In the dense forest rife with murderous intent, an unknown number of dark figures hid in the shadows, watching Konoha's Ninja Team leave.
Even after the team disappeared from sight, they showed no intention of attacking or continuing to follow.
No one knew why they had appeared here.
They had clearly discovered the Konoha Ninja Team's whereabouts and even pinpointed its route, yet they still did not attack.
By all rights, a surprise attack would have dealt even the Konoha Ninja Team a heavy blow.
Yet they remained hidden in the dense undergrowth.
Without moving a muscle.
Meanwhile, on a sheer cliff roughly several dozen kilometers away.
A man wearing a white haori beneath a black cloak, with a long braid hanging from the back of his head, sat atop the towering cliff, gazing toward the distant Konoha Ninja Team that was nowhere within sight.
He rubbed the red Wrist Weights on his wrists, his expression filled with hesitation.
Jigen!
Yes, he was Jigen!
The very monk Otsutsuki Toneri had taken as his host!
The reason Isshiki had appeared here was, of course, to prevent information about himself from leaking.
Yes, the Search Team and Konoha's Analysis Team had made such a large-scale move that Kara had discovered it long ago.
Naturally, this had been reported to Isshiki, who was hiding in the Alternate Space. Ever since learning that the previously abandoned base had been found, he had been hesitating.
Battles between Ninja came down to intelligence!
Unless there was an enormous gap in strength, in which case even possessing intelligence might not secure ultimate victory.
And the situation Isshiki now faced was that information about him might leak because of this abandoned Underground Base.
More importantly, there really was an enemy in the Shinobi World who could threaten his