A new technique

When Kazemori Masaki learned from Hyuga Masato that one of the Kaguya who had come this time possessed the kekkei genkai Shikotsumyaku, he felt as though the very thing he had feared had come to pass. Perhaps it was only a coincidence, but he felt he had jinxed himself on the way here.

Thinking Kazemori Masaki might not know what Shikotsumyaku was, Hyuga Masato explained it to him, drawing on his own combat experience to help him understand its power.

"Lord Hyuga, do you have a way to deal with Shikotsumyaku?" Kazemori Masaki asked.

"Probably not. He isn't as skilled with Shikotsumyaku as that man from before, but I'm no match for my father either." Hyuga Masato shook his head. "Holding him off is manageable. That was also the best approach in our earlier battle. But we've already lost the initiative. Kirigakure probably won't fall for our previous tricks again, and they still have the advantage in numbers. Once they regroup, holding him off won't accomplish much. It may even work against us."

Kazemori Masaki took stock of the situation. The Fourth Division lacked sufficient fighting strength. Even with the thirty-six people he had brought, the Kirigakure Ninja still slightly outnumbered them, and there was a substantial gap in strength between the two forces. Hyuga Masato could only hold Nobunaga Kaguya off, and given enough time, he would inevitably lose. When that happened—

As I thought, we have to kill that man, Nobunaga Kaguya, Kazemori Masaki thought. Nobunaga Kaguya was the greatest variable. As long as he remained, the Kirigakure Ninja would not retreat easily.

"If Lord Hyuga and I attack together, could we take down Nobunaga Kaguya?" Kazemori Masaki asked.

"Well..." Hyuga Masato considered it for a moment. "I'm not very confident. Perhaps we could, but we would most