"Whoa, this place is huge!"
Naruto dashed inside, diving headfirst onto the plush bedding. Only after bouncing for a moment did he pause, looking up with a sheepish grin. "Kurenai-sensei, am I really sleeping here tonight?"
"Yes, this is your room," Kurenai replied with a gentle smile. "I'll be in the room to your left, and Masahiko-sensei is on your right."
Naruto stroked the high-quality fabric of the sheets, his smile beaming with a pure, unadulterated sense of happiness.
It was only then that Masahiko entered from the hallway. He exchanged a glance with Kurenai, and they both gave a slight, acknowledging nod before he turned to make small talk with Naruto. After a few minutes of conversation, Naruto was coaxed into washing up and getting ready for bed.
Stepping back out into the corridor, the two instructors met with Asuma.
Asuma looked at them, his expression growing increasingly complex, though he quickly masked it with a professional demeanor.
"There is indeed a group of rōnin in the city," Asuma explained, his voice low. "Nominally, they've been hired as bodyguards by a few wealthy merchants and casinos. If you run into any trouble, it's likely the new arrivals."
"They're likely being controlled by Genjutsu," Kurenai observed.
Asuma nodded, looking troubled. "I mentioned that to the officials, but it didn't do much good."
"Senpai, it seems your time here hasn't been easy either," Masahiko sighed.
Asuma remained silent, not taking the bait.
Sensing the heavy atmosphere, Kurenai quickly changed the subject. "Masahiko, did you manage to meet the Daimyō?"
"I didn't see His Excellency. I only met with a representative from the Sanjo family. Their attitude wasn't… particularly friendly," Masahiko replied.
"Sanjo Take," Asuma clarified, exhaling a puff of smoke. "He's the head of the Sanjo clan. He holds significant status and power among the nobility here. He's the one backing the radical faction."
"That explains it." Masahiko nodded thoughtfully.
Asuma looked at Kurenai, looking as if he wanted to say something more, but eventually, he held back. "I should go. I'll come check on you two another day."
"Alright. Be careful," Kurenai said.
With a light sigh, Asuma used the Body Flicker Jutsu and vanished.
Kurenai frowned slightly, staring at the empty space. "Is the pressure getting to him? He's acting… strange."
This time, even Masahiko didn't know how to respond. He decided the best course of action was to simply remain silent.
Night fell, wrapping the capital in silence.
Inside his room, Masahiko sat on his bed, eyes closed in meditation. His back was pressed against the wall, positioned right next to the window. From here, if any hostilities broke out, he could immediately leap out to support the surrounding area.
However, at the same time, his Shadow Clone was perched on the roof, scanning the perimeter.
After a long while—
Whoosh!
The silhouette on the roof vanished without a sound.
Moments later, near a secluded courtyard elsewhere in the city, a samurai stood silently by a bridge. Suddenly, the water rippled.
Splash.
A figure emerged from the river.
Masahiko, his appearance altered by the Transformation Jutsu, looked at the samurai before him and chuckled. "Your disguise is as flawless as ever. If I hadn't seen the message you left at the Daimyō's mansion, I wouldn't have dared to believe it…"
"You flatter me," the samurai replied, his voice carrying a distinct, raspy rasp. He let out a low laugh. "What do you think of my proposal?"
"I won't go out of my way to stop you," Masahiko said calmly. "But beyond that, I cannot provide any further assistance."
The samurai—Orochimaru in disguise—nodded slightly. "Rest assured, I don't need your help. As long as you don't actively obstruct me, I am confident I can acquire what I desire."
"Acceptable," Masahiko agreed.
The corners of Orochimaru's mouth curled upward. "A pleasure doing business. Now, about your little trouble… do you need me to handle it for you?"
"No need. I can handle such a small matter myself," Masahiko replied dismissively.
Among the six members of the Conservative faction, the strongest were naturally Asuma and Chiriku. The other four possessed powerful Lightning Style Ninjutsu, but they had fatal flaws. Masahiko was confident he could eliminate a target solo.
Hearing this, Orochimaru chuckled softly. "Masahiko-kun, I have a premonition. After this event, you will truly step onto the stage of Konoha."
He gazed down at the flowing river water. "I look forward to seeing how… different you are from me."
With that, he turned and walked away.
Masahiko's Shadow Clone offered no response. It simply dispelled, vanishing into a puff of smoke.
Inside a side courtyard of the Daimyō's estate.
"Asuma, what did those two from your village say?"
"They didn't say much." Asuma sat heavily, chain-smoking.
After a long silence, he looked up at Chiriku. "Kazuma and his group are getting more aggressive. Today, they actually sent people to charge at the Daimyō's wife's carriage."
"They've completely abandoned the rules," Seito said with a dark expression.
