"Aaaargh!!!"

Under Samui's glowing green chakra, the explosive insect began to thrash violently. Omoi's pain intensified, and a series of miserable, agonized cries ripped from his throat.

After listening to the Raikage's account, Samui immersed herself in a desperate analysis. "It seems the cause of this is the insect-like mass. It's filled with explosive chakra and feeds on the host's own energy. Once it absorbs a certain amount, it detonates."

"You said Karui used ninjutsu just before he died, correct? Using a jutsu would cause him to release a large amount of chakra. The parasite would have absorbed it, growing instantly, and that's why he…"

"That's why he exploded," the Raikage finished, his voice grim. "Then… what is Omoi's condition? Can he be saved?"

Seeing that the mass in Omoi's body had not shrunk at all despite her treatment, Samui closed her eyes, her face a mask of pained frustration. "I'm sorry, Lord Raikage… Omoi," she said through gritted teeth. "With my level of medical ninjutsu… I'm truly helpless!"

"Wait… that's right!" Samui's eyes suddenly flew open, a spark of hope igniting within them. "Even if I can't do it, there is someone who can save him! She's here, in this town! I just saw her!"

"Who is it?"

"The legendary Sannin, Lady Tsunade of Konoha! There is no medical ninja in this world who can rival her!"

Upon hearing Tsunade's name, the Raikage fell into a heavy silence. Her medical prowess was world-renowned; he was well aware of her skills. But the relationship between the Hidden Cloud and the Hidden Leaf had been strained for generations. Not long ago, his own village had "bullied" the Hyuga clan with a show of force. Although the incident had ended with Konoha's apology, the Raikage knew, deep down, that he was the one in the wrong. To ask Tsunade of Konoha to now save a Cloud ninja… it would be as difficult as climbing to the heavens.

After a long, internal struggle, the Raikage slowly spoke. "I understand. I will go and find her."

Omoi, however, was adamant. "No! Lord Raikage, how can you ask for help from another village? It would be a disgrace to the Hidden Cloud! Will you cast aside the dignity of the Raikage?"

"And you, Samui! How can you speak of a ninja from another country with such reverence? Besides, why would anyone from Konoha care about what happens to me? This is completely pointless! Urgh…" Omoi, agitated and furious, vomited a mouthful of blood.

"Omoi, stop talking! You'll only make it worse!"

"But…!"

"Enough!" the Raikage bellowed. "Omoi, do not worry. Tsunade will save you. Even if she refuses, I will use force to make her save you! You are my cherished subordinate. I value the dignity of the Raikage, but I value your life even more!"

"Let's go, Samui!"

"Yes!"

On the other side of town, Shiro and Yakumi were conducting a large-scale search. They scoured the streets for a long time but could find no trace of the Raikage or his team.

"They're not in this town," Shiro concluded. "Let's go. On to the next one."

"I did not expect there to be so many towns nearby," Yakumi lamented. "We have already searched two, with four more to check. This is all my fault. If I had been able to see through that Cloud jonin's escape technique, we wouldn't be in this situation."

"Stop blaming yourself," Shiro said, his tone firm. "Let's go. Madara-gakure has maintained a one-hundred-percent mission completion rate since its founding. Time is of the utmost importance. I do not want my first mission to end in failure."

With that, the two of them rushed off toward the next town.

From the shadows of a nearby rooftop, a pair of scarlet eyes watched them go. A faint, intriguing smile touched the lips of the unseen observer before their entire form dissolved into darkness, vanishing in the blink of an eye.