"Watch out!"
As one of them shouted loudly, the other three also stopped, eyes vigilantly scanning their surroundings.
Suddenly, a blazing white light illuminated the entire dense forest ahead.
The illumination lasted only a fleeting moment; if one didn't pay attention, it would be hard to capture that instant.
The Root members' nerves were on edge, their eyes behind masks fixed on the suddenly appearing bright light, wary and puzzled.
"A diversion?"
It seemed that way indeed.
After the intense light appeared momentarily, nothing happened subsequently.
Despite being furious at the enemy's low-level provocation tactics, as part of Root, they couldn't easily be provoked by such crude methods.
The four tossed the child they held aside, and one quickly began sealing, mobilizing Chakra within.
Since they didn't know where the enemy was, they would use indiscriminate attacks to force them out of hiding.
"Wind Escape— Wind — ah!"
The Root Ninja preparing to perform Wind Escape suddenly cried out in agony.
A massive insect-like bulge protruded directly from his chest, looking extremely terrifying.
The other three Root Ninjas were shocked, not knowing what happened to their companion.
One rushed over, gathering green light in his palm, attempting to heal the Root Ninja writhing in pain on the ground.
However, before he could start healing, he also screamed in pain, as a similarly horrifying giant insect-like bulge appeared on his chest.
Writhing in agony on the ground.
Suddenly, the temperature in the forest sharply rose.
Several fireballs came roaring from the front, slicing through the air as tongues of flame fiercely embroidered the Root Ninjas' masks in red.
"Watch out!"
The Root Ninja first afflicted by the insect-like bulge, enduring severe pain, quickly pushed aside the Root comrade beside him who intended to heal him and was also afflicted by an insect-like bulge.
The comrade was a Medical Ninja, and in this era where Medical Ninjas were not yet widespread, each Medical Ninja was a precious resource.
With willpower, he rose from the ground, using sealing hands to continue releasing Ninja Techniques to counter these fireballs.
This time, the insect-like bulge on his chest expanded more dramatically, until his body puffed up like a balloon.
With a loud bang.
It exploded at its original position.
Burnt flesh scattered everywhere, accompanied by intense flames.
The two unscathed Root Ninjas fled with the group's only Medical Ninja from the pursuing fireballs in distress.
Having suspected earlier that the companion's death was related to releasing Ninja Techniques, they knew that releasing Ninja Techniques was certain death after witnessing the explosion.
Worse, the sole Medical Ninja in the team was also compromised.
A massive insect-like bulge appeared on his body, seeming alive, quivering slightly within the flesh of his chest.
With a rustling sound, five figures suddenly stood on the surrounding trees, encircling them.
"You guys are... Nokizaru Group?"
One of the only two unharmed Root Ninjas seemed to have recognized the five figures' silhouettes and appearances.
Indeed, the mercenary group Nokizaru Group, which had gained some fame in recent years within the Underground Black Market.
Engaging in deals of money-for-solving-troubles.
"What an honor for our mercenary name to appear on the Konoha Root's list."
Insect Man, hands in pockets, looked down at the remaining three Root Ninjas.
"Damn!"
Knowing now that the other party was a mercenary group from the Underground Black Market meant someone was targeting them, the Root, seeking the lives of Root Ninjas.
Yet, one companion's death was a precedent in battle.
If they dared to use Chakra, their bodies might develop those strange insect-like bulges, leading to explosive deaths.
"Let's go."
Not giving the Root members time to devise strategies, Insect Man led four members to swoop down from the trees, commencing a hunt against the Root Ninjas.
"Ah!"
The forest echoed occasionally with miserable screams and explosive sounds.
In merely a minute, only the medically afflicted Ninja survived, tormented by insect-like bulges.
The two Root Ninjas met their ends; one died from an explosion, another was burned to death by Fire Style.
"Take him back, see if any useful information can be extracted."
Insect Man fractured the Medical Ninja's limbs, then injected an anesthetic to prevent suicide during interrogation.
"What about these kids?"
Pointing to the eight unconscious children outside the battlefield.
"Send them to nearby towns, let the officials from the Land of Hot Water handle it; it's none of our concern."
◎
Land of Hot Water base.
Wearing a gray-white windbreaker, a faceless white mask, and with a Shion Flower marked on the back, the interrogator exited the interrogation room.
Seeing the interrogator come out, Insect Man approached and asked, "Any intelligence obtained?"
"This Root squad knows little; they were merely following upper orders to abduct children in the Land of Hot Water."
"Child abduction? Is it to bring them back for training?"
Insect Man pondered.
"If that's the case, seeking children with special traits would be better. Root wouldn't allow ordinary people to join."
The interrogator analyzed.
"Indeed."
Insect Man nodded, realizing the eight children abducted by this Root squad were merely ordinary, with nothing remarkable enough for Root Ninjas to train.