"Kurenai Yuhi was, after all, one of the village's foremost experts in Genjutsu."
"As one of Konoha's jonin and a pillar of the village, her loss at a time like this was truly regrettable."
Tsunade seemed deeply troubled.
Then Tsunade suddenly asked Shizune, "Come to think of it, Asuma should be returning soon, right?"
Shizune nodded. "That's right. Asuma's mission was to escort a merchant caravan safely out of the Land of Fire and into the Land of Grass."
"If nothing went wrong, Asuma should already be on his way back."
Tsunade nodded. "Forget it. When Asuma returns this time, have him spend more time with Kurenai Yuhi."
Shizune nodded and silently committed that to memory.
At the same time, near the border between the Land of Grass and the Land of Fire.
Asuma watched as the caravan gradually disappeared from view. Only then was his mission truly complete.
He took out a cigarette, drew deeply on it, then turned and headed toward Konoha.
He muttered to himself, "I wonder if Kurenai Yuhi is doing all right?"
As that thought arose, more thoughts naturally flashed through his mind one after another. Then, for some reason—
His stubbled face unconsciously took on an inexplicable glow.
What he did not know was that, at that very moment, someone had already set their sights on him.
In the distance, Kakuzu and Hidan were concealed in the shadows, silently observing Asuma's every move.
At the same time, they chatted about all sorts of nonsense.
Hidan first put on a thoroughly villainous expression, as though he were trying to intimidate someone.
He said, "Collecting bounties has been so damn boring lately. We've only been killing small fry with barely any reward on their heads."
Kakuzu spoke in agreement. "Asuma Sarutobi, son of Konoha's Third Hokage,