The Root Network Silently Entangles Hidden Sound's Pawn

"That grass was searching for chakra."

Chiba stopped behind a tree and removed the glass bottle from his wrist guard. The transparent roots were still pressed against the scroll case, stretching toward it.

The Earth Scroll itself had no life force. What it was chasing was the Hidden Grass chakra lingering on its cover.

Metal Wood wrapped around the bottle, cutting off the contact between them. Only then did the curled leaves unfurl again.

"Keep it for now."

Chiba tucked the glass bottle into the innermost pocket. But instead of heading toward the central tower, he turned away.

His Sage Senses spread outward through the underground Root Network. The sound-wave mark left by Hidden Sound Village was still moving on the other side of the forest.

Dosu walked at the front, while Kin and Zaku followed behind him on either side. The three were heading directly toward Team 7's hiding place.

"There are signs of a battle ahead."

Dosu raised his bandage-wrapped hand. The amplifier beside his ear caught vibrations traveling from distant tree bark.

"How many people?"

Kin pushed aside the branches in her path without slowing down.

"I can't tell how many. There are a lot of snakes buried beneath the trees."

Zaku kicked aside a section of snake corpse.

"That guy has already been here."

"Don't say that lord's name directly."

"I didn't say who it was."

"You'd better not even think about it."

Zaku raised his right arm, and the wind-pressure pipes puffed out the sleeve around it.

"He told us to kill Sasuke, then left a mark on Sasuke's body. What was that supposed to mean?"

"An order."

Dosu turned halfway around, his amplifier facing Zaku's arm.

"That lord gave you the pipes inside your body too. Don't forget where your power came from."

"My