Hidden in the heart | Borusara

Chapter 5: The Disappearing Act

The trio arrived at the edge of the dense forest just as the afternoon sun began to dip below the horizon, casting long shadows across the ground. The forest, known for its towering trees and thick underbrush, seemed peaceful at first glance. But there was an eerie stillness in the air, a silence that felt unnatural, as if the forest itself was holding its breath.

"This is the place," Boruto said, his voice low as he scanned the surroundings. "This is where people have been disappearing."

Sarada nodded, her earlier distraction replaced by a sharp focus. The mission was too important to let anything else cloud her mind. They had to find out what was happening and put a stop to it before more people were lost.

Mitsuki, ever observant, moved ahead of the group, his eyes narrowing as he studied the area. "There's something off about this place. The chakra flow feels... distorted."

Boruto frowned, glancing around. "Distorted? You think that's what's causing people to disappear?"

"It's possible," Mitsuki replied. "But we need to find some concrete evidence."

The three of them began their investigation, moving cautiously through the forest. The trees were tall and ancient, their branches intertwining overhead like a natural canopy, blocking out much of the remaining daylight. Every rustle of leaves and crack of twigs underfoot seemed magnified in the oppressive quiet.

Sarada activated her Sharingan, her crimson eyes scanning the area for any signs of chakra or disturbances in the environment. She spotted something unusual near the base of one of the larger trees and motioned for the others to join her.

"Over here," she called out, crouching down to examine the ground. "There's something strange about these tracks."

Boruto and Mitsuki joined her, and Boruto knelt beside her to get a closer look. The tracks were faint but discernible, leading deeper into the forest. They were unlike any animal tracks they had seen before-large and elongated, with deep grooves as if something heavy had been dragged.

"These tracks... they don't belong to any animal from around here," Boruto said, his brow furrowed. "What do you think could've made them?"

Sarada's eyes followed the tracks, her mind racing. "Whatever it is, it's large and strong enough to drag people away without leaving much of a struggle. But look at the pattern. It's almost as if whatever's making these tracks is... searching for something."

Mitsuki nodded thoughtfully. "If it's searching for something, that could mean it's not just randomly attacking people. There might be a purpose behind these disappearances."

They followed the tracks deeper into the forest, the air growing cooler and the shadows darker as they went. The sense of unease grew with every step, as if the forest itself was warning them to turn back.

After a short while, they reached a small clearing where the tracks abruptly stopped. The ground here was disturbed, as if there had been a struggle, but there were no signs of the missing villagers.

"This is where it took them," Boruto said quietly, looking around the clearing. "But where did it go?"

Sarada's Sharingan flared as she scanned the area more intensely. That's when she noticed a faint glow coming from a cluster of rocks near the edge of the clearing. "There's something here..."

She approached the rocks and pushed them aside, revealing a hidden trapdoor embedded in the ground. The wood was old and worn, but the faint glow of chakra emanated from the cracks.

"A hidden passage," Mitsuki observed, his voice calm despite the tension in the air. "This must be how it's taking people without leaving a trace."

Boruto knelt beside the trapdoor, placing his hand on the wood. "It's definitely been used recently. Whatever's doing this, it's hiding underground."