The Iburi Clan

"Strange!"

Pakkun, walking at the very front, suddenly stopped in his tracks.

His wet nose twitched incessantly in the air, and he let out a confused, low bark.

"Pakkun?"

Kakashi, following behind, asked, "Did the scent break again?"

This was already the third time.

After the three of them arrived at the village, Kakashi had summoned the ninja hound Pakkun.

He was attempting to track the missing children using their clothing.

But the scent would vanish halfway through every single time, forcing the group to return empty-handed.

Just now, upon reaching this rushing river, the scent had disappeared inexplicably once more.

"Could they be on the opposite bank?"

Sano Yuji spoke up, pointing toward the dense forest across the river.

"A small river like this wouldn't stop a rogue ninja of Orochimaru's caliber; he must have taken the children across."

Pakkun sniffed the breeze drifting from the other side with hesitation. "The river water masked the scent; it's possible they might be over there."

"Then let's go take a look."

Kakashi put away his map, his figure flashing as he leaped onto the surface of the water, dashing across by stepping on the reefs protruding from the current.

Sano Yuji followed closely behind, a cold, imperceptible sneer curling his lips beneath his mask.

He had already promptly relayed the news that the Hokage had begun investigating the missing children.

As long as he continued to lead these fools in aimless circles through the forest, they would have enough time to relocate those troublesome burdens, ensuring Kakashi's investigation mission would grind to a halt.

Ten minutes later.

Pakkun's nose was pressed almost against the mud, his voice filled with obvious frustration.

"The scent... it's completely gone."

Kakashi stood to the side, his brows locked in a deep frown.

Using water currents to sever a scent trail—he was very familiar with this anti-tracking method; it was a technique commonly used by the Anbu.

Is this a coincidence? he pondered inwardly.

"Should we go back and try again?"

Uchiha Yatsuhashi's voice rang out at this moment.

"Special genin," Sano Yuji immediately sneered, his tone dripping with undisguised mockery, "don't waste everyone's time at a moment like this. The scent is gone, so why go back?"

Kakashi raised a hand to stop Sano from further ridicule.

He looked at Uchiha Yatsuhashi. "Uchiha Yatsuhashi, did you discover something?"

"Since the opponent intends to use the river to cut off the scent, they wouldn't be foolish enough to swim straight across.

Doing so would leave footprints upon landing, but walking in the water for too long would slow them down."

Uchiha Yatsuhashi paused, recalling the anti-tracking techniques Anko Mitarashi had taught him.

"They might have found a place with a gentle current upstream to enter the water, traveled against the flow for a distance while submerged, and then climbed ashore after the river water masked their scent.

That way, the trackers would be misled into going to the opposite bank or downstream."

"You mean..."

A sharp glint flashed in Kakashi's eyes.

"We return to the previous spot, but don't cross the river yet."

Uchiha Yatsuhashi analyzed calmly, "We head upstream and walk along the riverbank. Although the scent was washed away by the water, that person couldn't have stayed in the water forever; they must have climbed ashore somewhere."

Sano Yuji wanted to retort, but Kakashi had already made his decision: "Go back."

The three men and one dog turned back.

This time, they searched upstream along the riverbank.

"Woof!"

Pakkun stopped abruptly before they had gone very far.

He sniffed the ground excitedly, "Found it! The scent has reappeared!"

Kakashi looked toward Uchiha Yatsuhashi, a flash of approval in his eyes.

This newcomer not only possessed the ocular power of the Three Tomoe, but his mastery of tracking and counter-tracking was actually on par with his own, a veteran Anbu.

Uchiha Yatsuhashi gave a slight nod, though his mind remained perfectly clear.

These were things Anko Mitarashi had taught him personally in the Land of Water while they were evading the pursuit of Karatachi Yagura and other ninjas from Kirigakure.

He just hadn't expected them to come in handy so soon.

Behind him, Sano Yuji watched Uchiha Yatsuhashi's back, his eyes beneath his mask filled with intense malice.

