In the end, ninja tools were just that—tools.
If the opponents really were the Four Celestial Symbols Men, then things might actually be easier to handle. Chiba wasn't necessarily their match in direct combat, but in the ninja world, information was everything.
How did Asuma die in the anime?
Was he truly weaker than Hidan?
Not necessarily.
Hidan was immortal, yes—but he couldn't heal or stitch himself back together. As long as one avoided giving him blood, defeating him wasn't that difficult.
That was the power of information.
Likewise, as long as Chiba could roughly identify who the enemy was, with the right preparation and traps, he was confident he could cause the Four Celestial Symbols Men a great deal of trouble.
Besides, he'd recently been experimenting with absorption barriers, Binding Formations, and sealing techniques.
This was the perfect live test case.
Still, he couldn't afford to be careless. He vaguely remembered that those four ninja tools were quite powerful.
Hiss…
Now that he thought about it, if he managed to take them down, he could even temporarily claim those tools for himself.
The Four Great Ninja Tools were considered the treasures of the Artisan Ninja Village, and even if the Four Celestial Symbols Men went rogue, Konoha wouldn't be allowed to keep them—
unless something "unexpected" happened.
For example…
If that shameless rogue Orochimaru happened to swoop in and "steal" them.
Or perhaps, if the "honorable Hokage" (the Hokage) was willing to take the blame, Konoha kidn four powerful weapons.
And if they could hold on to them for a while longer, he and Tenten could study how those tools were made.
The ninja tools weren't even in his hands yet, but Chiba was already planning the research project.
The Four Celestial Symbols Men…
Such troublesome yet exciting enemies!
"Facing all four of them alone would be too much," Chiba muttered, glancing toward another direction.
There were several samurai in that area—likely from the Kiyoda Clan.
Could Kakashi-sensei handle them?
He hesitated for a moment, then decided:
"I'll focus on setting traps and stalling them—to buy Kakashi-sensei time."
"As for the suspected team of Four Celestial Symbols… their attitude is still unclear. Better not provoke them for now."
After thinking it through, Chiba finalized what he believed to be the most rational plan.
He did have a bolder alternative—deliberately stepping into the range where the Four Celestial Symbols Men might detect him, circling around behind the samurai instead.
That way, he could confirm whether those four were allies or enemies of the Kiyoda Clan.
But that was too risky.
If the four were actually cooperating with the samurai, they could easily encircle him—and even with all his talents, Chiba knew he wouldn't make it out alive.
He possessed the Bodhi Seed—his future potential was limitless. No need to gamble his life here.
Especially since there was also a suspected ANBU squad following behind them.
This was already a situation he could call ninety-percent secured. No reason to take unnecessary risks.
Quietly, Chiba slipped into position between the "semicircle" of samurai and the central "point," planting binding seals and absorption tags on eight surrounding trees.
Then he crept closer to Yuichi's position—just close enough to see what was happening from the treetops.
Kakashi-sensei was already fighting.
"Yuichi, surrender peacefully."
Kakashi's voice was calm, almost casual.
"You're Konoha ninja, aren't you? Why are you meddling in the affairs of the Land of Iron? You're violating the neutrality pact!" Yuichi's face twisted with rage, his expression feral. A half-healed scar still ran across his cheek.
"Oh? Putting aside that I'm only acting under a client's request," Kakashi said coolly, "you're a rogue. And you're trying to use an international treaty to keep me away?"
Yuichi froze, momentarily stunned—then his face contorted with fury. "Who are you calling a rogue, you—!"
"No need for words," Kakashi cut him off coldly. "You're a samurai. Then I'll kill you in the way of samurai."
He pulled out a scroll.
After forming a quick seal, a blade materialized from the unrolled parchment.
Tsukikage Kaza's eyes lit up.
An ANBU sword!
Was Kakashi-senpai about to use his Kenjutsu?
Tenten, however, wasn't watching Kakashi—her attention was fixed on Kiyoda Shin.
During the brief exchange, the man had looked far too nervous.
So he really does have something to hide!
Silently, she took out her own scroll and gripped it tightly.
Yuichi snorted angrily, right hand gripping his katana, eyes cold and sharp—
But the next instant, as Kakashi lunged forward, Yuichi suddenly spun and fled northward—toward the Land of Iron.
Kakashi's eyes narrowed.
A true traitor wouldn't run back to his own homeland.
Unless… he wasn't the traitor. Someone else was.
But that alone wasn't enough to justify attacking Kiyoda directly.
"Mr. Kiyoda," Kakashi said calmly, "he's refusing a duel. In that case, I won't show him any courtesy. Join me in pursuit."
"Yes!" Kiyoda exhaled in visible relief, then drew his sword and charged ahead.
Perfect.
With him lured away from Tenten and Tsukikage Kaza, and Chiba's position confirmed, Kakashi could finally focus on the real fight.
He accelerated—and soon caught up to Yuichi.
But what greeted him was a single, blindingly fast strike.
A sword flash too sudden for the naked eye to follow—
Iaido!
Clang!
Kakashi parried it with the scabbard of his own sword, the impact ringing through the forest.
"Tell me, Kiyoda Clan—what's really going on?" he asked quietly.
"What?" Yuichi looked stunned.
"You're not the traitor, are you? Did they betray the Land of Iron?"
Kakashi's blade gleamed as he countered.
Yuichi's eyes flickered—he understood now.
The Copy Ninja, Hatake Kakashi, this elite jōnin… fighting him without using ninjutsu, relying purely on swordsmanship—this wasn't coincidence.
It was a signal.
He wasn't allied with the Kiyoda Clan.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
Their blades clashed furiously, sparks flying as metal screamed akidnst metal. The two figures blurred in a deadly dance.
Watching from behind, Kiyoda Shin's heart went cold.
Thank goodness the plan worked…
If Kakashi had seen through them sooner, with Yuichi's strength alone they'd never have survived.
Yuichi wasn't just some elite chūnin—
He was the strongest outsider samurai in the Kiyoda Clan, his power rivaling that of a jōnin!
"Lord Kiyoda, let's attack together!"
Tenten shouted, running toward the duel.
"Right!" Kiyoda replied, glancing briefly at the "young genin" panting behind them. After a moment's hesitation, he didn't strike—instead continuing to move forward.
Let them fight a bit longer.
While the battle raged, more Kiyoda samurai began silently encircling the area.
Chiba, watching from afar, took it all in—but what truly captured his mind was Yuichi's earlier Iaido strike.
That slash—
It was faster and sharper than anything Tsukikage Kaza had ever demonstrated.
As expected, when it came to pure swordsmanship, the Land of Iron was unparalleled.
Chiba's eyes gleamed as he replayed that moment in his mind, analyzing every nuance of the movement.
After several seconds of deep thought—
"I see it now. In that instant, he heightened his entire state—his posture, his breathing, even the angle of the blade—all perfectly aligned for a single, explosive draw."
He took a slow breath.
Then, his lips curved slightly.
"…I've learned it."
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