Then came a voice brimming with pent-up frustration, finally exploding in fierce anger.
"Y-Yes, Captain!"
A timid reply followed.
"All right, Hasegawa. We were simply unlucky this time. Who knew we would run into such a monster?"
Afterward, a rather amiable voice tried to smooth things over.
At that moment, about ten ninjas were concealed in half-kneeling positions atop the trunks of trees at the edge of the clearing. Their leader was a ninja with a scar across his face, and all of them were dressed like Iwa shinobi. The one speaking was a pleasant-looking middle-aged ninja behind the scar-faced man.
On a higher branch above the amiable middle-aged ninja, a young ninja of sixteen or seventeen was crouched. He had his head lowered, looking as though he had just been reprimanded.
Behind them, the other seven ninjas exchanged glances. Other than helplessness and bitter smiles, there was no other expression on their faces.
Indeed, what was