There were no ulterior motives behind this mission. Every teammate Shiba Seika had chosen was someone he could truly trust.
Two of them came from his original squad.
One was Masuda Ikki, who had fought alongside them outside Kusagakure just a couple of days ago.
He was a bit of a simpleton, but absolutely loyal to Shiba Seika.
The other was named Karasuba. She was the one who had first taught Shiba Seika Lightning Release. Later, when his strength quickly surpassed hers, she had become wholeheartedly devoted to him.
Their last teammate was one of Big Sister Konan's close friends, a girl named Ajisai.
Shiba Seika had crossed paths with the girl a few times in the organization, but he had never remembered who she was.
It wasn't until they were traveling together this time, when Ajisai immediately used the Summoning Technique to call up a flock of birds and volunteered to handle scouting and reconnaissance for the team, that Shiba Seika suddenly remembered her other identity—
She was the Animal Path among Pain's Six Paths in the original story.
Or, more accurately, Nagato would later use her corpse to create the Animal Path puppet.
(Ajisai)
But for now, Ajisai was just an innocent, cheerful little girl. She admired Big Sister Konan so much that she was always following her around, earning her the nickname "Konan's little shadow" from the others in the organization.
At the thought, Shiba Seika couldn't help feeling a little wistful.
Thinking about it carefully, the Konan in the original story had a pretty tragic life. Her dear friend Yahiko had been made into the Deva Path Puppet, and one of her few close girlfriends would later become one of Pain's Six Paths, too.
In his previous life, Shiba Seika had been obsessed with the stylish look of the Akatsuki Organization's red clouds and black robes, like any Naruto fan. But who could have imagined that living in that kind of environment wouldn't have made Konan feel suffocated?
Lost in his memories, his thoughts drifting, Shiba Seika glanced at Konan. Without thinking, his eyes held a moment's worth of sympathy and pity.
Unexpectedly, Konan caught that fleeting look.
"What's wrong, Seika? You just looked at me as if you felt sorry for me."
Shiba Seika felt embarrassed for a moment at being seen through, but quickly covered it up with words.
"It's nothing. I was just thinking that you used to handle most of the base's logistics, Big Sister Konan, but lately you've been going on missions so often because of me. I feel a little bad about it."
Konan smiled and deliberately caught up with him. As they flew, she reached out and ruffled his hair.
"You're overthinking it, Seika. Didn't you tell me before that we're comrades and should trust each other?
"You call me your big sister, so of course I'll protect you. Going on missions with you isn't a burden. It's what I want."
The petite Ajisai beside them pouted jealously. "Me too, Big Sister Konan! I call you my big sister, too. You can't forget about me!"
Konan smiled warmly and turned to comfort Ajisai as well. "All right, all right. I'll protect you too, Ajisai."
Only then did Ajisai smile happily.
Following behind them, Masuda Ikki wore a knowing grin. He leaned toward Karasuba and whispered, "Don't you think Leader Konan's gotten gentler lately? I don't remember her smiling so much before. It must all be thanks to Captain Seika!"
He clenched his fist and declared, "To protect that beautiful smile, I'll follow Captain Seika to the death! What do you think, Karasuba?"
Karasuba's expression was cold. She didn't even turn her head.
"Don't know. I use a sword. Captain Seika's Kenjutsu... seems more worthwhile."
"..."
Not long afterward, the five of them followed the intelligence Hanzo the Salamander had provided and soon approached the spot where the Sunagakure squad had camped.
Ajisai was the first to react. She raised a hand, signaling everyone to stop.
"Stop! My Summoning Beasts found some traces by the river up ahead."
Any traces worth mentioning at a time like this were clearly no ordinary ones.
Everyone immediately went on alert, pulled out their Ninja Tools and weapons, and prepared for battle.
Shiba Seika asked, "Have you spotted any ninja nearby?"
"Not yet."
Ajisai closed her eyes, apparently using a special method to share her Summoning Beasts' senses.
She was expanding her search.
But less than two seconds later, her eyes flew open in terror. Tears streamed from them as if they had been burned, and she cried out, "This is bad! They're coming! Be careful! There's a terrifying woman—she vaporized my little bird in an instant!"
At that, Konan immediately spread her paper wings and took to the sky.
"Ajisai, don't sacrifice your Summoning Beasts! I'll scout ahead!"
Masuda Ikki and Karasuba quickly split up in perfect unison.
They were all experienced ninja. Though the encounter had come without warning, they remained calm and swiftly prepared to meet the enemy.
Shiba Seika stayed by Ajisai's side, protecting her as he continued to ask for information.
"Vaporized? Did that woman use Fire Release? A Sunagakure Fire Release ninja?"
He had thought Sunagakure was known for its unique sand techniques and puppet mechanisms.
Ajisai was still shaken, clutching a Kunai tightly in her hand.
"I don't know. It was a very unusual Fire Release. It looked like a floating Fireball, but it touched my little bird for only an instant and completely dried it out! It was terrifying!"
Her description made Shiba Seika's heart skip a beat.
He thought of a rare Kekkei Genkai and wondered if it could really be—
But the mystery didn't last long.
The fact that Ajisai's summoned bird had been swiftly killed meant the enemy had spotted them first!
Soon, Shiba Seika and the others clearly saw several Sunagakure ninja!
One of them laughed arrogantly. "Hahaha! You fools! We hadn't even come looking for you, and you Rain ninja have come right to us!"
Another appeared calm on the surface, though he was just as haughty inside. Standing atop a tall tree, he looked down at Shiba Seika and the others and said, "You must be that Akatsuki Organization everyone talks about, right? Hand over all the wealth and supplies you've acquired recently, and we might consider sparing your lives!"
But Shiba Seika paid no attention to either of the two Sunagakure ninja who had just spouted off.
All his attention was fixed on the last Sunagakure woman to appear!
Her unusual mix of brown and orange hair, signature black backless crop top, slender, graceful figure, and smooth, pale bare back were the most striking things about her!
Shiba Seika smiled bitterly, realizing that his earlier suspicion had been right.
The person before him was exactly who he had thought—
The hero of Sunagakure, a Kekkei Genkai ninja, Pakura of Scorch Release!
For a moment, Shiba Seika wanted to grab her by the ears and demand an explanation.
Why wasn't a powerful ninja like her making a name for herself on the front lines of the Great Ninja War? What was she doing holed up in a tiny country like the Land of Rain?
Before you continue