Naruto Birdcage

The rain-soaked roads were muddy and treacherous, though this posed little issue for ninjas.

However, for supply wagons traveling under such conditions, it became a daunting challenge.

In a dense forest, a squad moved swiftly.

Leading the group was a middle-aged man wearing a Konoha forehead protector and dressed in a green combat uniform.

Aside from him, the rest of the squad consisted entirely of half-human-height ninja dogs.

Each dog was burly, fierce-looking, and carrying large packs strapped to their backs.

The group halted at a fork in the road.

A black-furred ninja dog at the front lowered its head to sniff the ground.

After a moment, it spoke in a human voice: "Rainy days are truly bothersome."

The heavy rain had washed away all scents, leaving it feeling uneasy.

Inuzuka Gaku glanced back at the entire ninja dog squad before locating a hidden marker left by his unit on a tree at the fork in the road.

He said, "Pakumaru, just a little more, and we'll arrive. Everyone is counting on us to deliver the supplies."

Pakumaru barked a few commands to the ninja dog team behind him before responding, "Let's move quickly."

Ninja dogs were not known for their endurance, and the prolonged journey had left them noticeably fatigued.

The team set off again.

Inuzuka Gaku moved swiftly across the high branches of the trees, his keen nose detecting a blend of scents—mostly mud, decayed leaves, and grass.

He ensured his view of the surroundings remained unobstructed.

As the scenery rushed past, Pakumaru, leading the team below, suddenly stepped into a trap.

The rain-soaked and leaf-covered ground snapped open, revealing a concealed net.

Pakumaru reacted instantly, leaping forward to avoid the snare.

However, one of his companions behind him was not so fortunate and was hoisted into the air as the net tightened.

Alarmed, Inuzuka Gaku immediately threw a kunai, cutting through the net and freeing the trapped ninja dog.

The ninja dog team instantly halted, clustering together in heightened vigilance as they scanned their surroundings.

They strained to catch any unusual scent in the air, but the rain had washed away all traces, leaving them with nothing to detect.

Inuzuka Gaku remained perched on a tree branch, surveying the area from above.

A faint rustling came from the underbrush, the sound subtle but persistent, yet no enemy revealed themselves.

Suddenly, a terrified shout broke the tension.

A man dressed as an Iwa-nin burst out of the bushes, fleeing in panic.

Before Inuzuka Gaku or the ninja dogs could react, another figure swiftly followed.

Wielding a gleaming blade, the shadow darted forward and, in an instant, slit the Iwa-nin's throat, dropping him lifelessly to the ground.

Inuzuka Gaku finally saw the figure clearly—a white-haired youth wearing a face mask, clutching a standard-issue short blade.

Blood dripped from the blade, though the relentless rain quickly washed it clean.

The youth leapt from the tree branch and landed beside Pakumaru.

"Well, if it isn't that child prodigy," Pakumaru remarked.

The son of the White Fang, a prodigious jonin, the student of the Yellow Flash, and the wielder of a Sharingan despite being an outsider to the clan…

Kakashi Hatake bore many titles.

His fame was unmatched on the frontlines and in the village; he was a name everyone knew.

Inuzuka Gaku didn't respond to the earlier comment but instead spoke to the newcomer, "These Iwa-nin seem like they have some kind of sixth sense—they even know our routes. Truly relentless."

At that moment, a blond man appeared in a flash, holding a kunai in his hand.

Inuzuka immediately recognized him.

It was clear that the Iwa-nin squad lying in ambush had been eliminated by this man.

"Lord Minato." Inuzuka greeted respectfully, bowing.

Minato replied, "A large number of Iwa-nin have already infiltrated our borders. Many areas are no longer safe."

Inuzuka sighed, "The situation on the battlefield grows increasingly dire."

Minato glanced at the entire ninja dog team and said, "You've all worked hard."

Inuzuka shook his head.

"For the village, there's no such thing as hardship.

If not for your timely support, this journey might have ended in disaster."

Meanwhile, Kakashi had pulled out some treats from who-knows-where and was feeding them to one of the ninja dogs.

Despite their fierce appearances, he showed no fear—on the contrary, he seemed entirely at ease and even affectionate with them.

He spoke in a flat tone, "Rainy weather greatly affects a ninja dog's sense of smell. You shouldn't be traveling under these conditions."

"Woof!" Pakumaru barked instead of speaking, but Inuzuka Gaku understood the meaning—it was expressing displeasure at Kakashi's tone.

Gaku merely smiled and said, "Kakashi is right."

Minato added, "The supplies are critical. Gaku likely took the risk to avoid any delays."

"Thank you for understanding, Lord Minato."

"Let's move quickly. Many injured are waiting for these supplies.

Kakashi, take care of the bodies and catch up with us."

"Understood."

Minato, Inuzuka Gaku, and the entire ninja dog team moved on ahead, leaving Kakashi behind to clean up the battlefield.

He gathered all the corpses in an open area, quickly searched them, replenished his ninja tools, and then found a signal flare gun along with three different colored flare rounds.

Kakashi stared at the signal gun thoughtfully—its presence implied that somewhere nearby, more Iwagakure ninja might be lurking!

Meanwhile, on Minato and Inuzuka Gaku's side, they were nearing their allied encampment.

The dense forest was thinning, revealing the end of the woodland ahead.

However, a sudden unease surged in Minato's heart.

Unconsciously, he quickened his pace.

Inuzuka Gaku noticed and called out, "Lord Minato?"

"Gaku!" Pakumaru suddenly spoke, warning him.

It was then that Gaku realized signs of combat were scattered throughout the surrounding forest.

Finally, he and the ninja dogs reached the camp's perimeter, only to find Minato standing motionless at the forest's edge.

The scene before them made Inuzuka Gaku's eyes widen in shock.

The ground was cracked and torn apart, rivers of blood flowed freely, and the remains of dismembered bodies lay scattered—a scene of utter carnage!

The area was littered with the scars of destruction caused by ninjutsu, with the landscape itself altered by large-scale Earth Release techniques.

Inuzuka Gaku was shaken to his core, and his shock quickly turned into boundless rage.

"Lord Minato." He turned to see Minato standing there, expressionless and silent.

He had been gone for barely half an hour, and in that short time, such a tragedy had occurred.

This could only mean that the enemy had been aware of his absence and deliberately launched their attack during this window.

Another traitor…

Konoha had already suffered countless setbacks because of traitors.

Even without initiating offensives, the enemy always seemed to have precise knowledge of their movements.

Minato couldn't fathom it—among those comrades who had fought side by side, sharing life and death together, who could possibly be the betrayer?

The rain continued to pour, soaking the two of them.

"Those damned Iwagakure ninjas!"

Inuzuka Gaku punched a nearby tree trunk with all his strength.

At that moment, a ninja dog let out a bark.

Pakumaru ran over and found markings left by Konoha ninjas on a tree trunk.

"It's a signal for retreat," it said.

"Looks like some of them are still alive." Inuzuka Gaku said, exhaling in relief.

Alive—but how many will still survive…?

This place was a medical camp for the wounded.

This battle must have been a one-sided massacre.

Minato took a deep breath, looking upward, his expression unreadable.

"They've likely evacuated the nearest camp.

Let's go. First, we'll regroup with Kakashi, then I'll escort you all there."

End of chapter

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