"Shikamaru, could the deaths of those two people..."
Her face, already pale, gradually drained of even more color amid the sudden silence. Ino Yamanaka hesitated, stopped herself, then tried again. After repeating this several times, she finally could not hold back and spoke.
"Are we still going to continue?"
Hearing that, Shikamaru Nara looked from Akimichi Choji to Ino Yamanaka, his face more serious than ever before.
Then, he asked once more.
Yes, should they continue? Although both of them had previously said they wanted to investigate, he had never fully spelled out this point. Now that it had been made clear, he naturally had to ask again.
After all, for them—including himself—this involved the village's upper ranks and even the Hokage. It was absolutely not something rookie Genin like them could touch.
Moreover, if the upper ranks and even the Hokage had concealed the deeds of those two, then there had to be a reason for it, one they had no right to speculate about.
This matter had already become a secret.
Strictly speaking, their investigation should have ended here.
No matter how much his curiosity had been stirred, no matter how much admiration he felt for Taki Chiba, Shikamaru Nara was still Shikamaru Nara. He was always the first to calm down.
Curiosity versus a village secret—one involving a Hokage candidate, the Deputy Captain of the Defense Force, and a candidate for Defense Force Captain. He understood the stakes all too clearly.
That was precisely why he had to ask one more time.
"Can we continue?"
Hearing this, Ino Yamanaka and Akimichi Choji exchanged glances, both swallowing faintly before looking at Shikamaru Nara.
Compared to Shikamaru Nara, they might have been inferior in their reactions and understanding of the stakes involved. Even so, they could still sense plenty