August 25, morning.
Near the northeastern land bridge of the Shinobi Continent—
Three Cloud Ninja from Kumogakure were escorting an elderly man and two youths toward the Land of Lightning.
"Mr. Ika, do we really have to hurry this much? Dr. Tetsusai's health—" the boy said worriedly.
"Genta, Dr. Tetsusai, the Land of Iron is currently at war with the Land of Rain. We could run into—" the Cloud Ninja cautioned anxiously.
"I understand. Let's make it into the Land of Lightning before we rest," Tetsusai said.
Tetsusai was slightly plump, with a faint hunch in his back. Deep wrinkles lined his face, and he wore thick, round glasses with heavy frames. His gentle expression carried a trace of fatigue.
Judging by how they addressed him, Tetsusai appeared to be a doctor—unlike Medical Ninja, doctors generally treated illnesses, while Medical Ninja could usually only handle external injuries.
However, regarding the disagreement between his student and the Cloud Ninja, Tetsusai took a firm stance and supported continuing onward!
"Thank you very much for understanding. We'll be inside the Land of Lightning soon, and then we can get some proper rest."
Ika said this with a sigh of relief.
After all, Dr. Tetsusai had been invited from the Land of Sea by the village specifically for the Eight-Tails Jinchuriki—the Land of Sea lay overseas, had long depended on the Land of Water militarily, and was renowned for its medical techniques.
The three members of this Kumogakure squad were all very young, only around fifteen or sixteen. The classic two-men-and-one-woman lineup, paired with Kumogakure's distinctive combination of two light-skinned members and one dark-skinned member.
"It's nothing. Rather, you've worked hard escorting us all this way, so—" Tetsusai was about to exchange a few pleasantries.
Just then, a massive purple snake head suddenly burst