There were many noblewomen in that carriage alongside the Lady. If an accident had occurred, Konoha would have been blamed, but would Kazuma's faction have fared any better? They had abandoned all reason for the sake of their struggle.
Seito looked at Asuma. "We can't just sit here waiting for them to make a move. Shouldn't we strike preemp—?"
"No!" Chiriku immediately cut him off. "We cannot strike first. One wrong move could affect the political balance of the entire nation."
Kitane scratched his head aggressively, his frustration visible. "So we just watch?"
Asuma frowned. "They might become even more frantic. All we need to do is protect ourselves and hold the line."
"Argh!"
Kitane stood up abruptly. "I'm going out for some air."
He walked out the door and stood in the courtyard for a moment. He leaned his black iron staff against the wall and pulled out a cigarette, intending to light it.
Suddenly—
Swish!
A faint sound cut through the air from the side.
Kitane's instincts screamed. He dropped the cigarette and snatched up his iron staff instantly.
At that exact moment, a figure materialized to his right.
Bang!
He swung the staff with tremendous force, smashing through the adjacent door and creating a deafening crash. The noise instantly alerted everyone inside.
The Guardians rushed out of their rooms.
However—
"Watch out!" Asuma's pupils constricted. He screamed the warning, gripping his trench knives as he flickered forward.
Kitane had smashed a clone. The real enemy was crouched low, having perfectly evaded the blow. The assassin's body was coiled tight, like a leopard ready to spring.
Kitane sensed something was wrong. He dropped his stance, his hands weaving signs in a blur.
Lightning Style: Lightning Strike!
Sparks danced across the ground as he drove his black staff into the earth. The spreading electricity converged onto the metal weapon, surging backward toward the assailant behind him.
Simultaneously, Asuma arrived, his chakra flaring as he swung his trench knives to pincer the enemy from the other side.
In the split second before impact, the assassin's footwork shifted violently. His torso twisted and bent at an impossible, bone-less angle, eerily winding past both the trench knives and the electrified staff.
He's not that fast, Kitane thought.
He prepared to retract his staff for a block.
But the moment the thought formed, the enemy's speed exploded, doubling in an instant. The figure vanished from his sight.
Kitane saw only a glimmer of light reflecting off a blade.
Vaguely, something felt… wrong.
It's Genjutsu!
Kitane snapped awake violently.
The moment he dispelled the illusion, he tried to retract his staff and retreat, but it was already too late.
Shing!
A figure flashed past him, dissolving into the air after making contact with the lingering lightning.
Chiriku landed in front of Kitane a second later.
But warm blood was already spraying from behind the Guardian.
Kitane stood there, gripping his iron staff, his eyes wide with disbelief. Blood gushed torrentially from his throat.
The severed windpipe made speech impossible.
"Ghh… Ghh…"
Gradually, his strength faded. He tilted backward and collapsed.
"Kitane!!!"
The five remaining Guardians cried out in unison.
Tōu panic-stricken, shouted, "Medic! We need to find a medical ninja quickly! Maybe he still—"
She stopped mid-sentence, freezing in place.
This was the Capital. Where would they find a medical ninja on standby?
Moreover…
The cut was fast and vicious. Kitane's throat had been sliced halfway through. Even a medical ninja might not be able to…
She couldn't hold back her tears. "Kitane!"
Asuma held Kitane's body, his lips and hands trembling uncontrollably. He hated his own incompetence.
Suddenly, a thought struck him like a lightning bolt.
Kurenai said… Yagyu Masahiko created his own Medical Ninjutsu?
He stood up immediately, desperation in his eyes.
"I'm going to find a medical ninja! You guys do whatever you can to keep Kitane alive!"
Before the sentence was finished, he vanished.
Meanwhile, inside Masahiko's room.
Masahiko opened his eyes and exhaled slowly.
Tonight was originally meant for observation, but the opportunity had been too perfect to ignore, forcing him to alter his plans on the fly.
For the kill, he had utilized a Genjutsu technique similar to Konoha-Style: Dance of the Willow.
Furthermore, for the assassination strike itself, he had employed the Shikotsumyaku to soften his bones and utilized soft-body modifications to mimic Orochimaru's signature assassination style.
Orochimaru was currently in the Capital. Even if the Sannin came in person, he wouldn't be able to clear his name.
Masahiko calmed his spirit, regulating his breathing.
Just then, frantic footsteps thundered from outside.
Bang! Bang!
"Masahiko-kun! Quickly! I have someone who needs your help!" Asuma's voice cracked with panic.
Masahiko opened his eyes, immediately unlatched the window, and leaped out.
"Senpai, what happe—"
"A life is at stake! I'll explain on the way, just please, I'm begging you!" Asuma was frantic.
Masahiko nodded solemnly. "Please leave a Shadow Clone to lead the way; Naruto still needs protection here."
"Right! Okay! Go!"