"Asuma-sensei, our targets this time are full members of the Akatsuki. According to our current intelligence, they have extremely bizarre ways of killing people. Isn't it too dangerous for us to head so rashly to the Bounty Station on the Land of Fire's border?" Shikamaru frowned, a rare note of gravity in his voice.
In the wilderness along the Land of Fire's border, fierce winds swept yellow sand into the air, stinging their faces. Asuma Sarutobi walked at the head of the group, a half-burned cigarette between his lips. Hearing Shikamaru's concerns, Asuma did not stop. He merely took a deep drag, let the nicotine circulate through his lungs, then slowly exhaled a grayish-white smoke ring.
"Shikamaru, I understand your concerns. Every member of the Akatsuki is an S-rank rogue ninja with unfathomable strength. But Chiriku was my dear friend. He was brutally murdered, and his body was even taken to an underground black market to collect a bounty. If I, as his friend, don't even have the courage to uncover the truth, what right do I have to be your teacher?" Pain and resolve flashed in Asuma's eyes, and his hand unconsciously touched the two sharp Chakra Flying Swallow Twin Blades at his waist.
Shikamaru sighed and scratched his signature pineapple-shaped hair. He knew that once Asuma made up his mind, nothing could budge him. "What a drag. Izumo, Kotetsu, if we do encounter the enemy, don't act rashly. Our primary objective is to gather intelligence and determine how their abilities work. We absolutely cannot get drawn blindly into a desperate fight."
"Understood!" Izumo and Kotetsu answered in unison, both tightening their grips on their ninja tools, their nerves stretched to the limit.
The four-man squad picked up speed, racing across the barren plain like four black afterimages, heading