"Rip...""Rrip..."
From within the bushes shrouded in the morning mist came a series of hurried sounds.
In the otherwise silent forest, the rapid footsteps were especially grating, causing Naruto, Sasuke, and the others hiding atop the trees to turn solemn, wondering who had appeared here at this hour.
"Naruto, don't act rashly yet. Let's see what's happening below before we decide..."
At that moment, Sakura, positioned between the three of them, spoke with a worried expression.
Naruto nodded lightly, his gaze slowly shifting toward the open clearing below.
At the same time, Gaara's group, who had been walking along without a care, came to a stop and turned toward the source of the sound.
"Tch, after walking for so long, someone finally delivered themselves to us."
Kankuro, dressed entirely in black, curled his lips and spoke excitedly.
Hearing him, Temari, with her blonde hair tied into twin ponytails, wore a faint smile as she narrowed her eyes toward that direction and softly told Kankuro, "Hurry up and deal with those guys later. Otherwise, if Gaara gets involved, don't complain!"
Hearing her, Kankuro lowered his head and secretly glanced at the silent Gaara behind him before nodding helplessly.
He truly did not want to see his younger brother slaughter people like some kind of monster.
While the siblings were talking to each other—
"Puff!" "Puff!" "Puff"...
Three black silhouettes suddenly leaped out from the mist-covered bushes, standing brazenly before the trio.
The moment they appeared, Naruto and the others above stiffened.
Kankuro merely turned his head to glance at them before saying disdainfully, "So they're from Kirigakure. I heard from Father that Kirigakure had another uprising not long ago. Who knows whether things have settled down there yet? And these guys still have the mood to come here for the Chunin