There's Definitely Something Fishy

Kawaki Aoba nodded silently, his right hand unconsciously tightening around the ninja tool pouch at his waist.

His sensory abilities were not exceptional, but years of mission experience had given him an almost instinctive nose for danger.

The deathly silence on the surface of the small town could not conceal the faint killing intent lingering in the air.

Yuhi Shinku suddenly turned to look at Kawaki Aoba, a trace of testing in his eyes.

Kawaki Aoba paused slightly, then said in a low voice, "The layout of this place is too deliberate.

It looks like ruins on the surface, but the positions of these hidden sentries and traps were clearly carefully planned.

If we rush in, we might get surrounded."

After a pause, he pointed at an ordinary-looking pile of rocks ahead. "There are probably at least two people hiding behind that pile.

Their chakra fluctuations are well concealed, but they still feel a little unnatural."

A hint of approval flashed through Yuhi Shinku's eyes as he nodded. "Not bad. Your powers of observation are even sharper than I expected.

Looks like I really did bring the right person along this time."

"Heh, Senior Shinku, are you praising Aoba, or taking a jab at the rest of us?"

Aburame Shino said half-jokingly, though there was a note of seriousness in his tone.

His insects had already silently crawled out from his sleeves, turning into a cloud of black mist that spread along the ground in every direction, scouting the surrounding activity.

"Quit fooling around, Shino."

Mizuki frowned and rebuked him in a low voice. "Our mission is to deliver the supplies to the designated location, not play hide-and-seek with these desperadoes.

Senior Shinku, what do we do next?"

Yuhi Shinku pondered for a moment, his gaze sweeping over the town's