Arai and Sasori lay in wait within the 'hunting zone,' while their captain, Arai, guarded the path ahead, scouting for any Konoha teams that might appear at any moment.
Upon spotting a target, Arai would return ahead of the prey to relay the information to Yubi and Sasori.
This allowed them to prepare in advance.
The opposition was bound to be a multi-person team and, carrying supplies, their speed would be nowhere near Arai's even if they traveled at full tilt.
With Arai's skill, it was also highly unlikely for the enemy to detect his presence.
Yubi hid in the shadows of the trees, while Sasori concealed himself behind a tree trunk.
[Remember this site's domain name, reading Taiwan novels is best at Chao Ge Li]
Time passed bit by bit.
As late night fell, a sound came from the forest; Arai had returned.
"Six people in total, two squads. Four Chunin and two Genin."
Arai dropped onto a branch, alerting Yubi and Sasori as they revealed themselves.
There were no more detailed plans; he simply made a throat-slitting gesture.
The meaning was clear... they could strike directly!
With a team composition like that, Yubi and Sasori's abilities were more than enough to handle them.
Arai wouldn't need to intervene... unless something unexpected happened.
With that, the three of them vanished simultaneously.
A few minutes later, several dark shadows darted through the woods, stepping into the ambush zone set by the trio.
When transporting supplies to the battlefield, the chosen routes had to be extremely well-hidden... especially in environments like this primeval forest, which could, to some extent, increase the difficulty for enemies to track them.
Even if an emergency occurred, they could use the complex terrain to shake off enemy pursuit... and avoid losses.
Currently, there were many Ninja active within the Land of Grass, and their identities were quite varied... if one were targeted, there would always be danger.
Furthermore, regarding the choice of timing, the Konoha squads would hurry along under the cover of night... during the day, they would slow down slightly and act with caution... resting more to maintain their energy.
However, the safety of this particular route could be guaranteed for now.
After all, this wasn't the first time they had taken this path... they were very familiar with it.
Consequently, they were relatively relaxed.
Through the gaps between a few leaves, an eyeball turned silently, looking down at the several Konoha Ninja passing by.
It was Yubi, hidden in the darkness.
Just as Arai had said, there were six people in total... clearly two squads of three.
One following the other.
Each three-man cell consisted of two Chunin leading one Genin.
The six people carried massive packs... one didn't even need to think to know they contained supplies urgently needed at the front lines.
"Hmm?"
But Yubi's gaze focused on one of them.
The person had paint on their face, a very distinct 'mark'.
A member of the Inuzuka Clan!
Yubi instantly recognized the person's identity.
His original intention to observe a bit longer was immediately discarded, and he reflexively hooked his fingers.
As one of Konoha's clan powers, those of the Inuzuka Clan could not be treated as ordinary Ninja... their abilities were quite special.
Especially in a situation like this.
Even though Yubi believed his own traps were perfectly laid... with no flaws to be found.
But... sure enough, just as Yubi made his move, the Inuzuka Ninja leaping onto a tree trunk suddenly raised a hand, stopping the squad's advance.
"What's wrong?"
Not far away, another Konoha Chunin's expression changed.
"Something's not right..."
The Inuzuka member narrowed his eyes, his nose twitching as he caught a scent.
"There's the scent of strangers... Careful! Enemy!" the Inuzuka man immediately shouted, alerting his teammates.
No sooner had the words left his mouth than the companion behind him suddenly tumbled from the tree in a bizarre fashion, a spray of eye-catching blood erupting from his neck.
What was that?!
Inuzuka Kuri turned sharply, his pupils shrinking as he stared at his teammate who had been taken out by a sneak attack in an instant... Then, in a split second, the Genin of his squad was also decapitated, his youthful face filled with bewilderment... his head severed and tossed into the air.
The body, still carrying the pack, had already fallen.
"Kyuumaru!"
Inuzuka Kuri shouted again.
Everything had happened too fast; from the moment he smelled the abnormal scent in the air to turning around and seeing two teammates dead... it had been no more than two or three seconds.
There was simply no time to react.
Bark!
A blur as fast as lightning, like a nimble leopard, leapt up from the forest floor, using sharp claws to quickly climb high up a large tree while baring its fangs to snap at a cluster of green foliage in the canopy.
Rustle... the foliage trembled.
A large number of leaves fluttered down.
Following a sound of impact... blood sprayed out.
The blur that had lunged for the treetop fell through the air, but its body tumbled mid-flight, adjusting its posture to land steadily.
It was, remarkably, a large yellow dog.
It was also a Ninken raised by the Inuzuka Clan.
At this moment, the Ninken named Kyuumaru had its front paw slashed by a sharp weapon; it was bleeding, revealing the white bone beneath the flesh.
But the yellow dog showed no fear; instead, it bared its teeth and let out a low, fierce growl at the boy jumping down from the treetop.
"Impressive... even more agile than I thought."
"To think you actually dodged it."
