After leaving Konoha, the squad traveled at full speed. The Land of Grass bordered the Land of Fire, so the journey was not particularly long, but the closer they drew to their destination, the stranger their surroundings became.
At first, they passed through ordinary forests and hills, but after entering the Land of Grass, the air grew noticeably more humid, and the vegetation became increasingly dense and... strange. Tree branches twisted unnaturally, their leaves an unhealthy dark green, while thick moss blanketed the ground, seemingly swallowing every sound. Occasionally, they spotted abandoned villages, their crumbling walls covered in deep purple vines that gave off a faint scent of decay.
According to the map, the Netherworld Marsh lay deep within a vast wetland in the northeastern Land of Grass. Shrouded year-round in lingering gray-white mist, it was a forbidden place that even the country's inhabitants rarely ventured into.
"The natural energy in the air is becoming chaotic and sluggish, with a trace of... an unpleasant chill," Ling said as they traveled, sharing what his Senjutsu senses revealed. A faint layer of senjutsu chakra circulated automatically around him, keeping out the cold presence that sought to seep into his body.
Hearing this, Neji immediately activated his Byakugan. Veins bulged around his eyes as his vision pierced the dense forest ahead. "Five kilometers ahead, the terrain drops sharply into a vast stretch of marshland. The mist becomes much thicker and severely interferes with the Byakugan's penetrating vision. I can only make out vague outlines. Also... there are numerous powerful energy signatures scattered throughout the marsh, but their signs of life are extremely weak. It's very strange."
"That matches the records," Yamato said gravely. "The mist in the Netherworld Marsh contains a special chakra component that interferes with perception and vision. Watch your footing,