As the former young leader of Kirigakure's Militant Faction, Shimizu Ren'o was certainly not some hot-blooded rookie who howled at every setback, nor was he a muscle-brained berserker. A man of considerable strategy, he understood the trick of leaving one side open when surrounding an enemy. He boldly concluded that there had to be an ambush in the western back mountain!
So instead of panicking and fleeing with the main force, he quietly gathered four trusted subordinates and hid in the shadows to observe.
Sure enough, before long, flames flared up in the dense forest ahead. Soon came several explosions from Explosive Tags. The clashes of weapons, roars of jutsu, crashing trees, and human screams became endless. Though the sounds seemed to be growing farther away, the noise became denser and more frantic.
"We can't go this way! There are traps and ambushes all along the route. Whoever set this up is an expert, laying ambushes in sections and blocking us layer by layer. This whole area is probably covered. The five of us will never break through."
Shimizu Ren'o tightened the bandages around his body, making sure he would not leave bloodstains behind as tracking marks. After thinking for a moment, he pointed toward the woods on the left.
"We're going this way!"
"But... there isn't even a path here." One reckless young ninja spoke up, drawing glares from the others. Another ninja even smacked him on the head. Clearly, questioning the young master's decisions within the team was intolerable.
Yet Shimizu Ren'o seemed unconcerned by his subordinate's doubts.
"That's precisely why it's safe. Don't worry. I've been operating in this area for nearly three years, and I know every blade of grass and tree here by heart. Beyond these woods is a narrow trail made by wild beasts,