The Gelel Ore Vein was also located within a canyon—more precisely, beneath ruins in the canyon.
Naruto stood in the sky.
He looked down at the canyon below.
It was already deep into the night, and the canyon was shrouded in a thick layer of white mist.
With the cold moonlight and his Sharingan activated, Naruto could still clearly see the ancient ruins hidden beneath the fog.
From time to time, Chakra signatures moved around the ruins.
They seemed to be patrolling the surrounding area at regular intervals.
According to Rasa's memories, these were the sand shinobi temporarily stationed here after discovering the Gelel Ore Vein.
After sending the location of the Gelel Ore Vein back to the village, they had remained stationed here.
They were waiting for Sunagakure's mining team to arrive.
At that moment, inside a large tent atop the ruins in the canyon—
Steam rose within, carrying the scent of roasted meat and rice wine.
"Cheers!"
Several shinobi dressed in ninja uniforms wolfed down roasted meat. After clinking their cups together, they tilted their heads back and gulped down their drinks.
They wore Sunagakure forehead protectors as well.
A faint drunken flush was visible on all their faces.
"Phew—"
One sand shinobi wearing a chunin flak jacket drained the wine in his cup in one gulp, an involuntary look of satisfaction spreading across his face.
"This place is seriously cold. Compared to the village, it's practically a whole different world."
"Yeah. Without this meat and wine to warm me up, I'd be freezing my ass off."
A sand shinobi genin beside him could not help speaking up as well.
"Haha, that just means you lot aren't strong enough yet. Guys like us don't feel a thing."
Several jonin burst into laughter at those words.
The two who