That night.
Yūto hosted a welcome banquet for the three villages.
In an izakaya, Yūto sat with the team leaders in a private room as their host.
On the surface, the atmosphere was peaceful, but beneath it, everyone harbored their own thoughts.
The villages' accompanying personnel and Genin were seated in the main dining area next door.
After several rounds of drinks, Mei Terumi looked curiously at Yūto at the head of the table.
"Captain Yūto, only the teams from our three villages-Kumogakure, Kirigakure, and Iwagakure-arrived today. Sunagakure should be here soon too, shouldn't they? Why aren't we waiting for them?"
Yūto had just picked up a piece of grilled fish when her words made him pause.
He gave a vague response. "Ah, Sunagakure..."
He set down his chopsticks and continued, "Perhaps they were delayed on the road. There's still plenty of time, so there's no need to worry. As for the specific reason... I'm not at liberty to disclose that."
Seeing his hesitation, Mei Terumi knew that pressing further would yield nothing and would only make her seem aggressive.
She raised her cup and smiled tactfully. "I see. I was worrying too much. Then I won't trouble our chief examiner any further. Here's to a successful exam."
She drained her cup, letting the subject drop.
During the slightly awkward silence, Killer B, who had been sitting in the corner all along, suddenly raised his head. A glint seemed to flash behind his sunglasses.
He abruptly leaned forward, a rhythmic murmur spilling from his lips.
"Yo! Who blocked Sunagakure's crew? She's all fire, blazing bright through and through!"
Though he named no names, his words carried a great deal of information.
Hero, betrayal, covered in fire.
Those words all but pointed directly to one person: Sunagakure's Scorch Release Hero, Pakura!