Arai was surprised that Konoha had managed to locate them and pursue them so quickly.
However, he had clearly anticipated the possibility of such a situation and remained vigilant.
As a Jōnin of Sunagakure and a longtime enemy of Konoha, he understood their capabilities well.
Based on his judgment, the enemy was still some distance away. It would take time for them to catch up, and shaking them off would not be easy, but it was not impossible.
Whoosh. Whoosh. Whoosh.
Across the vast, barren grassland, the three-person squad led by Arai sped forward at full speed, their feet barely touching the ground as blades of grass scattered behind them.
A silent pursuit unfolded.
As time passed, Arai's expression grew heavier.
The sensation of being tracked never disappeared. On the contrary, it grew stronger.
This meant that Konoha's pursuers had not lost their trail.
They were closing in.
To maintain such speed over such a long distance and gradually reduce the gap between them was proof enough that their opponent possessed extraordinary physical ability.
Arai analyzed the situation rapidly.
If the enemy consisted of only one person, that person must possess overwhelming strength and absolute confidence.
If there were multiple pursuers, their individual strength would still be formidable. Moving as a group at such speed while maintaining formation was no easy task.
Yuji was also thinking.
Regardless of the number, their pursuers were dangerous.
In fact, Yuji felt that facing multiple enemies might be preferable.
If only one person had been sent, it meant that individual possessed absolute confidence in eliminating all three of them.
Because Konoha did not know their exact strength. Sending only one shinobi meant complete certainty.
Yuji glanced behind him briefly and silently calculated his remaining weapons and tools.
This pursuit had become a contest of endurance.
Hours passed.
The situation did not improve.
"We can't shake them off," Yuji said, breathing heavily.
Sweat covered his forehead.
Beside him, Sasori's breathing had become uneven. His speed was noticeably slower now.
Puppeteers relied more on technique than physical endurance. Although Sasori's stamina was exceptional for his specialization, the prolonged high-speed escape was pushing him to his limit.
Arai remained silent as he ran ahead. They were still some distance from Amegakure's border.
But Arai already knew the truth. They would be caught before reaching it.
If he were alone, escape would not be difficult. But he was not alone.
He was responsible for Yuji and Sasori.
He narrowed his eyes.
Sasori was slowing down, Yuji would soon reach his limit as well.
He had to make a decision. Even if he died, these two must survive.
Their importance to Sunagakure could not be overstated.
Suddenly, Arai changed direction.
He veered sharply and ran toward a different path.
Yuji understood immediately.
Sasori understood as well.
Arai was leading them toward the border of the Land of Earth. That direction was closer, but also far more dangerous.
Because Iwagakure was an enemy of both Konoha and Sunagakure. Approaching their territory meant entering another battlefield.
If Konoha continued their pursuit, they would risk encountering Iwagakure forces.
It was a gamble. But Arai had no choice.
His instincts told him clearly.
If they fought Konoha's pursuers directly, their chances of survival were extremely low.
They might all die.
'This was the judgment of a veteran shinobi.'
Yuji glanced at Arai's profile as they ran. He knew very well that if anyone else had been leading them, even another Jōnin with less battlefield experience, he and Sasori would likely have already fallen into serious danger.
At this moment, Arai, as both a Kazekage Guard and an Elite Jōnin, was displaying the full extent of his abilities. His strength was not limited to ninjutsu or raw combat power. It was reflected in his battlefield awareness, his judgment, and his survival instincts honed through countless life-and-death encounters. For Yuji and Sasori, this was an invaluable lesson being demonstrated in real time.
Yuji could not help but sigh inwardly. He had not expected his first mission involving Konoha to escalate to such a dangerous level. Whether this was good fortune or terrible luck, even he could not say.
Meanwhile, far behind Yuji's group, another squad was sprinting forward at full speed. The five members wore grave expressions, their eyes fixed ahead as they pursued relentlessly.
Among them, one person stood out. His eyes were tightly closed, and his hands were forming hand seals as he maintained a sensing technique. He was being carried on the back of a teammate to conserve his strength and focus on tracking.
After a moment, the boy opened his eyes and spoke.
"They've changed direction. They're heading toward the Land of Earth."
The boy had blond hair tied into a ponytail and appeared to be around fourteen or fifteen years old. Two other boys nearby looked to be of similar age.
The one carrying him had red hair and a thick, powerful build. His physique was heavy, but not fat, rather, it was solid.
"The enemy intends to use Iwagakure's territory to force us to abandon the pursuit," another boy said immediately.
He had black hair tied back and wore a fishnet shirt beneath his clothing. His eyes were sharp, and his mind had clearly grasped the situation instantly.
If Yuji had been present, he would have recognized them immediately.
They were the famous Ino–Shika–Chō trio of Konoha's golden generation.
The sensory shinobi was Inoichi Yamanaka.
The one carrying him was Chōza Akimichi.
The strategist who had seen through the enemy's plan was Shikaku Nara.
At fifteen years old, shinobi were no longer children. The three of them had already begun to grow into the next leaders of their respective clans. Having matured during the harsh environment of the war, they had gained considerable experience and participated in many missions, especially in support and intelligence roles.
However, this war was not their stage.
The main battlefield still belonged to Konoha's older generation.
In the early years of the war, they had been too young and could only grow under the protection of their seniors. Now that they had matured, the war itself was already approaching its conclusion.
Because of their importance, Konoha had deliberately avoided sending them into the most dangerous battles. The village valued their future more than their immediate combat power.
Their missions were carefully chosen to develop their battlefield awareness, leadership, and judgment.
Shikaku, in particular, had already begun to demonstrate his talent as a commander.
Although Konoha's golden generation had not yet fully revealed its brilliance, their potential was undeniable. These young shinobi represented the future of the village and the continuation of the Will of Fire.
"We cannot allow them to enter Iwagakure's operational zone," Shikaku said in a serious voice. "Although that area is dangerous for them, once they enter it, the presence of Iwagakure forces will make pursuit much more difficult. Their chances of escape will increase significantly."
After speaking, he turned his gaze toward the two Jōnin at the front of the squad.
"Ryōsuke-san. Ōtani-sensei," Shikaku said calmly. "Our stamina is insufficient to catch them at this speed. I request that you two move ahead and intercept them. The enemy has only one Jōnin, and the other two appear to be younger shinobi. However, those two must be important, since the Jōnin is protecting them. Their presence is slowing him down. If you can delay them, we will catch up shortly afterward."
Despite the presence of two Jōnin in the squad, neither of them hesitated.
They accepted Shikaku's orders immediately.
It was clear that Shikaku was the true strategist and core of this team.
Without another word, the two Jōnin accelerated sharply, leaving the three younger shinobi behind as they surged forward in pursuit of Yuji's group.
....
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