The Truth (Part Two)

Before long, Sasuke noticed three people creeping over along the wall.

He held his breath and curled up in the corner, hoping to avoid their notice.

After all, he was only a twelve-year-old child. Even with the Sharingan, his strength was merely at the level of a Chunin. On top of that, his injured legs had yet to fully recover. If he were discovered, the consequences were obvious.

Whether they were enemies or guards, neither was someone he could contend with.

Hiding was the only way he could think of dealing with the situation.

As the newcomers drew closer, his heart rose into his throat.

Suddenly, he heard a female voice outside say, "Why haven't we seen them? Could they have already left?"

Hearing that familiar voice, Sakura Haruno, who was nervously hiding in another corner, let out a long sigh of relief.

She had recognized it as the voice of her best friend, Ino Yamanaka.

"Ino, what are you doing here?" Sakura instinctively stood up and asked.

But the moment the words left her mouth, she regretted it.

She had actually exposed the fact that she was hiding inside.

Outside the archive room, Ino heard the voice and immediately exclaimed excitedly, "Sakura, are you in there?"

She was just about to step inside when Shikamaru moved ahead of her and blocked her path.

"Shikamaru, what are you doing?" Ino asked unhappily.

Shikamaru signaled Choji with his eyes, then stared intently into the empty archive room. "Ino, don't forget why we came here!"

"For now, confirm whether they're enemies or allies!"

Receiving his hint, Choji tacitly walked to the archive room's entrance and assumed a defensive stance.

In the fixed battle formation known as "Ino-Shika-Cho," the Akimichi Clan, symbolized by the "Cho," was responsible for defense and part of the