The seven shinobi who emerged suddenly wore matching outfits, each with the kanji for "fire" emblazoned on their waistbands.
"Leaf Village ninjas… what business do you have here?" A cold-voiced, black-haired man demanded.
Around him, the other six formed a semicircle, encircling their unexpected guests.
"The Anbu obtained intelligence suggesting that the Sand shinobi are conspiring with forces from the Land of Fire to assassinate the Daimyō," Uchiha Hayashi replied coolly, gathering chakra. "Under orders from the Fourth Hokage, we've come to investigate."
The black-haired shinobi stiffened, his expression tightening. "We are the Twelve Guardian Ninjas, sworn to protect the Daimyō. Since this conspiracy takes place within the Daimyō's palace, you should leave us to handle it."
"Is that so?" Hayashi tilted his head in a faint smile. "But I have my doubts. Tell me, are you truly loyal, or are you secretly working with the Sand shinobi?"
"What did you say?" A dark-skinned, middle-aged man stepped forward, fury in his voice. "Do you threaten us, boy?"
Hayashi crossed his arms, his tone disdainful. "Or perhaps you think you can silence us and escape Leaf Village's wrath?"
At the mention of Leaf Village, fear flickered across the Guardian Ninja's face. Hayashi's words resonated more than they expected.
"And that lurking rat up in the tree—come down. I saw you a long time ago," Hayashi continued, nodding toward a large tree nearby.
In response, a figure descended silently from the branches.
"Don't get too cocky," a cold voice called from above. "Better to leave quickly, Leaf Village brat."
Hayashi's eyes narrowed as he looked up. The man in the tree had white hair, his face grim. This was Ryōma, one of the most trusted of the Guardian Ninja.
"We never meddle in Leaf Village matters," Ryōma said sharply. "This is Daimyō territory. Do not interfere."
Hayashi laughed softly. "Really? But here you are, collaborating with enemy shinobi. You act like protectors—and yet you betray your own country. How ironic."
Ryōma's expression darkened. He had assumed his position as Guardian Ninja would intimidate outsiders; now, this young leaf ninja was calling him out. He needed to silence him—swiftly.
Hayashi's voice dropped, cold and full of intent: "I will end you, and I will tell Leaf Village everything."
Before Ryōma could react, Hayashi drew a kunai and threw it with unerring precision. The projectile whistled through the air—then, with a sickening snap, Ryōma's companion's sword shattered, and the kunai buried itself in his head. In an instant, blood spattered across the ground.
The other Guardian Ninjas froze. The sheer speed and violence of the attack stunned them.
"How…" someone muttered, disbelief cracking his voice.
Hayashi stood beside the corpse, his breath steady, eyes calm but fierce. "Is that what you call strength—this is all you have?" he said quietly. "A few of you, and you still underestimate me."
He barely finished his words before another kunai flew into his side. But he didn't flinch—he vanished instead.
A crisp sound, like snapping fingers, echoed faintly—then, the ninja who attacked him collapsed, a crimson arc tracing across his throat. Genjutsu? No, even better: Hayashi had cast an illusion so real his enemy never saw it coming.
Two dead. The rest gasped. Panic flickered across their faces.
Ryōma, trembling with fury, barked an order: "Notify Beiyun! Tell the other four to prepare that jutsu at once! We lure him into a trap!"
Hayashi didn't wait. In his palms, two black shurikens materialized, spinning into existence. Then, his arms blurred, twice, three times—until dozens of shurikens flew from him. In a heartbeat, it was hundreds, filling the air like a deadly swarm.
The Guardian Ninja Twelve were on the defensive. Kunai clashed with shuriken in midair, sparks flying from every collision.
At last, the pace slowed. Shurikens thudded into the ground around Hayashi, embedding themselves in the earth like nails. The remaining shinobi moved no more.
Hayashi's voice cut through the silence, icy and resolute: "Are you ready to die?"
But as he spoke, he disappeared. The sound of rushing wind heralded his return—and another kunai launched before any of them could block.
His movement was so swift, he seemed to be everywhere and nowhere at once, striking from every angle.
Ryōma stood, fear etched into his features. "Is a new fastest shinobi rising in our world?" he murmured, trembling.
________
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