Rasa's Reminder, Ōnoki's Warning

The forest in the early morning was filled with damp mist, a vast, white expanse permeating the woods.

The sun was still below the clouds, with only thin strands of light piercing through the gaps to illuminate the earth. At this moment, the forest was utterly silent.

A small insect rested on a tree trunk, its thin wings dampened by the mist, rendering it unable to fly.

It could only breathe quietly, waiting for the sun to appear and evaporate the moisture from its wings so it could move to a new location.

"Flutter, flutter—"

Just then, a bird much larger than the insect swooped down from the air and snatched it up in one bite.

The insect had no room to resist within the bird's beak, its legs twitching incessantly; however, to the massive bird, this was merely a death throe, utterly futile.

"Snap!"

The bird landed on a tree branch, ready to enjoy the breakfast it had found so early in the day.

Just as it prepared to feast, a faint sound in the quiet morning startled it, and it whipped its head around toward the source of the noise.

The insect in its beak accidentally slipped out, and it hurriedly flapped its wings, disappearing into the unknown.

The bird, however, paid it no mind, merely tilting its head to peer toward where the sound had originated.

In the forest, the thick white mist seemed to be gently pushed aside, and near the dark tree trunks, several black figures gradually emerged.

"Be careful. We are already near Konoha. Do not let such low-level mistakes reveal our tracks!"

Among the dense, emerging shadows, one figure lowered his voice and hissed a reprimand.

Hearing this, the person behind him quickly lowered his head and whispered.

"I apologize, Captain Ganmu. I