Nimbly, like a snake, The enemy leader's shadow starts to lunge toward everybody else's shadow...

Strangely enough, his shadow first swiftly connects with his comrades' shadows one by one and only after that does it launch its full assault on team-Yagura, but it all happens so fast that any delay in attack is hardly noticeable.

He successfully managed to get Ruka's and Utakata's shadows, freezing them in place with his, Nara clans' shadow jutsu.

Zabuza barely manages to avoid it. 'That was close, so he was a Nara clan member, a talented one at that. The way he first connected his shadow with his companions', giving himself a longer range, was impressive.'

Ensui, taking advantage of this moment, commands his group to retreat, even pulling back the injured ones with his Shadow Manipulation Jutsu.

The Genins try to pursue, but are called off by Yagura. "Don't waste your energy, there could be more of them around. We are here on a rescue mission, not to fight."

The Genins nod their heads. It's hard to disagree with this line of logic. Besides, the battle wasn't all for nothing. All of them turn their heads to look at their prize...

An enemy shinobi got left behind in all that chaos, stuck to the ground by Utakata's Slime Bubble Jutsu. Even that Nara clan member couldn't drag this poor guy back in time.

.

.

.

Following their battle, Team-6 doesn't remain at the same place for long.

Any minute, the enemy could have come back with reinforcement... So, there was no time to celebrate their first victory against some real shinobis.

They quickly needed to make a run for it.

Fortunately, right after leaving the place; when they are completely covered by the dark canopy of a large tree, the ninja-dog also returns, having informed their allies of their arrival.

Zabuza asks the ninken how it took so long when all it had to do was teleport from place to place.

The dog refutes: "It's not teleportation. Self-summoning is different from a contractor summoning us. To self-summon ourselves, a ninken like me has to first make a telepathic link with our faraway contractor, which obviously takes some time and effort."

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.

The dog reveals, but contrary to its expectation, not only do the humans not praise its great ability, the whole team gives the dog a weird look, as if it took their lunch money or something.

"So you can talk normally like this?" Zabuza questions.

"Must have heard wrong, you have," the dog barks hurriedly, trying to save its sinking ship.

Obviously, no one was buying it.

Luckily for the dog however, Yagura stops his student from interrogating the dog any further; they have more pressing matters to worry about. "Where are we going to meet our comrades?" he asks the dog.

Maybe out of shame, the ninken drops its head and starts explaining.

"They are hiding in a cave for the time being. The enemy hasn't found them yet as Chūkichi, the greatest sensory-nin of Kirigakure, is with them, so they are safe for the time being."

While it explains, the four shinobis keenly listen to the dog.

"Chūkichi has put up a concealing barrier around the cave to prevent any other sensory-nin from detecting their hideout."

Yagura wasn't expecting this. After all, the situation doesn't seem very urgent. Still, he tries not to jump to any conclusions, deciding to wait for the dog to further explain the situation.

"The problem, however, is that Chūkichi is heavily wounded. If he isn't treated quickly, he could collapse at any moment. Worse, he could even lose his life. If that were to happen, the barrier will also go down with him, and without the barrier..."

"Everyone else will die as well," Yagura concludes, finishing the brewing forecast.

The dog slightly nods. "Correct! Those exhausted and injured shinobis are in no shape to survive yet another enemy assault."

"Then we have to hurry!!" Ruka exclaims.

Yagura agrees. "Right! So where is this cave?"

"Follow me."

They closely trail behind the ninken as it leads the way...

After facing numerous obstacles while traversing a treacherous track concealed amongst thick vegetation and undergrowth, the team finally arrives at the cave entrance. Along the way, there weren't even any trees for them to continuously hop along.

While entering the cave, Zabuza questions the dog. "Are you sure that was the correct path? Matter of fact, can that even be considered an actual path?" But the dog doesn't reply.

A little further ahead in the tunnel-like cave, their team is stopped by a fellow Kirigakure shinobi, who, after confirming their identity, welcomes them with a relieved smile. He must have been expecting their arrival.

Going forward, they encounter two other bandaged-up Kirigakure shinobis acting as guards.

Their team stops when the tunnel itself stops, ending in a wide area.

The place is lit up with electric flashlights, a seemingly out-of-place object for a world mainly focused on ninjutsu rather than science, but maybe in this world, these two aren't very far apart from each other.

Still, the atmosphere in the cave, as anyone could have guessed, doesn't seem to resemble the illumination of the lights.

The brightness in this place contrasts with the dark, solemn faces of the injured Kirigakure shinobis who are squirming in pain, their faces down with visible helplessness.

Just then, a girl walks up to them. She introduces herself after greeting this group of four young-looking shinobis and a dog.

"My name is Mei Terumi. I am one of the only four shinobis here who is uninjured, so I, along with the other three, are taking care of things here. You all must be Team-Yagura, right?"