Bounty Hunters Closing In at Midnight!

Daimyo's Mansion.

Inside the shrine, Hyuga Setsuna and Kakashi sat at opposite corners of the dining table.

Akishinomiya Yuri had finished eating much earlier and was now resting in a room in the shrine's backyard.

Just then, Hyuga Setsuna, who was eating, suddenly froze.

A flood of memories then surged into his mind.

Feeling the memories in his head, Hyuga Setsuna set down his chopsticks and closed his eyes, sorting through the intelligence and memories sent back by his Shadow Clone.

Kakashi watched Hyuga Setsuna suddenly close his eyes, and a look of realization flashed through his gaze.

Clearly, his Shadow Clone had obtained important intelligence, and Hyuga Setsuna was now organizing it.

After a while, Hyuga Setsuna opened his eyes, his gaze filled with obvious delight, surprise, and gravity.

Kakashi looked at Hyuga Setsuna's changing expression and asked doubtfully.

"Have we been discovered?"

"No, we haven't been discovered!"

Hyuga Setsuna shook his head to indicate that they had not been discovered. After pondering for a moment, he began recounting the intelligence he had sorted out in his mind.

"This enemy is very strong, Kakashi."

"Three enemies are at the Jonin level, and one is an exceptionally powerful ninja even among Jonin. They should be a team."

"There's also a mysterious employer hiding in the shadows who hasn't shown himself yet!"

After saying this, Hyuga Setsuna paused briefly, took a sip of water to wet his throat, then continued describing the four people's intelligence, weapons, strength, objectives, and distinguishing traits one by one.

As Hyuga Setsuna continued relaying the intelligence, Kakashi's expression immediately grew serious.

Whew!

After hearing the intelligence, Kakashi let out a heavy breath. He had not expected such powerful enemies to appear in this mission!

As the intelligence gathered by the Shadow Clone was steadily relayed by Hyuga Setsuna, the shrine also fell silent.

After a while, Hyuga Setsuna broke the silence.

"Let's notify the daimyo first so he can make preparations in advance."

He then discreetly slipped both hands into the wide sleeves of his kimono and began forming hand seals.

Kakashi nodded and continued eating calmly. He had not forgotten that a peregrine falcon was still watching them from the sky.

A figure darted continuously through the Daimyo's Mansion toward the daimyo's room, carefully avoiding the peregrine falcon's surveillance overhead.

Inside the daimyo's room, Akishinomiya Kensuke sat in the seat of honor, reviewing the matters submitted by the officials.

Whoosh!

A faint sound of wind suddenly arose in the room.

Hearing it, Akishinomiya Kensuke immediately looked over and quietly moved his hand beneath the desk.

"Who's there?!"

"Lord Daimyo, it's me!"

Hyuga Setsuna appeared in the room and looked at Akishinomiya Kensuke.

Seeing the Leaf Village ninja before him, Akishinomiya Kensuke relaxed, surprise in his eyes.

"Oh, a Leaf Village ninja. What is it?"

Hyuga Setsuna did not waste any time and immediately relayed the intelligence he had obtained.

As Hyuga Setsuna continued explaining the intelligence, Akishinomiya Kensuke put away the dagger he had been gripping beneath the desk.

Akishinomiya Kensuke listened to the intelligence with a grave expression.

After a while, Hyuga Setsuna pursed his lips and spoke.

"That's roughly the situation. I hope Lord Daimyo can make preparations as soon as possible."

He had delivered the intelligence. What happened next would depend on Daimyo Akishinomiya Kensuke before him.

Akishinomiya Kensuke said with a deep gaze, "You needn't worry about my side."

"My daughter's safety will depend on the two of you. I hope you will do everything in your power to protect Yuri!"

Seeing Akishinomiya Kensuke earnestly entrust this to him, Hyuga Setsuna nodded silently.

For this mission, he could only do his best to protect Akishinomiya Yuri without using his trump cards. If Akishinomiya Yuri truly ended up being killed, there would be nothing he could do about it.

After all, Hyuga Setsuna could not possibly risk exposing his trump cards for a girl he had only known for a month.

If he exposed his trump cards for this girl, Hagoromo would definitely discover him and kill him!

"Lord Daimyo, I will do my best to protect Lady Yuri!"

Hearing that, Akishinomiya Kensuke slowly let out a breath of relief and looked at Hyuga Setsuna with satisfaction in his eyes.

Sarutobi Hiruzen really was reliable. It seemed he should increase his support for him later.

He recalled how Sarutobi Hiruzen's letter had repeatedly described how outstanding and gifted these two were, and how they would certainly be able to protect Yuri and meet her needs.

At the time, Akishinomiya Kensuke had trusted Sarutobi Hiruzen, the Third Hokage, which was why he had set aside his lofty attitude as daimyo and personally received them.

And now, it seemed Sarutobi Hiruzen truly had not been wrong. Even in such a dire situation, the man before him did not shrink back and was willing to do his best to protect Yuri, greatly satisfying Akishinomiya Kensuke!

However, under these circumstances, even he, the daimyo of the Land of Fire, was not safe.

Akishinomiya Kensuke smiled and looked at Hyuga Setsuna.

"Then you may go now. I will make preparations here as well, so don't worry!"

"Yes, Lord Daimyo!"

With a bang, Hyuga Setsuna turned into a puff of white smoke.

Watching Hyuga Setsuna vanish into white smoke, astonishment appeared in Akishinomiya Kensuke's eyes.

"A Shadow Clone?"

Inside the shrine, Hyuga Setsuna and Kakashi were discussing their plans for the night.

However, they both appeared perfectly calm. To outsiders, it merely looked like a chat after dinner.

Naturally, they were putting on this act for the peregrine falcon overhead as well. Since they were under surveillance, they had to see the performance through.

At that moment, Hyuga Setsuna's expression suddenly went blank for an instant before immediately returning to calm.

"Kakashi, the daimyo has been notified. He'll make preparations!"

After quickly sorting through the memories sent back by his Shadow Clone, Hyuga Setsuna shook his head and spoke to Kakashi.

Kakashi remained calm after hearing this, twirling the kunai in his hand.

"Then according to the plan, I'll deal with the sensory-type ninja!"

After saying that, he paused, concern in his voice.

"You're taking the strongest of the four. Are you sure you'll be all right, Setsuna?"

After all, based on the intelligence, that person was the strongest among the four.

Hearing Kakashi's concerned words, Hyuga Setsuna smiled confidently.

"Don't worry, Kakashi. Leave that guy to me!"

"The daimyo's side will send people to hold back the other two!"

After saying that, Hyuga Setsuna wore a teasing smile.

"Kakashi, don't let that sensory-type ninja beat you. Otherwise, you won't deserve that title of 'genius'!"

At that, a sharp gleam appeared in Kakashi's eyes beneath his dog-face mask, and his voice carried a murderous edge.

"I'll make that guy understand the terror of the Hatake Clan's swordsmanship!"

Is that so?

Looking at the razor-sharp Kakashi before him, a complicated look surfaced in Hyuga Setsuna's eyes.

If the Sharingan weren't holding you back, Kakashi, how far would you have gone?

Would you have stood shoulder to shoulder with the White Fang, or surpassed the White Fang?

Hoot hoot, the first update is here!

Thanks to "This Name Is Too Awesome to Display" for the 100-point donation. This is the third day in a row you've donated. Thank you for your support, dear reader!!

This original royal capital arc is finally about to start wrapping up. I feel like I put in too much setup and foreshadowing earlier—I'm about to forget it all myself... Damn it.

Once the royal capital arc ends, we can return to Leaf Village!!!!