Rain poured down in sheets, and thunder occasionally rumbled loudly enough to make the whole earth seem to shake. Karura's mood was as foul as the weather. She cautiously poked her head out and scanned her surroundings. Seeing no one, she drew back inside and reported to her squad leader.
"Almost four hours have passed. Not only have no Konoha ninja shown up, but none of our people have either." Liangma, the leader of this Sunagakure ninja squad, wore a troubled expression and let out a deep sigh.
"The Konoha assault squad that broke through has vanished too. Who knows where they went? Maybe they've already left. Should we try going out to find the main force?" one of the squad members beside him suggested.
"Nonsense!" Liangma immediately snapped at him. "What did you learn at the academy? Don't assume that just because you can't see anyone, no one is there. Ninja specialize in concealment. Those Konoha ninja might be watching us from somewhere we don't know about!"
The squad member was too cowed to lift his head and could only grumble inwardly, My grades at the academy weren't that good to begin with. How am I supposed to know all that? And they still sent me here.
Listening to their exchange, Karura gave a slight nod. Although she had just taken a look outside, she was not a sensory ninja, so detecting enemies who had concealed themselves was no easy task. Her squad leader might well be right: the Konoha ninja could still be hiding nearby.
Rather than rush out recklessly, they were better off waiting where they were. If a Sunagakure ninja squad appeared, they could at least establish some degree of safety. Although those people might be Konoha ninja disguised with the Transformation Technique, they could also