Fangs Revealed

As the group hurried toward the Daimyo Mansion.

Sosuke carefully pondered the occurrence of this sudden situation and the potential implications behind it.

Princess Tamako, the Daimyo, the attacking ninjas, and Danzo.

Sosuke intuitively felt that the order sent by the Daimyo at this time might be related to Danzo; after all, Danzo could not let him continue to accompany the princess indefinitely.

To kill the Uchiha clan, namely Pupil, and to facilitate the cooperation between the Hyuga clan and Root was the goal of his mission this time.

This was also what Danzo expected!

Then... this order from the Daimyo was very likely an opportunity!

Their first reaction upon receiving the Daimyo's order while far outside the Royal Capital was naturally to rush toward the Daimyo Mansion!

However, what if this news had been relayed to the Daimyo by Danzo? Given Danzo's personality, he would certainly have handled such a matter flawlessly, meaning the attacking ninjas had very likely received this information as well.

If someone were to ask when... one was most likely to be attacked by ninjas?

Every ninja learned this at the Ninja Academy!

In a situation of asymmetrical information, the ninja who possessed more intelligence would occupy the dominant position in any scenario; setting an ambush in advance was the most direct manifestation of the advantage held by the side with better intelligence.

Beneath his ghostly blue mask and thick-rimmed glasses, a cold glint flashed deep within Sosuke's black eyes.

At this moment, he already had a vague guess in his heart, but he could not voice it to those present, because... this was also the opportunity he needed!

There was not a sound in the silent forest; it seemed as if the Grim Reaper had already descended upon this place!

When the group reached the middle section of the forest!

Suddenly, the ground ahead abruptly caved in as if it had been hollowed out long ago!

Several of Princess Tamako's subordinates were unable to dodge in time and were the first to fall in!

"Ah!" "Ah!!"

The screams had barely rung out when several "bang" and "pop" sounds were heard!

Those were the sounds of exploding tags!

Sosuke narrowed his eyes slightly. As expected, this intelligence was nothing but a lure; the enemy had already prepared a trap here, just waiting for them to walk right into it.

The violent explosions had only just begun!

Then, smoke swirled all around, and dust rose into the air!

Mixed with the sounds of ninjutsu, a multitude of combined techniques surged toward them!

"Earth Style: Earth Flow River!" "Earth Style: Earth Flow Split!"

"Earth Style: Rock Lodging Collapse!"

In an instant!

Quicksand and flying earth filled the sky, rushing toward them!

The soil on the ground instantly transformed into a terrifying hell that snatched away lives!

It tightly pinned everyone's legs, leaving them nowhere to escape!

In a flash, several stone walls suddenly fell from the sky, striking the immobilized group head-on; flesh, blood, and shattered bones flowed out from the gaps.

These samurai and the princess's guards had never seen such a formation, and faced with so many terrifying and bizarre ninjutsu, they had long since lost their composure.

They fled in every direction in a panic.

At this moment, Shijimi Tamako had lost her indifferent expression; her face was almost devoid of color, and she looked at all of this while forcing herself to remain calm!

The scenes of flowing blood and broken limbs made her want to vomit.

But she still forced herself to endure it.

Beside her, Pupil and Shackle were also watching the scene before them with cold, vigilant eyes.

However, they could not step forward to prevent the deaths of these guards.

After all, from the moment those guards stepped into the pit trap and were entangled by the Earth Style, it meant they had already stepped one foot into hell.

Moreover, as the captain, Sosuke had not issued any orders, so they dared not act rashly.

Seeing that the ninjas were only clearing out the princess's guards first and had not immediately moved to attack Shijimi Tamako, Sosuke understood.

They had not come for an assassination; capturing Shijimi Tamako was likely their true objective.

Thinking of this, his gaze turned cold.

Regardless, he urgently wanted to know at this moment!

Which country's ninjas were they?

To actually dare to attempt to capture the daughter of a country's Daimyo during a period when a peace treaty had been signed!

Did they want to start a war again!!

As the smoke gradually dissipated, the scene before them became clear.

Blood from the guards was everywhere!

On the field, only Sosuke and his group, Shijimi Tamako, and a few handmaidens remained alive.

A deep voice suddenly drifted over from the opposing ninjas.

"My apologies, Lady Tamako, but I'm afraid you'll have to come with us!"

Hearing this, Shijimi Tamako was filled with fury, her voice trembling as she shouted!

"You bastards!! How dare you violate the peace treaty signed by the great nations! Are you not afraid of the sanctions from the Land of Fire!!"

"You needn't worry about that; just surrender quietly, Miss Tamako... Hm!? And a few ninja brats, too!?"

Suddenly, he noticed Sosuke and the others standing beside Shijimi! He had originally assumed they were merely playmates accompanying the princess, but he hadn't expected them to be wearing ninja masks!

This caught him by surprise!!

Just then, Shackle spoke to Sosuke.

"Captain Aizen, there are fifteen of them in total!! We..."

Sosuke nodded slightly; he didn't care much about the number of enemies.

At this moment, he only wished to begin the slaughter once more.

He slowly drew Kyoka Suigetsu and stepped forward, his relaxed posture making it seem as if he were going for a stroll rather than out to kill.

Seeing Sosuke advance, Pupil and Shackle also prepared for battle, stepping forward in turn!

Behind them, Shijimi Tamako looked at Sosuke with concern and said.

"Aizen, b-be careful..."

Hearing this, Sosuke turned his head slightly and smiled at her.

"Well... hide behind me and keep yourself safe. This time... it isn't to complete a mission, but simply because they dared to harbor designs upon you..."

He paused, turning his head slightly to fix a cold gaze upon the dozens of ninjas opposite him, and softly spat out two words.

"...Damn them..."

In an instant!

His figure vanished from where he stood!

One of the opposing ninjas, seeing Sosuke's arrogance, had been about to interrupt him, intending to cruelly torture him to death!

He never expected that, the very next moment, Sosuke would appear right before his eyes!

Coming face-to-face with those cold, indifferent eyes, the ninja broke into a cold sweat; what a detached gaze that was!

"Puchi!"

Before he could even move, a sharp blade easily pierced through his heart!

He stared with wide eyes, his face full of disbelief!

Just a brat!! How is this possible! How could I, Kuroku Yamato, fall in a place like this!!?

However, the only answer he received was Sosuke's indifferent eyes!

At that moment, everyone's gaze was fixed on Sosuke, who had killed Kuroku Yamato in an instant!

Yamanosuke, the leader of the Rock Ninja's special mission squad, stared at him intensely and hissed!

"Konoha Anbu!!?"

Sosuke did not answer him; he simply held Kyoka Suigetsu vertically before him and said coldly.

"Shatter, Kyoka Suigetsu."

In an instant!

Everyone seemed to see a faint flash upon the blade!

At that moment, Pupil and Shackle charged toward them!

The battle began!