"Were they here to ambush us?"
Sarutobi Hiri hid in the shadows and watched the group of Sand Ninja. They were heading straight toward where his group was concealed. How had their hiding place been discovered? He scrutinized the people around him.
He suspected there was a traitor among them. Sarutobi Hiri was not the only one with that thought; the others beside him warily eyed one another as well. The mission had been top secret, so there should have been no risk of information leaking through other channels.
Setting aside the least likely suspects, Uchiha Yuu and Hatake Sakumo, Sarutobi Hiri took out a kunai and said to the others:
"Everyone, I hope there isn't a traitor in our team."
Yet what happened next dispelled his doubts. After reaching the forested mountains below, the Sand Ninja began to split up. They were not moving to encircle them.
With the possibility of a traitor ruled out, another explanation surfaced in Sarutobi Hiri's mind.
"There isn't a traitor among us."
"The Sunagakure ninja came to this area while searching for something..."
It could only be a coincidence. Their arrival made it impossible to carry out the plan. The nearby ninja gathered together, putting aside their suspicions of one another. One of them said worriedly:
"Mr. Yuu did not give us much time. Now that a group of Sand Ninja has appeared..."
"We cannot expose the plan."
Knowing how much the plan would affect their later arrangements, Sarutobi Hiri took a deep breath and continued:
"Prepare to kill them all here. Also, notify Mr. Yuu and have him make preparations. The plan has changed."
One ninja stepped out from the group and immediately headed back to inform Uchiha Yuu that enemies were approaching.
The remaining ninja took Sarutobi Hiri as their leader