A full moon hung high in the sky. Beneath its light, figures moved through the forest.
"Roshi, we still haven't found any sign of Konoha's ninja. Could they have already crossed the border and gone back?"
Under the moonlight, Roshi led a large force of Stone Ninja through the dense woods. They were racing toward the border between the Land of Birds and the Land of Wind, hoping to intercept Uzumaki Kuming and the others, who had rashly entered the Land of Birds.
The scouts Roshi had sent out began reporting back one after another, but none had spotted Uzumaki Kuming and his companions. By now, Roshi's deputy couldn't help doubting their assessment. Had Konoha's ninja already crossed the border and returned?
"That shouldn't be possible. We should be moving faster than they are."
"They may be hiding well. We just haven't found them."
Roshi lowered his head slightly, deep in thought. But at that moment, a piercing whistle tore through the air, shattering the stillness of the night.
"Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!"
From the shadows of the night, countless oddly shaped kunai suddenly shot out. They flew so fast that they reached the Stone Ninja in the blink of an eye. Some who couldn't dodge in time were pierced through the chest and fell heavily to the ground.
"Enemy attack!"
Roshi cried out in alarm. Just then, a blond youth appeared beside a kunai flying toward him. His golden hair glinted in the moonlight.
"Minato Namikaze!"
Roshi was startled again, and chakra surged wildly from his body. By then, Minato had already caught the kunai and thrust it toward Roshi's neck.
Minato's attack came without warning. As soon as he threw the kunai, Konoha's ninja launched a large volley of kunai bound with Explosive Tags. Then came a