What Is the Greater Good?

Early the next morning, Asuma Sarutobi and Aoba Yamashiro were already waiting at the Village Gate.

Uzuki Yugao hurried over, carrying a neatly wrapped cloth bundle.

"Sorry for the wait, Asuma, Aoba." Slightly out of breath, Yugao handed them the bundle with a rare, somewhat stiff smile.

"I got up early to make these Konoha hand-shaped cakes for you to eat on the road."

Asuma frowned, his tone stern. "Yugao, you've been on plenty of missions. Why are you still rushing around like a Genin?"

"We're heading out on an important liaison mission, not a picnic. Bringing useless things like this..."

Aoba quickly stepped in, smiling as he took the bundle. "Don't be so serious, Asuma. It's just a bag of cakes. Yugao made them for us."

He opened it, tried one, and nodded appreciatively. "Mm! They're delicious. Thank you, Yugao."

Yugao's smile grew more natural. "I'm glad you like them."

The three set off at once, heading straight for the border of the Land of Fire.

As night deepened, they stopped to rest in a secluded forest clearing.

Suddenly, Aoba shook his head, his voice heavy with sleep. "Strange. Why am I so tired today? Maybe I stayed up too late last night."

"Asuma, Yugao, sorry to leave the first watch to you."

Before he finished speaking, he slumped against his Ninja Tool Pouch and fell fast asleep.

Yugao replied calmly, "All right, Aoba. Get some rest."

"Asuma, you should rest too. I'll take the first watch."

Asuma glanced at the pitch-black night and the stillness around them, then nodded. "Wake me at once if anything happens."

The moment Asuma turned to find a place to rest—

Pop!

A Smoke Bomb rolled from behind him and stopped precisely at his feet, instantly releasing a dense cloud of purple smoke!