Kakashi Squad's route, near the Border Line, night.
Taking advantage of the cover of night, Kakashi and the other two silently made their way toward the Border Line, with Kakashi and Obito in front and Rin behind them.
"Where's Teacher Minato?"
Suddenly, Rin, walking at the rear, seemed to notice something. With a helpless, troubled look, she glanced behind her—but the instant she did, her face froze.
The Teacher who had been behind her was gone! She immediately stopped, crying out in alarm.
"What?"
At her words, Obito, who was walking ahead of her with his face turned aside, abruptly halted as well. His previously pursed lips stiffened, and after confirming that their Teacher was nowhere to be seen, the word slipped from his mouth.
"Huh?"
At the same time, Kakashi, walking in front of Obito, turned around, a trace of vigilance flashing through his eyes.
Not here?
An enemy attack?
Unlike the puzzled and astonished expressions on Obito and Rin's faces, Kakashi had already frowned as vigilance flashed through his eyes. Almost the moment he confirmed that their Teacher was gone, his right hand slipped into his Ninja Tool Pouch and gripped a Kunai.
At the same time, his peripheral vision began sweeping across the grassland. The night wind blew gently, while the moonlight shone like silver, casting wave after wave of pale light that made the surroundings as bright as day.
No movement?
Then, almost instantly, he assessed the situation around them. Nothing had happened.
What was going on?
The next moment, his furrowed brow tightened even further.
Their Teacher, who had been behind them, had suddenly vanished without a sound. Yet there was no sign of an enemy attack. A bad premonition and unease quietly crept into Kakashi's heart.
"Kakashi..."
At that moment, Rin turned to look