Just then, a Ninja Hawk landed on Kakashi's shoulder, a secret message tied to its leg. Only then did everyone stop.
Kakashi opened it and skimmed the contents. His expression changed drastically.
"Gaara, the Kazekage of Sunagakure, has been taken by members of the Akatsuki."
Everyone around him froze.
Kakashi spoke quietly, but every word hammered like a nail into the ears of everyone present.
"Hyuga Hiashi, the head of the Hyuga Clan, has already taken a team to support them."
"Naruto, Sakura, Sai, and Yamato have all left."
He paused, then added another sentence.
"Hinata, Kiba Inuzuka, and Shino Aburame went too."
The atmosphere on the battlefield suddenly grew tense.
Kakashi looked back in the direction where Itachi and Kisame had disappeared, his gaze darkening.
"Itachi and Kisame Hoshigaki may have appeared... mainly to hold us here."
"Their real target was never here to begin with."
Barely had he finished speaking-
"Then what are you waiting for?"
Miki Yūya cut in from beside him, his voice openly impatient.
"Keep chasing them."
"Don't let Kisame Hoshigaki and Itachi get away."
Kakashi turned to look at him.
Miki Yūya's face was expressionless, but he clearly already had a plan of his own.
"Who cares about all that nonsense?"
"Get moving."
Gaara had been captured.
The news circled through Miki Yūya's mind, then quickly overlapped with a certain memory of being stuck in a wheelchair-
He had never forgotten that debt.
Now Gaara could barely save himself, and Sunagakure had its own hands full.
Wasn't this the perfect chance to kick them while they were down? He, Miki Yūya, had always sided with the bullies!
Miki Yūya turned and left without the slightest hesitation.
Kakashi called after him:
"You're going alone?"
"Huh? What? Go do your mission. What's that got to do