"My lord, it is time to depart." Ao reported while holding the Kubikiribōchō. Jūzō Biwa's ** had already been sealed into a scroll.
"Mm." Yagura tapped his fingers against the Coral Staff and swept an indifferent gaze across the battlefield. The others followed him into the depths of the forest.
"Hah—" Saitama braced himself against his knees, gasping for breath. The tracking mark had drained the last of his strength. The instant his clone's memories returned to the original body, agony flooded his consciousness like a tidal wave.
Leaning against a tree, Saitama propped his long blade at his side and adjusted his breathing.
After confirming that no pursuers had followed and that he had put enough distance between them, he decided to rest briefly. His muscles remained tense, but several minutes of respite had steadied the flow of chakra within him. As he rose, his boot crushed a dead branch with a sharp crack. The moment he leaped onto the treetops, the night wind lifted the loose strands before his forehead.
The campfire suddenly spat out several ** sparks. The group sitting around it remained silent, with only the soft rustle of Uchiha Yan's cloth as he polished his kunai. Uchiha Huo sat close beside his younger brother, the firelight casting dancing shadows in their pupils. The drastic difference between day and night temperatures forced the squad to rely on the flames for warmth.
"Something is moving to the northwest." The veins around Hyuga Tate's Byakugan bulged. Before he finished speaking, Shibi had already flung out a swarm of insects to devour the fire. The instant darkness fell, everyone drew their weapons.
"Chakra signature confirmed—it's Senior Saitama!" Hyuga Tate's announcement immediately eased the Uchiha brothers' furrowed brows. The sound of clothing cutting through the air came from