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Observation Haki flickered across the battlefield.
Down below, a new team moved carefully through the ruined forest—
Yamato in the lead…
The new Team Kakashi is right behind him.
To Neji's surprise, Sai was with them.
So Danzo still inserted his little pawn… even in this timeline…
Yamato made sense being a Wood Release user, he was the obvious choice to suppress the Nine-Tails if needed.
But Sai's presence?
That was unexpected.
By rights, Sakura should not even know anything about the Tenchi Bridge operation. Sasori hadn't sent that intel on purpose.
Which meant…
Someone was pulling strings.
Sasori noticed Neji's silent pause and asked quietly over the comm-link, "Boss… is something wrong?"
Neji shook his head.
"Nothing. Just a few unexpected actors.
We'll relocate. Continue observation from above."
He placed his hand on Hiruko's shoulder.
Both vanished, appearing high up on a concealed cliff overlooking the scene.
Using the surveillance network, a battlefield feed appeared in their mask HUDs, focused on Team Kakashi as they approached the bridge.
---
In the Forest Below
Yamato raised a hand, signaling the team to halt.
Deep claw marks and shattered trees surrounded them scars of a titanic battle.
Sakura swallowed.
"Captain Yamato… who was fighting here? This is insane…"
It felt less like ninjutsu and more like two monstrous beasts had torn through the forest.
Yamato remained tense, sweeping the surroundings before finally relaxing.
"I don't know. But only a tiny handful of people in the world could fight on this scale… and considering our mission, it's very likely connected to Orochimaru."
"Orochimaru…" Naruto muttered, fists clenching.
His eyes slid toward Sai, cold and hostile.
Sai didn't react, expressionless, eyes calmly surveying the area while making mental notes.
"Incoming intel suggested Orochimaru's base is nearby," Sai said flatly. "And that both Orochimaru and Uchiha Sasuke were last sighted in this region."
Naruto grabbed Sai by the collar.
"Sasuke isn't a traitor!"
Sakura winced. Naruto…
Still thinking about Sasuke above all else…
Sai remained calm. "Uchiha Sasuke is listed as a missing‐nin. That's simply on record—"
"Enough!"
Yamato stepped in, exasperated.
"You promised the Hokage you wouldn't let emotion take over. You said you'd follow orders and stay focused, remember?"
Naruto glared at Sai one more time but finally let go.
"Fine… let's keep moving."
Yamato exhaled in relief. First mission with this team and the team chemistry was already a disaster.
'Great. Why did Kakashi-senpai have to get injured right now…'
Naruto pointed toward the deep gouge in the forest.
"I've seen Orochimaru fight before. That mark… that's definitely one of his techniques. His base must be nearby!"
Yamato nodded slowly. "All right. Everyone spread out and search but do not engage on your own. Report anything you find immediately. Understood?"
The team equipped their radios and split in different directions.
Before heading out, Yamato glanced back at Sai—
That one, in particular, needed to be watched.
---
Elsewhere
Now on his own, Sai landed silently atop a nearby tree. He opened a blank scroll and with a flick of ink, summoned a small ink bird.
Closing his eyes, he used it as a scout.
Minutes later, it returned transforming into an ink map across the page.
Location confirmed.
Sai calmly stored the scroll and silently headed deeper into the forest.
Unbeknownst to him, Yamato stepped out of a nearby tree trunk moments later.
So he really does have another agenda…
And that map must be the location of Orochimaru's base.
Yamato silently opened his comm.
"This is Captain Yamato. Everyone return to Tenchi Bridge immediately."
Naruto and Sakura responded.
Sai, however, remained silent continuing his advance.
Just as I thought…
---
At the edge of the forest
Kabuto, still injured, intercepted Sai.
The two locked eyes.
"You must be the one that person sent."
Sai opened his pack and pulled out a small seal token.
Kabuto's lips curved into a thin smile.
"Good. Then follow me."
The two moved deeper into the forest together.
Kabuto glanced over his shoulder, eyes glinting behind his glasses.
How convenient…
---
High above, watching through the satellite HUD, Neji narrowed his eyes.
"So… Danzo is cooperating with Orochimaru now."
Sasori hummed quietly.
"One snake colluding with another," he said. "Typical."
Neji's gaze sharpened.
And if that's the case…
Then even Yamato and the others might be nothing more than pawns for this little "transaction."
Danzo might have lost his influence in the open
…but he still pulled plenty of strings in the shadows.
This wasn't just Orochimaru's move. Something else was shifting in the background.
Perhaps it was fate.
Perhaps it was world correction trying to realign the timeline.
Either way—
Neji's expression hardened.
…I need to stay alert.
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