Princess Kazahana Koyuki's question was soon answered by Sandayū Asama.
"According to the intelligence I gathered, those two mercenaries swept through the Black Markets of multiple countries in just over a month. Their mission efficiency was terrifyingly high, and their success rate was a perfect hundred percent!"
"Kazahana Dōtō sought out those two mercenaries because he wanted to hire them to capture the princess!"
At those words, Kazahana Koyuki's heart sank.
This situation was undoubtedly much more serious than before.
In the past, Kazahana Dōtō had sent Snow Country's ninja to pursue her. Even when he hired mercenaries, he hadn't hired anyone this formidable.
This time, her situation was far more perilous. The two mercenaries' record in the Black Market was simply terrifying.
They had taken on missions at Bounty Exchanges across multiple countries and swept through them all in just over a month.
If Sandayū Asama hadn't told her this himself, she wouldn't have believed it was true.
Since Kazahana Dōtō had hired two such formidable mercenaries to pursue her, her current situation was likely extremely dangerous.
After thinking it over, Kazahana Koyuki continued, "Where are those two mercenaries now? Did they really accept Kazahana Dōtō's offer?"
Sandayū Asama shook his head apologetically. "Your Highness, I couldn't find out that information. Learning that Kazahana Dōtō had approached them and discussed a mission with them was already the limit of our intelligence-gathering capabilities."
Kazahana Koyuki nodded. Though she still had a few loyal retainers of her father—the former Daimyo of the Land of Snow—at her side, their influence still couldn't compare to Kazahana Dōtō's.
After thinking it over carefully, Kazahana Koyuki proposed a plan. "Let's go to Konoha. It's one of the Five Great Shinobi Villages, after all. No matter how brazen the Black Market mercenaries are, they wouldn't dare cause trouble in Konoha, would they?"
Sandayū Asama immediately agreed. "This old servant had the same thought. To be safe, we'd better go to Konoha and lie low for a while."
But just as he finished speaking, a young voice came from behind the living room screen. "Going to Konoha won't help. Konoha's a mess of its own right now. They don't have time to meddle in other people's affairs."
The person speaking from behind the screen was, of course, Genba.
His sudden words startled both Kazahana Koyuki and Sandayū Asama.
Neither of them lacked status, but they had little fighting ability.
Even so, Sandayū Asama instantly stepped in front of Kazahana Koyuki and glared toward the screen, shouting, "Who's there? What are you doing here?"
Genba strolled out from behind the screen with a cheerful smile and said casually, "My name is Uchiha Genba. I'm one of the two Black Market mercenaries Kazahana Dōtō wanted to hire!"
At those words, cold sweat appeared on Sandayū Asama's forehead, and Kazahana Koyuki's pretty face paled.
They could begin to understand how Genba and Kakuzu had managed to rack up missions across the Black Markets of multiple countries in just over a month.
Only about a month had passed since Kazahana Dōtō had met with the two of them, and Genba had already found his way here.
Kazahana Dōtō had spent many years and the full strength of the Land of Snow trying to accomplish something he'd never managed. Genba had done it in only about a month.
His mission capabilities were beyond anything Kazahana Koyuki and Sandayū Asama could have imagined.
In this moment of crisis, Sandayū Asama made a quick decision. "Your Highness, I'll hold him off. Run!"
Kazahana Koyuki clenched her teeth. She didn't try to flee. Instead, she drew a dagger from her waist and watched Genba nervously.
After doing her best to calm herself, Kazahana Koyuki said, "I know we're no match for you, but don't you dare make another move, or I'll die right here!"
"If I'm not mistaken, Kazahana Dōtō wants you to capture me for two reasons. One is to kill me, and the other is to obtain an important item. Only I know where it is. If I die, you'll never be able to complete your mission."
Seeing how terrified Sandayū Asama and Kazahana Koyuki were, Genba couldn't help rubbing his nose. Had he really become this intimidating without even realizing it?
The Land of Snow was only a small country, but not just any ninja could inspire such deep fear in its princess and a former minister.
Fortunately, Genba had no intention of teasing Kazahana Koyuki any further. He smiled and said, "Your Highness, if I wanted to capture you, I would've done it at the hot spring. Why would I have given you a chance to fight back?"
"You..." At those words, Kazahana Koyuki nearly fainted.
She had never dreamed that when she was still at the hot spring, the mercenary who called himself Uchiha Genba had already been nearby!
But what Genba said next surprised Kazahana Koyuki even more.
Genba sat down casually on the living room sofa and said, "A month ago, the Land of Snow's false Daimyo, Kazahana Dōtō, hired me to capture Tailed Beasts for the Land of Snow to study. After that, I was supposed to capture the Land of Snow's fugitives—you two."
Sandayū Asama snapped angrily, "That fratricidal usurper, Kazahana Dōtō, is the real criminal in the Land of Snow!"
Genba raised a hand to signal Sandayū Asama to calm down, then continued, "Mr. Sandayū Asama, don't get so worked up. Princess Kazahana Koyuki, you don't need to be nervous, either."
"I know that Kazahana Dōtō murdered his brother and usurped the throne. I also know the key to opening the Land of Snow's ancestral treasure is the Hexagonal Crystal, and that Princess Kazahana Koyuki carries it with her at all times."
After Genba said this, Kazahana Koyuki and Sandayū Asama grew even more nervous.
Before, they could at least hope that Genba didn't know what the "key" was or where it was.
Now that he'd laid everything out, how could they not be on edge?
Sandayū Asama's face took on a resolute expression, as if he were ready to die.
Princess Kazahana Koyuki's pretty face turned as pale as paper. Her heart sank.
Still, Genba's attitude gave them the faintest glimmer of hope. Maybe, somehow, a miracle would happen.
When Genba saw their expressions, he figured he might be able to achieve his goal this time without much trouble.
So he got straight to the point. "I only accepted the first of Kazahana Dōtō's commissions: helping the Land of Snow capture Tailed Beasts for research. I didn't accept his second commission. I came here to offer Your Highness a higher-priced mission: restoring your country."
Kazahana Koyuki: (O_O)???
Sandayū Asama: (O_O)???
Genba's words left the two of them completely stunned.
Neither of them could ever have imagined he would pull something like this.
Kazahana Koyuki recovered quickly. This sudden turn of events felt unreal.
Just a minute ago, she'd truly believed that she and Sandayū Asama were doomed.
She even regretted not finding Genba before Kazahana Dōtō had, so she could hire him to deal with Kazahana Dōtō.
Kazahana Dōtō was difficult to deal with, but Genba's ability to complete missions was beyond all reason.
Unexpectedly, she had no need for regrets. The situation had taken a turn that no one could have foreseen.
Kazahana Koyuki didn't dare waste any time. Before Genba could change his mind, she promptly agreed to offer him a commission.
"No matter how much Kazahana Dōtō offered, I'll hire you for more to help me restore my country. But my funds are limited right now. I won't be able to pay you until after I've reclaimed the throne."
"Don't worry. Once I use the key to open the Land of Snow's treasure, I'll have more than enough money to pay you."
Looking at Princess Kazahana Koyuki's utterly serious expression, Genba's face twitched.
If he didn't know what the Land of Snow's treasure was, that would be one thing. But knowing what it really was, how could he take her words seriously?
Fortunately, he was getting several things out of this arrangement. He didn't need to squeeze every last bit out of Kazahana Koyuki. All she had to do was cooperate with him on the missions assigned by the Akatsuki.
Before you continue