Why the urgent retreat?
The reason required no explanation; none of the four members of this squad were fools.
The primary objectives of Ui's team were infiltration, reconnaissance, and investigation. Eliminating enemies was not part of the mission profile. To ensure success, they had to avoid direct confrontation with the enemy's main forces at all costs.
"Kurenai," Ui said, looking at the kunoichi who had sustained the least damage. "We need to use this downpour as cover and get out of here immediately. The weather is in our favor, but we can't be careless. You take the rear and focus on masking our movement traces."
Even though the heavy rain would naturally wash away tracks and scent, Ui preferred the extra insurance of a specialist's touch.
Kurenai nodded without hesitation. "Understood."
"Withdraw!"
At Ui's command, the four ninjas vanished into the trees.
After their respective battles, the squad's chakra reserves had been depleted to varying degrees—particularly Ui's. He was in no condition for another high-intensity engagement.
The retreat formation was tactical: Asuma took the point to navigate, Yamashiro Aoba followed with the captive slung over his shoulder, Ui took the third position to monitor the team's condition, and Kurenai brought up the rear to scrub their trail.
They didn't blindly flee back toward the Land of Fire. Instead, they moved laterally along the border.
The mission could not be abandoned.
However, because of the massive disturbance caused by the Kirin, their original route was now compromised. The plan for a "quiet and rapid" entry into the Land of Rain had to be scrapped. Even though they were technically still on Fire Country soil, there was no guarantee the Rain ninjas hadn't spotted the artificial lightning. Reconnaissance patrols were likely already on their way to investigate the "divine strike."
To ensure both safety and the mission's eventual success, Ui chose to delay the infiltration. The squad needed to go dark, lay low, and wait for a fresh opening.
But first, they had to deal with the "package."
The Interrogation
In a hidden mountain cleft, where an overhanging cliff face provided a natural roof against the storm, the squad took temporary shelter.
Kurenai was busy treating Asuma and Aoba's wounds. Whether or not a kunoichi is a dedicated medical specialist, basic field dressing and first aid are mandatory skills. While she worked, Ui focused on the prisoner.
"Should I release the Genjutsu?" Kurenai asked once she had finished bandaging Asuma's shoulder.
The Fuma ninja was currently wrapped in ninja wire like a cocoon. Even without the mental fog of a Genjutsu, he wasn't going anywhere. He was lucky, though; being a "cocoon" was a far better fate than being "charcoal." Different cuisines, different results.
Ui had two pressing questions:
1. Why was a Fuma cell operating inside the Land of Fire, and why did they attack a Leaf squad so aggressively? Was it purely for bounty money?
2. How did they know his name? Who was collecting and distributing data on his abilities?
Releasing the Genjutsu for a standard interrogation was an option, but it was inefficient. There was no guarantee of the truth, and time was a luxury they didn't have.
Ui turned to Yamashiro Aoba.
"Aoba, can you perform a memory probe?"
From the dossiers provided by the Hokage, Ui knew Aoba possessed a mind-reading ability similar to the Yamanaka clan's. He just didn't know the extent of Aoba's proficiency.
Aoba adjusted his sunglasses—a peculiar habit, considering it was a dark, rainy day. In the ninja world, some people were effectively "human frames" for their eyewear.
"I can try. As long as there isn't a mental seal protecting his subconscious, it shouldn't be a problem," Aoba said cautiously.
It was a fair assumption. A wandering mercenary from a fallen clan, no matter how skilled, rarely had the high-level mental protections found in the elite ANBU of the Great Villages.
"Be careful," Ui cautioned. "If it doesn't work, don't force it. We need him sane for information; don't turn him into a vegetable."
Aoba nodded and knelt by the prisoner. He concentrated, weaving a series of hand signs Ui didn't recognize, and pressed his right palm firmly against the Fuma ninja's forehead.
Mental intrusion was a delicate and violent process. A single slip—even a sneeze from the caster—could cause permanent neurological damage or "local bleeding" of the psyche.
Ui watched the process, absentmindedly touching his own forehead. He made a mental note to ask Kushina about Uzumaki sealing techniques for mental protection once he returned. He'd rather have a "mental halo" than risk someone poking around in his own brain.
As Ui's mind wandered, Aoba's eyes snapped shut. Sweat began to bead at his temples.
"I've got something!" Aoba's voice was strained and hurried.
"They are definitely Fuma clan members... A week ago, they picked up a contract at a Bounty Station (Exchange). It was issued by Amegakure—a standing order to assassinate any Konoha shinobi for a set commission. Our squad was just the first target they encountered."
"So it was a contract," Ui muttered.
But Aoba wasn't finished.
"There's more. High-priority info. There is a separate, anonymous bounty specifically on you, Captain. Someone—an unknown individual or organization—has posted a massive price on your head. They've even included a partial dossier on your combat style and signature moves..."
Ui's expression shifted. The hunter was being hunted.