Some twenty or thirty kilometers from Yechen's squad, a ten-man squad from Iwagakure was moving at full speed.
Suddenly, a piercing eagle cry rang out overhead.
All ten Iwagakure ninja immediately stopped and looked up at the sky.
An eagle flew over from the other side of the mountain. After circling above them a few times, it suddenly swooped down and landed on one man's shoulder.
The man first stroked the eagle's feathers, then took a slip of paper from the bamboo tube attached to its leg.
A string of numbers was written on it, which the Rock Ninja quickly deciphered in his head.
"What does the message say?" another Rock Ninja asked.
At the question, the Rock Ninja destroyed the slip of paper before explaining at an unhurried pace.
"Matsui Shūichi just sent word that the Konoha force has left its base.
"Based on their route, the Command Center believes they're heading to rendezvous with the Konoha force that overran Aoyama Camp yesterday."
The others fell silent at this.
Another Rock Ninja asked, "Then should we wait near Aoyama Camp for them to walk into our trap, or intercept them on the way?"
"We can't go to Aoyama Camp."
Everyone turned toward the front. Standing there was a burly man wearing a conical hat, a red mask over his face, and red armor.
He was the captain of this ten-man squad, as well as the Five-Tails Jinchuriki known as the "Steam Ninja"-Han.
Hearing Han say this, one of the Rock Ninja agreed.
"We really can't go to Aoyama Camp. It would make it too easy to expose our movements and cause unnecessary trouble.
"Besides, their destination is only the Command Center's guess. If they aren't heading there, wouldn't we just be wasting our time?"
"In that case, we'll block