The Scariest Thing Is the Sudden Silence

At the border between West Forest and the Land of Rain, Rasa led twenty thousand surviving Sand Ninja here after several hours of fleeing. It was already dawn, and the sky was beginning to brighten.

This time, the Sand Ninja were not as careless as before. Only after sensory-type ninja repeatedly scouted the area and confirmed there was no ambush nearby did Rasa finally let out a sigh of relief.

Seeing the Sand Ninja around him looking utterly dispirited, like eggplants wilted by frost, he opened his mouth to say something more. But recalling how badly his previous attempt had backfired, he thought it might only have the opposite effect, so he shut his mouth dejectedly.

After leading the twenty thousand Sand Ninja into the Land of Rain, Rasa did not approach any towns. Instead, they moved cautiously through the wilderness. Though they did not fear the Rain Ninja, Amegakure was Konoha's ally, and Skywalker might personally come to intercept them using the Flying Thunder God Technique. Thus, the Sand Ninja carefully concealed their tracks.

Their destination was the Land of Birds, which bordered the Land of Rain. Once they entered the Land of Birds, they would soon be able to return home. Therefore, after crossing into the Land of Rain, Rasa did not head deep into its interior, but instead turned west and traveled directly along the border.

Along the way, the Sand Ninja advanced through the Land of Rain's wilderness in fits and starts, avoiding all traces of people and concealing their movements. It was not until that afternoon that they finally crossed the Land of Rain and reached its western border.

Because the breakout had been so sudden and no preparations had been made beforehand, most of the Sand Ninja were now starving and thirsty. They had