The air in the Land of Rain was exceptionally fresh, especially after days of unrelenting rain.
Under the gentle sunlight, the forest air was pleasantly damp, refreshing to breathe.
"Patter!" "Patter!"...
Soft footsteps echoed through the forest.
Sosuke and the other two walked through the woods, their expressions calm.
Not far away,
a damp patch clung to a massive tree trunk, almost impossible to notice.
It looked like sap rising through the branches under the brilliant sunlight.
Suddenly!
"Hmm?"
Sosuke gave a soft, curious hum. A faint smile touched his lips as he turned to look in one direction.
"Friends from Amegakure?"
Hearing Sosuke, Minato's expression changed. He immediately turned toward that spot and activated his Byakugan.
Sure enough!
Through the Byakugan, he saw two people standing on the thick tree trunk!
"Who are you?!"
Minato's expression turned cold, his eyes filled with killing intent as he stared at the two figures concealed on the trunk, almost as if they were invisible.
Hearing Minato and Sosuke,
the two knew their presence had been discovered, so they dispelled their jutsu.
They appeared openly before Sosuke and the others.
The three saw two Rain Ninja, one young and one older.
The younger ninja was thin and gaunt, with a pale face and a flippant smile that seemed permanently fixed on his lips. He looked Sosuke and the others over as though they were prey.
The older ninja, by contrast, wore a stern expression. Years of assassination missions had made him resilient; he rarely let his emotions show.
The thin young ninja stared at Sosuke and the others, the corner of his mouth lifting as he spoke flippantly.
"Should I say you're lucky? To run into us at a time like this."
"You know, a few days ago, I was impressed by some