Kawaki Aoba spoke calmly. "Do a good job, and you'll live.
Do a bad job, and you'll face the consequences."
"Yes! I'll do it right!"
The Sunagakure ninja did not dare slack off. He struggled to his feet, straightened his disheveled clothes, and forced down his fear. Following Kawaki Aoba's instructions, he headed out of the inn.
Yuhi Shinku watched him leave and asked quietly, "Can we trust him? What if he changes his mind halfway and warns them?"
Kawaki Aoba answered evenly, "His family is in Sunagakure. That held him back from betraying the village outright.
But his leader's threat just now cut off any path back.
Cooperating with us is his only way to survive. He won't cause trouble."
Understanding dawned on Uchiha Wind, and he nodded slowly. "I see. You'd already worked out what he was thinking. That was meticulous planning. I'm impressed."
Kawaki Aoba looked out at the deepening night, his tone grave. "Sunagakure wouldn't dare set a trap across the border on a whim. They must have been planning this for a long time.
It looks like tensions along the Sunagakure-Konoha border will soon reach a breaking point."
Yuhi Shinku's expression grew heavy. "You're right.
There's been frequent activity along the border lately. Sunagakure keeps making small moves and testing Konoha's defenses. I'm afraid they really are preparing a major operation in secret.
This border defense intelligence is the key to anticipating Sunagakure's moves and adjusting Konoha's deployment."
Uchiha Wind gripped the scroll tightly. "If we get this intelligence back to Konoha safely, our leaders can prepare ahead of time, seize the initiative, and avert the border crisis! Whatever it costs, we have to complete this mission!"
Kawaki Aoba nodded slightly. "First, we eliminate the support squad. Then we send the intelligence back securely.
We