The Forest of Death Welcomes Its First Prey

"All of you, come out."

Chiba stepped over rotting leaves, the Root Network extending deeper into the forest with his footsteps. He had not removed the sand grains or sound-wave markers in his wrist guard, nor had he erased the tracking seals left by the mycelium.

Someone wanted to find him. Hiding would only waste time.

Not far behind him, several ripples spread across a pool of standing water.

Three chakra signatures moved apart. One took the high ground while the other two circled ahead. Their coordination already surpassed that of ordinary Genin.

Chiba continued forward without even changing his pace.

A faint sound came from the canopy, and mist rose from the puddle ahead, obscuring the path that had been clear to traverse.

"Senju Chiba."

An Amegakure ninja stepped out from behind a tree to his right. A respirator covered his mouth and nose, and the kunai in his hand remained lowered.

"Put the scroll on the ground, and we'll let you leave."

Chiba glanced at his waist.

"Earth Scroll?"

"You hand over yours first."

"You don't have one."

The man tightened his grip on the kunai.

"How did you know?"

"Take it out and let me see."

"Trying to stall for time?"

"You took too long to circle around. I was waiting."

Another figure emerged from the mud and water to Chiba's left, a short blade pressed against his lower back. Only half a palm's distance separated the tip from his clothes.

"Still too slow now?"

Chiba did not turn around.

"Slow."

The short blade thrust forward, but Chiba's body turned into scattered wood chips before the tip could touch him.

The Amegakure ninja immediately retreated.

"Wood Clone. The real one is underground!"

"Wrong."

The voice fell from above their heads.

All three looked up at once. Chiba