Hatake Sakumo

Hatake Sakumo tightened his grip on his short sword and watched the Rain shinobi surrounding him.

Stone shinobi had been pursuing them since nightfall. They had fought and fled through the night before finally killing their pursuers, only to run into a Rain shinobi patrol.

By now, Hatake Sakumo was utterly exhausted.

"Captain Hatake, we'll hold these Rain shinobi off. You withdraw and tell the other Konoha teams what's happening in the Land of Rain."

"Taoka, these Rain shinobi aren't enough to kill me," Hatake Sakumo said calmly. "I'll bring you all back to the Land of Fire. The Hatake family has never abandoned its own to save itself, and my ninja way would never allow it.

"When death is the only way forward, you find a way to live. I believe this trial will push my swordsmanship past its limits and take it to a new height."

Concealed weapons flew in from every direction, closing in on the Konoha shinobi.

"Earth Release: Earth-Style Wall!"

Hatake Sakumo leaped clear.

Body Flicker Technique.

He appeared near a Rain shinobi, his short sword flashing like a streak of cold light. Even the rain seemed to part beneath his blade.

Its sharp edge swept across the man's throat, ending his life.

The short sword shifted sideways and pierced another Rain shinobi's chest.

The surrounding Rain shinobi rushed in, thrusting their weapons one after another until Hatake Sakumo was hemmed in.

His short sword swept across them, deflecting most of the weapons, but a kunai slashed across his back. Blood soaked his clothes.

Hatake Sakumo turned and cut sideways, leaving a long, narrow wound across his attacker's chest.

He drew a few ragged breaths, then charged back into the crowd. The Konoha shinobi behind him joined the fight, hoping to keep some of the