"What?"
Kazahana Koyuki froze for a moment, then quickly reacted.
Her face flushed red, fury filled her eyes, and her chest heaved with anger as she spoke indignantly.
"Lord Xuandou, you're not my father, so what gives you the right to say that?"
"Have you ever met my father?"
With that, she turned toward Asama Sandayū, raising her voice:
"Asama Sandayū, you're the karō my father left me. Tell me, have I failed to live up to the earnest hopes my father left behind?"
Ah!
You're asking me?
Asama Sandayū, a scholarly-looking man wearing Sei black leather armor, with a full beard, thick brows, and large eyes, widened his eyes and glanced from side to side.
On one side was the furious Kazahana Koyuki, who was close to him and had watched him grow old.
On the other was the quiet, composed Uchiha Xuantou, a distant stranger whose might shook the Shinobi World.
This is such a hard choice!
Without the slightest hesitation, Asama Sandayū gave Kazahana Koyuki an apologetic glance and spoke uncertainly.
"Well, possibly, probably, perhaps, maybe... you have failed him!"
"Give me a definite answer." Xuandou frowned and could not help snapping at him.
Either she has or she hasn't. Why all these uncertain words?
Asama Sandayū fell silent for several seconds.
Then he gave Xuandou a fawning smile, his eyes conveying just one thing.
I was wrong just now!
Lord Xuandou, you know me. I've always been your dog.
Suddenly.
Asama Sandayū turned his back, ignoring Kazahana Koyuki's pleading gaze, and raised his voice against his conscience.
"You have indeed failed him..."
Crack-
The instant those words left his mouth, Kazahana Koyuki stood rooted to the spot as though struck by lightning, as lifeless as an exquisite, beautiful doll.
She stiffly turned her head toward Asama