The Older Generation of Ino-Shika-Cho

"Fujimoto, send Gray Hawk to scout the road ahead. If he spots Kumogakure's ambush early, it'll save us a lot of trouble," Uchiha Jin said.

"All right."

A shrill whistle rang out. A moment later, a cry came from the sky.

"Skree!"

A dark-brown hawk with white feathers around his neck appeared above them, circling overhead.

Uchiha Fujimoto blew a series of whistles and made several gestures with his hands. Gray Hawk cried out and flew off in an instant.

"Let's keep moving. We're not far from Konoha, and even if Kumogakure plans to attack the Supply Team, they won't strike here."

Time passed quietly. It was not until nightfall that Gray Hawk's cry sounded again.

Fujimoto hurried to an open patch of ground and held out his arm. Gray Hawk circled down and landed on it.

After a brief exchange with the hawk, Fujimoto said, "He's found traces of suspicious shinobi. They've already infiltrated the Land of Fire."

"Find somewhere to spend the night before it gets any later. We'll reach the ambush site tomorrow."

The night passed slowly. At daybreak, they set off again, their figures darting through the forest.

Beneath Fugaku's Hungry Ghost Mask, a pair of Mangekyō Sharingan occasionally swept the surroundings. Whenever he revealed them, black mist filled the space beneath the mask.

Even a Hyuga's Byakugan could not have identified him. The others kept their appearances disguised with the Transformation Technique beneath their masks.

At noon, Fugaku suddenly raised a hand. The four figures stopped one after another on the surrounding branches.

"Careful. I've spotted enemies ahead."

Through the layers of trees, tiny figures could be seen in the gaps between the trunks.

Without the Sharingan's keen perception, it would have been easy to miss those tiny details and expose themselves to the Cloud