"They're coming this way! It's a large force, more than twenty people!"
Uzumaki Kuming stared gravely at the forest on the opposite bank and rose to his feet. He stored the bamboo tube filled with water inside a scroll, then rested his right hand on the hilt of his long sword and became alert.
Nara Shikaku and the others saw Kuming's expression and realized something was wrong. They immediately stood up, and Yamanaka Inoichi shouted to Hatake Sakumo, "Enemy attack!"
But Hatake Sakumo didn't need Yamanaka Inoichi's warning. As they readied themselves, a violent explosion erupted in the woods across the river. The next second, a figure wreathed in flames burst out of the forest and plunged into the river with a splash. A long while later, many small black insects floated up in the middle of the river.
Before long, Aburame Shibi surfaced and struggled to swim to the bank. With Nara Shikaku's help, he climbed out of the water, collapsed on the riverbed, and gasped for breath.
"Shibi! How are you?"
Nara Shikaku asked with concern, seeing the many burns on Aburame Shibi's body. The others were all watching the forest, fully on guard. Hatake Sakumo, keeping watch from the treetops, already had a short blade in hand and was staring gravely at the woods across the river.
"It's Sunagakure. I've been poisoned."
Aburame Shibi's voice was weak. At his words, Uzumaki Kuming noticed that many Kikaichū had gathered around Shibi's lower leg, packed tightly together in a long line. Every so often, a few Kikaichū turned purple and fell from the swarm.
The wound seemed to be there. Aburame Shibi was still conscious and hadn't succumbed to the poison, which was likely thanks to his Kikaichū.
"Antidote! Don't panic. I got some antidotes from Lady Tsunade before