Konoha: I, Uchiha, am brimming with positive energy

Chapter 57 Sakumo Hatake's Choice

In the darkness, sparks flew everywhere, and the invisible strikes nearly shattered the hard stone floor.

Ding ding ding ding

The two short swords clashed violently, as if they were about to play a fierce melody in the courtyard of the castle tower.

Kakashi's slashes are faster and faster than the last; this is a concept he learned from Uchiha Yoichi. If the slashes are so fast that the enemy can only defend, then he doesn't need to defend himself.

However, when facing this enemy, Kakashi felt somewhat powerless, as every one of his attacks was seen through and precisely blocked by the opponent.

"That's impossible!"

Kakashi was somewhat incredulous. He was a Chunin who had trained for so long, how could he be so powerless in front of an enemy?

It was just like practicing swordsmanship with his father at home.

After their encounter, Hatake Sakumo confirmed that the guard at Tenshukaku must be his son, Kakashi, as he possessed swordsmanship proficient in both Wind Release and Lightning Release, a skill unique to the Hatake family in the entire ninja world.

"You've improved, Kakashi, but now's not the time for sparring!"

Hatake Sakumo thought of his teammates who had helped him stall in the main court, and made a decision in an instant.

A sweeping dagger strike, followed by three consecutive slashes.

The first strike forced Kakashi to raise his sword to parry, the second strike almost made him drop his dagger, and as for the third strike...

Kakashi lost his grip on the short sword, which was then slashed away by Sakumo Hatake.

Bang!

With a swift kick, Kakashi was sent flying by Sakumo Hatake.

Since he's secretly going out on a mission, he must be prepared to be a ninja. Although Hatake Sakumo wouldn't kill his own son, he could still leave a deep impression on him.

After kicking Kakashi away, Hatake Sakumo rushed towards the castle tower. Just after breaking into the daimyo's mansion, Yamanaka Ryosuke happened to capture a daimyo's official from the Land of Rivers and obtained important information from him.

The daimyo of the Land of Rivers has been changing his resting place every night recently, and today he happened to be resting at the castle tower. This news is known only to the daimyo's official in charge of the palace and the daimyo's five personal samurai guards.

After Kakashi was knocked away, Hatake Sakumo quickly rushed towards Uchiha Yoichi. There were only two guards outside the castle tower, and he planned to quickly eliminate them and then go inside to kill the river daimyo.

Uchiha Yang guessed that this person was Hatake Sakumo. He had been observing with his Sharingan and found that Hatake Sakumo's swordsmanship was somewhat similar to Kakashi's. Moreover, he did not kill Kakashi several times. After knocking Kakashi's short sword away, he only kicked him away.

Seeing Hatake Sakumo charging towards him, he quickly drew his sword, lightning coiling around the blade like a snake.

Clang!

The blades clashed with a crisp sound, sparks flew, and the lightning release binding Uchiha Yoichi was quickly cut and dispersed by the invisible wind blades.

"If it really is Hatake Sakumo, then his mission is to assassinate the daimyo of the Land of Rivers."

After exchanging a single blow and confirming each other's identities, Uchiha Yoichi began to consider retreating.

There's no point in fighting Hatake Sakumo at this location and time, even though he really wants to experience the true White Fang Sword Technique. The time and place are not right.

As for the request from the daimyo of the Land of Rivers?

If the mission fails, the blame will only fall on the underground gold exchange; what does it have to do with Uchiha Yoichi?

Clang!

With another slash, Uchiha Yangyi used the momentum to draw his sword and leave, revealing his Sharingan at the same time. In the pitch-black night, his blood-red pupils were particularly conspicuous.

Sakumo Hatake was slightly surprised upon seeing this, but he also understood why his son was here.

After Uchiha Yoichi retreated, Hatake Sakumo immediately rushed into the castle tower. Shortly after, a panicked shout came from inside: "Help! Help!"

"That bastard really was hiding in there. When did he go in?"

Uchiha Yoichi shook his head and then rushed to Kakashi's side to check on his situation; this bounty request had failed, and the 12 million bounty would not be collected.

However, he couldn't come for nothing; otherwise, he wouldn't have earned a single penny in half a month away from the village, and his trip would have been in vain.

After Kakashi was helped up, he clutched his chest and asked, "Captain, why didn't you stop that guy?"

"Things are complicated. I'll tell you after we leave here. Now, come with me."

Before Uchiha Yoichi could finish speaking, more than a dozen figures suddenly appeared on the wall of the castle tower courtyard.

"Konoha's White Fang, come out! Your teammates have been captured. Even if you kill the River Country's daimyo, it won't change anything!"

Fujiwara of Sunagakure shouted loudly. He had been lying in ambush in the main courtyard waiting for the people from Konoha to take the bait, but he did not expect that among the people who came this time was Konoha's White Fang, and that Konoha's White Fang also knew the hiding place of the Daimyo of the Land of Rivers.

Fortunately, they captured the remaining Konoha ninja alive and then quickly arrived.

As for the daimyo of the Land of Rivers, Fujiwara didn't care much. Whether he lived or died didn't matter. In any case, it was Konoha ninjas who assassinated the daimyo of the Land of Rivers, so no matter what, it was Sunagakure who benefited.

"Captain, is that your father?"

Kakashi asked in a low voice. Now he understood why his attacks had been easily blocked no matter what he tried.

Uchiha Yoichi signaled to Kakashi to keep quiet for now, as the situation was getting a bit complicated. It wouldn't be difficult for them to escape, but Hatake Sakumo was in a precarious situation.

It's going to be very difficult for Hatake Sakumo to escape now, unless he kills everyone here; but that's not realistic either, with so many of them, the outcome is really hard to say.

After a while, Hatake Sakumo came out of the house, with the River Country Daimyo trembling beside him.

The scene of Sakumo Hatake rushing in and wreaking havoc had truly terrified the daimyo of the Land of Rivers; he was still trembling and speechless.

Just minutes before, he was holding the samurai guard's head in his arms, and he himself had almost died.

"Fujikuro, release my teammates!"

When Hatake Sakumo spoke, it essentially meant that he acknowledged the identity that Fujikuro had claimed and abandoned the mission.

The other teammates were extremely anxious upon seeing this, but they couldn't speak. However, they knew how important this mission was, and they could simply abandon them, kill the daimyo of the River Country, and leave.

Since they had no items on them to prove their identity, Sakumo Hatake could even find an opportunity to destroy their bodies.

However, Sakumo Hatake clearly wouldn't choose this method; he believed that his companions were more important than the mission.

His beliefs and principles have never changed from the beginning!

"Okay, we'll change players."

After some thought, Fujikuro decided that it was better to let the River Country Daimyo live for now. If a new Daimyo were chosen, his attitude toward Sunagakure would be uncertain, but the current Daimyo would definitely hate Konoha.

Now that the Daimyo of the Land of Rivers has been rescued, the Sand Village's influence will expand into the Land of Rivers, and its strongholds and metal resources will be greatly expanded.

"Release them, then let them come over!"

"Stop playing tricks, Konoha's White Fang. Release them all at once, or none of you will escape."

Fujikuro directly refused, saying that if he released the person, the other party might attack the Daimyo of the Land of Rivers; but if he didn't release the person, Konoha's White Fang wouldn't let the Daimyo go either. The best outcome was to release the person together.

At this moment, Uchiha Yoichi suddenly stepped forward and shouted loudly, feigning urgency, "You bunch of bastards, don't use the Daimyo's life as a bargaining chip! Hand the Daimyo over to me!"

(End of this chapter)