Secretly Moving Massive Amounts of Supplies!

Kawaki Aoba looked at the scroll, a flicker of approval in his eyes.

Asuma might usually be carefree, but when it mattered, he always had a way of getting things done.

Aoba stepped back to give Asuma room to work.

Asuma formed hand seals, slowly channeling chakra into the scroll. The formula on it began to glow faintly.

The light spread like flowing water until it covered the entire gate. The once-obscure runes began to tremble, as though responding to the scroll's chakra.

Time passed, second by second. Aoba never took his eyes off the gate.

He could sense the chakra in the air changing. The oppressive weight that had filled the space was gradually lifting.

"Be careful," he murmured. "The seal's almost undone, but it might trigger another trap."

Asuma nodded. Fine beads of sweat had already formed on his forehead.

Undoing a sealing jutsu was never easy, especially one of Sunagakure's caliber. The slightest mistake could set off a chain reaction.

He gritted his teeth, changed hand seals faster, and channeled his chakra with even greater precision.

At last, a low hum

sounded. The runes on the gate went dark, followed by a soft click

as the gate slowly opened a crack.

Aoba stepped forward at once and gently pushed it open, moving as lightly as if he were brushing a feather.

Cool, damp air drifted out, a sharp contrast to the heat outside.

He narrowed his eyes as they adjusted to the dim light, then surveyed what lay beyond the gate.

Inside the palace was an enormous hall with smooth stone floors. Sunagakure's emblems were carved into the surrounding walls. A tall stone pillar stood at the center, inset with several faintly glowing crystals.

"This place... is grander than I expected,"

Aoba murmured. His voice carried through