Time Was Running Out

Dawn was just breaking when Tsukimi, Kurenai, and Orochimaru slipped through the cold, damp morning mist into a dense forest on a towering cliff at the edge of Mount Tenmoku.

It was an ideal vantage point. Ancient trees hid the three of them perfectly, while most of Mount Tenmoku lay in plain view below.

Under the plan they had settled on the night before, Asuma had gone to contact the border troops near the Land of Fire. The three of them only needed to wait here. Once reinforcements arrived, they could destroy Rasa's experimental base in one strike.

Tsukimi hadn't lied to Asuma. He truly had no intention of sneaking in before the border troops arrived.

They had infiltrated the transfer station because their team needed more leads; otherwise, the investigation would have stalled. They had also observed it carefully beforehand. Its guards followed ordinary patrol patterns, with no hidden tricks, so the Shadow Ninja could slip in unnoticed.

This was different. They had reached the final stage of their investigation, and there was no need to rush. Security here was on another level entirely. Who knew what measures Rasa had put in place?

If they were discovered, Rasa could destroy everything and flee. All their work would have been for nothing.

Tsukimi didn't simply sit idle, though. He summoned the Shadowkhan and sent them out in groups. Some moved through shadows on the ground to check the guards around the mountain, while others slipped through gaps between rocks and plants to watch the personnel inside the base.

Countless images streamed into his mind, and the defensive layout around Mount Tenmoku gradually took shape. Security was indeed tight. Chakra sensors guarded every pass, ready to sound an alarm at the touch of unfamiliar Chakra. Large numbers of Ninja patrolled as well, leaving no opening anywhere on the mountain.

Time passed. As Tsukimi sorted through the intelligence coming back from the Shadowkhan, several unusual scenes caught his attention.

At several supply exits, the Sand Hidden Ninja had stopped moving experimental materials. Instead, they were packing away boxes of documents and Puppet parts. Many pieces of laboratory equipment had also been dismantled and packed separately.

Huh?

"Something's wrong!"

Tsukimi's languid expression vanished. He frowned slightly and turned to Orochimaru and Kurenai.

"The people inside are packing supplies. They're even taking apart the equipment. This doesn't look like routine logistics. It looks more like they're preparing to leave."

"Leave?" Kurenai Yuhi froze, her eyes full of confusion. "Did Rasa notice us? That's impossible. We haven't let any Chakra leak out the entire time!"

Orochimaru's golden, slit-pupiled eyes narrowed. He rubbed the cuff of his sleeve, then spoke in a low, raspy voice.

"He hasn't necessarily found us. Judging from the supply records Tsukimi found earlier, his experiment has reached its final stage. Once he has all the experimental parameters, Rasa will have accomplished what he came here to do."

"The Land of Rivers may not have a Ninja village, but this is still another country's territory. Staying too long increases the risk of exposure. Perhaps he always planned to leave as soon as the experiment was complete."

Orochimaru had not yet become the monster he would be later, but he was already intimately familiar with experimental procedures. He saw the situation at a glance.

With Rasa on the verge of succeeding and slipping away, even Orochimaru couldn't keep a trace of urgency from his eyes. He hadn't even seen the full scope of this one-of-a-kind Living Puppet experiment yet.

Rasa, you can't leave. What am I supposed to study if you do?

"So we're running out of time." Tsukimi's heart sank.

If Rasa left Mount Tenmoku with the experimental data and the Living Puppets, the border troops would arrive only to take over an empty ruin.

Damn it. How did a sure thing turn into a last-minute collapse?

But they still couldn't act rashly. The three remained hidden in the forest on the cliff, waiting for Asuma and the border troops.

Come on, Asuma. Pick up the pace!

The sun climbed toward its zenith, pouring fierce light over the mountains. Nearly twelve hours had passed since Asuma set out the night before, yet the expected Konoha reinforcements were nowhere to be seen.

Tsukimi repeatedly looked through the Shadowkhan's eyes to check the road from the border, but saw no sign of reinforcements. At the Mount Tenmoku base, meanwhile, the signs of departure grew clearer. More and more equipment was dismantled and packed. Sealed crates streamed out without pause, and the Sand Hidden Ninja moving through the exits hurried about with urgency in every motion.

At this rate, Rasa would be gone before long.

"We can't wait any longer!"

Tsukimi made up his mind and stood to face Orochimaru and Kurenai. If they kept waiting, they wouldn't just miss their chance to strike at the heart of the base—they wouldn't get a scrap.

"I'm sending the Shadow Ninja into the base."

"Shouldn't we wait a little longer?" Kurenai asked, her face clouded with worry. "What if the reinforcements are almost here? Sending them in now is too dangerous!"

"It is dangerous. But Asuma still hasn't brought the reinforcements, and staying here is an even bigger risk. Rasa could leave at any moment."

Tsukimi placed a hand on Kurenai's shoulder and laid out the plan. "Teacher, watch our surroundings while I focus on maintaining the Shadow Ninja's vision. Kurenai, I've already told you how the guards are positioned, so your job is to meet Asuma and the others!"

"What? I won't!" Kurenai was stunned. She shook off Tsukimi's hand, her eyes full of frustration. "You know the infiltration might expose us. Then you'll have the whole base coming after you, and you want to send me away? We're teammates. How could I leave now? Don't underestimate me. I've been ready to die for the village for a long time!"

She's got quite the sense of duty.

Tsukimi didn't know whether to laugh or sigh. He put his hand back on her shoulder and explained patiently, "First, I'm not underestimating you. I'm being practical. If the enemy surrounds us, Teacher and I have a good chance of escaping with our abilities."

"But if there are three of us, our chances drop sharply."

"I know." Kurenai clenched her fists, her spirits sinking. "I'm not strong enough. I'd hold you back."

"That's not it." Tsukimi ruffled her hair. "You'll be more useful meeting the border troops. You know where the guards are. With you guiding them, they can reach us faster, and Teacher and I will be in much less danger."

Kurenai lowered her head and fell silent for a moment. Then she looked up at Tsukimi and Orochimaru, her voice solemn.

"I understand. I'll meet the border troops as quickly as I can. Tsukimi, Teacher—please stay safe!"

Good thing she wasn't one of those two Konoha idiots. Who knew how long he'd have had to argue with them? This girl was much easier to persuade.

And what the hell was Asuma doing? All he had to do was get help. Twelve hours later, there wasn't so much as a hair in sight. Tsukimi would have to give him a proper talking-to when they got back.

"All right, get going!"

Kurenai nodded. Without another moment's hesitation, she vanished toward the border.

Orochimaru watched Kurenai disappear into the forest, then turned to study Tsukimi with interest.

"Tsukimi, you seem so certain we can get out unharmed. Is that confidence in yourself, or trust in me as your teacher?"

"Maybe both." Tsukimi shrugged, his languid air returning.

He truly wasn't worried. With his and Orochimaru's abilities, escaping would not be too difficult. Besides, Orochimaru had Reverse Summoning Technique as a last resort.

"Now it's time to get to work!"