April 10, Konoha Year 38, before dawn.
Akaseki was underground, slowly using the Mud-Stealth Technique to soften the soil and reduce the disturbances caused by moving underground as he approached Roshi in the command headquarters—
One hundred meters—fifty meters—forty meters—thirty-five meters—
Akaseki stopped at this distance!
At this distance, Akaseki could sense Roshi's position. He even knew that Roshi was currently sitting cross-legged, likely refining chakra or meditating—what Akaseki sensed was not chakra fluctuations, but vibrations in the earth, so he could only make out Roshi's "posture."
Although Roshi was not sitting on the ground but on a bed, and the bed was on the ground—it was the same thing.
This kind of sensing alone could not distinguish one person from another, but Minato had long told Akaseki the chakra intensity corresponding to each person. That was why Akaseki knew this was Roshi and also knew the locations of the other three Jonin.
Akaseki did not move any closer, lest he alert the enemy instead.
But—
"Hmm?" Roshi still sensed something and opened his eyes.
However, Roshi clearly had not truly discovered anything. He merely looked around warily, seemingly trying to find an enemy he could not see—or was not even sure existed!
Sensing that Roshi had awakened, Akaseki could not help cursing inwardly. Jinchuriki really were far too perceptive.
This was because Roshi was not a perfect Jinchuriki. His relationship with Four-Tails was nowhere near as harmonious as Bunpuku's relationship with Shukaku. Otherwise, Four-Tails could have given him a clear warning by now!
Even now, Roshi vaguely sensed "hostility," though he was unsure whether it was merely an illusion.
Akaseki no longer hesitated—
Though his main body did not move, his six clones had already acted!
Earth Style: Opening Earth Rising Excavation! The six clones formed pairs and arrived