"Boss, something's wrong. Someone's following us!"
Kuriarare Kushimaru gripped [Nuibari], sensing the tremors running through its steel wire.
Besides its needle tip that could pierce anything, [Longsword: Nuibari] possessed a seemingly endless length of sharp steel wire tied to its hilt. Kuriarare Kushimaru often used those wires to set traps or stand guard.
"Oh? They discovered us that quickly? Not bad!"
After a brief moment of thought, Hozuki Sengetsu ordered, "We have more important business to attend to. We can't let them tie us down. Suikazan, don't rush to the ranch yet. Take the people behind us on a few more laps and cover our infiltration!"
He wisely chose to strategically abandon one target, having Suikazan Fuguki's group of three buy time for the other two teams.
"I'll stay too."
Biwa Juzo voluntarily stopped. "Compared to infiltration and assassination, I'm better suited for a frontal clash. I'll join Suikazan's group and buy you enough time."
Hozuki Sengetsu glanced at the Kubikiribōchō in Biwa Juzo's hand, then nodded. The man had a point.
"Fine. The four of you should keep leading them in circles along the coast. If I haven't contacted you in ten days, retreat!"
"Yes!"
Land of Fire, Nara Deer Park.
This was the territory of the Nara Clan, the brains of the Ino-Shika-Cho trio.
The Nara Clan had lived alongside deer for generations and was the largest producer of medicinal ingredients in the Land of Fire. The Nara Rokujo they produced was of exceptionally high quality and was said to be deeply favored by the Daimyo of the Land of Fire.
Therefore, even after joining Konoha, they had not given up the place where they had raised deer for generations. Many of the clan's women, children, and elders lived here to help look after it, while many