After ambushing and eliminating a Sand puppet squad, Minato's team swiftly vacated the area near Lake Siburo, leaving behind numerous coded messages along the route.
"That should be enough to catch their attention,"
Namikaze Minato muttered, glancing back in the direction of Lake Siburo as they retreated.
Ten minutes later—
The lifeless bodies of the puppet squad led by Sago, assigned to fortify the perimeter, were finally discovered.
"Alert!"
The shout came from Yinbu, a senior Sand jonin and puppet master. His voice rang out the moment he spotted Sago's corpse lying prone on the ground.
The three Sand shinobi following Yinbu immediately assumed combat-ready stances, eyes sweeping their surroundings for threats.
These expanded patrols around Lake Siburo were divided under two teams—one under Sago, and the other under Yinbu himself.
Earlier, after setting up their section of the perimeter with three subordinates, Yinbu noticed that Sago had failed to rendezvous at the agreed time. A creeping suspicion formed—something was wrong.
His fears were confirmed after a brief search: all four members of Sago's unit lay dead, scattered on the forest floor.
"Captain Yinbu... Captain Sago's team..."
One of Yinbu's men spoke in disbelief, staring at the fallen comrades with a voice heavy with grief.
Before the words were finished, Yinbu raised his arm and fired a flare signal into the sky. A red burst exploded overhead like fireworks, illuminating the forest canopy.
"Secure the site. Track the enemy's trail,"
Yinbu ordered, his voice low and grim.
He didn't need to see the killers to make an educated guess.
Only Konoha could be responsible.
After all, this was the Land of Fire. Their presence near Lake Siburo already painted them as invaders. To Yinbu, the ambush was a clear warning—Konoha was testing their defenses.
And a second attack might already be underway.
As the crimson flare arced through the sky, it wasn't just Sand shinobi near Lake Siburo who noticed it. Minato's team, still in the midst of their retreat, also saw the red bloom over the treetops.
Within minutes, all nearby Sand squads converged on the site of the massacre. They gathered around the four bodies of Sago's team, a group of 28 shinobi in total, led by four elite jonin including Yinbu. Among them were recon specialists, already fanning out to search for traces of the enemy.
Yet not one of them noticed the ladybug flitting through the air nearby—circling slowly, as if scanning the area.
"Captain Kaneya! Enemy escape route confirmed!"
A reconnaissance ninja shouted, pointing toward the direction where Veigar and the others had fled.
All eyes turned immediately.
The four jonin exchanged glances.
"Pursue them. Do not let them escape,"
Kaneya ordered without hesitation, bolting toward the indicated direction with Yinbu right behind him.
The other 20+ Sand shinobi quickly split into two groups. One, led by Kaneya and Yinbu, took 12 shinobi and gave chase. The second, led by the remaining two jonin, stayed behind to secure the site.
Fire, Wind, and Lightning chakra residue, traces of kenjutsu, and the precise position of the four corpses—it was all enough for them to deduce the number of assailants:
Four attackers.
Confident that their odds were favorable, Kaneya and Yinbu's group advanced with certainty. The chase, they believed, was all but over.
But not one of them noticed the ladybug trailing quietly behind.
As for those who remained—well, someone had to guard the base. If they all left and Konoha seized their hard-earned position, things would get complicated.
Meanwhile…
After eliminating Sago's unit, Minato's team finally came to a halt in a secluded canyon.
Surrounded by thick forest on both sides, Minato issued orders swiftly:
"Stay hidden. Be alert for any movement."
"If no one arrives within the hour, we move out."
"Understood."
The three companions responded in unison and immediately concealed themselves within the underbrush.
This canyon was the rendezvous point mentioned in Minato's encoded messages—meant for a still-unknown Konoha ally.
Now, all they could do was wait.
Minato worried: would the intended recipient decipher the message? Would a Sand shinobi uncover it instead?
Could that Konoha ninja even reach them safely?
If not… they'd need a new plan.
Elsewhere, Kaneya and Yinbu's pursuit team steadily closed in on Veigar's position. The canyon was now within sight.
As they approached its mouth, the lead recon shinobi moved to charge in—only for Kaneya to abruptly raise his fist and stop in his tracks.
"Hold."
The Sand shinobi behind him exchanged confused glances, unsure why the captain had halted their advance. Still, they obeyed.
They fanned out, ready for combat at a moment's notice.
"Captain Kaneya? Why are we stopping?"
The scout who had led the way looked back, puzzled and slightly anxious. They were so close—Veigar was right there!
But Kaneya didn't reply. He turned toward Yinbu instead.
"Yinbu. Do you feel it?"
Yinbu said nothing—but nodded in affirmation.
Their silent exchange left the rest of the squad baffled.
As veteran jonin of Sunagakure, both Kaneya and Yinbu had keen instincts, honed through years of battle.
And now?
They could feel it.
A deadly presence… lurking in the canyon ahead.
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