The sun was high in the sky, casting its rays through the dense canopy of the forest when the group finally arrived at a clearing. The path had become treacherous, filled with fallen branches and slippery mud from the recent rain, making each step an effort. Akihiro wiped the sweat from his forehead and took a deep breath, feeling the weight of fatigue settle in his bones.

  —Let’s take a break —Miyuki announced, signaling to the driver, who stopped the carriage. The relief was palpable as Hiroshi let himself fall to the ground.

  —Finally! —Hiroshi sighed, lying on his back and closing his eyes. Aiko sat beside him, pulled out a small canteen from her ninja pouch, and offered it to Akihiro.

  —Here —she said simply.

  Akihiro accepted it with a nod, grateful, drinking deeply and feeling the cool water revive his senses. Miyuki stood still, her gaze sweeping across the clearing and the forest beyond. Her vigince never wavered, not even during moments of rest. Akihiro couldn’t help but admire her focus, though he also wondered how much pressure she felt being the protector of the group.

  —How much longer until we arrive? —Aiko asked, her voice soft but tinged with fatigue.

  Miyuki turned to her, her eyes softening a little.

  —We’re halfway to our destination, but we’re almost at the border of the Land of Fire. If we maintain a steady pace, we should cross it soon and reach the refuge before nightfall. There we can rest properly.

  Akihiro nodded, processing the information. Knowing they were so close to entering Konoha territory only heightened his tension, but it also gave them hope for a safer rest.

  —A real bed sounds like paradise right now —Hiroshi murmured, still lying on the ground.

  Aiko smiled slightly, trying to lighten the mood.

  —I hope the refuge has decent bnkets. The st few times we camped, I nearly froze.

  Akihiro chimed in. —Don’t remind me. I still feel the cold in my bones. But if we’re lucky, we might even find a pce with hot food.

  Hiroshi opened one eye and gave a zy smile.

  —With how tired I am, even a mattress of leaves seems like a luxury. What does the cold matter if we can finally sleep without worrying about attacks?

  Miyuki gnced at the group, a small smile crossing her lips, although she didn’t linger long enough for it to fully soften her serious expression.

  —Don’t get too accustomed to the idea of luxury. It will only be a brief stop before we must continue with the mission.

  The joke and the somewhat rexed atmosphere eased the initial tension, but just as the group began to find a moment of tranquility, the nearby leaves rustled. The momentary feeling of calm evaporated. Akihiro immediately grabbed his kunai, his eyes scanning the forest for any sign of movement.

  —Stay alert —Miyuki ordered quietly, her own kunai already in hand. The tension grew denser, and the sound of the rustling leaves intensified from all directions.

  —Are we surrounded? —Hiroshi whispered, his exhaustion repced by fear.

  Before anyone could respond, several figures emerged from the underbrush and entered the clearing. They were ninjas in Konoha uniforms; their forehead protectors gleamed with the symbol of the Leaf. Their faces were serious, and their stances made it clear they were not there to socialize. Akihiro's heart raced as he recognized his opponents.

  —They’re chunin from Konoha... —Aiko murmured, her voice tense.

  One of the chunin, a tall man with a cold gaze, stepped forward.

  —You are in the territory of the Land of Fire. Leave now or face the consequences.

  Miyuki slowly lowered her weapon and stepped forward calmly.

  —We are not enemies. We are a team from Kusa, on an official mission to Konoha —she expined, pulling out a scroll with the official seal of the Land of Fire.

  The chunin frowned and took the scroll, examining its contents carefully. After a moment, he nodded with some reluctance.

  —Alright. But be careful. You will not receive any more warnings here.

  Miyuki slightly bowed her head in “gratitude,” and the Konoha ninjas slowly backed away, disappearing back into the underbrush. When the threat passed, the Kusa group rexed a little, though the danger didn’t seem to have completely dissipated.

  Akihiro let out the breath he had been holding, feeling the tension dissipate a bit. Aiko also exhaled, rexing her shoulders.

  —That was too close... —Hiroshi murmured.

  —Yes, but we managed to avoid an unnecessary fight —Miyuki said, carefully putting the scroll away. Then she looked at her companions seriously —Let’s move on. We cannot let our guard down until the mission is complete. —She signaled to the driver, who quickly responded with an affirmative nod.

  The group nodded, although Hiroshi, still wishing for a longer rest, understood that staying there was not a safe option after the recent encounter. They gathered their things, preparing to continue, knowing that the mission was still far from over.

  Devil-Dragon