The last three enemies had truly begun to scurry like rats in the darkness, but one must remember—the Uzumaki clan was renowned for producing top-tier sensor ninja. No matter how desperately they tried to hide, escape from pursuit was impossible.
Haseo carried Kushina Uzumaki, who had lost her ability to move, on his back as he moved alongside Anbu shinobi.
"Can you catch the scent of our enemies? I've heard that cats have a sense of smell even sharper than dogs'. However, cats seem to be particularly temperamental creatures, regarding work for humans as shameful," Haseo said to the Black Cat walking beside him.
"Meow?"
Instinctively twitching its whiskers and flaring its nostrils, the Black Cat simply responded with another meow.
That single meow basically said: "My nose works just fine, but this place reeks of smoke and blood—it's impossible to pick out anything else." Its meaning may have been rich, but the verbal expression itself was short and abrupt, leaving no time for punctuation.
Unsurprisingly, Haseo couldn't understand cat speech, so he shook his head in mild disappointment. "Guess you're no help after all," he muttered. "Maybe I should reconsider sticking with cats instead of joining the dogs."
This, undoubtedly, was terrible news for the Black Cat.
Even if the enemies continued their frantic hiding and attempted to maneuver around, it was already meaningless. Capturing them was now just a matter of time—early or late.
They'd already accepted their deaths, yet even so, they clung to the hope of leaving behind one final act of worth.
Therefore, they hid—but would not hide forever. They were waiting for opportunities to make their deaths more meaningful. For example, when Haseo, carrying a little girl on his back, turned his own back toward a Kumo ninja.
The night thickened further, growing darker. Heavy clouds obscured the cold light of the crescent moon, but beyond weather or environment, there was an oppressive killing intent—an aura capable of piercing through shadows while simultaneously creating them. At this very moment, the most tense nerve was in the mind of the enemy.
Then he moved. With the resolve to die for his village fully merged into his assassination technique, his steps became light, his movements ghostlike. The kunai in his hand was a simple weapon, yet at this moment, it gleamed with deadly coldness.
Focused entirely, this Kumo ninja launched what might be his most precise assassination maneuver ever.
His target, carrying a child on his back and muttering about his pet's lack of usefulness, seemed completely at ease and exposed—an ideal mark for an assassin.
As long as one enemy still lives, this place remains a battlefield. A careless ninja in such a place has fallen from grace—and doesn't deserve to survive.
The enemy silently and swiftly stepped across the ridge of the roof. One more step forward, and the kunai in his hand would reach Haseo's neck. Then all he had to do was bend his arm and gently slice... wasn't killing a person really just that simple?
But something puzzling happened—something Kumo Shinobi couldn't quite grasp. How could such a long weapon be drawn with such dexterity? The hilt spun gracefully in the man's right hand. A slender, sharp blade exuding chilling menace shot backward between his body and arm, precisely deflecting the kunai by the slightest margin, then piercing through the attacker's right eye socket with unerring accuracy.
Without even turning his head, Haseo disposed of the suddenly emerging enemy. He often ambushed others, mastering the art of surprise attacks—but he was also frequently ambushed himself, thus becoming even more skilled at countering them.
A mere silent ambush? How could that ever kill him?
Haseo twisted his body as he looped his arm around Kushina's back, giving a gentle push upward to adjust her position—she had slipped slightly during his counterattack—and returned her to the most comfortable spot on his shoulders. Only then did he finally have the chance to speak:
"What the heck, man? Where'd you even come from? You totally freaked me out like some creepy-ass ghost!"
Well then, that praise was wasted.
Although Haseo's previous moves had been fierce and impressive, his mood clearly wasn't as calm as it should've been. This guy had genuinely been startled by the high-level assassination attempt.
A faint commotion came from ahead, followed quickly by an Anbu shinobi arriving beside Haseo once again.
"Lord Haseo, there was an issue with our mission. We encountered one enemy earlier, but his resistance was too intense—we accidentally ended up killing him..."
The original order was to "capture alive," yet the Anbu had killed the target—a grave mistake, potentially punishable for those involved in the operation.
However, before the reporting Anbu could finish speaking, he noticed Haseo was currently striking a dramatic pose.
"Oh, what a coincidence—I also 'accidentally' killed one of the enemies just now."
Haseo stretched out his arm, gave his wrist a light twist, and with practiced ease, unsheathed his long blade before sliding it back into its scabbard.
A strange cylindrical object came rolling across the roof tiles with a series of soft clacking sounds, ending with a heavy thud—as if half a slab of pork had been thrown from the second floor down below.
The Anbu made a mistake, which was a serious problem. Fortunately, their commanding officer messed up too. Startled and caught off guard, Haseo hadn't held back in time and had killed his opponent outright.
"Hmm, let's consider these two enemies already dead ten minutes ago. Right now, we're tracking down the last remaining survivor of the enemy, so utmost caution must be exercised. Life is so fragile—don't accidentally go and kill someone, understood?"
"From now on, handle things with more care and humanity. Even if you don't see them as people, remember: all life is precious. Don't forget that during your mission."
"...Understood, Lord Haseo."
The Anbu ninja was wondering whether Haseo's words had just eased an awkward situation, but then he realized such thoughts were pointless. All he needed to do now was turn around and deliver the orders.
Thus, the search for their final "valuable enemy" resumed.
A few minutes later, the enemy's location was easily confirmed—because the elite Kumo ninja was already locked in fierce combat with a yellow-haired elementary student.
Judging purely by strength, the last remaining Kumo ninja clearly surpassed that child. He could dominate and overwhelm his opponent. Yet something strange happened—the Kumo ninja, no matter how much advantage he held, simply couldn't kill the kid.
One-on-one duel? Can't even kill a grade-schooler? Come on, that's gotta be a joke!
But this wasn't a joke—it was a total tragedy… at least from the Kumo ninja's point of view, it sure felt like one.
Although Minato Namikaze was already bruised up pretty badly—like, more than just a few hits—he seemed to be gradually getting the hang of real combat… bluntly put, he was evolving from a Ninja Academy student into a true ninja.
Apparently, enemies made the best mentors (though this method of enlightenment isn't recommended for ninjas with poor talent).
So when Haseo arrived at the battlefield, what he saw was a furious enemy with a twisted face—and Minato Namikaze, still so damn young but fighting like a seasoned pro—
I tag you once—see? You flinch. Can't even lay a hand on me, huh?
Alright then, how about I poke you again?
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