The Land of Rivers was a small country, serving as a buffer zone between the Land of Fire and the Land of Wind.
The "stationed" mentioned in the mission details, as Byakuya understood it, meant keeping watch on the movements of Sunagakure's ninja in the Land of Wind. In other words, it was a Konoha surveillance unit established in the Land of Rivers.
The Land of Rivers was like a long corridor, with complex terrain and dense vegetation—an ideal place for a surveillance unit to hide and scout.
Byakuya remembered that, in the original story, the Akatsuki had performed the Tailed Beast extraction ritual on Gaara, the One-Tail Jinchuriki, in the Land of Rivers.
"San-Dan-Kun? What kind of name is that?"
Honestly, if a surveillance unit stationed in the Land of Wind to monitor Sunagakure had a Sunagakure spy in its ranks, then the comrade in charge of this matter deserved a severe reprimand. They should also investigate every last detail to see whether that person had ties to Sunagakure too.
Based on the mission itself, Byakuya couldn't glean much information. Aside from the dry text, all he knew was the area of the Land of Rivers where the surveillance unit operated.
He had no idea what rank of ninja San-Dan-Kun was, what techniques he knew, or what position he held in the unit.
With his life and the mission's success on the line, Byakuya put away the mission scroll and returned to Hiroya's office.
"Byakuya, what is it?"
"Sorry to bother you, Principal. About the mission target..."
"Oh, you mean that." Hiroya slapped his forehead in frustration. "I forgot to explain it properly. Since Konoha is under pressure from wars with both Kumogakure and Iwagakure, it's inevitable that things get overlooked in the rush. I've handed over all the information on this mission to you. Senkaku Byakuya, time is short. I expect you to carry out the mission immediately."
Byakuya took his leave.
As soon as he left the office, his face darkened.
He didn't know whether things were really as Hiroya had said, or whether Root Division had deliberately set up a test for him.
Even the most malicious interpretation of Root Division would have been too kind.
There was no choice. He'd have to plunge in, reach the Land of Rivers, and adapt to the situation as it unfolded, doing his best to complete the mission safely.
The substantial increase in chakra quality from Fate Choice II was especially tempting. Besides, it suited the predicament he was in right now.
"No wonder it's called 'Fate Choice'..."
"I'm lacking a trump card—a last resort that can turn defeat into victory."
Back at the warehouse, he sealed his kunai, shuriken, Explosive Tags, and Smoke Bombs inside the Space-Time Scroll, ready to summon them with the Summoning Technique when needed.
He then strapped the Space-Time Scroll to his left forearm. It was small enough to wear that way; a larger scroll would have to be carried on his back, which would hinder his movements.
He removed his Konoha Ninja Forehead Protector and put on the Shuten-dōji Mask. He took the Explosive Tag Ninja Sword and the Ninja Sword he'd practiced with, then donned a black trench coat to partially conceal his weapons.
He grabbed the bag of Military Ration Pills and tied it around his waist.
After taking a few steps, he decided to bring the clearly marked map after all.
Byakuya shut 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 little strong. It billowed his black trench coat, making him look like a proud, unruly demon king.
Several people stood inside the gate for some reason. Through the eyeholes of the Shuten-dōji Mask, Byakuya spotted Hatake Kakashi and Yuhi Kurenai. Oh? Was that Uchiha Obito in sunglasses and a tracksuit? Then the girl he was grinning foolishly at must be Nohara Rin.
Nohara Rin had rare, short brown hair. Surprise colored her dark brown eyes as she looked at Byakuya's mask.
Seeing Byakuya's unusual outfit, Hatake Kakashi seemed to think of something. He narrowed his eyes and scrutinized him.
"Rin, what are you looking at? Huh! What's that mask?"
Nohara Rin said quietly, "The legendary demon king, Shuten-dōji."
"Oh, whatever. Why hasn't Minato-sensei arrived yet? We've been waiting for ages," Uchiha Obito complained noisily. "Could it be that Minato-sensei wants to become Hokage too? Is he worried he can't beat me, so he's deliberately stalling to sabotage my mission?!"
"Kurenai! Sorry I'm late."
Yuhi Kurenai waved to the Hyuga girl running toward them. "No rush. We're still waiting for one more teammate, and Mimura Hamaki-sensei isn't here yet either."
Perhaps Obito wanted to show off in front of Nohara Rin and draw her attention to him. He bragged loudly, gesturing wildly as he spoke.
Byakuya walked past.
Obito's arm swung into his shoulder.
"Hey, you..."
Uchiha Obito had meant to apologize, but then he thought that admitting fault in front of the girl he liked would cost him too much face. He stuck out his chin and shouted at Byakuya, "You startled me! Apologize! It's fine if you don't, though. I don't blame you anyway."
Obito hadn't turned evil yet; he was still kind-hearted, which made his words rather contradictory.
"Obito, just apolo—" Nohara Rin began.
But Byakuya wanted to test how he measured up to Hatake Kakashi now.
He reached back and gripped the hilt of the Ninja Sword.
As luck would have it, the wind blew past.
His trench coat billowed, lending him an especially dashing air.
He drew his sword.
And slashed at Uchiha Obito.
The movement was lightning-fast. Obito and Nohara Rin, standing only inches away, froze in shock. They never imagined that, inside Konoha, a mysterious figure wearing a Shuten-dōji Mask would suddenly try to cut someone down over a few words.
Hatake Kakashi had been watching Byakuya the whole time.
The moment Byakuya drew his sword, Kakashi charged toward Obito with his white short sword in hand.
Clang!!
The white short sword blocked Byakuya's slash.
Just as Byakuya had expected.
The future Copy Ninja and Sixth wouldn't stand by and watch.
"Move!" Kakashi said coldly.
"Huh? Oh, right."
Uchiha Obito hurriedly grabbed Nohara Rin and ran over beside Yuhi Kurenai.
The force coming through the short sword was tremendous, but Byakuya knew that if he put in a little more strength, Kakashi would have to yield and retreat.
After all, Kakashi's right hand, gripping the short sword, was already trembling uncontrollably.
Kakashi suddenly held a kunai in his left hand and slashed at the throat beneath Byakuya's mask.
What a vicious move.
But Byakuya sensed Kakashi's counterattack.
He let the kunai in Kakashi's left hand strike.
Substitution Technique!!
The kunai slashed into a wooden plank.
Kakashi cried out in alarm, but it was already too late.
Using the Substitution Technique to throw off his opponent's line of sight, Byakuya swiftly appeared behind him.
"Kakashi! Watch out!"
"He's behind you!"
Uchiha Obito, Nohara Rin, Yuhi Kurenai, and the Hyuga Branch Family Girl all cried out together.
Kakashi's attack had carried too much force, and his body was still pitched forward. All he could do was turn his head halfway and stare helplessly at the grinning Shuten-dōji Mask.
This man's use of the Substitution Technique was astonishingly skillful, and his movements were so fast that Kakashi had no chance to react.
Kakashi was consumed by frustration. Even if he had to die, he should die on the battlefield, not pointlessly in Konoha!
"Kakashi!!!" Uchiha Obito roared.
Byakuya almost laughed. Why were they acting like they were parting forever?
He hadn't intended to kill Kakashi. Of course, Kakashi hadn't intended to kill him either. When he'd attacked with the kunai in his left hand, Kakashi had angled it downward, so its final destination wasn't Byakuya's throat—it was probably his chest.
It was just a spar, nothing more. They'd stop before anyone got hurt.
Byakuya tilted his Ninja Sword, intending to gently tap Kakashi's shoulder with the flat of the blade.
At that very moment.
A flash of yellow suddenly appeared in his field of vision.
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