Fangs Bared

On the road as everyone hurried toward the Daimyo Mansion.

Sosuke carefully considered this sudden turn of events and what it might mean.

Princess Tamako, the Feudal Lord, the attacking ninja, and Danzo.

Sosuke instinctively felt that the Feudal Lord's latest order might have something to do with Danzo. After all, Danzo couldn't let him keep accompanying the princess.

Killing the Uchiha Clan—in other words, Pupil—and bringing about cooperation between the Hyuga Clan and Root was the goal of his mission.

That was what Danzo expected of him!

Then... this order from the Feudal Lord might be just the opportunity he needed!

Their first reaction upon receiving the Feudal Lord's order so far from the Royal Capital would naturally be to hurry to the Daimyo Mansion!

But what if Danzo had passed the news to the Feudal Lord? Given Danzo's nature, he would certainly have made sure not to leave a trace. In that case, the ninja on the attacking side might well have received the same information.

If someone asked when they were most likely to be attacked by ninja...

Every ninja learned the answer at the Ninja Academy!

When information was unevenly distributed, the ninja with more information held the initiative in any situation. Laying an ambush and launching an attack in advance was the clearest advantage the informed side could have in an intelligence battle.

Beneath his dark blue mask, behind his thick glasses, a cold glint flashed deep in Sosuke's black eyes.

He already had a vague suspicion, but he couldn't say it aloud in front of everyone. Because... this was also the opportunity he needed!

Not a sound stirred in the quiet forest. It seemed the Death God had already descended upon it!

When the group reached the middle of the forest—

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

Several of Princess Tamako's attendants had no time to dodge and fell in first!

"Ah!" "Aah!!"

Their screams had barely sounded when several loud booms rang out!

Those were the sounds of Explosive Tags detonating!

Sosuke's eyes narrowed slightly. As he'd thought, the information had been a lure. The enemy had already laid a trap here, waiting for them to walk right into it.

The deafening explosions had barely begun—

Smoke billowed all around them, and clouds of dust filled the air!

Amid the sounds of ninja techniques, a barrage of combined jutsu came hurtling toward them!

"Earth Release: Earth Flow River!" "Earth Release: Earth Flow Divide!"

"Earth Release: Rock Lodging Collapse!"

In an instant!

A storm of flying sand and soil rushed toward them!

The dirt beneath their feet transformed into a terrifying hell that claimed lives!

It bound their legs fast, leaving them nowhere to run!

In the next instant, several stone walls suddenly fell from above, crushing the immobilized people. Blood and shattered bones spilled through the gaps.

The samurai and the princess's guards had never witnessed anything like this. Faced with so many terrifying, bizarre jutsu, they had already lost their wits.

They scattered in every direction, fleeing in panic.

Shijimi Tamako's usual cool expression had vanished. Her face was nearly bloodless, and she forced herself to watch it all with a composed air!

The sight of blood everywhere and bodies in pieces nearly made her vomit.

But she forced herself to endure it.

At her side, Pupil and Shackle watched the scene before them with wary, cold eyes.

But they couldn't step in and stop the guards from dying.

After all, the moment the guards entered the giant pit trap and were ensnared by Earth Release, it was as if they had stepped into hell.

Besides, Sosuke, their captain, still hadn't given any orders. They didn't dare act rashly.

Seeing that the ninja had only cleared away the princess's guards first and hadn't immediately gone after Shijimi Tamako, Sosuke understood.

They hadn't come to assassinate her. Their goal was probably to capture Shijimi Tamako.

At the thought, his gaze turned cold.

No matter what, he urgently wanted to know—

Which country's ninja were they?

How could they try to capture the daughter of a country's Feudal Lord during a period when a peace treaty had been signed?

Did they want to start another war?!

As the smoke gradually cleared, the scene before them came into focus.

The guards' blood was everywhere!

Only Sosuke and the others, Shijimi Tamako, and a few maids remained alive.

A deep voice finally came from the ninja across from them.

"Sorry, Princess Tamako, but I'm afraid you'll have to come with us!"

Hearing this, Shijimi Tamako was furious. Her voice trembled as she shouted,

"You lot!! How dare you violate the peace treaty signed by the great nations! Aren't you afraid the Land of Fire will punish you?!"

"You don't need to worry about that. Just surrender, Miss Tamako... Hm!? There are a few little ninja here, too!?"

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

That surprised him!!

Just then, Shackle turned to Sosuke and spoke.

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

Sosuke nodded slightly. He wasn't particularly concerned about the number of opponents!

Now, he only wanted to unleash another massacre!

He slowly drew Kyoka Suigetsu and stepped forward with an easygoing air, as though he were going for a stroll rather than to kill.

Seeing Sosuke advance, Pupil and Shackle also prepared for battle and stepped forward!

Behind them, Shijimi Tamako looked at Sosuke with concern.

"Aizen, b-be careful..."

Hearing that, Sosuke turned to her with a gentle smile.

"Well... stay behind me and protect yourself. This time... it's not to complete the mission. It's because they dared to lay a hand on you..."

He paused, then turned slightly, his gaze cold as he looked at the dozens of ninja across from them. He murmured two words.

"...You're dead..."

In an instant!

He vanished from where he stood!

One of the ninja across from him saw how brazen Sosuke was and was about to cut him off, ready to torture him to death!

But the next moment, Sosuke appeared right before him!

Meeting those cold eyes face-to-face, the ninja broke into a cold sweat. How utterly indifferent they were!

"Splurt!"

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

His eyes widened in disbelief!

He was just a kid!! How could this be?! How could I, Kuroku Yamato, fall here?!

But the only answer was Sosuke's indifferent gaze!

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

Yamanosuke, leader of the Rock Ninja's special mission team, glared at him and snarled,

"An Anbu from Konoha?!"

Sosuke didn't answer. He merely held Kyoka Suigetsu upright before him and said coldly,

"Shatter, Kyoka Suigetsu."

In an instant!

Everyone seemed to see the blade flash faintly!

At that moment, Pupil and Shackle charged toward them!

The battle began!