Cloud Hidden Regroups

Hearing a voice behind them, Yugito, Samui, and Mabui turned together toward the depths of the forest.

Three familiar figures walked out. Darui led the way, with Shi and another Cloud Hidden Genin beside him.

They bore minor wounds from fighting, and their breathing was slightly unsteady. Clearly, they had seen plenty of combat on their way through the forest.

Darui kept his hands in his pockets. Wearing his usual laid-back expression, he glanced at their battered state and the lingering traces of Chakra around them, then asked casually, "What happened here?"

For a moment, no one spoke. Samui stepped forward first and, with a grave expression, explained everything.

"The three of us entered through the Forest of Death's only southern entrance. We followed the plan we'd made beforehand and headed straight for the Central Tower without wasting any time."

"We ran into another team from the village along the way and joined up with them. But we waited near the Central Tower until evening and never saw your team."

Samui raised a hand toward the distant tower and continued.

"While we were waiting, we encountered a four-person Kirigakure team. They were clearly heading straight for the Central Tower at full speed."

"With only four Kirigakure Ninja in sight, we decided to intercept them and take their Scrolls while we were at it."

"Wait." Shi stepped forward, cutting her off. "Those four from Kirigakure—you don't mean Mei Terumi's group, do you?"

Before the Chunin Ninja Exams, information on the young Genin competing from each nation had already spread. Almost everyone knew about the prodigies in particular.

Yugito nodded. "That's right. It was them."

Darui and Shi exchanged a look, unsure whether to laugh or sigh. They had crossed paths with that group in the morning, only for the others to