Meanwhile, two kilometers away from Wolf Ninja Village.
Four figures walked along the forest path and stopped under a large tree.
"Is this Yufu Forest?" Inuzuka Kiba looked around. Akamaru poked his head out from his embrace, his nose twitching as he sniffed, "It doesn't look like anything special!"
"Kiba, don't be careless." Teacher Kurenai's voice was gentle but carried a hint of warning, "Mori Toshio-senpai's squad went missing right here. We will only investigate the perimeter; we won't go deep inside."
"Got it, got it!" Inuzuka Kiba waved his hand, but still placed Akamaru on the ground, "Akamaru, go scout the path!"
Akamaru let out a "Woof" and trotted into the bushes.
Hyuga Hinata activated her Byakugan. In her pale blue field of vision, the forest was completely silent.
"Teacher Kurenai... there is... no human Chakra around." She said softly.
"Very good." Teacher Kurenai nodded, "Then we will move north along the perimeter to see if we can find any signs of combat or... other clues."
What she didn't finish saying was: "Or corpses."
The team began to move.
Hinata walked in the middle, keeping her Byakugan activated at all times. Inuzuka Kiba and Akamaru were in the front, and Shino was in the back, his bugs already quietly spreading out and flying into the forest.
——
Ten minutes later.
Shino suddenly stopped in his tracks.
"What is it?" Teacher Kurenai asked alertly.
Shino pushed up his sunglasses, his voice flat:
"My bugs have discovered something interesting."
"What?"
"Three hundred meters ahead, there are three creatures moving." He paused, "But they have Chakra on them."
"Beasts?" Inuzuka Kiba asked.
"Not ordinary beasts." Shino looked into the depths of the forest, "The bugs' reaction tells me—they are observing us."
Hinata activated her Byakugan and looked carefully.
Three hundred meters away, three grey-black figures were hidden in the canopy, motionless.
Their bodies were similar to ordinary wild wolves, but the flow of Chakra within them was clearly visible—that was the unique network specific to Ninja Beasts.
Hinata's breath hitched slightly.
"Teacher Kurenai... they are wolves." Her voice trembled a little, "Three... Ninja Wolves."
Teacher Kurenai's pupils contracted slightly.
Ninja Wolves? How could there be Ninja Wolves in this forest?
Just then——
In the distant canopy, one Ninja Wolves slightly raised its head.
A very faint whimper came from its throat.
The sound carried on the wind, traveling deep into the forest.
"Oh no." Shino's voice remained calm, but his speaking speed increased slightly, "It is calling for its companions."
No sooner had he finished speaking——
Rustling sounds came from the bushes all around the forest.
Pairs of eerie green eyes lit up in the darkness.
One, two, three... eight.
Eight Ninja Wolves slowly appeared from all directions. They didn't bare their teeth, they didn't growl, they just stood there quietly, surrounding the four people and one dog.
But that silence itself was a form of oppression.
Inuzuka Kiba's legs felt a bit weak, but he still braced himself and stood in front of Hinata: "A-Akamaru, prepare for battle!"
"Woof!" Akamaru's bark was trembling.
Hinata's Byakugan stared fixedly at those wolves, her lips pressed until they turned white.
She could clearly see the Chakra inside those wolves—each one had the level of at least a Genin, and the one at the very front...
She looked at the Ninja Wolves at the very front.
It was a giant black wolf, a size larger than the other wolves, with a hideous scar running from its left eye to the corner of its mouth, appearing exceptionally fierce in the sunlight.
The Chakra within it was even more profound than the other seven combined.
That is... a Chunin?
Hinata informed Teacher Kurenai of the situation.
Teacher Kurenai's hand was already pressed against her Kunai, her red pupils slightly contracting.
She was assessing the situation.
Eight Ninja Wolves, seven Genin, one Chunin.
If she fought with her life on the line, she might be able to kill them all, but she couldn't guarantee the safety of Hinata and the others.
Her heart sank.
But just then——
The giant Scarface wolf suddenly twitched its ears.
Its gaze fell on Teacher Kurenai, lingering for a few seconds as if sensing something.
Then, it performed an action that no one expected.
It gently shook its head.
The seven Ninja Wolves didn't hesitate at all, stepping back three paces in unison, clearing the encirclement.
Scarface looked deeply at Teacher Kurenai, then turned and let out a low whimper toward one of the Ninja Wolves.
That Ninja Wolves nodded, pushed off with all four paws, and instantly disappeared into the depths of the forest—that was the direction of Wolf Valley.
After finishing all this, Scarface slowly retreated a few steps.
It just stood there, its gaze passing over the four of them, looking into the distance, as if nothing had just happened.
The other seven Ninja Wolves also dispersed, some lying down, some sitting, some beginning to lick their paws.
