"That eye… is that a Byakugan?"
Hagoromo's words sounded almost casual, as if he were rely making an observation.
But before the sentence had even fully left his mouth, his figure vanished abruptly from where he stood.
In the next instant—before the opposing group could properly track him—he reappeared directly in front of Ao, his right hand already raised, thumb, index, and middle fingers extending straight toward Ao's eye.
The target was obvious.
That Byakugan.
Because of his unfamiliarity with the special visual field, Ao failed to react in ti to Hagoromo's sudden disappearance and reappearance. All he could do was watch helplessly as those fingers rapidly filled his vision.
Fortunately, Ao was not alone.
A powerful hand seized the back of his collar and yanked him violently backward. At the sa ti, a massive blade crashed down, wedging itself horizontally between Hagoromo and Ao.
Simultaneously, another hand clamped firmly around Hagoromo's wrist, stopping his motion dead.
"White Fang—no. White Yaksha," a cold voice said.
"If you don't want to be lted, I suggest you stop moving."
Hagoromo smiled faintly.
"My apologies," he said calmly. "Seeing certain things makes my body react on its own. Pure reflex. I had no hostile intent."
"For example," his gaze shifted slightly, "the Hyūga Clan's Byakugan."
"And for another example—" his eyes moved again, "my sword."
He called it his sword, even though, strictly speaking, it was a blade he had once wielded.
Hagoromo had arrived at the designated location at the appointed ti and encountered the Kirigakure shinobi sent to receive him—then imdiately initiated a brief clash.
Like Yagura's interception team, they were also a four-man squad.
But this group was clearly of a higher caliber.
Even if Hagoromo didn't recognize every face at first glance, each of them was a shinobi of established reputation.
The squad was led by Terumī i, a Kirigakure jōnin.
The other three were Hoshigaki Kisa, Hōzuki Mangetsu, and Ao.
The one who had pulled Ao backward was Kisa.
The one wielding the massive blade between them was Mangetsu.
And the one gripping Hagoromo's wrist—issuing the threat—was unmistakably i.
The blade in Mangetsu's hands was Sahada, the sa ninja sword Hagoromo had once lost. That was why he referred to it as his.
As for Ao—
The eye he possessed was a Byakugan, taken from Konoha long ago.
At this ti, Ao was still adapting to it. The later protective seals had not yet been applied, leaving the Byakugan fully exposed. Hagoromo recognized it instantly.
After all, he could tell the difference between a cataract and a Byakugan.
The mont he saw it, Hagoromo had instinctively moved—not to actually seize the eye, but to test their reaction.
If he attacked and the Mist ninja responded by imdiately launching a full assault, it would an Kirigakure had little genuine intention of pursuing peace.
But instead, they rely restrained him—without escalating further.
That alone suggested the opposite.
If so, his chances of surviving after entering Kirigakure would be significantly higher.
That said, i's grip on his wrist was anything but gentle. It felt as if she ant to crush it outright.
That kind of strength… must co from years of stirring heavy ladles, Hagoromo thought dryly.
"You can call Hagoromo," he said aloud.
"If we can reach a mutual understanding this ti, peace between our villages should follow soon."
He spoke with a calm smile—
—and in the next instant, violent Chidori Nagashi surged along his arm.
Words and actions, completely mismatched.
Had i not released his wrist and leapt backward imdiately, she would have been scorched no matter what.
Hagoromo did not pursue her. He simply dispersed the lightning and let his arm fall, as though nothing had happened.
For now, their basic stance seed acceptable.
Still—why send soone bearing a stolen Byakugan to et him?
Was this Kirigakure signaling willingness to negotiate, or deliberately provoking further hostility?
The reason was actually far simpler.
Kirigakure was short-handed.
Not in terms of ordinary shinobi—but in high-end combat power.
Two of the Seven Ninja Swordsn had already been confird dead.
The remaining five had infiltrated the Land of Fire and failed to return on schedule. Kirigakure had begun to assu the worst.
Beyond the Seven Swordsn—
what else did they have?
Very little.
Ao was primarily a sensory-type shinobi, but at this point, Kirigakure had few elite jōnin available who clearly surpassed him.
Just looking at the composition of this squad made the situation obvious.
All four were strong—but all were young.
Ao was over twenty, but i was only seventeen.
Kisa was fifteen.
Mangetsu was sixteen.
For a mission of this importance, such a lineup lacked stability.
Kirigakure was not rely short on elite jōnin—
it was also short on Kage-level combatants.
Publicly, the only one was the Third Mizukage.
As for i—
despite her mastery of Water, Fire, and Earth Release, and her rare possession of Lava Release and Boil Release Kekkei Genkai—
given her age and experience, she was still only jōnin level at best. Calling her a full Kage would be premature.
Her situation was similar to Yagura's.
Which placed Kirigakure in an awkward position.
One of the Five Great Villages—
yet unable to deploy a Kage-level fighter during a world war.
"Are you alright, Ao?" i asked, turning her head.
"I'm fine, i-sama," Ao replied quickly, finally recovering his composure.
It truly had been a close call. Hagoromo's fingers had nearly touched his eye.
Through the Byakugan, Ao had seen it clearly—
that instantaneous Lightning Release surge.
So it was true.
A ninjutsu that powerful… without hand seals.
i-sama…
From their exchange and the way the others deferred to her, Hagoromo concluded that i was the clear leader of this group.
And if so—
her stance would likely influence the outco of the peace talks.
She required careful attention.
"White Yaksha," i said coldly,
"This is your final warning. If you attack my people again, it will an the collapse of negotiations between Konoha and Kirigakure. Do you understand?"
She made no attempt to soften the na.
Nor should she.
That alone confird Hagoromo's judgnt—
she was the one issuing orders.
He raised both empty hands.
"Peace talks co first," he said.
The gesture was ant to signal harmless intent.
But it was hardly convincing—
especially since, as he spoke, his eyes flicked first to Ao's Byakugan, then to Sahada in Mangetsu's hands.
At present, only two of the Seven Ninja Swords remained in Kirigakure's possession.
Mangetsu, despite his versatility, had little choice in what blade he wielded.
"Did you encounter anything on the way?" i asked suddenly.
Her senses were sharp. During their brief contact, she had caught a faint trace of blood on Hagoromo.
"No," he replied evenly.
"Please guide . My mission is to deliver the Hokage's letter to the Mizukage. Everything else is secondary."
He deliberately avoided ntioning Yagura.
Though i was likely from the pro-negotiation faction, Hagoromo had no idea how she would react upon learning Yagura was already dead.
Opposing factions aside—
who knew what their personal relationship had been?
i frowned, but said nothing more. She signaled her team to move.
She took the lead.
Mangetsu and Kisa flanked Hagoromo on either side.
Ao followed a short distance behind.
The formation was both an escort and a containnt net.
If Hagoromo made the slightest suspicious move, it could instantly beco a killing formation.
They were currently on an uninhabited island near the Land of Water.
Once they departed, they would soon reach Kirigakure—
the Hidden Mist Village lay just ahead.
PS: I've been releasing chapters daily . Honestly, it hurts seeing almost no support on Patreon after all that work.If you're enjoying the fic, even a little, supporting would an a lot. It helps a student stay independent .
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