Figures from Iwagakure flashed past before his eyes. Inside the cave, White Fang's gaze narrowed slightly, his heart still as water as he reduced the flow of chakra throughout his body to its absolute minimum. Even sensory ninja would not be able to detect him unless they came within a certain distance.
The Iwagakure ninja searched the area but found no trace of him. They had clearly been right on White Fang's heels.
After searching unwillingly for half a day, they had no choice but to admit that White Fang might truly have escaped by some unknown method. Left with no alternative, they withdrew in frustration.
Even after they had left, White Fang did not emerge immediately. Instead, he patiently waited for an entire day, surviving in the cave on the rations he carried with him.
Only after confirming that they had truly all departed did he relax slightly.
"But what exactly is going on with this cave?" White Fang did not leave. Instead, he began carefully examining the cave he was in.
His escape this time had been largely thanks to this cave. He had discovered it by chance while fleeing. The entrance was concealed by an almost flawless genjutsu; if he had not stumbled into it by accident, he would never have been able to enter. That was why, no matter how thoroughly the Iwagakure ninja searched, they could not find him.
But that was precisely the problem. Why would a cave on the border between the Land of Grass and the Land of Fire be hidden by such an intricate genjutsu? It could not possibly have formed naturally.
Driven by intense curiosity, White Fang ate something to restore his strength, then slowly headed deeper into the cave.
Because Iwagakure had been pursuing him earlier, he had not