Konoha Police Force.
Chief's Office.
Sōken took a deep breath and untied the sack in front of him.
Inside the sack was an unconscious man with short black hair, no eyebrows, a cross-shaped scar on his right cheek, and red stripes painted across the lower half of his face... It was a face that felt strangely familiar.
He searched through his memories.
Before long, he recalled the man's name.
"One of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist, wielder of the Kubikiribōchō... I never expected it to be you." Sōken chuckled softly and looked up at Uchiha Akitaro, who was travel-worn and exhausted. "Jūzō Biwa. I truly didn't expect you to bring me such a gift, Akitaro."
"Call it a lucky coincidence."
Uchiha Akitaro straightened himself and replied respectfully, "When I found him, he was being hunted by Mist Ninja Anbu. He killed the Anbu pursuing him, but he was badly injured himself. It didn't take much effort for me to subdue him with Genjutsu."
He knew that Sōken possessed the Great Sword: Samehada.
Assuming Sōken was fond of the Mist Ninja's blades, he had simply brought Jūzō Biwa back—man and sword alike—as a gift.
"I see. In that case, your luck was rather good, Akitaro."
"This is nothing. I failed to complete the task you entrusted to me. That is my incompetence!" Uchiha Akitaro lowered his head in deep shame. His pride would not allow him to make excuses for himself. Failure was failure; capturing Jūzō Biwa could not conceal that failure!
"You found no trace of that snake in the Land of Fields?"
"I traveled across the entirety of the Land of Fields and found nothing suspicious. I even tried deliberately exposing my identity, but no prey ever took the bait." Sōken had entrusted Uchiha Akitaro with a