But they always maintained their distance.
Not attacking, not leaving, just... following.
Inuzuka Kiba was stunned: "Teacher, Teacher Kurenai, they..."
Teacher Kurenai was also stunned.
She had been a Ninja for seven years, and had never seen such a scene.
"What are they waiting for?" A rare trace of confusion appeared in Shino's voice, "My bugs tell me that their hostility is weakening, and it has been replaced by... surveillance?"
Hinata's Byakugan remained activated. She looked at the giant Scarface wolf and suddenly whispered:
"It... it is looking in that direction."
She pointed toward the depths of the forest.
That direction was exactly where the Ninja Wolves had disappeared.
Teacher Kurenai took a deep breath, and a thought emerged in her mind——
These wolves were not trying to attack them.
They were waiting.
Waiting for the decision of some "existence".
"Do not act rashly." She lowered her voice and said to the three children, "Maintain formation and move slowly toward the perimeter."
The four began to move slowly toward the west.
The eight Ninja Wolves did not block them.
But they stood up and followed behind at a leisurely pace, always maintaining a distance of thirty meters.
Scarface walked at the very front, its pace composed, its gaze calm, just like...
Just like an escort.
——
The depths of the forest.
Moonlight spilled through the gaps in the branches and leaves, shining on a figure running wildly.
The Ninja Wolves delivering the message ran with all four paws flying, weaving through the forest like a black bolt of lightning.
Its breathing was rapid, but its steps were not in the least bit chaotic—this was the mission Boss Scarface had entrusted to it, and it had to be completed as soon as possible.
Wolf Valley was getting closer and closer.
Passing through the last patch of forest, the view suddenly opened up.
At the entrance of Wolf Valley, two guard Ninja Wolves raised their heads, recognized it, and did not block it.
It rushed into Wolf Valley, heading straight for the Beast King Hall.
——
Inside the Beast King Hall.
Yang Jiu was lying on the high platform, resting with his eyes closed.
His silver-white fur shimmered with a soft luster in the sunlight, and blue electric arcs occasionally jumped between his fur before quietly fading away.
Because the Beast King Hall provided a certain bonus to the cultivation of the wolf clan members, he sometimes stayed in the Beast King Hall.
Rapid footsteps came from outside the hall.
A Ninja Wolves rushed into the hall, stopped five meters away from the high platform, bent its front limbs slightly, and lowered its head.
"Clan Leader!"
Yang Jiu opened his eyes, his golden pupils lighting up in the darkness.
"Speak."
"A team of human Ninja arrived from the west." The Ninja Wolves raised its head and said quickly, "Four of them, one big one, three small ones. Boss Scarface is leading the team to watch them and had me come back to report."
Yang Jiu's eyes narrowed slightly.
Four human Ninja? One big one, three small ones. Has Konoha finally sent people?
"How is their strength?"
"Boss Scarface sensed them; that big one... is not weak, likely above Chunin level." The Ninja Wolves paused, "The three small ones are very weak, Genin."
Yang Jiu raised an eyebrow.
Could it be a Special Jonin leading the team, bringing three Genin? This configuration... doesn't look like they are here to fight. It looks more like... an internship.
He slowly stood up, his four-meter-long silver-white body rising from the high platform, his silver fur cascading down like a waterfall, blue electric arcs crackling around his body.
"Where are they located?"
"In the west, about three kilometers from the edge of the forest. Boss Scarface is following with seven brothers; they didn't make a move, just watching."
The corners of Yang Jiu's mouth curled up slightly.
Scarface did the right thing. Knowing they can't win, just watch, so as to avoid unnecessary casualties.
"Anything else?"
The Ninja Wolves thought for a moment and added: "Among those three small ones, one has a white dog, and another one... has white eyes."
Yang Jiu's pupils contracted slightly.
White eyes? Hyuga Clan? And one with a dog—Inuzuka Clan?
Several thoughts flashed quickly through his mind.
Hyuga, Inuzuka, and if you add Aburame... isn't this the standard reconnaissance squad configuration for Konoha? Team 8?
He remembered that in the original work, the Jonin instructor for Team 8 was Teacher Kurenai, and the members were Hyuga Hinata, Inuzuka Kiba, and Shino Aburame. The kind that had just graduated.
Yang Jiu's mouth slowly spread into a grin.
Interesting. Truly interesting.
He stepped down from the high platform, his silver-white body casting a long shadow in the sunlight.
"Great Remnant."
"Here!" Great Remnant darted in from outside the hall.
"Guard Wolf Valley well, and notify me immediately of any situation."
"Yes!"
No sooner had Yang Jiu finished speaking than his figure transformed into a streak of silver-white light, instantly disappearing outside the hall. Only a few crackling electric arcs were left in the air.