Leaving Orochimaru's underground base, thick with the stench of blood and snakes, Sasuke narrowed his eyes against the piercing sunlight. The three behind him-Karin, Guren, and Jugo-followed silently, the atmosphere uneasy and tense. This team had been forcibly bound together by power and obsession. Trust was still a luxury; following Sasuke was their only temporary bond.
"Lord Sasuke, where are we going next?" Karin adjusted her glasses, trying to make her voice sound sweet and dependable, though her gaze was practically glued to Sasuke's back.
Sasuke did not look back. His voice was cold. "The Land of Rain."
The objective was clear, but the route remained undecided. The Akatsuki's strongholds were bound to be well hidden; barging in blindly would be no different from throwing their lives away. They needed intelligence, leads, and... time to learn to work together.
Several days later, the four entered the Land of Grass, which bordered the Land of Rain. Chaos reigned here, with missing-nin, bandits, and black-market merchants mingling freely. It was a gray zone where intelligence changed hands, and countless dangers lurked.
Trouble arrived uninvited as they settled into an abandoned way station. A band of wandering ninja who had clearly set their sights on them attacked under cover of darkness. There were a dozen or so, their strength uneven, but their methods were ruthless, and they excelled at coordinated attacks and traps.
Battle erupted in the way station's crumbling courtyard.
Sasuke did not even draw the Kusanagi Sword. With taijutsu and the Sharingan's perception alone, he moved effortlessly through the crowd. His kunai sliced precisely through wrists and Achilles tendons, while his fists and feet, coated in lightning release chakra, numbed their targets. Every strike brought someone down, efficient and cold, like a merciless harvesting machine.
Karin hid in a relatively safe