Kakashi crouched opposite Hagoromo, adding after a moment of thought, "Considering we've already run into Jūzō Biwa, it's highly suspicious whether other members of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen are here... Even if they aren't, there are likely other shinobi of the same caliber. That would explain why the Hyuga squad couldn't even manage to escape."
Objectively speaking, Kakashi's judgment was sound, and Hagoromo nodded in agreement. The Seven Ninja Swordsmen were among the Mist's most elite groups; if they were acting in a multiple-member formation, wiping out a Konoha elite squad was entirely possible.
In other words, their primary opponents from here on out would be Elite Jonin.
"In any case, we're about to enter the Land of Whirlpools. Given the enemy's strength, we should try not to split up."
If Hagoromo and Kakashi worked together, they were quite efficient. However, things rarely go exactly as planned.
"Kushina's hometown, huh?" Hagoromo murmured to himself. The thought that this destroyed little nation was connected to Kushina stirred a strange, unidentifiable emotion in him.
"Huh?" Kakashi clearly hadn't caught what Hagoromo said, assuming he was talking about the mission.
"Nothing. Gear check, then we move out."
There wasn't much to check; they were ready to go immediately. But then...
"Are you really going to keep lugging that thing around?" Hagoromo pointed at the Executioner's Blade Kakashi was holding. Using a specialized tool like that required specific techniques; could Kakashi really pick it up that fast?
In Hagoromo's mind, they should just chuck the thing into the ocean and be done with it. What was the point of carrying it?
However, Kakashi wasn't carrying it for combat purposes. Even a young, serious Kakashi had his moments of whimsical thinking. He said, "Tell me, if we collect all seven weapons, is there any chance we could trade them back for the Byakugan under some very specific circumstances?"
At least he didn't ask if they could summon a dragon, so Hagoromo managed to suppress the urge to roast him.
"No," Hagoromo said flatly. "Either we snatch back the Byakugan, or they snatch back their blade. An exchange is definitely not within the scope of either side's thinking."
Besides, running into the Seven Swordsmen consecutively? He'd rather pass on that. Even in a one-on-one gauntlet, collecting all the weapons would be a massive pain. Not to mention the possibility that they really were moving as a group.
"True..." Kakashi realized the logic instantly, but for some reason, he still didn't discard the Executioner's Blade.
By morning, the two had entered the old Land of Whirlpools—now a land of no one.
It was indeed a small island, but that was relative. If you tried to cram a hundred thousand people onto it, it would feel tiny; but if you were looking for ten people hiding on it, it was a nightmare.
If the Hyuga Clan's Byakugan were functioning at full capacity, the search wouldn't be so hard. But due to some barrier or wide-range interference ninjutsu, the Byakugan's range was restricted, forcing them to rely on primitive, manual searching. It was difficult, to say the least.
And for all they knew, the enemy might have already left the island via some specialized method—like traveling twenty thousand leagues under the sea.
On their first day on the island, Hagoromo's squad found nothing. They didn't run into any enemies, though they did cross paths with fellow Konoha shinobi twice.
On the second day, in an abandoned village, they finally encountered their second enemy.
And their third.
Yet another enemy stepped out quite proactively. This one... regardless of whether he was confident in his own strength, he had come out primarily because Kakashi was carrying the perfect bait.
From a psychological perspective, these guys were all "fetishists"—a single sword was enough to make them lose their minds.
"That great blade... since it's in your hands, it means Senior Jūzō Biwa has already died at your hands. So, by the rules, it's my turn to inherit it."
The enemy who stepped out looked to be around the same age as Kakashi, yet he spoke with a certain world-weary gravity. As he talked, his eyes were glued to the Executioner's Blade in Kakashi's hand. Despite guessing that Jūzō had died, he—a fellow villager—showed no grief. Instead, he looked delighted, as if a long-held wish had finally been granted.
Kakashi didn't offer a reply. He certainly wasn't kind enough to just hand the thing back. He also had no intention of using a blade that was currently taller than he was for combat.
He thrust the Executioner's Blade into the ground at his feet, then reached back and drew the short blade he always carried. The message was clear: if you want the blade, come and take it.
While Hagoromo was still standing by Kakashi's side, he no longer had the luxury of fighting alongside him. Whether or not he "trusted" Kakashi's solo abilities, he had to trust him now.
"Kakashi, can you handle this brat on your own?"
Kakashi nodded. "No problem."
"Good. It looks like we'll have to split up for a bit..."
Hagoromo wasn't seeking a "fair duel"; he simply had to deal with a much more conspicuous "big guy." He took a deep breath and walked toward a different part of the village, away from Kakashi.
"So, you've found me?"
Before Hagoromo could get close, a voice drifted out. The sounds of battle had already begun behind him, but Hagoromo didn't turn to look. He stared at the face of the man who had just appeared. After a moment, he spoke:
"Why do I feel like you look a bit familiar?"
The opponent was remarkably candid, stating his identity directly. "My name... you can call me Rōshi."
As I thought...
"Why is a shinobi from the Land of Earth here?" Hagoromo asked. There was one more thing he didn't say out loud: Especially a Jinchūriki.
"I have my reasons."
A complete non-answer.
"In a situation like this, it doesn't seem like we have any reason to fight?" Hagoromo said tentatively. Fighting a Jinchūriki from the Hidden Stone wouldn't help the mission; it would only be a waste of combat power. If they could maintain a temporary peace, that would be for the best.
What the Stone's Jinchūriki was doing here and whether it was related to the Mist's actions was hard to determine through guesswork. But looking at Rōshi's attitude, he seemed to harbor distinct hostility toward Konoha.
"Given the current state of things, when Stone and Leaf shinobi meet, 'peaceful coexistence' is rarely an option."
"Besides, you're not the only one who finds me familiar. I believe I know your identity as well... Konoha's 'White Yaksha'?"
Hagoromo's expression beneath his mask shifted slightly. Had his identity been blown? Was the Hidden Stone deploying a Jinchūriki specifically for a targeted operation?
It seemed combat was unavoidable.
"I didn't expect the Four-Tails Jinchūriki to have heard of my name. I'm truly honored."
If his identity was exposed, it likely meant his abilities were too—a distinct disadvantage in battle.
Honored? If Hagoromo were actually feeling honored, he'd be out of his mind.
Should we keep moving with the fight against Rōshi, or do you want to check back on Kakashi first?