The Aftermath

The battlefield was littered with bodies—nine Kumo-nin dead, Kaito Yotsuke still unconscious.

Silver exhaled sharply, sheathing his Kusanagi sword. "We salvage the bodies."

Kaori and Hiroshi began sealing the corpses into scrolls for later interrogation. Aiko, still clutching her wound from earlier, was stabilized but needed urgent medical attention.

Kaito was restrained.

"This one's too dangerous to kill just yet," Silver murmured. "We take him back to Konoha."

If they could interrogate Kaito, they might finally uncover who was truly behind the disappearances.

With the battle over, they turned toward the Fire Country border.

The mission wasn't over yet.

The Pursuit Begins

Just an hour after Silver and his team escaped with their war trophies, the rest of the Ginkaku and Kinkaku squad arrived.

The battlefield was a mess—pot holes scorched with residual lightning chakra, charred trees, and bloodstained earth. The air still carried the faint scent of ozone from powerful lightning jutsu.

Ginkaku clicked his tongue. "Looks like Kaito put up a fight."

Kinkaku knelt, running his fingers through the dirt. The faint flicker of chakra residue made his brow furrow.

"This wasn't just any battle. Whoever fought here was strong—damn strong." He looked toward the direction of the Fire Country border. "And they took Kaito with them."

A tense silence followed.

The squad members behind them exchanged uncertain glances. Kaito Yotsuke wasn't just some rogue shinobi—he was one of the strongest lightning users in their ranks. If he had been taken, that meant...

Ginkaku cracked his knuckles, a savage grin forming. "Then we chase."

Kinkaku nodded, his golden eyes narrowing. "If Kaito talked, it could expose our operations."

He turned to their squad. "We move—now."

With that, the Ginkaku Force vanished into the trees, their pursuit of Silver and his team beginning.