Deep within Nara Forest, mottled shadows covered the ground beneath the trees.
Yunju and Shikamaru were walking back along the way they had come. Shikamaru's steps dragged slightly, each one landing more heavily than usual.
The aftereffects of excessive chakra consumption had begun to show. He walked with his head lowered, his gaze fixed on the ground before his toes, only occasionally looking up to confirm their direction before lowering his head again. Yunju walked slightly ahead and to his side, always keeping about one body length between them.
The leaves overhead suddenly rustled.
It was not the wind—something had landed on the canopy, its weight bending the branches before it dropped through the shadows and landed on the ground not far ahead.
It was a figure.
Deidara stood about ten meters in front of them, his left hand tucked into his pocket while the empty right sleeve swayed faintly behind him.
His expression was unhurried. His gaze fell on Yunju first, then shifted to Shikamaru, sizing him up from head to toe.
"Yo, we meet again." Deidara lifted his chin at Yunju, his tone casual. "The guy next to you looks pretty exhausted."
Shikamaru stopped. His hand went to the hilt of a kunai, but he did not draw it—because in that same instant, he judged that the man before him was not someone he could deal with in his current state.
One arm missing, blond hair, an Akatsuki cloak—this was the explosive ninja Yamato had mentioned, the one who had intercepted their reinforcements at the edge of the forest.
He released the kunai and turned his eyes toward Yunju. Yunju did not move, merely standing there and watching Deidara. Do they know each other?
"Hidan has already been dealt with," Yunju said. "You're too late."
Deidara glanced in