Their target moved extremely fast along an erratic route, clearly familiar with the terrain and deliberately using its complexity to conceal his movements. Had Ling's extraordinary senjutsu perception not remained locked onto that faint trace of cold, sinister energy, they would probably have lost him long ago.
"He's cunning. He's circling around and setting simple traps to throw us off," Neji reported, his Byakugan constantly scanning ahead. "His chakra signature is still weak, but that cold quality is very distinctive. It shares the same origin as the Netherworld Marsh's energy, but it's more... concentrated, as though it's been highly purified."
"He doesn't seem like a straggler fleeing in panic," Yamato said gravely. "This feels more like deliberate reconnaissance or an attempt to lead us somewhere. Be careful. He might be trying to lure us away."
Ling maintained his high speed while diverting some of his attention to suppressing the lingering clash of energies within his body. His face was still pale, but his gaze grew ever sharper. "Whatever he's doing, we'll know once we catch him. Shizune, watch our surroundings. There could be poison or genjutsu traps."
"Understood." Shizune held several specially made antidote needles and smoke bombs designed to dispel genjutsu, remaining fully alert.
The pursuit continued for roughly half an hour. After they passed through a dense coniferous forest, a rushing river appeared ahead. The faint fluctuation paused briefly at the riverbank, then crossed without hesitation and vanished into the shadows of the cliffs on the opposite bank.
"He crossed the river!" Neji called out.
"We can't let him reach the rugged mountains on the other side!" Ling's gaze sharpened.
"Go!" Ling barked, stepping onto the river first. The rest of the squad followed close behind.
But just as the four were about to reach the opposite bank,