"Did it work?!" Not only the two Chunin, but even the Elite Chunin leading the team felt his heart skip a beat.
It seemed... they had succeeded?
That was how people thought. Often, when they accomplished something they had believed impossible, their minds and bodies would suddenly relax.
"Captain, congratulations... but we probably won't be making it back. I hope you can look after my wife when you return..." A hint of gloom filled one Chunin's eyes.
"Rest assured, I shall provide for your wife!" The Elite Chunin leading the team walked straight up to the two Chunin and solemnly addressed one of them.
"Go take his head. With Sōkyū Hatake's head, you'll definitely be able to get the resources to advance to Special Jōnin, Captain!"
"Don't worry. I'll report what you've done, and then... I won't neglect your families." Tears glistened in the team leader's eyes.
With that, the Elite Chunin wiped away his tears and walked resolutely toward the site of the Desert Funeral.
He gently placed his hand on the Desert Funeral. As he channeled chakra into it, the sand began to dissolve, revealing what lay inside.
"This is..." The moment he saw what was inside, the Elite Chunin completely lost his composure!
Yes, what emerged was not a Konoha forehead protector, but a Sunagakure forehead protector!
Though there was a mangled, bloody corpse inside, it clearly was not Sōkyū Hatake!
"I really hate to interrupt your touching moment, but... this farce has gone on long enough!" Just then, Sōkyū Hatake's voice suddenly came from behind the Elite Chunin!
"Captain! Watch out!" the nearly dying Chunin shouted at the Elite Chunin's back.
Shunk!
But it was already too late!
The Elite Chunin saw only the tip of a blade emerge from his chest. The accompanying crackling filled