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A few minutes later…
The rustling of leaves overhead was the only sound echoing through the dense, suffocating silence of the forest. Shadows shifted, tension thick in the air as Team 7 made their way through the underbrush.
"WAIT!"
Naruto's voice cut through the silence like a kunai.
Sasuke stopped mid-stride, instinctively reaching for his pouch.
Sakura froze and asked him, confused. "What is it, Naruto?"
Naruto narrowed his eyes, gaze snapping toward a tree up ahead.
The branches trembled faintly, just for a split second.
He saw it and his expression turned sharp.
"So…" He said coolly, raising his voice slightly, "which one do you have? Heaven or Earth?"
The words sent a chill across the clearing.
A moment of utter stillness before a voice drifted over.
"Crap!"
From above, a figure in a pale yellow full-body suit and face mask erupted from the treetops, clearly caught red-handed.
But it was too late because in a single flicker of motion, Naruto vanished from his spot.
Fwip
Thud!
Before anyone could blink, Naruto reappeared behind the masked ninja, slamming him face-first into the trunk of a tree. The force left a crack along the bark.
"Speak," Naruto said coldly, his hand pressing firmly on the back of the man's neck.
The masked genin squirmed. "I-It's unlucky! I came alone… tried to conceal my presence… but it backfired!"
Naruto tilted his head, voice low and mocking. "Conceal your presence?"
His smirk deepened. "Your aura practically screamed, 'Come find me!' The forest wasn't hiding you… It was begging me to pull you out."
Sakura, standing a few feet behind, clenched her fists slightly.
Damn… I didn't even notice him hiding up there.
Her pride as a kunoichi and as Naruto's servant took a small hit.
How could I let Naruto-sama move to clean up someone this weak before I sensed them?
Sasuke watched quietly, one eyebrow slightly raised.
"Tch… Sensory-type users really are something else," He muttered.
The masked ninja continued to writhe under Naruto's grip.
"Even if I had the scroll you're looking for," The man hissed, "it's not on me."
"That so?" Naruto's eyes sharpened, and then, without a word, he loosened his grip and took a step back.
The man didn't hesitate as he bolted away, vanishing into the trees like a frightened animal.
Sakura blinked. "Naruto-sama… why let him go?"
Naruto reappeared beside them, brushing dust from his jacket.
"He didn't have the scroll," He replied simply. "No point wasting effort. I already knew that the second I touched him."
Sasuke folded his arms. "Still… you let an enemy escape."
"It's not about winning every little fight." Naruto smiled. "It's about knowing which ones are worth finishing."
The trio continued on through the forest, navigating around fallen logs, thick brush, and faint trails left by other teams. The sunlight barely filtered through the dense canopy, adding to the pressure in the atmosphere.
Eventually, they came across a small open clearing.
Without a word, they slowed down and dropped into position, forming a loose triangle as they sat on patches of grass.
Sakura reached for her canteen, eyes still darting from tree to tree.
Naruto leaned back, one hand behind his head.
Sasuke finally broke the silence.
"It's about ten kilometers from the gates to the tower," He said, his voice low and focused. "We've got about five days left. That's more than enough time."
He plucked a blade of grass and stared at it.
"But the real danger won't be distance. It's the last two kilometers."
Naruto nodded and said. "That area'll be crawling with teams lying in wait… All of them are hoping to ambush the ones who actually have the scrolls."
Sakura tightened her grip on her water bottle. "So the moment we get close, we become the target."
"Exactly," Sasuke said with a grim smirk. "That's why we take our time. We rest when needed. We scout the area closely and make sure to avoid unnecessary fights."
Naruto crossed his arms, his eyes narrowing slightly. "And when we do fight… we make sure it's over in seconds."
They all nodded in agreement.
------
Meanwhile, at the gates of the 44th Training Ground…
The forest loomed behind her like a dark, breathing beast, but Anko Mitarashi sat comfortably on a thick tree stump just outside the perimeter, legs crossed, posture relaxed like she had not a single care in the world.
In one hand, she held a skewer of dumplings, the savory aroma wafting gently in the breeze. In the other, she cradled a steaming cup of red bean soup, sipping delicately between each bite, the faint clink of the wooden cup brushing against her lips.
The screams, chaos, and tension from the forest were a world away.
"Ahhh~" She exhaled, savoring the taste of the last dumpling on the skewer. Her purple eyes were half-lidded in bliss. "This... is peace."
She shifted slightly and smirked to herself.
"Okay…" She muttered between sips of soup, voice low but filled with casual confidence.
"Once I finish this…" She glanced toward the dense trees. "I'll break through the forest and head straight to the tower. It's about time I made my grand entrance again."
A wicked grin tugged at her lips.
"With this setup… the smart ones should already be halfway through. And the rest…" She chuckled darkly. "Let's just say they'll either learn or die trying."
With a final satisfying slurp, Anko tossed the now-empty skewer into the air. The small stick twirled as it spun end over end before it struck a nearby tree.
Thwip!
Right between two others, forming a perfect triangle with the other dumpling sticks she had previously tossed.
She stood up, dusted her coat off, and smirked proudly.
"The Leaf Village symbol…" She declared with her hands on her hips. "Complete!"
She stared at her makeshift dumpling art, clearly impressed with her own culinary-based precision target practice.
"Hmph… artistic, deadly, and beautiful."
She turned on her heel and began stretching, rolling her shoulders lazily as she gazed out over the forest line.
"Let's see who's smart enough to survive the Forest of Death…" She whispered with a dangerous glint in her eye. "And who's just food for the wildlife?"
The wind picked up slightly as the forest rustled ominously behind her… and Anko smiled.
"Showtime's coming soon, kids..."
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