The border outpost had given Uchiha Ling a room that was the quietest and best-defended in the entire outpost: a stone chamber.
Ling wasn't asleep. He sat cross-legged with his eyes closed, the power of his Eternal Mangekyou Sharingan flowing through him like a deep ocean, nourishing his body while sharpening his senses to their utmost.
The howling wind outside the outpost, the faint chirping of insects in the distance, even the subtle tremors in the soil—all were reflected clearly in the lake of his mind.
The night grew deep.
As a thin cloud drifted across the moon, slightly veiling its light, four figures emerged soundlessly from the darkest corner of the outpost, as if they had taken shape from the darkness itself.
They gave off not the slightest trace of chakra, and their movements were so perfectly coordinated that they seemed like a single entity. They were the elite assassination squad Danzo had sent: the "Owl."
Like venomous snakes that had already mapped out their prey, they didn't hesitate for an instant. They made straight for the stone chamber where Uchiha Ling was staying.
The four had clear roles. Two silently drew specially made Kunai wreathed in a faint glow, their blades coated with a deadly poison that could paralyze the nervous system in an instant. Another formed Hand Seals, releasing a weak but highly focused barrier that was meant to block sound and chakra from escaping the room. The last stayed hidden in the shadows, like a venomous fang poised to strike, ready to deal with anything unexpected.
They moved swiftly, precisely, and ruthlessly—clearly seasoned assassins. Under normal circumstances, no target recovering from "serious injuries" could possibly survive such a surprise attack.
But they were up against Uchiha Ling.
Just as the two Root shinobi wielding poisoned Kunai