Yellow Flash

The Land of Rivers is a small nation, serving as a buffer zone between the Land of Fire and the Land of Wind.

As Senkaku Byakuya understood it, the "stationing" mentioned in the mission details was meant to monitor the movements of the Sunagakure ninja from the Land of Wind; it was more accurate to call it a reconnaissance unit established by Konoha in the Land of Rivers.

The Land of Rivers resembles a long corridor with complex terrain and dense vegetation, making it well-suited for a reconnaissance unit to hide and conduct surveillance.

Byakuya remembered that in the original story, the Akatsuki organization was in the Land of Rivers when they completed the Tailed Beast extraction ritual on the One-Tail Jinchuriki, Gaara.

"San-Dan-Kun? What kind of name is that?"

To be honest, for a reconnaissance unit stationed in the Land of Wind to monitor Sunagakure to actually harbor a spy from Sunagakure—the comrade responsible for this matter deserved severe punishment and a deep-digging background check to see if they, too, had ties to Sunagakure.

Looking only at the mission itself, there wasn't much intelligence Byakuya could analyze; aside from the dry text, there was only the activity area of the reconnaissance unit in the Land of Rivers.

What level of ninja San-Dan-Kun was, what ninjutsu they possessed, and what position they held in the reconnaissance unit—he was completely in the dark.

Concerned for his own life and the success of the mission, Byakuya put away the mission scroll and returned to Hiroya's office.

"Byakuya, is something the matter?"

"Pardon the intrusion, Headmaster, but this mission target..."

"Oh, you mean that." Hiroya patted his head in annoyance. "I forgot to clarify. Due to the war pressure Konoha faces from both Kumogakure and Iwagakure, mistakes are inevitable in the rush. All intelligence regarding this mission has already been transferred to you. Senkaku Byakuya, time is of the essence; I hope you execute the mission immediately."

Byakuya took his leave.

Once out of the office, his expression darkened.

He didn't know if it was truly as Hiroya said, or if Root had intentionally set up a test.

Even if he used the greatest malice to speculate about "Root," it would still be an understatement.

There was no choice but to bite the bullet, reach the Land of Rivers, and play it by ear, doing his utmost to complete the mission safely.

He was particularly covetous of the massive boost to chakra quality from the second Fate Choice, and it was consistent with the situation he currently faced.

No wonder it's called "Fate Choice"...

I currently lack a trump card that can turn defeat into victory.

Returning to the warehouse, he sealed his Kunai, Shuriken, Explosive Tags, and Smoke Bombs into the Space-Time Scroll, intending to summon them via the Summoning Technique when needed.

He strapped the Space-Time Scroll to his left forearm; it was a small scroll, which allowed for this, whereas a large scroll would have to be carried on his back, hindering movement.

He removed his Konoha forehead protector, donned the Shuten-doji mask, brought the Explosive Tag Ninja Sword and the ninja blade he used for practicing swordsmanship, and wore a black trench coat to slightly conceal his weapons.

He grabbed a bag of Military Ration Pills and tied it to his waist.

After walking a few steps, he decided to bring the clearly marked map along after all.

Byakuya locked the warehouse door, vaulted over the wall, and headed straight for the gates of the Hidden Leaf Village.

The weather was clear, though the wind was a bit strong, billowing his black trench coat and making him look like an unruly demon king.

For some reason, several people were standing inside the gate. Through the eye sockets of the Shuten-doji mask, Byakuya saw Hatake Kakashi, Yuhi Kurenai, and—oh? Was that Uchiha Obito wearing goggles and a sports jacket? Then the girl giggling foolishly at him must be Nohara Rin.

Nohara Rin had rare short brown hair, and her dark brown pupils were filled with surprise as she looked at Byakuya's mask.

Seeing Byakuya's strange attire, Hatake Kakashi seemed to recall something and couldn't help but narrow his eyes to observe him closely.

"Rin, what are you looking at? Ah! What is that mask?!"

Nohara Rin whispered, "The legendary demon king, Shuten-doji."

