Chapter 175: Beyond the Mist

The ground was still soaked with chakra and blood. Suiren knelt beside the masked man she had captured.

The blade was still pressed against his throat, but he no longer resisted. Labored breaths, slow, as if he were holding something back… or fighting against himself. Kurara approached silently from behind.

"He's losing consciousness," she said, alarmed.

"No. He's... resisting," Suiren murmured. She grabbed the man's mask and ripped it off. A young face. Pale. And two gray eyes, already clouded.

Suiren shook him by the shoulder.

"Who are you? Why did you attack us? Who commands you?"

The man tensed.

A sound.

Like a click. His eyes rolled back, and a thin line of blood trickled from his mouth.Then, silence.

Shinji stared from a distance, disbelief etched on his face. "He... killed himself?"

Shin stepped closer, checking the pulse. He shook his head. "No heartbeat. Probably an internal seal. He shut himself down to keep from talking."

Suiren stood up abruptly. "Damn it!"

She turned back to where the other enemies had vanished. The tracks were muddled, the mud and foliage making them hard to follow.Kurara suddenly turned around.

"Wait… Where's Natsui? And Kyōro?"

The silence grew heavier. Suiren turned, eyes dark. Kurara nodded. "They were right behind us just moments ago. Then, during the fight… they vanished."

Shinji grimaced. "Seriously? That was their plan? Wait for the chaos and slip away?"

"No," Suiren said, clenching her fists. " It was all orchestrated. The attack, the village, the guide… they wanted to distract us. And they succeeded."

Kurara nodded firmly. "We have to follow them. Now."

Suiren closed her eyes for a moment, then opened the map she carried. She pointed to a spot between the swamps and the ridge line.

"If they're moving fast, they'll take the quickest path. This route."

Shinji scoffed. "And we're chasing them through mud. Gotta love being a ninja."

Shin said nothing. But he was already moving, led by instinct.

Suiren cast one last glance at the enemy's corpse. Then, without turning back, she said, "Let's move." And they disappeared into the shadows of the swamp.

- - -

The forest canopy closed around them like interlocked fingers. The rain had eased, but the humidity clung to their throats, their skin, their thoughts.

Borei walked at the front, steps silent, movement fluid. Kagero followed with steady eyes, while Ame brought up the rear, huffing every time a leaf brushed her face.

"You sure we're good like this?" Kagero asked, almost to break the silence.Borei didn't answer immediately.

The words of those two children still echoed in his mind.

Earlier – Hidden clearing

The little girl trembled in her brother's arms. Her eyes glossy, voice broken.

"Mom… Dad… the others… they disappeared. All of them. One night… and the next day… no one was left."

The younger brother stepped forward. He couldn't be older than eight. His gaze was hard, scared, but alert.

"We were just playing. We said we'd be back before sunset…" He swallowed. "But we went too far. When we came back… there was only silence."

Kagero crouched slowly, palms open.

"And after that? What happened?"

"Nothing… just silence. And… that smell."

Borei stepped forward. "Smell?"

The girl nodded slowly, then clenched her fists. "It was like… the smell of the forest. Strong. Like wet moss. But more… bitter."

The little boy turned again to Borei, as if wanting to say something. But he stayed quiet. He was afraid.

Kagero looked at his companion. "Do we take them with us?"

Borei shook his head. "Better they stay here, hidden. We'll place a protection seal. If we return, we'll take them with us."And so they did.

Present – On the road to the new village

"…Yes," Borei finally replied to Kagero.

"I'm good with this."

Kagero nodded, then added, "But all of this… it's surreal. Even a small village doesn't just vanish. No signs, no struggle. It's like it faded away."

Borei didn't reply. A thought pounded in his mind...

Think, Ren, remember, what could it be? Forest scent… what could smell like a forest?

- - -

Roots twisted between the damp rocks. The sound of dripping water was the only noise in that cavern. A hooded man stepped toward the edge of a natural basin, surrounded by wooden nests. Inside, white, formless masses floated slowly.

White Zetsu.

"You know, without the help of the Tailed Beasts… the process is slow. Bodies break. Cellular armor collapses. It takes time to rebuild from scratch."

A pause.

"Years. Not days."

Obito didn't respond. Only his gloved fingers moved, slowly intertwining behind his back.

Zetsu stepped closer to the fire.

"But you have time, don't you?" he hissed. "After all… your plan is patience, right?"

The silence thickened again. Only the dripping remained. Then, Obito's voice, low and rasping.

"I need silent soldiers."

Zetsu chuckled.

"Are you referring to your dear counselor, perhaps? What was his name? Ah, yes… Fujino."

He spun theatrically, the white half of his face openly laughing, while the black half whispered:

"Seems the Mizukage is sharper than you thought."

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