Forest of Death (Part 2)

Deep in the Forest of Death, the light grew dimmer and the vegetation thicker, making progress increasingly difficult. Shuoyue's team moved swiftly and stealthily through the trees, like three silent shadows. They had already secured a pair of Heaven and Earth Scrolls and were now racing toward the finish line at Laozi Rock.

Suddenly, Nadeshiko Haku, who was leading the way through the treetops, stopped and raised her right hand in a signal: "Halt. Something's going on."

Below, Shuoyue and Lian came to an immediate stop, blending perfectly into the shadows around them. Even their breathing nearly ceased.

Haku dropped lightly from the tree and spoke in a hushed voice. "At two o'clock, about a hundred and fifty meters ahead. I hear fighting. One side... seems to be Himawari's team."

Shuoyue's brow furrowed almost imperceptibly. His deep purple eyes turned toward the sounds. The Three-Tomoe Sharingan flickered open for an instant, then quickly vanished. The distant scene and the chakra fluctuations were already clear in his mind.

It was indeed Himawari Uzumaki's team. They were locked in a tough fight against three Genin from Amegakure, whose strange, crafty tactics relied on Water Release Ninjutsu with sticky and corrosive properties. Their attacks severely hampered Himawari's team's advantage in Taijutsu.

Shikano Nara had tried several times to control them with the Shadow Possession Technique, but they had cleverly evaded it by using the terrain and the Substitution Technique. Chiba Akimichi couldn't fully use the Multi-Size Technique in the narrow woods. And Himawari, the team's core, had exquisite Gentle Fist skills, but the enemy's ranged harassment and bizarre attacks left her constrained. She could barely protect her teammates, and the stalemate had begun to tip against them.

"Should we go around?" Haku asked, looking at Shuoyue. Their goal was to reach the finish as quickly as possible. Getting caught up in an unnecessary fight was a poor choice, especially when the other team consisted of people they knew.

Shuoyue silently watched the fight in the distance. A little mud smeared Himawari's face, but her blue eyes were focused and determined. Though at a disadvantage, she showed no sign of retreat, still searching for a chance to strike back.

Several thoughts flashed through his mind. Going around would take time. Intervening might expose their strength and their scrolls. But...

"End it quickly." Shuoyue's cold voice broke the silence as he made his decision. "Drive off the Amegakure team. Don't take their scrolls. Then leave at once."

The order was clear. Haku and Lian understood immediately.

Without warning, three figures shot from the shadows on the flank and charged into the fight like arrows loosed from a bow!

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

Haku struck first! Her hands blurred as she sent dozens of precisely aimed senbon flying at the three Amegakure Genin like a sudden storm. They weren't aimed at vital spots; instead, they blocked every route of movement and every chance to form Hand Seals, instantly disrupting the enemy's attack.

"Who are you?!" the Amegakure Genin cried in alarm, hastily blocking and dodging.

At almost the same moment, Kazamatsuri Yamanaka finally seized the opening created by their momentary confusion. "Mind Transfer Technique!" She took control of one of the Amegakure Genin. "Partial Multi-Size Technique: Arm!" Chiba Akimichi's enormous fist followed close behind, slamming into another Amegakure Genin who had been briefly caught by the Shadow Possession Technique!

The last Amegakure Genin had barely dodged Haku's senbon when his vision suddenly blurred!

Kakashi Sakuya appeared in front of him like a ghost, moving at blinding speed. He used no ninjutsu, only a simple, direct side kick—one that packed terrifying force!

The Amegakure Genin had no time to react. A tremendous force crashed into his stomach, sending him flying backward like a kite with its string cut. He slammed into a tree and slid to the ground, unconscious.

The tide of battle had turned in mere seconds!

Everyone on Himawari's team froze, staring in astonishment at Shuoyue and his companions, who had appeared out of nowhere and ended the fight in a flash.

"Shuoyue? Haku? Lian?" Himawari gasped, surprised and delighted.

But Shuoyue didn't stop, or even spare them a second glance. Once he had confirmed the three Amegakure Genin were no longer a threat, he turned at once and barked, "Move."

Haku and Lian followed without hesitation. Just as suddenly as they had appeared, the three vanished into the shadows of the dense forest after a few leaps. Not one of them lingered.

All that remained were Himawari's still-dazed teammates and the three unconscious Amegakure Genin.

"They... they..." Chiba gaped at the direction Shuoyue's team had disappeared. "They just left? They don't want our scrolls?"

Shikano rubbed his aching temples. His lazy tone carried a note of understanding. "Looks like they just helped us along the way. Monsters really do think differently from the rest of us."

Himawari stared in the direction Shuoyue had vanished, her hands clenched. Gratitude filled her eyes, along with a more complicated emotion. She knew that without Shuoyue's team showing up when they did, they might have had to pay a much higher price to escape.

"We need to hurry!" She turned her gaze away, her eyes firm once more. "We can't let Shuoyue down after he went out of his way to help us."

Meanwhile, Shuoyue's team raced onward.

Haku's voice drifted over, calm but tinged with faint curiosity. "Why didn't we take their scrolls? Even if we don't need them, we could've thrown them away or destroyed them to reduce the competition." It was the most efficient choice.

Shuoyue looked straight ahead without slowing. His cold voice vanished into the wind.

"Don't do anything unnecessary."

His reason was simple. Their only goal was the finish line. Taking Himawari's scrolls was pointless and could attract unwanted attention, especially from the Hokage. Perhaps he had stepped in because, for a moment, he had seen in those blue eyes a familiar, stubborn refusal to give up—and it reminded him of a certain dead-last from the past.

Nothing more.

Silence settled over the team once again. They sped onward like three arrows chasing the sun, cutting through the dark forest and flying unerringly toward the finish line.