— Hey, Kotetsu, your shift time is already over, — came Genma's calm voice, breaking the silence as he peeked over my shoulder into my notebook. — Oh, so there was movement?
I nodded, putting down the pencil.
— Yes, over in that sector, — I said, pointing toward the southeast edge of the forest. — A pair from the Earth village, but they disappeared before reaching the clearing.
Genma squinted for a moment, following the direction of my finger, then nodded and took out his notebook.
— Good. Then that's where we'll be watching.
He took my spot, settling in comfortably.
If anything happens — call Guy later, — Genma said, nodding once more as he settled for the watch.
So three days passed…
— Oh, Kotetsu, you really decided to train in such a tight space? — Genma asked with a light smirk, sitting across from me, leaning against the wall of the makeshift shelter made from camo tarps and branches.
— Well, what else? There's almost nothing to do here most of the time, — I replied, continuing to do push-ups on my knuckles. — Idleness definitely won't help me.
Genma shook his head, watching me rise and fall with perfect technique, steady breathing, and sweat glistening on my forehead.
I was wearing weights — every step, every movement felt heavy, but... it helped. I was already starting to notice a difference.
— Twenty kilos in three days... — I noted mentally, straightening up and switching to a goose-step pace around the small cave's perimeter. — A record.
Every morning I added a bit more, balancing on the edge of what was possible. Even in cramped space — there's always room to move.
— Today at noon we're supposed to meet the rest of the group at the designated point. Think there'll be no problems? — Genma asked, glancing toward the exit, where Guy sat on a tree with a squint and calm concentration.
— So far everything's quiet. We've only recorded recon squads — singles or pairs. No heavy support units, no signs of assault formations, — I answered, wiping my forehead. — Except... that strange sector in the forest.
— Hmm. Where's the Iwa ninja? — Genma nodded, rubbing his chin. — Yeah, I don't like that zone either.
— Maybe a base. Or a storage. Or a trap. Either way — we'll have to proceed carefully there.
I slowly sat down, crossed my legs, and closed my eyes.
— I'll rest a bit now. "Don't want to overload before the meeting," — I said, shifting into a meditative pose. Pulse evened out, mind cleared. I released the excess tension, leaving only focus on the internal circulation of chakra.
— Three hours... — I whispered to myself.
Three hours later.
The forest grew quieter. Even the wind stopped, as if nature itself held its breath. I opened my eyes.
Guy jumped down from the branch and landed silently nearby, like a leaf. His gaze was serious, lips pressed into a thin line.
— Genma, Kotetsu, — he said, — come over. The others are already approaching. The sector's clear but suspiciously empty.
— Empty? — Genma asked, standing up. — Considering the activity on the first day — strange.
I pulled on my vest, checking my gear: kunai, smoke bombs, scrolls with techniques, sealed knives. Everything in place.
We left the shelter and almost without words, on signal, climbed back to the rocky outcrop where we had kept watch before. The summit was still warm from the morning sun.
A minute later the main group appeared — they reached the point where we first assigned positions but didn't even try to stop.
— We've got a tail! — one of the chunin shouted sharply, not slowing down. — We're leaving right now!
At that moment, a wave of alarm squeezed my chest. A tail? An ambush?
I silently dashed forward, springing off a rock and skillfully climbing the nearest tree. Leaves flashed past my eyes. I was already catching up to the squad moving at full speed, not hiding. This was not a retreat — this was a flight.
— How many?! — I shouted, reaching Genma's level, who ran a little to the side.
— Six! — one of the seniors yelled. — Chuunin. Possibly sensors. What happened — later! Now the main thing is to get away!
My muscles burned from the bursts, breathing was broken, but panic did not seize me — only focus. Automatically, I increased chakra grip to avoid slipping from the branch. We moved diagonally, parallel to the stream — I recognized the route we had pre-planned for emergencies.
"If sensors — they already know our chakras. We can't drop them. We need camouflage… or a false trail…"
I quickly calculated the plan. But ahead they spoke again:
— Two hundred meters to the cliff — jump down and change route! — commanded the senior chunin. — At the same time, we'll check how closely they're holding us!
The last meters to the cliff flew by like in a dream. Branches whipped my face, wind tore at my clothes. And there it was — a sharp cliff, a rocky ledge, and a sudden drop down.
Legs! — the captain shouted, and reflexes acted faster than thought.
I sent chakra to my feet, forcing my body to obey, and stuck sharply to the sheer rock wall. Wind whistled in my ears, my body trembled from the overload — the inertia of the fall doesn't just disappear.
With a dull screech, I slid down another five meters, leaving a dusty trail behind before releasing contact, flipping in the air, and landing on the ground.
— That hurt, gi... — I exhaled, gritting my teeth.
This was not just acrobatics — it was a battle with the laws of physics.
Suddenly — shshshHHH!
A sound like someone hissing very close.
— Forward! — the chunin commanded.
We had just started moving when…
BAH!
A crash tore through the air. The rock trembled underfoot. Stone fragments rained down, partially blinding the view.
— It's a trap! — flashed through my mind instantly.
An explosive seal, no doubt.
From the dust, about five meters from us, dozens of kunai shot out in a fan. One pierced the nearest tree, a smoke flash, and I vanished without a trace.
— Kotetsu! — Genma shouted, but I had already dived to the side, miraculously avoiding two kunai that passed near my ear.
I fell onto a narrow rock ledge, nearly slipping, and gasped for air.
— He-he-he... — I exhaled, leaning my back against the rock. My chest shook with convulsive breathing.
"Lucky. But who would set traps like this in the forest? This wasn't an accident."
— Everyone alive? — the captain shouted.
— All safe, — Genma responded.
The captain muttered something briefly in reply, glancing upward. His eyes narrowed.
— They weren't just chasing us. They were waiting for us.
At that moment — another explosion.
It thundered from above, from the rocky ledge where we had been just a minute ago.
Debris rained from the sky, the roar of the shockwave rolled through the gorge, stones whistled as they flew down, slicing through the air.
— RETREAT! — the captain yelled, not waiting for another wave.
We dashed off, as if on command, jumping down the sloped path toward the forest.
— Keep a tight line, don't get separated! — he shouted, looking back while running.
Pulse pounded in my ears, pain throbbed in my temples, breath was ragged.
Through the trees ahead, the dense forest was already visible — our shelter, our hope.