The Sneaking Shadow

== Synopsis ==
Hana's class visits her in the hospital after her injury in the attack on the festival, and wish her a swift recovery. Because of her injuries, her memories of the assailant are hazy. Kawaki is admonished by Shikamaru, Sai, and Naruto about failing to report his suspicion of an assassin, and is taken off the mission. The search for the assassin continues, and Kae is likely to return to the Land of Bamboo. Shino and Anko discuss the incident, and decide not to tell Hana about Kae being the target. Kae is heavily guarded, and Batora informs that her father asked for her return. She misses her friends, and feels that Kawaki only got close to her for his mission. Kōtarō finishes interviewing Eiki, Kawaki, and Himawari about the incident. Himawari convinces Kawaki to keep protecting Kae, and continues to help herself, despite Kawaki finding it too dangerous for her. They decide to rely on Eiki for information, keeping that Kae was the target a secret. From what Eiki gathered, they have an idea where the culprit might have been, so they decide to look through Sōsha's photos. Batora tells Kae that Kawaki was likely forbidden from telling anyone about his mission, and speculates that he failed to report the assassin so as to prevent the festival Kae was looking forward to from being cancelled. Kae wants to ask him herself. Sōsha finds it strange that those three are working together, but relents when Eiki claims he's looking for a girl he has crush on. Looking through the photos, Himawari spots Batora on one of them, which is strange as he said he couldn't attend the festival. They keep it from Eiki and rush out, as Kae is with Batora. Kae finishes a letter, and the lights go out. Batora arrives at her room. Kawaki and Himawari arrive to find the Konoha guards knocked out. Kawaki spots Batora with a kunai, and breaks through the window. Batora has an injury caused the assassin. Kawaki chases the assassin, while Himawari protects Kae. The assassin attacks Kawaki with dark flames that chase him around. He dodges them, and beats the assassin down. Before he can discover their identity, the assassin reveals explosive tags around their body, and detonates them. After the police process the scene, Kōtarō asks Kawaki about his presence, and he claims he was visiting a friend. He'll report this to the Hokage's office. Kawaki checks on Kae, who's bandaging Batora. He asks why he was at the festival, and he says he was investigating someone suspicious who might have sneaked into the village. He lost track of them at the Academy. Batora feels indebted to Kae's father for taking him in. Batora and Himawari point out Kawaki's concern for Kae on what he does and does not do. The next day, Eiki asks about where they went, and Sōsha publishes a story about Eiki's new crush. Naruto reports that they'll overlook Kawaki's failure on account of his protecting Kae, though her father has withdrawn the mission, the plot's mastermind having been arrested back at the Land of Bamboo, after communications were discovered based on evidence Batora uncovered. It was the minister and guardian of Kae's younger stepbrother. They seemingly got into Konoha around the same time Kae arrived. The Land of Bamboo wants Konoha to send them all the information to avoid other nations learning of their infighting. Kawaki, however, finds it all too convenient.
== Credits ==