"Why there are so many rules"

Kiba complained, then put away the Heaven Scroll, tucked Akamaru into his jacket, and waved a hand dismissively. "Yeah, yeah, I know. I was just excited. Don't worry, I'll keep a low profile from now on."

"Hmph." Shino said nothing more. The three of them exchanged a look, then vanished from the spot in a coordinated, silent movement.

Elsewhere in the forest, the trio from Madara-gakure moved with an entirely different kind of confidence. Shiro ran in the center, flanked by Sasuke and Izumi. They made no attempt to hide, rushing through the forest in broad daylight, their path a straight line toward the central tower.

"Shiro," Izumi asked, her breath even despite their pace, "are we just going to keep running like this? At our current speed, we'll reach the tower in another hour."

Sasuke added, "I think we should find a scroll first. It's useless to reach the end without one."

"Don't panic," Shiro replied, a confident smirk on his face. "Just based on the infamous name of Uchiha, someone will come to us. We won't have to look for them."

As if on cue, a kunai suddenly dropped from the sky, embedding itself in the ground right at Sasuke's feet.

"Who's there?!" Sasuke and Izumi instinctively moved to protect Shiro, their eyes scanning the dense foliage around them with intense vigilance. Anyone who could keep up with their speed had to be a formidable opponent.

"Tsk tsk tsk…"

Three figures, each wearing the forehead protector of the Hidden Grass and a wide-brimmed straw hat, slowly emerged from the woods, their sinister laughter echoing through the trees.

"Uchiha brats, you certainly run fast," the long-haired ninja in the lead hissed, their unnaturally long tongue flicking out to lick their lips. "It took so much effort to catch up with you." Their gaze fixed on Sasuke, a greedy, predatory light in their eyes. "Do you remember me? Sasuke… Izumi…"

Rip!

The long-haired woman pulled the skin from her face, revealing a visage that Sasuke and Izumi would never forget.

"O… Orochimaru?!"

Years ago, in an attempt to lure out Itachi, Orochimaru had severely injured them both, using their lives as bait. It was a memory burned into their souls. The moment they saw him, Izumi's eyes filled with a searing, pure hatred.

"Why are you here?! Wait… weren't you sealed by my brother?!"

"Tsk tsk tsk…" Orochimaru took off his straw hat, his expression one of smug pride. "I a Orochimaru. There are many ways to escape a simple seal."

Shiro, showing only the slightest hint of surprise, couldn't help but offer a dry comment. "So not even the Sword of Totsuka could hold you. Heh, we underestimated you. You truly are one of a kind, Snake."

Orochimaru let out a sibilant laugh. "I remember you. Your name is Shiro, isn't it? You should be the one who is surprised. I never expected you to come to Konoha." As he spoke, his eyes grew dark with a chilling avarice. "The last time I saw you was during my time in the Akatsuki. I was quite impressed with you then. Tsk tsk… to think I would be so lucky today. Three pairs of Sharingan, and all of them of such fine quality."

"You disgusting bastard!" Before Orochimaru could finish, Sasuke could no longer suppress the murderous intent boiling within him. "I don't care how you broke the seal! Today, I'm going to kill you again, on behalf of my brother!"

"Fire Style: Great Fireball Jutsu!"

A massive sphere of flame erupted from Sasuke's mouth, roaring toward Orochimaru and his two subordinates.

"Hmph! Such a pathetic little trick."

Orochimaru sneered, forming a single hand seal as he took a deep breath.

"Wind Style: Great Breakthrough!"

A violent gust of wind shot from his mouth, extinguishing Sasuke's fireball in an instant.

"Hehehe, Sasuke, you and your little friends had better behave… huh?"

Orochimaru suddenly realized that the three Uchiha who had been standing before him had vanished. A chilling, murderous aura was now radiating from directly behind him.