"That eye… is that a Byakugan?"
Hagoromo's words sounded almost casual, as if he were merely making an observation.
But before the sentence had even fully left his mouth, his figure vanished abruptly from where he stood.
In the next instant—before the opposing group could properly track him—he reappeared directly in front of Ao, his right hand already raised, thumb, index, and middle fingers extending straight toward Ao's eye.
The target was obvious.
That Byakugan.
Because of his unfamiliarity with the special visual field, Ao failed to react in time to Hagoromo's sudden disappearance and reappearance. All he could do was watch helplessly as those fingers rapidly filled his vision.
Fortunately, Ao was not alone.
A powerful hand seized the back of his collar and yanked him violently backward. At the same time, a massive blade crashed down, wedging itself horizontally between Hagoromo and Ao.
Simultaneously, another hand clamped firmly around Hagoromo's wrist, stopping his motion dead.
"White Fang—no. White Yaksha," a cold voice said.
"If you don't want to be melted, I suggest you stop moving."
Hagoromo smiled faintly.
"My apologies," he said calmly. "Seeing certain things makes my body react on its own. Pure reflex. I had no hostile intent."
"For example," his gaze shifted slightly, "the Hyūga Clan's Byakugan."
"And for another example—" his eyes moved again, "my sword."
He called it his sword, even though, strictly speaking, it was a blade he had once wielded.
Hagoromo had arrived at the designated location at the appointed time and encountered the Kirigakure shinobi sent to receive him—then immediately initiated a brief clash.
Like Yagura's interception team, they were also a four-man squad.
But this group was clearly of a higher caliber.
Even if Hagoromo didn't recognize every face at first glance, each of them was a shinobi of established reputation.
The squad was led by Terumī Mei, a Kirigakure jōnin.
The other three were Hoshigaki Kisame, Hōzuki Mangetsu, and Ao.
The one who had pulled Ao backward was Kisame.
The one wielding the massive blade between them was Mangetsu.
And the one gripping Hagoromo's wrist—issuing the threat—was unmistakably Mei.
The blade in Mangetsu's hands was Samehada, the same ninja sword Hagoromo had once lost. That was why he referred to it as his.
As for Ao—
The eye he possessed was a Byakugan, taken from Konoha long ago.
At this time, Ao was still adapting to it. The later protective seals had not yet been applied, leaving the Byakugan fully exposed. Hagoromo recognized it instantly.
After all, he could tell the difference between a cataract and a Byakugan.
The moment he saw it, Hagoromo had instinctively moved—not to actually seize the eye, but to test their reaction.
If he attacked and the Mist ninja responded by immediately launching a full assault, it would mean Kirigakure had little genuine intention of pursuing peace.
But instead, they merely restrained him—without escalating further.
That alone suggested the opposite.
If so, his chances of surviving after entering Kirigakure would be significantly higher.
That said, Mei's grip on his wrist was anything but gentle. It felt as if she meant to crush it outright.
That kind of strength… must come from years of stirring heavy ladles, Hagoromo thought dryly.
"You can call me Hagoromo," he said aloud.
"If we can reach a mutual understanding this time, peace between our villages should follow soon."
He spoke with a calm smile—
—and in the next instant, violent Chidori Nagashi surged along his arm.
Words and actions, completely mismatched.
Had Mei not released his wrist and leapt backward immediately, she would have been scorched no matter what.
Hagoromo did not pursue her. He simply dispersed the lightning and let his arm fall, as though nothing had happened.
For now, their basic stance seemed acceptable.
Still—why send someone bearing a stolen Byakugan to meet him?
Was this Kirigakure signaling willingness to negotiate, or deliberately provoking further hostility?
The reason was actually far simpler.
Kirigakure was short-handed.
Not in terms of ordinary shinobi—but in high-end combat power.
Two of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen had already been confirmed dead.
The remaining five had infiltrated the Land of Fire and failed to return on schedule. Kirigakure had begun to assume the worst.
Beyond the Seven Swordsmen—
what else did they have?
Very little.
Ao was primarily a sensory-type shinobi, but at this point, Kirigakure had few elite jōnin available who clearly surpassed him.
Just looking at the composition of this squad made the situation obvious.
All four were strong—but all were young.
Ao was over twenty, but Mei was only seventeen.
Kisame was fifteen.
Mangetsu was sixteen.
For a mission of this importance, such a lineup lacked stability.
Kirigakure was not merely short on elite jōnin—
it was also short on Kage-level combatants.
Publicly, the only one was the Third Mizukage.
As for Mei—
despite her mastery of Water, Fire, and Earth Release, and her rare possession of Lava Release and Boil Release Kekkei Genkai—
given her age and experience, she was still only jōnin level at best. Calling her a full Kage would be premature.
Her situation was similar to Yagura's.
Which placed Kirigakure in an awkward position.
One of the Five Great Villages—
yet unable to deploy a Kage-level fighter during a world war.
"Are you alright, Ao?" Mei asked, turning her head.
"I'm fine, Mei-sama," Ao replied quickly, finally recovering his composure.
It truly had been a close call. Hagoromo's fingers had nearly touched his eye.
Through the Byakugan, Ao had seen it clearly—
that instantaneous Lightning Release surge.
So it was true.
A ninjutsu that powerful… without hand seals.
Mei-sama…
From their exchange and the way the others deferred to her, Hagoromo concluded that Mei was the clear leader of this group.
And if so—
her stance would likely influence the outcome of the peace talks.
She required careful attention.
"White Yaksha," Mei said coldly,
"This is your final warning. If you attack my people again, it will mean the collapse of negotiations between Konoha and Kirigakure. Do you understand?"
She made no attempt to soften the name.
Nor should she.
That alone confirmed Hagoromo's judgment—
she was the one issuing orders.
He raised both empty hands.
"Peace talks come first," he said.
The gesture was meant to signal harmless intent.
But it was hardly convincing—
especially since, as he spoke, his eyes flicked first to Ao's Byakugan, then to Samehada in Mangetsu's hands.
At present, only two of the Seven Ninja Swords remained in Kirigakure's possession.
Mangetsu, despite his versatility, had little choice in what blade he wielded.
"Did you encounter anything on the way?" Mei asked suddenly.
Her senses were sharp. During their brief contact, she had caught a faint trace of blood on Hagoromo.
"No," he replied evenly.
"Please guide me. My mission is to deliver the Hokage's letter to the Mizukage. Everything else is secondary."
He deliberately avoided mentioning Yagura.
Though Mei was likely from the pro-negotiation faction, Hagoromo had no idea how she would react upon learning Yagura was already dead.
Opposing factions aside—
who knew what their personal relationship had been?
Mei frowned, but said nothing more. She signaled her team to move.
She took the lead.
Mangetsu and Kisame flanked Hagoromo on either side.
Ao followed a short distance behind.
The formation was both an escort and a containment net.
If Hagoromo made the slightest suspicious move, it could instantly become a killing formation.
They were currently on an uninhabited island near the Land of Water.
Once they departed, they would soon reach Kirigakure—
the Hidden Mist Village lay just ahead.
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