When he heard the words "I'll go, then" from behind the door.
Naruto's face, streaked with mud and tears.
Instantly.
Went from cloudy to sunny.
"Yeah!"
He scrambled up from the bluestone paving and scrubbed his face hard with his filthy sleeve.
Revealing two rows of gleaming white teeth.
"I knew you'd always have our backs, big bro!"
Shikamaru leaned against the nearby wall and let out a long breath.
All that grim resolve, as though they were marching off to their deaths, vanished at once.
With this absolute monster, who could kick the One-Tail around like a ball, backing them up.
Could they even call this damn mission a pursuit?
They were practically heading out to send those poor Sound Ninja bastards to their graves.
Choji pulled a bag of chips from his pocket and tore it open with a rip.
He started crunching away.
"We've got this now."
A few minutes later.
Sen sauntered slowly out of the house.
He wasn't wearing his flashy beach outfit.
He had changed into dark casual clothes faded from washing.
On his feet, he still wore those battered geta that creaked with every step.
In his hand.
He was actually holding an insulated cup, with a few reddish-brown goji berries steeping inside.
Steam rose from its mouth, carrying a faint scent of sweet dates.
"Let's go."
Sen tightened the lid and yawned.
"The sooner we go, the sooner we're back. I'm still planning to be home for dinner."
The pursuit squad officially set out.
They headed north through the forest outside Konoha.
The light among the trees grew dimmer and dimmer.
The earth beneath their feet gave off the sour, rotten smell of fermenting leaves.
"Watch out, everyone! There are explosive tag traps on the ground!"
Neji ran at the front, veins