The Hatake squad continued its pursuit.
A powerful, pungent odor interfered with Kakumaru's senses, briefly breaking the trail. It was Hizashi's Byakugan that spotted the clear footprints the enemy had deliberately left leading in the wrong direction, while their actual retreat route had been carefully concealed.
"Crafty bastards." Inuzuka Ao spat. "Kushimaru Kuriarare really does live up to his reputation."
They had been tracking the enemy for nearly thirty hours straight and had already pushed some distance into enemy-controlled territory.
The surrounding mist seemed to have thickened again. The woods grew even quieter, with almost no sound from birds or beasts. Unease hung in the air.
"Stop." Sakumo suddenly raised a hand.
The squad froze instantly.
Hizashi adjusted the focus of his Byakugan and looked toward a low-lying stretch of stream valley to their left, shrouded in dense moisture.
"The targets are across the stream valley, about eight hundred meters away. They've stopped. They seem to be resting and treating their wounded. Their numbers... eleven, fewer than expected. They may have split up. Their chakra signatures... one is extremely concentrated and cold. That should be Kushimaru Kuriarare. There are three others beside him with fairly strong chakra, likely jonin or special jōnin. The remaining seven are in poor condition, with some wounded."
"The stream valley has complicated terrain, and the mist is thicker there. It's ideal for an ambush," Inuzuka Ao added. Kakumaru also gave a low warning growl toward the valley.
Sakumo swept his gaze over his teammates and Inuzuka Ao. "The plan stays the same. Inuzuka, you and Kakumaru will support us from the perimeter and block their potential escape routes, especially upstream and downstream. Keep them engaged, but don't fight them head-on. Your goal is to delay them until we can provide support. Hizashi, keep monitoring them,