Kakashi looked at Mifune lying in a pool of blood, sheathed his sword, and sighed.
Blood still streamed down his face.
It was not Mifune's blood.
A bloody gash marked Kakashi's face. Although he had cut through Mifune's sword, its sword aura alone had left a cut on his cheek.
That was the price Kakashi had paid for defeating his opponent in a single move.
He could not strike while ensuring his opponent survived.
On the razor's edge between life and death, there was no room to hold back.
Only by staking his own life against his opponent's could he find a chance of survival.
Even Kakashi had not expected that, of everyone involved since the Shinobi War began, the neutral Land of Iron would have the clearest understanding that this was truly a war.
Mifune had entered this Shinobi War fully prepared to fight to the death.
That had taken Kakashi quite by surprise.
Before the Shinobi War began, Konoha, as the host, had enjoyed an advantage in learning which factions would participate.
After all, with the tailed beasts at stake, it would hardly be surprising for any sufficiently powerful faction to join.
As a neutral nation offering mercenary services, the Land of Iron had worked with the Five Great Shinobi Villages many times throughout history. It was powerful, but its harsh geography also left it with a considerable need for resources, so its participation was only natural.
The Five Nations Alliance had hired the Land of Iron as outside support from the outset, and Konoha naturally knew about it.
So Kakashi, who was already responsible for dealing with the Five Nations Alliance, also had to handle the Land of Iron.
In fact, his schemes for the second match of the Shinobi War had included a trap for the