A Gamble on the Edge of Life and Death

"Enough!"

Aoba's voice rose, carrying an authority that brooked no argument. "I told you, I'll handle this.

All you need to do is stand back and watch."

Asuma froze. He had never seen Aoba act so forcefully.

In that moment, he realized Aoba was no longer the partner who needed his guidance. He had become entirely his own person, almost a stranger.

Shinku stood to one side, silently watching it all.

His feelings were tangled: admiration for Aoba's strength mixed with worry over how much he had changed.

Aoba had gone so far down this path. Perhaps there really was no turning back.

"Aoba..."

Asuma finally spoke, helplessness edging his voice. "Are you sure the path you've chosen is the right one?"

Aoba did not answer. He merely turned, his gaze settling on Kazama once more.

A cold glint flashed in his eyes. His voice was calm, but it held boundless killing intent. "Tell your elders in Sunagakure that if they send anyone else, they'd better be ready to lose every last one of them."

The next instant, Kazama and his three teammates felt a searing pain tear through their bodies almost simultaneously. Then they lost consciousness.

... When the night fell quiet again, only Aoba, Asuma, and Shinku remained in the woods.

Aoba stood where he was, calmly regarding the fallen Sunagakure ninja.

Not a ripple of emotion crossed his face, as though everything that had just happened was trivial.

Asuma frowned. "Did you kill them?"

"No."

Aoba's reply was flat. "I just put them to sleep.

Sunagakure needs survivors to carry a message back. That's how they'll learn that I, Kawaki Aoba, am not someone they can cross so easily."

Shinku stepped forward in silence and checked the Sunagakure ninja. Only when he confirmed they were unconscious did