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In the black of night, sparks flew as invisible slashes nearly broke the hard stone pavement to pieces.
Clang, clang, clang, clang!
The collision of two short swords resonated fiercely, as if performing a tumultuous symphony within the courtyard of the Heavenly Guard Tower.
Kakashi's sword swung faster with each move, a principle he had learned from Yōichi. The strategy was simple: strike so swiftly that the opponent can only defend, eliminating the need for your own defense.
However, facing this adversary, Kakashi felt a surprising lack of strength. Each of his swings was predictably countered and deflected with precision.
"This is impossible!"
In Kakashi's mind, disbelief took hold. As a chunin who had undergone extensive training, how could he be rendered so ineffective against someone?
It was as if he was practicing swordsmanship at home with his father.
After their exchange, Sakumo immediately knew—the guardian of this tower had to be his son, Kakashi, who was adept in both Wind and Lightning Release, techniques exclusive to their Hatake lineage.
"Kakashi has indeed improved, but now is not the time for mentoring and sparring!"
Sakumo recalled his teammates who had been delaying for him at the main courtyard and instantly made a decision.
He launched a sweeping three-strike combo with his short sword.
The first strike forced Kakashi to block vertically, the second nearly disarmed him, and by the third,
Kakashi's sword was knocked right out of his grasp.
With a powerful kick, Sakumo sent Kakashi flying.
Given the covert nature of their mission, embracing the shinobi's resolve was essential. Although Sakumo would not fatally harm his son, making a profound impression was within his intentions.
After launching Kakashi away, Sakumo swiftly headed towards the Tower. Shortly after breaking into the daimyo's residence, Sakumo had managed to capture the River Country's daimyo's chief steward, from whom he acquired critical information.
It turned out the daimyo of the River Country changed his sleeping quarters nightly, and tonight, he was in the tower. This information was known only to the chief steward and the daimyo's five personal samurai guards.
Once Kakashi was dealt with, Sakumo quickly made his way towards Yōichi, guarding outside the tower. Planning to swiftly handle him and then assassinate the daimyo of the River Country inside.
Yōichi, suspecting his opponent to be Sakumo from the start, had kept his Sharingan activated, observing. Sakumo's swordsmanship bore a resemblance to Kakashi's, yet with a crucial difference in lethality, confirming his suspicions when Sakumo ultimately chose not to deal a killing blow but rather knocked Kakashi's sword away and kicked him aside.
Seeing Sakumo charging at him, Yōichi quickly drew his sword, with lightning coiling around the blade like a serpent.
Clang!
The blades met, sending sparks flying. Yōichi's sword, wrapped in lightning, was quickly dispersed by Sakumo's invisible wind blades.
"Indeed, it's Sakumo. His mission must be the assassination of the River Country's daimyo."
After a single exchange confirming the other's identity, Yōichi decided to withdraw. The location and timing were wrong for a confrontation with Sakumo, despite Yōichi's desire to test himself against the legendary White Fang's swordsmanship.
As for the daimyo's commission?
Failure would only be blamed on the underground exchange office, not Uchiha Yōichi himself.
With another slash, Yōichi used the momentum to retreat, revealing his Sharingan in the dark night, its crimson gaze unmistakable.
Sakumo was taken aback by the sight, but it also confirmed why Kakashi was present.
As Yōichi made his exit, Sakumo immediately entered the tower. Soon after, panic-stricken shouts for help echoed from inside.
"This scoundrel was actually hiding here? When did he sneak in?"
Yōichi shook his head, then hurried to check on Kakashi, contemplating the failed bounty. Missing out on twelve hundred million was a setback, but not coming back with anything after half a month away from the village was not an option either.
After Kakashi was helped up, clutching his chest, he asked, "Captain, why didn't you stop that man?"
"The situation is complicated. I'll explain once we're away from here. For now, follow me."
Before Yōichi could finish, several figures suddenly appeared on the courtyard walls of the tower.
"White Fang of the Leaf, come out! Your teammates have been captured by us. Even if you've killed the daimyo of the River Country, it's useless!"
Fujiwara , a shinobi from the Sand Village, shouted loudly. He had been lying in wait in the main courtyard for Leaf's shinobi to fall into the trap, not expecting the White Fang himself to be among them, and to have knowledge of the daimyo's hiding place.
Fortunately, they had managed to capture the remaining Leaf shinobi quickly and headed over.
As for the daimyo of the River Country, Fujiwara wasn't too concerned. Alive or dead, it didn't matter; it was a Leaf shinobi who attempted the assassination, so either way, the Sand Village would profit.
"Captain, is it Father?"
Kakashi whispered, now understanding why his every move had been effortlessly countered.
Yōichi gestured for Kakashi to be silent, sensing the complication of their predicament. While they could easily escape, Sakumo's situation was precarious.
Escaping for Sakumo was challenging unless he eliminated everyone present, which was unrealistic given the numbers against him and the uncertain outcome of such a battle.
After a while, Sakumo emerged from inside the building, the visibly shaken daimyo of the River Country by his side. The sight of Sakumo mercilessly slaughtering the daimyo's samurai guards had terrified the daimyo, who was still struggling to speak after witnessing the carnage and nearly losing his own life.
"Fujiwara , release my teammates!"
Sakumo declared, essentially admitting to Fujiwara 's identification and thus forfeiting the mission.
His teammates immediately became anxious, unable to voice their concerns. They understood the importance of their mission and that Sakumo could easily forsake them to assassinate the daimyo and escape.
There was nothing on their persons that could trace them back to the Leaf Village, and Sakumo could even destroy their bodies to eliminate any evidence.
However, Sakumo chose not to take that route, valuing his comrades over the mission.
His principles and beliefs had not wavered from the beginning.
"Alright, we'll exchange."
After some thought, Fujiwara decided it was better to keep the daimyo alive. Choosing a new daimyo with an unknown stance towards the Sand Village was risky, but the current daimyo would undoubtedly harbor resentment towards the Leaf. Saving the daimyo now would expand the Sand Village's influence into the River Country, along with access to strategic locations and metal resources.
"Release them, and let them come over!"
"Don't play tricks, White Fang of the Leaf. Release them at the same time, or none of you will leave."
Fujiwara refused to release them first. If they did, the Leaf might still kill the daimyo. But if he didn't release the hostages, Sakumo wouldn't spare the daimyo. The best outcome was to release the hostages simultaneously.
At this moment, Yōichi suddenly stood up, pretending to be in a hurry and loudly exclaimed, "You scoundrels, don't use the life of the daimyo as a bargaining chip. Give the daimyo to me!"
(End of Chapter)