"Stop!"
Ao, who was walking at the front, suddenly stopped and raised a hand to signal those behind him to halt as well.
"Did you spot someone from Konoha?" Shimo asked tentatively.
"Yeah!"
Ao stared fixedly ahead and said in a low voice, "We're changing direction!"
He then led his three junior subordinates on a detour toward the northeast.
The many Mist shinobi behind them also changed direction when they saw Ao turn.
"How about that? I told you these good-for-nothings still had a bit of use left in them, didn't I?" Upon hearing about the change in direction, Fuguki Suikazan proudly bragged to his six companions.
There was no doubt that this sudden change in direction was because Ao's Byakugan had spotted people from Konoha.
"Let's hurry up! I can't wait to slaughter them all!" Jinin Akebino ignored his boasting and urged them on with a stern expression.
Seeing that his companions were all impatient as well, Fuguki Suikazan felt he was only making a fool of himself. He shut his mouth and quickened his pace.
After avoiding nearly ten Konoha sentries in succession, Ao led the assault force and the Seven Ninja Swordsmen completely around Konoha's defensive line.
To ease the intense tension they had been under, Ao, as the commander, immediately ordered everyone to rest where they were.
"Hey, you boy called Ao, come over here!" Fuguki Suikazan waved to the young commander.
"Does my lord have some orders for me?" Ao asked with a smile. His gentle smile was flawless.
He knew very well that although he was the commander of this assault, that did not mean he was qualified to command those seven unruly men.
Moreover, he did not have the strength to stand his ground before the seven of them.
Therefore, from beginning to