A cool breeze passed through the forest, making the leaves rustle.
The Forest of Death was thick with vegetation. No sunlight reached the spot where the three members of Team 7 had stopped. The chilly wind swept over them, making each of them shiver.
"Someone's following us? How come I didn't notice?"
Naruto scratched his head and looked around in confusion. Meanwhile, Karin silently pulled a kunai from her ninja tool pouch and gripped it tightly. She believed Sasuke. Ever since their group had entered the Forest of Death, Karin had also felt as though someone was watching them. At first, she had thought it was merely an illusion, but Sasuke's warning made her take it seriously.
"Stay alert." Sasuke ignored Naruto and called out softly, drawing a kunai from his ninja tool pouch as well.
The three crouched in a triangular formation, carefully observing their surroundings.
"Rustle, rustle, rustle." Leaves swayed softly in the breeze, while scattered shafts of light filtered through the gaps in the canopy and fell upon the ground. The three remained on guard for a long time, yet detected no sign of an enemy.
"Sasuke, could you have been mistaken?" Naruto scratched his head, losing patience as he turned to ask. Yet at the very instant he turned around, a young man wearing a bamboo hat slowly rose from the ground in front of him. With his hands tucked at his waist, he looked down at Naruto from above.
"Naruto!" Sasuke caught sight of the suddenly appearing figure from the corner of his eye and immediately shouted. At the same time, he grabbed Naruto's wrist and pulled him behind himself.
"Wood Release? Tree Binding Eternal Burial!" On the other side, Karin had already finished forming her hand seals. Four thick vines burst from the ground