Different Mindsets!

"Chiba, something seems strange."

Hirohiko's voice came from behind the trunk where the branches connected, just one step away from the grassland outside. Before Chiba, who was crouching on that branch, the trap Steel Wire—so inconspicuous it was impossible to notice without looking closely—gave a faint tremble.

At the same time, beside where Chiba had crouched, there was a footprint where a branch had been crushed.

"What is it?"

Chiba glanced to his right and asked.

So he did have this trick up his sleeve. Looks like we missed the best chance to kill Dodai. We should have killed him while he was inside the Protective Membrane Jade.

This is getting more and more troublesome.

And these little mechanisms of his are slowing us down to some extent. Whether he leaves concealed footprints or this trap, both probably serve two purposes for him.

Even if they do not achieve their intended effect, they can still hold us up a little and slow us down.

But if we ignore these little mechanisms, I cannot put my mind at ease. This place is already relatively close to Iwa and Kumogakure's rear battlefield. If we do not investigate every anomaly along the way, we may end up overlooking something.

After all, aside from Dodai, there is a high chance that other Kumogakure or Iwa forces or squads could appear here. Those forces and squads might also set up little mechanisms like these. If we cannot immediately distinguish whether it is Dodai's trap or one set by those possible other forces, we may not even realize the enemy has their eyes on us.

Even if those other enemies do not launch an ambush, simply letting them learn our identities would be enough to cause enormous trouble.

*I am more or less a celebrity now.