Knock, knock, knock.
A series of knocks broke the silence of the night.
"Who is it?"
Shinji's Shadow Clone, which he had left in the apartment, yawned as it made its way to the entrance.
"It's me!"
Sasuke's voice came from outside.
The Shadow Clone opened the door, looking puzzled. "Sasuke? Why are you here so late instead of sleeping?"
Sasuke didn't come inside. "There's something I need to talk to you about!"
The Shadow Clone shrugged. "Then go ahead!"
Sasuke said, "Let's go somewhere else to talk."
The Shadow Clone yawned again, apparently not noticing that anything was off about Sasuke. "Can't it wait until tomorrow? It's so late!"
Sasuke remained unusually calm. "I'll wait downstairs."
With that, Sasuke turned and went down the stairs.
Watching Sasuke descend, the Shadow Clone gave it some thought, then closed the door and followed him.
After catching up with Sasuke downstairs, the Shadow Clone asked, "What is it you wanted to talk to me about?"
"Come with me!"
Sasuke said nothing more. He flashed away, speeding toward the Forest of Death.
Shinji, hiding in the shadows, furrowed his brow.
This wasn't quite what he'd expected. But on second thought, even if Sasuke planned to attack, he wouldn't do it in the village.
After all, that would be hard to explain away!
Yakumo seemed to realize this, too. She looked at Shinji nervously.
Shinji said, "Come on. We'll follow them!"
Before long, Sasuke led Shinji's Shadow Clone into the Forest of Death.
Shinji and Yakumo followed close behind, slipping into the Forest of Death without a sound.
In the eerie forest, Sasuke, wearing a shirt emblazoned with the Uchiha Clan Crest, faced Shinji's Shadow Clone from a distance.
In the tense atmosphere, the Shadow Clone said, "So you didn't bring me here to