34 Blame Yourselves

"Lord Ri, there's an inn ahead. Let's rest there for a bit."

A Jonin of the Shimura clan, leading the horses, pointed to a small inn on the right side of the road ahead. A small flag bearing the character "Inn" fluttered in the wind, hanging from the eaves.

Satoshi Ri looked up, nodded, and waved to the group. "Everyone, go rest at the inn first."

Soon, twenty Jonin from both clans, along with two servants disguised as merchants, settled into the inn.

Domoto Sarutobi called out, "Boss, bring us some water and food."

Sengoku had not yet developed anything like the compressed biscuits of later eras, such as soldier pills. Ninjas on missions typically carried their own dry rations, which didn't taste very good.

"Coming right up, please wait a moment."

An aged voice came from the back door of the inn.

Soon, the back door opened, and a stooped, plainly dressed old man with gray hair emerged. On the tray in his hands were plain tea and dumplings.

"Lord Ri, if we succeed in taking down the Uchiha and Hagoromo this time, how much territory will we get?"

A Shimura Jonin asked excitedly, popping a dumpling into his mouth.

Satoshi Ri glared at him fiercely. "Don't talk nonsense!"

How could such things be discussed in public?

The Shimura Jonin who was glared at wanted to retort, "We're in the middle of nowhere, who would overhear?" But seeing Satoshi Ri's fierce gaze, he sheepishly shut his mouth.

However, neither clan noticed that as the old man, who had heard their conversation, turned back to prepare the dumplings, a flash of killing intent flashed in his eyes, turning them a deep red.

"Here are your dumplings and tea."

The old man brought another plate of tea and skewers of dumplings.

"Thank you."

Domoto Sarutobi reached out to take the tray.

The moment his hands touched the tray, the old man's hands suddenly flipped, sending the tray flying into the air. His hands, previously hidden beneath the tray, were now gripping kunai!

"Wh—?!"

Domoto Sarutobi's face contorted in shock. Years of combat experience made his body react before his mind could even process what was happening. He instinctively dodged backward.

However, the old man charged forward rapidly, and the kunai in his hands slashed across both sides of Domoto Sarutobi's shoulders, leaving two wounds.

"Attack!!"

Masashige Hagoromo, hidden in the shadows, let out a low growl.

Swish! Swish! Swish!

Dozens of dark figures shot out from the forest towards the inn.

Satoshi Ri and several Jonin from both clans reacted instantly, reaching into their ninja tool pouches. "Enemy attack!"

In a mere instant, a flurry of shuriken and kunai collided in mid-air.

After the sparks of clashing metal flew, both sides entered a stalemate.

"Masashige Hagoromo!"

Satoshi Ri's face paled in shock as he saw the leader of the enemy forces.

Why was he here?

"Satoshi Ri, the number two figure in the Shimura clan, second only to the clan head, Keizou Shimura."

He then glanced at Domoto Sarutobi, who had been caught off guard. "And a high-ranking figure of the Sarutobi clan, Domoto Sarutobi..."

Masashige Hagoromo gripped his katana tightly, licking his lips with bloodlust. "The Sarutobi and Shimura clans have quite the ambition, sending as many as twenty Jonin, led by high-ranking figures from both clans. It seems you are determined to take us down."

"But unfortunately, you will all die here today. Losing twenty Jonin in one go is a blow even the Sarutobi and Shimura can't afford, right? Hahahahaha!"

Masashige Hagoromo burst into laughter towards the end.

This time, not only was the clan head personally involved, but nearly all the Jonin from his clan had been deployed.

Satoshi Ri broke out in a cold sweat, as he was facing an opponent of clan head caliber.

"Damn it, was the intel leaked? How could this happen..."

A Shimura Jonin leaned back against Satoshi Ri, wary of the surrounding Hagoromo clan members. "Lord Ri, what do we do? The enemy outnumbers us greatly."

Satoshi Ri's mind raced. After two seconds, he said, "Everyone, prepare to retreat. We must get this message back to the clan heads."

"Do you think you can escape?!"

Masashige Hagoromo roared and performed hand seals himself. "Earth Style: Earth Flow River!"

A surge of chakra erupted, and the soil on the ground suddenly rose, turning into mud mid-air. It surged towards Satoshi Ri and the others like a tsunami.

"Wind Release: Vacuum Wave!"

Satoshi Ri countered with hand seals. The wind blades that erupted from his mouth sliced through the mud, dividing it into several sections. He then leaped through the gap and into the air.

"Everyone, engage the enemy! Find an opportunity to retreat!"

Satoshi Ri's arms felt slightly numb. After they both landed simultaneously, Masashige Hagoromo grinned and raised his hand, pointing the tip of his sword at Satoshi Ri. "None of you are leaving. Don't make me say it a third time. All of you die here today."

"Hagoromo Style Ninja Sword Technique: Heavenly Blade!"

"Wind Release: February Wind!"

In the same instant, Satoshi Ri formed a hand seal and spat Wind Release from his mouth, attaching it to his blade.

Both of them turned into afterimages imperceptible to the naked eye, exchanging several blows in mid-air.

On another part of the battlefield, the Hagoromo Clan, whose numbers were double that of their opponents, clashed with the Sarutobi Shimura.

Both sides were teams composed of Jonin, and the ensuing battle was exceptionally fierce.

However, after a short period of combat, the disadvantages became apparent.

The Sarutobi Shimura side was not optimistic!

They were fewer in number, had been ambushed, and their morale was weaker than the enemy's.

The Hagoromo side, led by their clan head, had greatly boosted morale.

The enemy was also plotting to unite the four clans and ambush them, these rats.

For a moment, their eyes turned red with killing intent, only wishing to put the enemy to death.

Although Domoto Sarutobi had been successfully ambushed by a Hagoromo ninja disguised as an old man using a transformation jutsu, the wound was not deep. He was now fighting Naoyasu Hagoromo, the number two figure of the Hagoromo Clan.

"Why did you know about our alliance with the four clans? And how did you know about our transport route?"

Amidst the clash of blades, Domoto Sarutobi couldn't help but ask Naoyasu Hagoromo.

This was all top secret; even he had only learned about it the day before yesterday.

Even if the Hagoromo could investigate, how could they have found out so quickly?

Unless they had clairvoyance...

"If you want to blame someone, blame your own people!"

Naoyasu Hagoromo said with a cold laugh.

Who told your clan someone was trying to stage a coup?

The Hagoromo had completely confirmed that "Kite" was the opposition faction of Furukawa Sarutobi and Keizou Shimura, who, in order to launch a coup and seize power within the clan, had allied with them, the Hagoromo.

My own people?

Domoto Sarutobi's heart tightened at the words.

Could it be that there was a traitor within the clan?

And who could it be?

Only Jonin-level or higher ninjas within the clan knew about this.

Clang!!

Another clash of swords sent Domoto Sarutobi flying back over ten meters. Facing away from Satoshi Ri, he said in a low voice, "We'll cover you with all our might. Find a way to escape and get reinforcements from the four clans; that's the closest."