He had originally thought that cutting off the scent would force Kakashi and the others to return empty-handed, but he hadn't expected that brat Uchiha Yatsuhashi to stumble upon the truth by sheer luck.

It seems I'll have to think of another way.

Sano Yuji gritted his teeth in secret and followed after them.

Following the scent, Pakkun led the group in a rapid dash, finally stopping before a massive cave obscured by vines.

A cold, chilling wind blew from within, carrying the faint, intermittent sound of children crying.

"This is the place!"

Pakkun sniffed the air inside the cave carefully, confirming it once more.

"The missing children must be inside here."

"Your mission is complete, Pakkun."

"Understood. I'll leave the rest to you."

Pakkun nodded; he knew his role well. After providing critical intelligence, remaining on the battlefield would only become a burden.

"Oh, and those guys inside—they all have a strange smell about them. Be careful."

"Understood, thanks." Kakashi formed a hand seal.

With a soft "poof," Pakkun transformed into a cloud of white smoke and vanished from the spot.

This Summoning Jutsu is so useful.

Uchiha Yatsuhashi made a silent resolution in his heart: once this mission was over, he would find a way to contract a summoning animal to assist him.

So they finally found it.

A flicker of imperceptible anxiety flashed in the eyes beneath Sano Yuji's mask.

He hadn't expected Kakashi and the others to find the cave entrance after all.

Kakashi was just about to lead everyone in to infiltrate the cave when suddenly, dozens of figures appeared like ghosts, blocking the entrance and stopping the three of them.

"Do not enter!"

Seeing the cold, smoke-like aura radiating from their bodies, Uchiha Yatsuhashi's pupils constricted. "The Iburi Clan..."

Because he had assisted in Orochimaru's experiments before, and this group of Iburi had served as Orochimaru's test subjects, he recognized this mysterious clan capable of turning their bodies into smoke immediately.

The leader was Gota, whose semi-transparent body flickered in and out of view in the light. "Gentlemen, this is not a place you should be. Please turn back."

Uchiha Yatsuhashi frowned. "We are acting under the orders of the Hokage to investigate the missing children. Please step aside."

Gota gave a sinister laugh. "There is only the Iburi Clan here; there are no such things as the children you speak of."

"Those who trespass in this cave shall die."

"Then don't blame us for being impolite."

Kakashi stopped wasting words. Lightning flared brilliantly in his hand, and the piercing shriek of the Chidori instantly tore through the silence of the forest.

He transformed into a bolt of lightning, thrusting straight toward Gota and the others before him.

"Child's play."

Facing Kakashi's thunderous strike, Gota neither dodged nor parried, his body instantly turning completely into mist.

Although the Chidori pierced through his chest, it was as if he had struck empty air, failing to inflict any substantial damage.

What?! Kakashi felt a jolt of alarm.

Yet, the next second, something even more terrifying occurred.

With a shout of "Smoke Smothering Technique!", Gota's body transformed into smoke and burrowed into Kakashi's body.

Kakashi let out a muffled groan and dropped to one knee, unable to move for the moment.

"Captain!"

Sano Yuji exclaimed, yet he remained rooted to the spot without stepping forward.

Just as Uchiha Yatsuhashi was about to offer assistance, three shuriken were violently hurled at his back.

"Hm?"

Caught off guard, Yatsuhashi was forced to turn and dodge.

"What are you doing?!"

"What am I doing?" Sano Yuji removed his disguise mask, revealing a sinister grin. "Naturally... sending you all on your way."

This Sano Yuji was indeed problematic!

Throughout the journey, he had felt that Sano Yuji was acting strangely, leading them in the wrong direction several times.

At this moment, he and that member of the Iburi clan, one inside and one outside, had completely sealed off their retreat.

Watching Captain Kakashi trapped, Sano Yuji openly admitted to being a traitor.

His tone was full of mockery, "I originally only intended for you to retreat in the face of difficulties, but I didn't expect you to find this place anyway. Since that's the case, I'll send you off to your rest."