Uchiha Itachi and his two teammates moved swiftly through the depths of the forest, their footsteps silent, their figures ghostlike.
Itachi led the way, his Sharingan glowing scarlet in the gloom. Its two tomoe turned slowly as he scanned every tree, every bush, and every shadow ahead.
Inuzuka Hana followed close behind him. Haimaru raced along on all fours, constantly sniffing the air, ears pricked to catch the slightest movement around them.
Kabuto Yakushi brought up the rear, his eyes sweeping behind them and to either side. Several kunai fitted with explosive tags rested between his fingers, ready to cover their retreat.
"Careful!" Inuzuka Hana warned in a low, urgent voice, unable to hide a trace of tension.
"Itachi, the scent is very close! It smells like sand, in the trees just ahead. Three people, and one of them has very strong chakra fluctuations!"
Itachi narrowed his Sharingan slightly, the two tomoe spinning faster.
He raised his right hand, spreading all five fingers in a signal to stop.
All three halted at once, crouching behind the thick bushes.
Itachi peered through the gaps in the foliage toward a relatively open stretch of woodland ahead, swiftly calculating distances, angles, and possible ambush points.
The Hidden Sand squad specialized in the Puppet Technique and Wind Release. If they bogged his team down, the three squads behind them would catch up and surround them on all sides.
We have to finish this quickly. We can't give them a chance to stall us.
"Ninjutsu: Manipulated Assault Blades!" A low voice descended from the canopy ahead and to one side.
Several kunai rained down, their handles attached to transparent threads almost invisible to the naked eye.
The threads reflected a faint, cold glint in the sunlight. Like a spiderweb, they shot toward Itachi and his