Hyuga Xiao pushed open the rusty iron grate of the sewer. The night wind rushed down his throat, carrying the frosty chill unique to the early winter forest. He stepped over dead branches and emerged from the passageway, his dark gray cloak snapping in the wind.
Qiye followed close behind, his scarlet Sharingan swiftly scanning the surroundings. After confirming it was safe, he dropped to one knee and quickly drew several lines in the damp earth with a kunai.
"Master, Secret Transfer Station No. 3 is thirty li away, disguised as an abandoned iron mine." Qiye's blade tip struck the center of the sketch. "There are dual sensory barriers around the perimeter. Four watchtowers are out in the open, while twelve elite Root operatives are hidden in the dark. The biggest problem is underground. They've buried dense Explosive Tag Formations there. If they come under a heavy assault, the defenders will detonate them directly, burying all the 'experimental materials' and intruders alive."
Kurenai Yuhi stared at the sketch on the ground, her silver-gray eyes narrowing slightly. "With defenses this tight, a direct assault will definitely trigger the Explosive Tags. How do we get in? Even if I use the Eye of Time, I can only freeze them for three seconds."
"Infiltrate?"
Xiao gave a soft laugh. Two faint blue glimmers lit up in the darkness as his Tenseigan opened. He raised his boot and flattened the sketch beneath it, muddy water splashing against its edge.
"Do you need to infiltrate to deal with a pack of rats hiding in a hole?" Xiao's voice was cold enough to freeze the air. "Barriers, Explosive Tags—they're all low-level rules based on chakra. Tonight, I'll erase every last one of them, skin and all, from this land."
Hong felt the tangible killing intent emanating