Thump, thump...
Several dozen figures leaped through the forest, the sounds of their movement causing the insects to momentarily fall silent.
In the Konoha team, Hizashi Hyūga suddenly spoke up, "Captain Sakumo, there are three people about 900 meters ahead. They're likely enemies."
"An ambush?" Sakumo didn't signal his team to halt as they were still some distance away.
"No, it's not an ambush," Hizashi replied, shaking his head. "They're standing out in the open on a tree."
"What's their strength?" Sakumo asked.
Hizashi's voice grew serious. "They have a lot of chakra, especially the one in the middle."
Sakumo's eyes flickered as he confirmed, "Only three?"
"Yes," Hizashi said confidently.
Sakumo nodded in acknowledgment but didn't issue any further orders, and the Konoha shinobi continued forward through the trees.
After a while, when they were about 500 meters away, Sakumo gave the command to "Be on guard" and quickly flashed a few hand signals to his team.
The Konoha ninja immediately shifted into combat readiness, those with weapons drew them, while others gripped their kunai. Their formation changed, forming small groups of three to better coordinate.
Sakumo reached over his shoulder and drew his famed short sword, White Fang, which had ended countless lives. His expression turned cold as he looked forward, his demeanor transforming completely.
For a moment, it seemed as if a demonic mask had covered his face.
In Konoha, he was like a gentle neighbor, with no sign of danger. But in battle, he was a fearsome reaper, cold and detached, indifferent to life.
As they drew closer, they no longer needed the Byakugan to see the three figures standing openly on a tree trunk ahead, seemingly waiting for their arrival.
On the left stood a hunchbacked figure draped in a black cloak with red clouds, most of his face hidden by a black cloth. Beside him stood... a puppet.
"The Third Kazekage? Turned into a puppet?"
Sakumo noted this silently, signaling with his hand before landing on a giant tree, his eyes fixed coldly on the three figures.
The other Konoha ninja followed suit, stopping on nearby tree branches.
In that moment, a chilling tension filled the forest.
On the right stood another figure in a similar black cloak with red clouds, with a rugged appearance and carrying a distinct large sword, the Executioner's Blade, marking him as one of the Seven Swordsmen of the Mist.
Sakumo's gaze finally rested on the expressionless Ye Zi in the middle. His previously cold gaze wavered slightly.
A Konoha traitor... Ye Zi. Though he had anticipated they might one day face each other, he hadn't expected it to be now.
At this point, the two sides were about 250 meters apart. The sparse trees in Birdsong Forest allowed them to clearly see each other's faces.
Upon seeing Ye Zi, the expressions of Ninashi and Kōri Uchiha changed, shaken to the core.
Ninashi's dark eyes blazed with fighting spirit. He had trained hard and had long anticipated encountering Ye Zi, and now his excitement was difficult to contain.
This was an opportunity—to surpass Ye Zi and to bring honor to the Uchiha clan.
Kōri, however, showed a more complex expression. Her feelings toward Ye Zi were mixed, though she was certain they were not romantic.
Clenching her fists, Kōri shook her head to clear away unnecessary emotions. Any punch or kick she threw would never hesitate if it were aimed at an enemy.
The Konoha ninja stood on the tree branches, locked in a standoff with Ye Zi and his two companions.
Sakumo's delay in initiating an attack was uncharacteristic, as was Ye Zi's. Sakumo was holding back because Ye Zi was among the three opponents, while Ye Zi was waiting for them to step into his trap.
"Ye Zi, it's been a while."
Though facing an enemy, Sakumo's first words to Ye Zi were polite.
"Likewise," Ye Zi replied, keeping his hand on the hilt of his sword as he slowly drew it, his tone much less courteous.
The quiet forest echoed with the faint sound of metal sliding from its sheath.
"Cross this line, and die," he declared in a cold, deliberate tone.
His blood-red blade pointed toward the Konoha ninja. Ye Zi's expression mirrored Sakumo's—cold and indifferent.
Those chilling words, spoken from over 200 meters away, reached the ears of the Konoha shinobi.
Though many had heard of Ye Zi's strength, few had ever worked alongside him. Seeing his stance as he held his blade, several glanced at Sakumo.
"His demeanor and aura... he's so much like Captain Sakumo. So this is why they call him Konoha's Little White Fang."
While some of the Konoha ninja were taken aback by Ye Zi's arrogance, he had only said this to provoke them into making the first move.
"It's been a long time, but you're still as audacious as ever." Ninashi's eyes had activated into the Sharingan, the three tomoe spinning as he stared at Ye Zi.
Ye Zi glanced briefly at Ninashi and Kōri, seemingly unconcerned by Rentoku's formidable Sharingan.
"So, would you like to test it? Small fry. " Ye Zi's voice was icy, his gaze dismissive, as if the Konoha ninja were beneath his notice.
Hidden within his puppet, Sasori was speechless. He hadn't known Ye Zi could be so provoking.
Jūzō raised an eyebrow and laughed, adding fuel to the fire. "Calling them small fry is giving them too much credit."
While Sakumo remained unaffected, some of the Konoha ninja showed anger, though not enough to lose control.
"I've wanted to fight you for a long time. Now's the time." Sakumo's voice was serious. Speaking even a few words before a fight was rare for him, but he respected Ye Zi.
White Fang's blade lifted slightly, his habitual move before he struck.
Swoosh!
Without further prompting, the Konoha shinobi launched their attack against Ye Zi's group.
As they leaped forward, a barrage of kunai and shuriken flew toward Ye Zi and his companions.
"Bring it on..." Ye Zi murmured, lightning flickering across his body.
Meanwhile, the Sand ninja had also unknowingly entered a trap-laden area.
Thinking their mission was just to reach the Rain Country border, and having previously defeated every Rain ninja they'd encountered, they had no idea the enemy was monitoring their movements and had set traps ahead.
Though the Sand ninja had sensory types, their range and detail were nowhere near the Byakugan's.
And so, they plunged into the trap.
Thud...
A faint sound.
Noticing something amiss, a Sand ninja's expression shifted as he shouted, "There's a trap!"
He was on the outer edge of the group and had unwittingly triggered a trap.
Whizz, whizz, whizz!
Three shuriken spun violently, shooting down from above at an angle.
"Prepare to engage the enemy." Pakura's cold voice carried to all the Sand ninja.
The three shuriken flew in a beautiful arc toward the center of the Sand ninja formation, but strangely missed entirely, nowhere close to hitting anyone.
The nearby Sand ninja immediately assessed the shuriken's path and chose not to evade.
The team passed through the area, with only one outer Sand ninja triggering the shuriken trap, which ultimately missed.
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Currently on Chapter 367 - Putting Ideas into Action