Swish!
A sharp gust of wind burst across the battlefield as Kazehaya Hayate appeared, sword in hand. Dust scattered in every direction, swirling around his feet like a storm.
"What—? Reinforcements?!" Sak's eyes widened. The instant he caught sight of Hayate's composed, mature face, a chill crept down his spine.Someone that calm at his age… there's no way he's weak. Damn it—what do I do?!
Anxious thoughts raced through his mind as chakra flared wildly within him. The Shadow Possession Jutsu binding him started to crack from the strain.
Shikamaru felt the sudden pressure from below. Sweat beaded on his forehead as he tightened his stance—but when he looked up and saw who had arrived, his eyes widened in surprise.
"Hayate? What's he doing here?" he muttered, brows knitting together. No, wait—this guy's strength isn't something that just 'adds up' to ours. If Sak really goes all out, even my shadow technique might shatter completely!
"Huh? Hayate?" Ino, who was still linked to Kin through her Mind Transfer Jutsu, blinked as she spotted him. Her expression shifted from surprise to mild exasperation. "He's… handsome, I'll give him that—but what's he even going to do here?"
Hayate didn't answer anyone. He smiled faintly, eyes lowering to the weapon in his grip."Let's see, Cross-Cleaving Blade—Shan. Show me whether you're sharper than a kunai."
The long silver blade vibrated softly in his hand, letting out a low hum—as if responding to his words, alive and eager.
"Your first taste of blood…" Hayate's eyes narrowed, a glint of mischief flickering within. "Let's start with their captain—Sak."
He drew the blade in a single smooth motion. A flash of light gleamed across his pupils.
"Vanished?!" Sak's pupils constricted sharply. An icy dread clawed at his chest.Where did he go—?!
"Looking for me?"
That calm, cold voice whispered directly behind him. It was light—almost playful—but in Sak's ears, it rang like a death sentence.
"Ah—!?" Panic seized him. His chakra burst outward in a violent shockwave, blasting up a storm of dirt and broken leaves that darkened the air.
"Hayate, hurry!" Shikamaru shouted, his shadow trembling from the strain. "I can't hold him much longer!"
But Hayate didn't rush. He exhaled once, then flicked his wrist.
The blade cut through the air with a pure, ringing tone—so fast that streaks of light seemed to hang, motionless, like white petals drifting in the wind. Dozens of arcs intertwined, forming the shape of a luminous flower that bloomed in midair.
Beautiful.
And then—
Slash!
Sak froze, eyes widening as a line of red appeared across his chest. A heartbeat later, he crumpled to the ground, lifeless.
"Captain Sak… dead?!" Kin's voice trembled. Her body, still under Ino's control, stiffened in shock. "H-He… how did he do that?!"
Toss's jaw clenched. He looked toward Hayate, then at Sak's fallen form, disbelief flickering in his eyes.He took Sak out just like that?
And if the mission failed—if they returned to Orochimaru empty-handed… Toss shuddered. The thought alone sent ice through his veins.No. If I can grab Sasuke, maybe—just maybe—I can still complete the objective.
"Sasuke!" Sakura cried out. She tried to stand, but her legs gave out beneath her. The exhaustion from battle left her trembling, helpless. Even so, she pressed her palms to the ground, forcing her body upright through sheer willpower. "Sasuke! Naruto!"
Her voice cracked, but she didn't stop. Even though her chakra was drained, even though she could barely stay conscious—she stood.
And as she lifted her eyes, she saw it: Toss charging straight toward Sasuke.
No… someone, please—!
Then, a spark of hope flared in her chest. Hayate… he's fast enough. He can stop him… right?
Hayate's gaze followed Toss calmly. His eyes narrowed with faint contempt."So you'd rather die than fail? Pathetic."
Just as he was about to move, his glance shifted toward Sakura. She was standing—barely—and looking at him with desperate, pleading eyes.
He sighed softly. "Guess today's your lucky day."
Swish!
Toss's hand hovered inches above Sasuke's throat when a blur of silver light appeared between them.
He froze. A faint smile tugged at Hayate's lips."What's wrong? Regretting your choices already?"
Toss stumbled back instinctively, horror twisting his features. "You—how did you get here so fast?! Who even are you?!"
Hayate tilted his head. "You can't tell from this?" He tapped the forehead protector gleaming on his brow. "I'm a Konoha shinobi. Or did you think I was here to play nice?"
A faint chuckle escaped him. "Honestly, talking to you feels like an insult to my intelligence. Let's skip the small talk—you can die now."
"You—!" Toss roared, lunging forward—but before he could finish, a cold flash split the air.
Shhhk—!
A silver-white blade burst through his back, piercing clean through his chest. Toss coughed up blood, eyes wide, disbelief written all over his face."Wh… who the hell are you?"
Hayate smiled faintly, withdrawing the blade in one fluid motion."The one who killed you."
When the battle finally ended, Hayate stood quietly among the fallen. The clearing was silent except for the rustle of leaves.
He turned toward the stunned group of Leaf Genin and grinned. "Well, that's that. Saved your lives—any reward for that?"
None of them spoke. They just stared, still struggling to process what they'd just seen.
After a long silence, Shikamaru—ever the first to recover—reached down, grabbed Sak's fallen scroll, and tossed it over. "This time, you've earned it."
Hayate caught it midair, glanced at the symbol, and smirked. "The Scroll of Heaven, huh? Perfect. I've already got the Earth Scroll. Guess I'm heading to the tower next."
He waved lightly, slinging the blade across his back. "See you there."
Swish!
With a flicker of light, he vanished—leaving behind only the drifting dust and the two defeated Sound ninja at their feet.
"…Troublesome guy," Shikamaru muttered, rubbing the back of his neck. "Still… Hayate's seriously strong. How did I never notice before?"
Somewhere in the tangled threads of fate, the so-called dead last of the dead lasts—Kazehaya Hayate—had already begun quietly rewriting the story of the Hidden Leaf.