Art Is an Explosion!!

The moon hanging in the sky cast down its gentle glow, illuminating the land shrouded in darkness.

In the shadows of the shrine, Hyuga Setsuna leaned against the wall. His Byakugan was already activated, observing every movement inside and outside the Daimyo's Mansion.

Kakashi, meanwhile, closely watched the Falcon in the sky from the darkness. The moment it made a move, it would mean those four were beginning their operation.

From the Falcon's perspective as it monitored the scene inside and outside the Daimyo's Mansion, Hyuga Setsuna and Kakashi had merely chatted for a while after dinner before returning to their rooms to rest.

The Falcon had not been mistaken, but the ones who returned to their rooms to rest were only Hyuga Setsuna and Kakashi's Shadow Clones.

Their true bodies had instead hidden inside the shrine, preparing for the coming battle!

Just then, as if summoned, the Falcon began flying out of the Royal Capital under the cover of night.

Watching the Falcon fly out of the Royal Capital, Kakashi turned to Hyuga Setsuna and said two words.

"They've left!"

Hearing that, Hyuga Setsuna nodded. He then pulled out a Sealing Scroll from his ninja tool pouch. With a bang, several dozen Explosive Tags appeared in his hands.

After handing half the Explosive Tags to Kakashi, the two exchanged a glance and nodded. Then, in a flash, they vanished.

Outside the Royal Capital.

In the forest beneath the night sky, four people stood on tree branches, silently awaiting the Falcon's arrival.

Before long, the Falcon appeared in the sky. Sheltered by the darkness, it slowly landed on Qianhun Qingyu's shoulder.

Standing on Qianhun Qingyu's shoulder, the Falcon looked at the four with lively eyes and spoke.

"Lord Qingyu, the two Leaf Village ninja have already returned to their rooms to rest. Everyone else at the Daimyo's Mansion is as usual!"

"That Princess Yuri has also gone to rest in a room in the shrine's rear courtyard."

Upon hearing the Falcon's report, Qianhun Qingyu calmly nodded.

"I understand. Youyu, you've worked hard this time. Go back first."

Hearing that, Youyu hooted twice before dispelling the Summoning Technique.

Yamada Tetsuya, who had long since grown impatient, crossed his arms around his katana. A bloodthirsty smile appeared at the corner of his mouth.

"Heh heh, let those bastards die beneath my Snow Walker!"

Casting a brief glance at the idiot Yamada Tetsuya, whose mind was filled with nothing but killing, Tokugawa Koichi looked at Nakamura Shido.

"Boss, are we attacking now?"

Nakamura Shido, leaning against the tree behind him, opened his eyes and looked up at the moon. His voice was low and heavy.

"Now. The employer must be running out of patience too!"

With Nakamura Shido, the team leader, giving the order, the other three nodded without objection.

Then the four flashed away toward the Royal Capital.

Not long after.

Tap! Tap!

Four figures appeared in several corners by the walls outside the Daimyo's Mansion. They were Nakamura Shido and the others.

Yamada Tetsuya looked at the Daimyo's Mansion within reach, excitement gleaming in his eyes. He could not help licking the corner of his mouth.

He could no longer wait to start killing!

Just as Yamada Tetsuya was about to rush inside, Tokugawa Koichi grabbed his shoulder and warned him.

"Tetsuya, you bastard, don't be so blatant!"

Feeling Tokugawa Koichi's grip on his shoulder, Yamada Tetsuya's face darkened, but he said nothing.

Seeing Yamada Tetsuya quiet down, Tokugawa Koichi released him and calmly said,

"This mission is important to us. Let me first sense the situation inside the Daimyo's Mansion!"

After saying that, he used a sensory Ninjutsu to investigate the movements and conditions within the Daimyo's Mansion.

Qianhun Qingyu watched Yamada Tetsuya, who had just acted so impulsively, and silently revealed a mocking look in his eyes.

Having calmed down, Yamada Tetsuya naturally noticed Qianhun Qingyu's mocking gaze.

His right hand viciously tightened around Snow Walker, and a chilling, bone-deep killing intent began to seep from his eyes.

With Nakamura Shido here, it was not Yamada Tetsuya's place to act recklessly. Besides, as Tokugawa Koichi had said, this mission truly mattered to them, so Yamada Tetsuya could only endure it for now.

Seeing Yamada Tetsuya remain quiet and silent, the mockery in Qianhun Qingyu's eyes grew even stronger.

After a while, Tokugawa Koichi stopped his sensory Ninjutsu, opened his eyes, and said,

"It matches what Qingyu's summoned beast described. Those two Leaf Village brats are cultivating Chakra in their room."

"They don't seem to be clones or some other Ninjutsu. They should indeed be the real bodies!"

"The guards at the Daimyo's Mansion are still the same as before!"

"Akishinomiya Yuri herself is also in the shrine's rear courtyard."

After a pause, Tokugawa Koichi continued.

"According to the plan, Boss and Qingyu will deal with the daimyo's side. Qingyu's support Ninjutsu should be enough when paired with Boss!"

