At that moment, an exceedingly faint disturbance came from the forest. An'ichi's figure instantly appeared beside Kosuke.
"Clan Head, Leader, Elder, the Uzumaki bridal procession is expected to pass through here in fifteen minutes. The Senju Clan's wedding procession has just left their camp."
"Just set out—" Kosuke and Madara frowned at the same time. "Is Hashirama Senju among the Senju procession?"
"Our intelligence agents did not dare get close enough to investigate. We cannot confirm it."
"In that case—"
Kosuke and Madara swiftly exchanged a look, instantly reaching an agreement: approach the Uzumaki procession, control them with genjutsu, and quickly take the target away!
"The operation begins early!" Madara ordered decisively.
Other than the Kaguya tribesmen, who were to remain where they were, every Uchiha Anbu wore a trace of cold excitement on their faces.
Their figures seemed to melt into the shadows as they silently infiltrated toward the Uzumaki bridal procession.
At that moment, the palanquin carrying Uzumaki Mito was surrounded by elite Uzumaki Clan guards as it sped through the dense forest.
The Third Elder of the Uzumaki Clan, leading the group, vigilantly surveyed the surroundings.
At that moment, he suddenly felt that something was wrong.
The chirping of insects in the forest gradually faded away, while the rustling of leaves stirred by the breeze grew louder and louder, carrying an eerie stillness. "Stop!"
The Third Elder's sharp shout rang out abruptly, and the swiftly moving procession instantly halted.
Inside the palanquin, Mito immediately sensed something strange, and a flicker of doubt arose in her heart.
Second by second, time passed. Yet the forest the Uzumaki group guarded so warily remained steeped in that unsettling silence.
Without the elder's command, no matter how doubtful the guards were, they did not dare act on their own. They could