Kurenai wasn't technically wrong. Objectively speaking, standing near a corpse mummified by Scorch Release actually does present a faint, toasted aroma similar to roasted malt.
Ui leaned in and took a careful sniff. He could detect the subtle scent, though his sense of smell wasn't nearly as keen as his other senses. These Rain Ninjas died horrific deaths—their skin shriveled into leathery strips, looking for all the world like human beef jerky.
Finding a scent usually associated with the dinner table on a pile of corpses is one thing, but actually feeling a pang of hunger is quite another.
Just as the thought crossed Ui's mind, Asuma Sarutobi spoke up abruptly. "I'm actually getting kind of hungry. Now that you mention it..."
Ui stared speechlessly at the dark sky.
They say that the only thing that can truly terrify a human is another human. Right now, Ui was feeling a genuine sense of dread regarding his two subordinates. Perhaps fate really does tie people together for a reason; after all, if these two could share this specific brand of morbid dark humor, they were clearly made for each other.
To be fair, feeling hungry on a mission was normal. They lived primarily on food pills (soldier pills), which were nutritious but tasted like chalk and did nothing to satisfy the stomach. But still... read the room, man.
Ui extended his right hand, pressing his index and middle fingers against the neck of a desiccated corpse. He felt a trace of warmth.
The heat hadn't fully dissipated. This meant the ninjas had been killed only moments ago. Considering the sounds of clashing steel ahead, these Rain Ninjas were likely wiped out in an instant.
"This is Scorch Release, right?" Ui muttered, partly to himself and partly to the group. "This kind of instant mummification... it has to be Scorch Release: Extremely Steaming Murder."
"It's Shakuton (Scorch Release)..."
"Which means the identity of the ninja ahead is obvious."
"The Bloodline Limit of the Sand."
"The Hero of the Sand."
"Pakura of the Scorch Release."
The team finished each other's sentences, piecing together the identity of the combatant with ease. A technique this distinct and flashy was impossible to ignore. Almost any experienced front-line ninja who kept up with intelligence reports would recognize it. At this time, Pakura was the only known user of this specific Bloodline Limit.
Before being promoted to squad leader, Ui had finally received a comprehensive Ninja Handbook—a collection of data on high-profile threats from other nations. He had felt a twinge of annoyance when he got it; why hadn't anyone given him this sooner?
Pakura of the Sand was a name that Konoha's intelligence department watched closely. During the war, every village had its "star" promotion program. In terms of propaganda value, Pakura was to the Sand what the Yellow Flash was to the Leaf.
The mechanics of Scorch Release weren't overly complex—a combination of Wind and Fire natures that created intense, localized heat. It evaporated all the moisture in a target's body instantly, literally "cooking" the organs while leaving only the bone and skin behind.
It was a technique that couldn't be blocked, only dodged. One hit, and you became a piece of jerky with a shelf life of thirty centuries. Add a little salt, and you could probably stretch that to forty.
But this raised a massive question: According to Konoha's intel, Pakura was a core combatant stationed on the Sand-Stone (Suna-Iwa) front. Things were currently tense between those two villages, with war threatening to break out at any moment. Why was she in the Land of Rain?
Furthermore, while the Sand and the Rain didn't have an official alliance, they had a tacit understanding not to provoke one another. Why was she slaughtering Rain Ninjas?
The situation was riddled with holes.
Should they press forward to investigate? Or should they use Pakura as a distraction and slip out of the country while the Rain Ninjas were busy being mummified?
Ui was torn. If he were alone, he'd already be halfway there to satisfy his curiosity. But he had three subordinates to look after. Investigating Pakura's secret movements wasn't in their mission scroll; it was "mission creep."
"I'm going to go take a look. You guys..." Ui trailed off. He wanted to move alone for safety, but he couldn't decide whether to tell them to hide or to start the extraction without him.
Ui usually didn't overthink things, but as a leader, he found himself imagining the worst-case scenarios. If he left them to wait and they were surrounded... if he sent them ahead and they ran into a separate patrol...
"Ui, we're a squad. We should move together," Asuma said, cutting through his captain's hesitation.
Asuma clearly understood that this was outside their orders, but he also realized that uncovering Suna's hidden intentions in Rain territory could be vital for Konoha. Even if the Wind and Fire nations had a peace treaty, trust was a rare commodity between former enemies.
Ui looked at Kurenai and Aoba. Both nodded in agreement.
"Fine," Ui said, waving a hand with newfound resolve. "Let's go. A look won't get us roasted."
The four of them advanced toward the light. The trail of bodies acted like a morbid breadcrumb path—twenty-three, twenty-four mummies in total. Curiously, there wasn't a single Sand Ninja corpse. Was Pakura operating entirely alone?
The sounds of battle became deafening. They were one corner away from the clearing.
Ui was about to signal for a stealthy observation, but before he could react, a glowing orb of white and orange fire whipped around the trunk of a massive tree and flew straight toward them. It was in front of Ui's face in a fraction of a second.
Scorch Release.
And it wasn't a focused shot—it was an area-of-effect orb beginning to expand and detonate.
In that millisecond, Ui's instincts took over. Chidori Nagashi (Chidori Stream) erupted across his body. Identity exposure? Stealth? Screw that!
He grabbed Kurenai around the waist in a lateral carry, and in the same motion, he delivered a savage, full-power kick to Asuma's stomach!
Asuma didn't even have time to change his expression. The force of the kick folded him in half, sending him flying backward like an arrow. He slammed into Yamashiro Aoba with zero time lag, and both of them were propelled away from the blast zone.
Without sparing a glance for the boys, Ui pivoted and bolted in the opposite direction, holding Kurenai tight!