Royal Capital's Daimyo's Mansion.
The setting sun cast its lingering glow across the sky, and a gentle breeze flowed past him. Hyuga Setsuna lay atop the roof of his house, a relaxed, contented smile on his face.
Although this mission was troublesome, he thoroughly enjoyed this rare, brief respite.
It had been nearly a month since their last visit to the Sacred Tree for the ritual.
Originally, his and Kakashi's mission had merely been to demonstrate the power of ninjas to Her Highness Akishinomiya Yuri.
But the daimyo had received reliable intelligence that a group of people would make a move against Akishinomiya Yuri soon.
Thus, the daimyo had kept them behind and assigned them the task of protecting Akishinomiya Yuri.
Watching the flock of birds fly across the sky, Hyuga Setsuna narrowed his eyes slightly and sank into thought.
"Those people are awfully patient, aren't they?"
Over the past month, Hyuga Setsuna had often taken Akishinomiya Yuri around the Royal Capital and beyond for outings.
Yet those people had never acted. They had not even conducted any so-called surveillance or observation.
Hyuga Setsuna propped himself up with both hands and leaned back tactically as he looked toward the sky.
If I were them, what would I do?
Knowing that Akishinomiya Yuri had him, a member of the Hyuga Clan, protecting her, they definitely would not enter the Byakugan's field of vision or detection range. That would effectively prevent them from being discovered!
But if they could not appear within the Byakugan's range, what method would they use?
Gazing at the sky, an inscrutable look appeared in Hyuga Setsuna's eyes as he muttered to himself.
"Let's treat this as an experiment."
"Byakugan, activate!"
Chakra began flowing into his eyes, and veins bulged one after another around his temples.
Hyuga Setsuna's Byakugan began sweeping across the flocks of birds flying through the sky and every other movement nearby.
"That's...?!"
Amid the birds in the sky, he spotted a peregrine falcon. Its greatest difference from the other birds was the Chakra within its body.
On the rooftop, Hyuga Setsuna's expression remained calm, but a trace of coldness silently flashed through his eyes.
So those people had not been inactive or stopped observing them. They had sent a peregrine falcon summoned beast to act as an observer!
He quietly deactivated his Byakugan. With an ordinary expression, Hyuga Setsuna continued lying on the roof while his mind worked relentlessly.
Those people must have possessed some understanding of the Byakugan. Otherwise, they would not have chosen a peregrine falcon as their observer.
Moreover, that peregrine falcon had been flying in the sky a kilometer above the ground. An ordinary Byakugan's detection range truly only extended one kilometer.
But those people surely could not have imagined that Hyuga Setsuna's Byakugan could see everything within five kilometers even in its normal state.
At that thought, Hyuga Setsuna quietly drew his right hand back into the sleeve of his black kimono and formed the hand seal for the Shadow Clone with one hand.
At that moment, Kakashi was resting with his eyes closed in the shadows of the shrine, protecting Akishinomiya Yuri.
Smack!
A small hand quietly rested on Kakashi's shoulder.
Kakashi, who had been resting with his eyes closed, jolted and was about to draw the short blade in his hand and slash backward.
"It's me, Yagokoro!"
Kakashi's still-sheathed short blade was firmly pressed into its scabbard by Hyuga Setsuna's right hand.
Kakashi had just been about to punch his attacker when he heard that familiar voice. He froze for a moment, then abruptly leaped back. Staring coldly at Hyuga Setsuna before him, he said,
"Password!"
Looking at Kakashi, who was trying to fish for information, Hyuga Setsuna said helplessly,
"We don't have a password, Kakashi!"
Kakashi was certainly cautious, even making up a password on the spot, but if I were the enemy, I would have attacked you already.
Upon hearing Hyuga Setsuna say his real name, the coldness beneath Kakashi's dog-face mask finally eased.
Kakashi rolled his dead-fish eyes and said unhappily,
"Setsuna, what are you doing?! You scared the hell out of me just now. I thought you were the enemy!"
When Hyuga Setsuna's hand had landed on his shoulder just now, Kakashi had felt his heartbeat skip half a beat.
Hyuga Setsuna ignored Kakashi's complaint and said evenly,
"Those people are using a peregrine falcon summoned beast to monitor us!"
Hearing Hyuga Setsuna's words, Kakashi's brows furrowed beneath his dog-face mask as well.
"No wonder we haven't found anything lately. So they've been watching us from the sky!"
"So, what are you thinking?"
A smile formed on Hyuga Setsuna's lips.
"Now that we've found them, I'll follow that peregrine falcon back to their hideout and gather intelligence!"
Since those people were using a peregrine falcon summoned beast for observation and surveillance, there definitely would not be only one. There had to be other summoned beasts taking shifts, allowing them to monitor everything day and night!
Then Hyuga Setsuna only needed to wait for an opportunity to follow that peregrine falcon and locate that group's hideout to obtain intelligence.
Kakashi asked with concern in his voice,
"Can you manage it alone?"
Hearing Kakashi's worried words, Hyuga Setsuna explained with a warm smile,
"Don't worry. The one standing before you now is only a Shadow Clone!"
"My real body is still on that rooftop, watching the peregrine falcon!"
Hearing that, Kakashi was no longer worried. After all, it was only a Shadow Clone, not his real body.
And since they had found that group's trail this time, they absolutely could not miss this chance to obtain intelligence and information!
Hyuga Setsuna glanced at Akishinomiya Yuri, who was resting in the shrine's rear courtyard, then nodded to Kakashi.
"I'll leave this place to you!"
With that, Hyuga Setsuna formed hand seals and used the Body Flicker Technique. His figure flashed once before vanishing.
Kakashi watched Hyuga Setsuna disappear, a complicated look in his eyes as he muttered,
"Have you already become this strong, Setsuna?"
"I never expected even a mere Shadow Clone could sneak up behind me without a sound!"
Even back at the Ninja Academy, Kakashi had keenly sensed that Hyuga Setsuna was strong. But he had never expected him to be this much stronger!
And laughably, the people in the village had actually called the two of them "the village's most dazzling geniuses."
Thinking about it now, Kakashi felt that perhaps, from the very beginning, the only one worthy of being called a "genius" had been Hyuga Setsuna.
At that thought, Kakashi's expression grew complicated as he raised his head to look toward the distant sky.
Perhaps after this mission ends, I should seek Father out for more profound training in swordsmanship!
Elsewhere.
Hyuga Setsuna's real body wore a carefree expression as he lay leisurely on the rooftop, basking in the sunlight.
Watching the peregrine falcon diligently carry out its surveillance and observation work in the sky, Hyuga Setsuna slowly narrowed his eyes. Yet coldness and excitement shone within them.
After waiting so many days, you've finally exposed yourselves!
From this point on, Hyuga Setsuna and the others would move from the open into the shadows, while that group would move from the shadows into the open!
Thus, the hunter and prey officially began switching roles!
Sorry, sorry! I really tried my best to write the second update!!
Caw, caw. As expected, I still couldn't reach 3,000 words... (ノへ￣,)
Also, thank you to "Name Too Awesome to Display" for the 100-point donation and "Son of Heaven Liu Xiu" for the 500-point donation. Thank you for supporting Qing Meng! My deepest thanks!!!
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