"My Genjutsu can let that princess die without a sound. If those two Leaf Village brats come, Tetsuya can deal with them using his swordsmanship!"

"That's the general arrangement. If there are no objections, we can set out now."

The other two expressed no objections.

Yamada Tetsuya, however, furrowed his brow deeply. Compared to killing that little girl, he wanted more to follow Nakamura Shido and deal with the daimyo.

Seeing Yamada Tetsuya's displeasure, Tokugawa Koichi unusually dropped his sarcastic tone and patiently explained,

"The daimyo's side is more troublesome. Boss and Qingyu can take them down quickly by working together."

"On our side, if those two Leaf Village brats show up, it will be difficult for me, as a sensory ninja, to deal with them quickly. That's why I need your help, Tetsuya."

"Once we deal with those two Leaf Village brats and that princess, we can quickly go support Boss and the others."

"This is the most reasonable arrangement!"

Seeing Tokugawa Koichi explain and persuade him so patiently, Yamada Tetsuya unhappily nodded, accepting the arrangement.

Then the four figures headed toward their respective targets.

Inside a room in the shrine's rear courtyard.

Granny Shiori looked at Akishinomiya Yuri, who was already asleep on the bed, when a sudden feeling of unease rose in her heart.

"Why do I have such an ominous feeling?"

In the shadows of the shrine, Hyuga Setsuna's Byakugan soon spotted the four figures outside the Daimyo's Mansion. He spoke to Kakashi, who stood guard beside him.

"Kakashi, they're here!"

"That sensory ninja and the ninja carrying the katana are heading this way!"

Kakashi, beside him, was looking down at the short blade his father, White Fang, had given him. Determination and solemnity filled his eyes.

"Setsuna, leave the one with the sword to me!!"

Let that guy test the results of my Hatake Swordsmanship training!

Hearing Kakashi's words, Hyuga Setsuna turned to object, only to see Kakashi's serious expression and resolute gaze.

Hyuga Setsuna stared blankly at Kakashi for a moment. He opened his mouth, but in the end, could only agree helplessly.

"Then be careful!"

Tokugawa Koichi looked at the shrine close ahead and turned to Yamada Tetsuya beside him.

"I'll use Genjutsu to kill that princess later. You keep watch for those two Leaf Village brats!"

Hearing him, Yamada Tetsuya impatiently nodded!

The two quickly arrived before the shrine.

Just as Tokugawa Koichi and Yamada Tetsuya stepped into the shrine courtyard, a sudden sizzling sound rang out beside their ears.

Along with that sizzling sound came Explosive Tags plastered across the entire courtyard.

Seeing the Explosive Tags in the courtyard, Tokugawa Koichi's eyes instantly widened in shock. Panic appeared on his face as he hurriedly shouted to Yamada Tetsuya.

"Shit, Explosive Tags! Tetsuya, get away!"

The moment his words fell, the Explosive Tags throughout the courtyard detonated. Raging flames instantly swallowed the entire shrine.

Towering flames erupted into the sky!!!

The roaring flames exploded through the shrine, turning it into a towering sea of fire in an instant!

Accompanied by the thunderous explosions of the Explosive Tags, as though it were a signal, astonishing Chakra fluctuations and battle erupted at the daimyo's location as well!

Hyuga Setsuna and Kakashi stood atop the only roof in the shrine that remained relatively intact, looking down at the courtyard engulfed in flames.

As he watched the incessant explosions and roaring inferno before him, Hyuga Setsuna spread his arms as if embracing the sea of fire. Excitement shone in his eyes as he said,

"Art is an explosion!!"

No wonder Deidara loved saying, "Art is an explosion" later on. With such a perfect scene and that line, it was simply flawless!!

Kakashi looked at Hyuga Setsuna in confusion, a strange look appearing in his eyes.

After his excitement passed, Hyuga Setsuna immediately mobilized the Chakra in his body, activated his Byakugan, and looked into the sea of fire below.

The instant his Byakugan saw clearly into the flames, Hyuga Setsuna suddenly leaped aside and shouted,

"Kakashi, dodge!"

Hearing Hyuga Setsuna's warning, Kakashi suddenly felt an intense sense of danger rise within him. Without the slightest hesitation, he immediately jumped backward.

Whoosh!!

A flawless snow-white katana suddenly shot out from the sea of fire, carrying tremendous force as it slammed down where the two had just stood.

Immediately after, two extremely disheveled figures leaped out of the blazing inferno.

Yamada Tetsuya's upper body was bare. The Explosive Tag blasts and sea of fire had left horrifying wounds across him, and bright red blood flowed continuously. The scar on his face twitched from time to time as he stared at Hyuga Setsuna and Kakashi with a hideous expression.

"You two little bastards, I'm going to slice your bodies apart piece by piece, chop you into meat paste, and feed you to dogs!!"

Yamada Tetsuya's black eyes had already turned blood-red, and a chilling, bone-deep killing intent filled them.

The second 3,000-word update is here!!

Art is an explosion!! Please invest, send rewards, and vote! ︿(￣︶￣)︿