The afternoon sunlight filtered through the branches and leaves, casting dappled light and shadow. A warm breeze brushed past, carrying the fresh scent of vegetation.
Uchiha Lei stretched, the languid air around him slowly fading. He turned toward Suiren beside him, a casual smile curling his lips:
"We've rested enough. Let's keep moving. The longer we stay at Green Dam, the more uneasy this place feels."
Suiren nodded gently, her soft hair stirring in the wind. She straightened the hem of her clothes, her voice gentle:
"Lei, the terrain around here looks complicated. We should be extra careful. Iwagakure's ninja have always been good at mountain ambushes. Let's not fall into their trap."
Suiren tightened her grip on her ninja tool, her wary gaze sweeping the dense woods around them as she said gravely:
"Lei, I'm sensing faint chakra fluctuations nearby, and quite a few of them. They're probably coming for us!"
The amusement in Uchiha Lei's eyes vanished instantly, replaced by an icy sharpness. His presence surged as the scarlet Sharingan slowly rotated in his eyes, its tomoe clearly emerging as he surveyed the silent mountain forest.
"Heh, they've hidden themselves pretty well. Looks like they've had their eyes on us for a while."
Uchiha Lei's tone was indifferent, without the slightest panic at being ambushed. Instead, it carried a trace of disdain:
"Since they've come looking for death, let's oblige them."
His words had barely fallen~
Suddenly, the sound of weapons cutting through the air rang out from the surrounding woods!
A dense barrage of kunai shot toward Uchiha Lei and the two women from every direction, trailing fierce gusts. Cold light flashed along their tips, and some were wrapped with explosive tags. They clearly intended to kill all three of them right here!
"Lei, watch out!"
"Lei,