After leaving the Hokage Office, everyone wore grave expressions.
"This time, Kirigakure is coming at us hard. Aside from the four at the border, I suspect that the opponents on both your fronts may also be members of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen. Be extremely careful!"
As the most experienced ninja present, Jiraiya reminded the others.
"Don't worry, Jiraiya-sensei. We'll be careful." Namikaze Minato flashed his bright, easygoing smile.
Yuhi Shinku and the others nodded as well, indicating that they would be extra cautious. At the same time, Namikaze Minato handed Fugaku Uchiha a specially shaped kunai.
"Good. Then let's go!"
Whoosh!
Fire Temple ruins.
"Hizashi, check whether the enemy is still nearby. Shibi, see if you can still pick up the enemy's trail here," Namikaze Minato ordered as the team captain.
"Byakugan, activate!"
Hizashi Hyuga pressed his palms together. Veins bulged around his eyes as his vision shifted into black and white.
"Report! No strong chakra signatures have been detected within five kilometers. The enemy should have already left!"
"They've gone?"
Namikaze Minato frowned slightly. "Shibi, what about you? Did you find anything?"
Aburame Shibi, clad in a high-collared coat that covered everything below his nose and sunglasses that concealed his eyes, communicated with the Kikaichū in his hand before rising to his feet. "An unusual concentration of water vapor lingered here before. It departed in that direction."
"Pursue them!"
At the command, Namikaze Minato took the lead and charged ahead.
Elsewhere.
Yuhi Shinku and Fugaku Uchiha led several teammates to the outskirts of the Deer Garden.
"This mist..."
As a veteran jonin who had made his name in the previous Shinobi World War, Yuhi Shinku's vigilance was far beyond that of the earlier Ino-Shika-Cho trio. The instant he saw the mist blanketing the forest, he realized something was