Uchiha Makoto and the others searched for most of the day without finding even a trace of Kumogakure shinobi. All they discovered were the remains of temporary camps abandoned long ago.
Uchiha Makoto did not care in the slightest.
His mind was not on hunting down the remaining enemies at all.
Today's the delivery date for the eye-awakening package... Uchiha Makoto pretended to survey his surroundings, his nerves stretched taut.
He had been on high alert since waking up that morning.
Everyone looked like an incarnation of pain, and even the sound of the wind seemed like an ill omen.
He had even checked all the ninja tools, medicines, and Sealing Scrolls he carried with an almost neurotic thoroughness, confirming that Pakura and Tufeng were in good condition.
Waiting for something unknown was more torturous than facing a clearly defined enemy.
Finally, that afternoon, with their search yielding nothing, Hyuga Keisuke suggested expanding the search area again. Kano Yuya agreed.
Uchiha Makoto immediately objected.
"Keisuke, Yuya, I think... aren't we being a little too hasty?" Uchiha Makoto put on a thoughtful, measured expression. "Those Kumogakure guys are probably hiding in holes like frightened rats right now. Searching every inch of these mountains is inefficient, and we could easily expose ourselves and walk into an ambush."
Hyuga Keisuke frowned. "What are you suggesting, Makoto?"
"What I'm suggesting," Uchiha Makoto cleared his throat, "is that we find somewhere easy to defend, difficult to attack, and with a reasonably clear field of view. We can make camp and rest for a while. Make it look like we're tired and need a break. Maybe those Kumogakure shinobi in hiding will see us letting our guard down and won't be able to resist attacking us. Then, instead of looking for them, we'd be waiting for