There's something wrong.
It's been an hour since they left the gates of Konoha behind, the five of them moving at a breakneck speed. Danzo easily keeps up with the members of Team Ro, his weathered face showing no hint of strain despite their brutal pace.
Yellow-orange sunlight filters through the trees, the chirping of songbirds drifts through the still air, and the only disturbance is the sound of Team Ro's sandals crushing dead leaves as they run through the forest. It's peaceful. It's quiet.
Kakashi knows something's wrong.
He's one of the most talented trackers currently in ANBU, a talent that his father once shared as well. He's learned to trust his instincts, because they've never led him astray. Through thick and thin, through rough times and good times, Kakashi's instincts have always been spot on.
And right now, every fiber of his being is screaming at him, telling him that there's something wrong here. There's something unnatural, something alien, and he can't quite put his finger on what it is. He sighs.
On paper, this is a fast and easy escort mission. It's a two day trip, straight-shot west. The first day's travels are meant to take them to one of Konoha's border outposts, where they can rest in peace. The second day's trek would take them to their destination. It's supposedly a simple trip through friendly territory.
And yet, Kakashi's skin crawls and the back of his neck prickles.
Twelve hours later, as the sun begins to set, they near their destination. The border outpost that they'll stay at for the night is small, but it houses a garrison of Konoha ninja that can keep watch while they sleep. It's still an hour away when Kakashi notices something.
He can't smell anything.
He can't smell the flowers blooming in the grass around them, he can't smell Danzo, and he can't even smell his own teammates.
Kakashi is a Hatake; his clan's phenomenal tracking ability is legendary. Members of the clan were said to be able to sniff out and track anyone, regardless of how careful or stealthy they may be.
So the fact that he can't smell Shisui, who's jogging three feet in front of him, is really concerning.
It's like there's a shroud around him. He hadn't noticed when it had settled, but he can feel its effects now. His senses are deadened, and Kakashi's never felt anything like it. He flashes a couple of ANBU hand signals to his teammates, and the group comes to a stop. A gentle, gurgling crash can be heard through the chittering of the cicadas; they must be nearing a lake.
"Why have we stopped?" Danzo asks, turning to face Kakashi.
"Something-or someone-is following us," Kakashi replies, crossing his arms. "I haven't been able to smell or track anything all day. It's like someone is jamming my sensory jutsu."
"We're out in the open here," Danzo counters. "If there is someone following us, we should pick up the pace and reach the outpost-"
"Captain!" Tenzo interrupts, his palm pressed to a nearby tree. "There's something-"
And then Kakashi feels it. The surge of chakra that just flared into existence is gargantuan, nigh-apocalyptic in scope. It's like a hurricane, like a tsunami of energy that flashes into being. Kakashi feels heat pulse through the forest, the air beginning to grow uncomfortably hot. They all look up at the crest of the hill that looms above them, and Kakashi hears Shisui let out a little gasp.
A wall of fire descends, sweeping down the hillside and consuming the dense forest in seconds. It's headed straight for them.
"To the water!" Kakashi yells, remembering the gurgling noise he'd heard earlier. He can't hear it now. All he can hear as the five of them stumble away from the approaching firestorm is the crackle of flames consuming the world.
The heat is stifling, his skin stinging as he sprints. He couldn't smell anything before, but now he smells acrid, bitter smoke. The trees thin, and the smooth expanse of a lake comes into view. There's ethereal moonlight shining on the tranquil water, but there's also the red-orange reflection from the blazing surge roaring towards them.
Kakashi doesn't hesitate, doesn't pause. He flings himself onto the surface of the lake, channeling chakra into his feet so he can run over the top of the water without sinking. Around him, his companions do the same. They run a hundred feet away from the shore, turning and watching the wall of fire come to a halt at the water's edge.
"We're out in the open," Itachi muses, and Kakashi's eyes narrow. The boy is right. The fire had flushed them out from the woods, forcing them into an open and flat area with no cover. Kakashi's about to lead them back into the woods so they have at least some protection, when—
When the flames at the lake's edge fade and die out, and a figure steps out from the smoke. The figure is silhouetted by the hot smolder of the raging fire, and Kakashi can tell it's a man.
And his gut tells him that it's not just any ordinary man. This man had deadened Kakashi's senses and followed them without detection for hours. This man had generated a mountain-sized fireball with contemptuous ease. This man attacked a full ANBU team with no hesitation whatsoever.
This man is dangerous. Kakashi looks over at Itachi.
"Take Lord Danzo and keep going towards the outpost. We'll deal with this, and catch up with you," he says, and Itachi nods. Kakashi turns his gaze back to the mysterious man.
The black-cloaked man steps on the surface of the lake and slowly walks towards them.