"You really are an old man with precious little truth left in you!"
Shikamaru looked down at Tazuna, his complaint edged with rare sarcasm.
"You bastard!"
Kiba charged forward, grabbed Tazuna by the collar, and hauled his upper body off the floor.
Akamaru bared his teeth as well, letting out a threatening growl.
"What do you think our lives are worth? And you still want us to help you? If you hadn't lied about the mission's rank, Kurenai-sensei wouldn't have been hurt!"
Kiba's roar echoed through the cramped room. Tazuna's face turned ashen as Kiba shook him. The old man, so accustomed to throwing tantrums and bullying the weak while fearing the strong, couldn't even muster an excuse now.
"Kiba, let go of that old man!"
A stern shout cut Kiba off.
Everyone turned to Kakashi.
Kakashi innocently spread his hands, indicating that he hadn't been the one to shout.
Shino silently stepped aside as the door opened.
Asuma Sarutobi emerged, his face filled with unprecedented fury.
The cigarette between his fingers had been crushed out of shape, and his eyes were cold enough to freeze.
"Kiba, step aside."
Asuma's voice was terrifyingly calm.
"Let me beat him to death."
If this old man hadn't lied about the mission's rank, Kurenai wouldn't have taken it, much less been injured.
Kiba released Tazuna and backed away. Akamaru, who had just sunk his teeth into Tazuna's leg, also let go, obediently making room for Asuma.
"You can't do this! I'm Konoha's client! You can't kill me!"
Tazuna slumped on the floor and scrambled backward on his hands and feet, terror written all over his face.
"Our mission was to escort you to the Land of Waves."
Shino adjusted his sunglasses, their lenses reflecting a cold gleam.
"So the moment you arrived in