"Pfft!"
Accompanied by the sound of a bone spear piercing flesh, the figure was firmly pinned to the ground.
With his right lung pierced, he was utterly unable to break free from the bone spear. Like prey caught in a trap, he could only wait for death to come.
"Huff... huff..."
Because his right lung had been punctured, the ninja pinned to the ground let out loud, ragged gasps like a broken bellows.
His hands clawed tightly at the ground as he desperately tried to crawl forward, but aside from leaving faint, gruesome trails across the earth, it was all in vain.
Hidden high amid the leaves and branches, Sasuke widened his eyes, watching the scene with a grave expression.
Who was that!?
Just as he was thinking that, a figure emerged from the dark depths of the distant forest, continuously leaping between tree trunks as he approached.
Sasuke quietly lowered himself, his eyes staring gravely at the newcomer through the gaps in the leaves.
Under the bright moonlight, the newcomer's figure clearly entered his sight.
His black hair was tied behind his head. He had an utterly ordinary appearance, but a faintly visible cruel smile curled at the corners of his lips.
When Sasuke saw the forehead protector on the newcomer's brow, his gaze sharpened slightly as he thought to himself.
A Sound ninja!?
Thinking of the unremarkable-looking Sound ninjas gathered together earlier, Sasuke's heart sank slightly.
Had those guys been hiding their strength all along!?
As he pondered this, the Sound ninja who had arrived below slowly walked toward the ninja still struggling desperately to escape.
"Tsk, tsk... You sure can run!"
"Your companions are already dead, so why didn't you join them on the road? Honestly, you had to make me come all this way to find