"You don't need to worry about that. I have my own way."
Kawaki Aoba's tone was calm. "If you dare try anything, bear the consequences yourselves."
He glanced at the heavily wounded man carrying the scroll and the unconscious ninja on the ground, then added, "Bring them too. Don't let them die here."
The three surrendered ninja did not dare resist. They could only lift the two men from the ground and follow Kawaki Aoba toward an abandoned factory to the east.
The night remained deep and dark. Moonlight filtered through gaps in the leaves, casting mottled shadows and illuminating the road ahead.
The surrounding forest was silent, filled only with the sound of footsteps and breathing, along with the occasional chirp of insects.
After walking for about an hour, an abandoned factory appeared ahead.
The factory walls were weathered and peeling, and its windows were riddled with holes. It looked as though it had been deserted for a long time.
Kawaki Aoba signaled everyone to stop, then quietly circled around to the side of the factory and carefully observed the surroundings.
Just as the scarred man had said, the area around the factory was littered with traps. Fine threads crisscrossed the ground, clearly trigger traps. Quite a few Explosive Tags and Kunai were also concealed in the surrounding trees. One careless touch would set off an explosion.
Kawaki Aoba's gaze sharpened as his hands rapidly formed seals. "Earth Release: Earth Style: Earth-Style Wall!" A wall of earth instantly rose before him, blocking the view ahead.
"What are you doing?"
the scarred man asked in confusion.
"Clearing the traps, naturally."
Kawaki Aoba's tone remained calm as his hands formed seals once more. "Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet Technique!" A massive water dragon burst from his mouth and charged toward the