Indeed, the person falling from the tree was Yubi.
This Ninken had easily found his hiding place.
Yubi stared at the large yellow dog with curiosity and praised it.
"Sunagakure!"
Seeing the forehead protector tied around Yubi's neck, Inuzuka Kuri's eyes turned cold.
He did not underestimate the opponent just because he was a boy... after all, being able to take down a Chunin and a Genin from his team in the blink of an eye was no ordinary feat.
Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh.
In the distance, the Konoha three-man squad behind them heard the commotion and, without needing orders from Inuzuka Kuri, instinctively retreated immediately.
They quickly left the battlefield and disappeared.
If their supply squad encountered enemies, unless it was absolutely necessary, they would never engage.
Instead, they prioritized protecting the supplies and reducing casualties.
The reason the six of them were split into two squads, rather than moving together, and kept their distance... especially with Inuzuka Kuri leading the way, was not just because he was more familiar with the route and environment, but also because of a very important factor... the Inuzuka Clan's abilities.
Their sense of smell, enhanced by Chakra, was over ten thousand times that of an ordinary person.
This meant that no matter what kind of ambush or disguise the enemy used, as long as they had been present, Inuzuka Kuri would discover them.
If things changed... the rear squad would have a window to escape.
Even if... that meant the front squad would likely be sacrificed, at least they saved the lives and supplies of one team.
And they could pass the intelligence back.
It was... a quite clever arrangement.
And a form of insurance.
Clang!
The flying knife controlled by Yubi shot toward Inuzuka Kuri's vital point, but at the moment of impact, it was parried away by the other's Kunai.
"So you've already reacted..."
Yubi understood.
His fingers hooked repeatedly, and another flying knife flashed through the air, attacking the back of the man's head.
But he still dodged it by lowering his head.
"Carrying such a large pack... yet still possessing this level of stamina and agility..."
A thought flashed through Yubi's mind.
The third flying knife, killing from the air, followed closely behind.
Under his 'Data Observation,' this strike... would end the opponent's life.
This member of the Inuzuka Clan would absolutely be unable to dodge it.
However, just as it was about to hit, the Ninken on the ground actually lunged forward to protect its master, pouncing behind the man at extreme speed.
Acting as a human shield, it blocked the flying knife's attack with its own body.
"Ninjutsu: Beast Human Clone!"
Inuzuka Kuri hugged his beloved dog and immediately formed hand seals upon landing.
Chakra erupted from his body, and under the effect of the Ninjutsu, his body seemed to undergo some kind of change and enhancement.
The Ninken pressed against his body, even though injured, still played its part.
With a burst of white smoke, Inuzuka Kuri's flesh grew wildly, his entire frame expanding significantly, muscles bulging... hair sprouted on his exposed skin, as if he had merged with the Ninken into one, becoming a beastman with crimson eyes and sharp claws and fangs, exuding a wild aura.
His physical capabilities had clearly received a terrifying boost!
The secret techniques of the Inuzuka Clan!
It wasn't one of the few Yubi knew... it was just... Inuzuka Kuri had just finished performing the Ninjutsu.
In his field of vision, the boy who should have been standing on the tree... his small body, already hunched over, had arrived right in front of him.
The boy's two arms were raised high, his head lowered, like a majestic eagle spreading its wings.
With the twitching of those fingers, at some point... the space around Inuzuka Kuri had been covered by a large number of crossing threads, like a fishing net.
The sharp threads floated in the air... filled with killing intent.
"Death Waltz."
He heard the boy's whisper, as faint as a mosquito.
With a screeching sound.
The net of threads suddenly contracted, binding Inuzuka Kuri tightly before he could even make a move.
The sharpness brought by the threads even instantly sliced through and destroyed the pack on his back, spilling all the supplies inside.
He, who should have been reduced to a pile of minced meat by the strangulation, did not die as the threads tightened.
Only his skin was sliced open, covered in bloody gashes.
"Agh!"
Inuzuka Kuri roared, attempting to use his domineering physical body to burst through the threads.
Under his resistant movements, although the threads cut deeper and deeper into his flesh, the sense of power pouring out was as if he were about to snap the threads.
His arms were raised higher and higher, having already forced open a slight gap.
If the boy wanted to strangle him, he had to maintain absolute control over the threads; otherwise... he could counterattack in an instant.
In other words, the enemy couldn't move either.
The two were locked in a contest of strength.
Inuzuka Kuri was confident he could break the situation.
He just needed some time... Snap.
Finally, he forced the threads open and regained his freedom.
But his movements also suddenly stopped, and blood flowed from the corner of his mouth.
He could force them open not because of his brute strength, but because... Yubi had given up control of the threads.
Looking down, one of the boy's arms, erupting with Chakra, had pierced through his abdomen like a sharp blade.
"This is..."
Inuzuka Kuri's expression was one of bewilderment.
He naturally recognized the boy's method.
This was... the Chakra Scalpel!
This guy... is a Medical Ninja?!