Chapter 4

The forest was eerily quiet as Team 7 made their way through the dense trees. The usual chirping of birds was absent, replaced by the occasional rustle of leaves. Indigo couldn't shake the feeling that they were being watched. Her Raigan sparked faintly, sensing faint chakra signatures nearby.
"Stay alert," Yamato warned, his sharp gaze scanning the surroundings. "This area is notorious for ambushes."
Naruto walked beside Indigo, his usually loud energy subdued. She could feel his frustration simmering just beneath the surface. She nudged him lightly, offering a small smile.
"We'll get through this, Naruto," she said softly.
"I know," he replied, though his voice was tight. "I just can't stop thinking about Sasuke. What if he's close and we miss him?"
Indigo opened her mouth to respond, but before she could, Sai, who had been scouting ahead, raised his hand in a signal to stop.
"There's movement up ahead," he said quietly, his voice calm as always.
Yamato nodded, gesturing for everyone to fan out and take cover. Indigo crouched low behind a tree, her heart pounding. She activated her Raigan, the electric-blue glow illuminating her right eye. Through the enhanced vision it granted her, she could see faint outlines of three figures moving toward them.
"Three targets," she whispered to Yamato, who was crouched nearby. "Chakra levels are moderate—likely rogue shinobi."
"Good. We'll move in carefully," Yamato said, motioning to the others. "Indigo, Naruto, you'll take the left flank. Sai and I will handle the right."
Indigo nodded, her grip tightening on her kunai. As she and Naruto moved into position, she felt the familiar surge of adrenaline coursing through her veins.
The battle erupted quickly. The rogue shinobi, realizing they had been discovered, launched a barrage of kunai infused with explosive tags. Indigo reacted instantly, using her Raigan to repel the projectiles back toward their attackers. The explosions lit up the forest, shaking the ground beneath them.
Naruto charged forward, his Rasengan forming in his hand. "Let's go!" he shouted, his voice full of determination.
Indigo followed close behind, her movements a blur as she used her enhanced speed to close the distance between her and one of the attackers. The rogue shinobi, a tall man with wild black hair, swung his katana at her, but she dodged with ease, her Raigan sparking with energy.
With a swift motion, she paralyzed him using her kekkei genkai, his body freezing mid-attack. She delivered a sharp kick to his chest, sending him crashing into a tree.
"Nice one, Indigo-chan!" Naruto called out, grinning as he knocked another attacker unconscious with his Rasengan.
The third rogue shinobi attempted to flee, but Sai intercepted him with a flurry of ink beasts, binding him in place. Within moments, the fight was over.
Yamato approached the unconscious attackers, binding them with chakra-infused rope. "Good work, everyone. Let's interrogate them and see if they know anything about Orochimaru's movements."
As they questioned the captured shinobi, Indigo couldn't shake the nagging feeling that something was off. The attackers were too disorganized, too easily defeated. It felt more like a distraction than a serious attempt to stop them.
Her suspicions were confirmed when one of the rogues smirked, despite being restrained.
"You're wasting your time," he sneered. "By now, your precious village has already been marked."
Naruto grabbed the man by the collar, his blue eyes blazing. "What do you mean? What's been marked?"
The shinobi laughed, coughing as he struggled against Naruto's grip. "You'll find out soon enough. But by then, it'll be too late."
Yamato pulled Naruto back, his expression grim. "That's enough. We'll take them back to Konoha for further interrogation."
As they prepared to move out, Indigo glanced at Naruto, whose fists were clenched tightly at his sides.
"Don't let him get to you, Naruto," she said gently.
"He knows something about Sasuke. I know it," Naruto replied, his voice low. "And now we're wasting time taking him back to the village!"
Indigo placed a hand on his arm, trying to calm him. "We'll figure it out. But we need to be smart about this. Charging in without a plan won't help Sasuke—or Konoha."
Naruto sighed, his shoulders relaxing slightly. "I know. I just… I don't want to lose him again."
"You won't," Indigo said firmly. "Not while we're here."
*Far away…*
Sasuke stood on a high ledge overlooking a vast valley. The wind whipped through his hair, but he barely noticed. His mind was consumed with thoughts of Indigo. Orochimaru's obsession with her kekkei genkai was dangerous, but what troubled Sasuke more was his own reaction.
He had tried to bury his feelings for her, to convince himself that he no longer cared. But the truth was unavoidable: he couldn't stop thinking about her.
"What are you doing up here, brooding as usual?" Suigetsu's voice broke through his thoughts.
Sasuke didn't respond, his gaze fixed on the horizon.
Suigetsu sighed, leaning against a nearby rock. "Let me guess: you're worried about your little girlfriend."
"She's not my concern," Sasuke said coldly, though his tone lacked conviction.
Suigetsu smirked. "Sure she isn't. That's why you're standing up here looking like someone stole your favorite sword."
Sasuke's Sharingan flared as he turned to glare at Suigetsu. "If Orochimaru so much as touches her—"
"You'll what?" Suigetsu interrupted, his grin widening. "Turn on him? Abandon your quest for revenge? Face it, Sasuke, you're stuck. You can't save her and achieve your goals. You'll have to choose."
Sasuke clenched his fists, his nails digging into his palms. "I don't need your advice."
"Fine, fine," Suigetsu said, raising his hands in mock surrender. "But you'd better make up your mind soon. Orochimaru doesn't wait for anyone."
As Suigetsu walked away, Sasuke stared at the valley below, his thoughts a tangled mess. Could he really protect Indigo without sacrificing everything he had worked for?
*Back with Team 7...*
As the group approached their destination, Indigo couldn't shake the feeling that something was about to go terribly wrong. The air was heavy, the tension almost suffocating.
"Stay close," Yamato instructed. "We're almost at the hideout."
Indigo's heart pounded as they neared a large stone structure embedded into the side of a cliff. She could feel the overwhelming presence of Orochimaru's chakra, oppressive and suffocating.
"We're here," Yamato said grimly. "Everyone, be ready for anything."
Indigo took a deep breath, steeling herself for the battle ahead. She couldn't let fear or doubt hold her back—not now.
As they stepped into the hideout, the darkness seemed to swallow them whole.
*To be continued.*