A Blade Against His Own Brother? A Desperate Reversal!

Inside the Daimyō Mansion's main hall, the smoke and dust had yet to settle, while shattered bricks continued to rain down from the broken walls.

Dotō wore the largest set of Chakra Armor, one boot planted on a cracked steel door panel. His heavy metal Battle boot ground against the floor tiles with a creak.

The metal plates on his arm guards rasped sharply with every movement.

"My dear big brother, are you still waiting for someone to save you?"

Dotō pointed down at the throne, his eyes brimming with contempt.

Sōsetsu sat upright upon the throne, his back perfectly straight.

"I have already issued an S-Rank commission to Konoha. You won't be smug for long."

The instant those words fell, Dotō froze for a beat.

Then he paused mid-step, threw back his head, and burst into laughter that shook the entire hall.

The Snow Ninja behind him also broke into grins.

Dotō looked his own brother over as though he were an idiot, lifting a hand to wipe away tears of laughter from the corners of his eyes.

"Konoha? You don't actually think those Konoha ninja can make it here alive, do you?!"

Dotō stopped laughing, and the expression on his face turned utterly vicious as he pointed south.

"Nadare Rōga has already taken three Battle ships and is waiting for them in the strait!"

"Thirty elite armored troops, plus the Battle ships' heavy cannons, are enough to blast their entire fleet straight to the bottom of the sea!"

He stepped forward, triumph filling his gaze.

"You're counting on these country bumpkins from the south? Have they ever seen the Far North Ice Sea? Have they ever seen real Chakra Armor?!"

Sōsetsu gave no reply, but cold sweat had already formed in the hand gripping his sword, and his