"Oh, oh, never mind him. Why hasn't Minato-sensei arrived yet? We've been waiting for him for a long time," Uchiha Obito complained. "Could it be that Minato-sensei also wants to become Hokage? Is he worried he can't compete with me, so he's intentionally dragging his feet to suppress me from carrying out the mission?!"

"Kurenai! Sorry, I'm late."

Yuhi Kurenai waved her hand and said to the Hyuga girl running toward them, "No rush, we still have one companion who hasn't arrived, and Mimura Hamaki-sensei isn't here yet either."

Perhaps wanting to show off in front of Nohara Rin and keep her attention on him, Uchiha Obito began to boast and gesture wildly.

Byakuya passed by them.

Obito's arm swung into his shoulder.

"Hey, you..."

Uchiha Obito had intended to apologize, but then he thought that admitting fault in front of the girl he liked would be too embarrassing. He stiffened his neck and shouted at Byakuya, "You scared me! Apologize to me! It's fine if you don't, though; I'm not blaming you anyway."

At this time, Obito had not yet fallen to darkness; his nature was still kind, which made his words highly contradictory.

"Obito, hurry and apolog—" Nohara Rin began.

But Byakuya wanted to test how strong he was compared to Hatake Kakashi.

He gripped the hilt of the ninja blade on his back with a backhand grip.

Coincidentally, the wind blew.

His trench coat danced, making Byakuya look exceptionally dashing.

He drew his blade.

He slashed toward Uchiha Obito.

The movement was as fast as lightning, leaving the nearby Obito and Nohara Rin stunned. They never expected that inside Konoha, a mysterious person wearing a Shuten-doji mask would start swinging a blade without a word.

Hatake Kakashi kept his eyes locked on Byakuya.

As he drew his blade, Kakashi gripped his white short sword and dashed to Obito's side.

Clang!!

The white short sword parried Byakuya's strike.

Just as Byakuya had expected.

The future Copy Ninja, the Sixth Hokage, would not stand idly by.

"Retreat!" Kakashi said coldly.

"Huh? Oh, right, yes."

Uchiha Obito hurriedly grabbed Nohara Rin and turned to run toward Yuhi Kurenai.

The force transmitted from the short sword was immense, yet Byakuya knew that if he applied just a few more points of strength, Kakashi would be forced to dissipate the pressure and retreat.

After all, the right hand gripping the short sword was already trembling uncontrollably.

Kakashi suddenly gripped a Kunai in his left hand, slashing toward the throat beneath Byakuya's mask.

What a ruthless tactic.

However, Byakuya sensed the counterattack the moment Kakashi moved.

He allowed the Kunai in his left hand to strike.

Substitution Technique!!

The Kunai slashed into a wooden plank.

Kakashi's heart sank, but it was already too late.

Utilizing the visual distraction caused by the Substitution Technique, Byakuya had swiftly arrived behind him.

"Kakashi! Look out!"

"He's behind you!"

Uchiha Obito, Nohara Rin, Yuhi Kurenai, and the Hyuga Branch Family Girl cried out in unison.

Because Hatake Kakashi had committed too much force to his attack, his body remained in a forward-lunging posture; he could only turn his head halfway to look at the grinning Shuten-doji mask, utterly helpless.

This person's use of the Substitution Technique was unimaginably brilliant, and his movement speed was so fast that he left no room for any reaction.

Hatake Kakashi felt extreme resentment; even if he were to die, he should die on the battlefield, not worthlessly within Konoha!!

"Kakashi!!!" Uchiha Obito roared.

Byakuya nearly laughed out loud; why were they acting as if this were a tragic parting?

He hadn't intended to kill Kakashi, and of course, Kakashi hadn't intended to kill him either; when the left-handed Kunai attack occurred, it had been angled downward, meaning the final target was likely his chest, not his throat.

It was just a spar, meant to end at the point of contact.

He tilted his ninja blade, intending to use the flat of the blade to gently tap Kakashi's shoulder.

It was at this very moment.

A flash of yellow light suddenly appeared in his field of vision.