A Miss!

Pakkun, perched on Kakashi's shoulder, said, "The scent seems to have disappeared."

"What do you mean?"

Kakashi furrowed his brow.

He had been ready to trade a serious injury for a chance to strike, only for Pakkun to say the scent had vanished.

Pakkun said, "Either he's near one of the wounded and using their blood to mask his scent, or... you scared him off!"

"How could that be?"

Kakashi was at a loss for words, but he still didn't dare let his guard down.

"Let me try!"

Shizune limped toward Asuma, who lay gravely injured on the ground.

Everyone knew that doing so was tantamount to sending Shizune to her death, but they couldn't think of a better option. All they could do was stay on alert and watch helplessly as she put herself in danger.

Shizune soon reached Asuma and began using Medical Ninjutsu on him.

An ANBU member with some knowledge of Medical Ninjutsu also risked approaching Hayate to treat him.

When neither Shizune nor the ANBU member treating Hayate was attacked, everyone finally accepted that the enemy might really have left.

Kakashi went over to Asuma and Hayate. After quickly assessing their injuries, he ordered the others, "Get all the injured to the hospital, then notify the Barrier Squad!"

Yamato came over and asked, "Kakashi-senpai, did you really scare him off?"

Kakashi shook his head.

Even if his plan to lure the enemy out had gone perfectly, they would have merely traded serious injuries. And given how things had unfolded, the enemy had no reason to retreat.

"Unless..."

At that thought, Kakashi looked toward the distant forest, still in turmoil.

In the forest.

Thump.

After smashing another incoming tree with a punch, Shinji didn't slow down. He continued leading the charge toward the edge of the