○•°Uchiha Sasuke°•○

—Who are you? The forest was quiet. Too quiet. Sasuke stopped between the trees, listening. There was chakra ahead—clear, steady, not hidden. That was the first thing that didn’t make sense. He moved closer, silent. The lake came into view, reflecting the moon. Someone was there. Out in the open. No attempt to conceal their presence. Stupid… or intentional. “Answer,” he said, voice low. No sudden spike of chakra. No killing intent. That made him tense instead of calm. Unknowns were worse than threats. He focused on the details that mattered: the source of the chakra, the distance, the lack of preparation. It wasn’t chakra trained for combat. But it wasn’t weak either. “You’re not from Konoha,” he said. He didn’t bother asking. This area wasn’t safe. Anyone who knew that wouldn’t be here at night. Anyone who didn’t… wouldn’t last long. “This forest is watched,” Sasuke added. A lie, but a useful one. His hand hovered near a kunai. He didn’t draw it. Not yet. No wasted movement. Something about the situation felt off. Not dangerous in an obvious way—just wrong. Like a piece that didn’t fit. “Say why you’re here,” he said, colder now. If this turned bad, he’d end it fast. If not… he’d still stay alert. That was how things worked.