Face Danger Together!

He paused and turned to leave. "Next time we meet, I hope you'll make the right choice."

"Wait!"

Kawaki Aoba hurried after him, trying to stop the cloaked man. But the moment he drew close, the man dissolved into black smoke and vanished, leaving only his words echoing behind him: "Remember, the real challenge has only just begun..."

Aoba stopped and stared at the spot where the man had disappeared, his mind full of questions and unease.

Had the cloaked man been telling the truth? What was the special power inside him? And was the New Akatsuki's true goal really to save the Shinobi World?

Iwabe Yuino came to Aoba's side and saw his troubled expression. "Aoba, whether that guy was telling the truth or not, we can't let him mislead us.

We're Konoha Ninja. Protecting peace in the Shinobi World is our responsibility.

Whatever challenges come next, we'll face them together, right?"

Aoba turned to meet Iwabe's steady gaze, and some of his unease faded.

He nodded and clapped Iwabe on the shoulder. "That's right. We're teammates. Partners.

Whatever difficulties we run into, we'll face them together.

For now, let's return to Konoha and report what happened here to Lord Hokage so the village can prepare.

The New Akatsuki won't stop here."

Iwabe nodded firmly. "Right! Let's set out now and get back to Konoha as fast as we can."

The two gathered their ninja tools and headed for the exit of Sunagakure.

A chill ran down Aoba's neck. The wind stirred by that dark figure carried the gritty scrape of sand and a faint trace of blood.

He threw himself into a roll to the left on instinct, his elbow scraping painfully across the rubble. The instant he steadied himself, a cold-glinting short blade plunged into the spot