As Konoha High Command made its swift decision, more and more Konoha Ninja hurried toward the village's northwest.
"Whoosh!" "Whoosh!" "Whoosh!"...
Black silhouettes flashed across the rooftops one after another, followed by the constant rush of wind above the villagers' homes.
"There! Are those the enemy ninja attacking the village!?"
A very young-looking ninja asked in a grave, low voice.
The moment he finished speaking, the ground beneath his feet—he had just landed on solid earth—suddenly split open!
Boom!
Countless sharp stone spikes erupted wildly from the ground. Caught completely off guard, the young Konoha ninja had no time to react before the spikes pierced him, killing him.
Blood poured from his wounds, staining the earth red in an instant.
Not far from him, the ninja who had arrived alongside him stared at the scene in terror. Then, wary and tense, he looked toward the dark woods ahead.
"W-what... who's there!?"
He shouted, his face pale.
At his words, several muffled sounds came from the forest.
"One of them's still alive? Was it because the Earth Release trap we set earlier wasn't triggered?"
"No, that trap was already used to kill the ninja who came through here before. Ishime must've just forgotten to set another one."
"Oh... Then let's get rid of this guy quickly. It'll be a pain if he gets away."
"Yeah..."
Hearing their conversation in the darkness, cold sweat beaded across the young Konoha ninja's forehead.
What were these guys even talking about!?
Did they see us as prey? Had they set traps to hunt us down, one group after another!?
As the thought flashed through the young ninja's mind, the soil behind him suddenly rippled like a flowing river, and a figure surged out of it.
Earth Release: Subterranean Voyage!
With a low shout, a shadow