Chương 73: Hyūga Masato
After Fumori Masaki departed from the front line, he successfully persuaded the daimyo to issue a declaration condemning the rebellious actions of the Land of Lightning and the internal turmoil caused by Silver Horn in the Land of Rice Fields. The Land of Fire declared its intent to restore justice for the Land of Rice Fields, and the Land of Earth seconded this declaration, strengthening the alliance between the two nations.
Due to the Silver Horn incident, the Land of Rice Fields had grown increasingly wary of the Land of Lightning. The declaration from the Land of Fire came as a surprise to the daimyo of the Land of Rice Fields, who was grateful that the Land of Fire sought justice for his nation at this critical time. The contrast between the actions of the Land of Fire and the Land of Lightning was stark, and the daimyo felt compelled to make a judgment.
Shortly thereafter, a request for an alliance was sent to the Land of Rice Fields. The letter stated that the Land of Rice Fields did not need to take any significant action; they simply needed to allow Konoha Ninja Village to pass through their territory. The Konoha forces would focus solely on dealing with the Kumo forces and would take measures to protect the civilians of the Land of Rice Fields during the conflict.
After consulting with his ministers, the daimyo of the Land of Rice Fields agreed to Tobirama's request. The Land of Fire's actions had been more favorable than those of the Land of Lightning, and Tobirama's reputation as the brother of Hashirama bolstered his trustworthiness. However, the daimyo remained cautious, remembering the Land of Fire's past transgressions against his nation. Although he agreed to Tobirama's terms, he secretly prepared to defend his country should Konoha Ninja Village break their agreement.
Tobirama, however, had no intention of violating the agreement. He even discouraged the samurai corps from looting, emphasizing that the Land of Lightning and the Land of Water were the true enemies. As a result, the Land of Rice Fields' defenses remained intact, and Konoha Ninja Village refrained from entering their land. When civilians encountered Konoha forces, they were directed to the cities of the Land of Rice Fields, where their safety would be assured.
The Land of Rice Fields struggled to care for its civilians during the war, leading to unfortunate casualties. However, the Land of Fire bore no responsibility for these losses; the Land of Rice Fields' own inability to protect its people was to blame.
Had Masaki been aware of this, he would have suggested that Konoha Ninja Village provide food for these civilians, recognizing the opportunity to win their favor. Whether others would agree to such a proposal was another matter entirely.
In contrast to the Land of Fire's actions, the Land of Lightning fared poorly. The primary route from the Land of Lightning to the Land of Rice Fields had been severely damaged, complicating food transport. To sustain their large army, the Land of Lightning resorted to looting, which further alienated the Land of Rice Fields.
The Land of Rice Fields, without any prompting, began resisting the forces of the Land of Lightning. While they lacked a ninja army capable of rivaling the Kumo forces, they possessed a formidable samurai corps that was sufficient to contain the strength of the Lightning Country's forces.
Under these circumstances, Konoha Ninja Village gradually gained the upper hand in the conflict with the Land of Lightning. Although the Land of Water attempted a naval assault, they were thwarted by Iwagakure Ninja Village, whose earth-based techniques effectively countered the water-based jutsu of the Mist Ninja Village. As a result, the frontline battles, while intense, became more manageable, allowing the Fourth Unit to reduce the frequency of their reinforcements.
The camp of the Fourth Unit was strategically located between Konoha Ninja Village and the front lines, with troops stationed in a circular formation around the camp to expand their surveillance range. This arrangement ensured that when they encountered the enemy, they could quickly relay intelligence and send reinforcements.
As the commander of the Fourth Unit, Hyūga Masato found himself able to sleep peacefully these days. The news from the front lines was favorable, and there was little need for the Fourth Unit to intervene. Some personnel could even be safely transferred to Uchiha Kagami to assist on the battlefield in the Land of Wind.
However, it wasn't long before Hyūga Masato received troubling news. A member of the Hyūga clan had detected a ninja force lurking nearby, led by the Kaguya clan, identifiable by the unique markings on their eyes and foreheads—a distinctive trait of their clan.
Assessing the current strength of the Fourth Unit, Hyūga Masato promptly sent word to Konoha Ninja Village, requesting reinforcements. He then issued orders to use the terrain to contain the enemy, avoiding direct confrontation. With the Fourth Unit's extensive detection capabilities, they easily tracked the Mist ninja forces and held them at bay.
After a day of probing, the Mist ninjas realized they couldn't break through the Fourth Unit's defenses. Abandoning stealth, they moved to a more direct approach, ready to attack.
Using his Byakugan, Hyūga Masato observed the advancing Mist ninja forces and asked a nearby Hyūga clan member, "How long until the reinforcements from the village arrive?"
"I'm not sure. We haven't received any updates yet. If everything is on schedule, it should take them two or three days to get here," the Hyūga clan member replied.
"Fumori Masaki is the one stationed in the village, correct?" Hyūga Masato mused. "I've heard his combat style emphasizes speed. He should arrive sooner."
Fumori Masaki had quickly become the most respected of the younger generation, especially after his victory over Silver Horn, which had earned him widespread admiration, including from Hyūga Masato.
Turning his gaze back to the battlefield, Hyūga Masato said, "We'll engage them before Fumori Masaki arrives. Let's hope we don't encounter any troublesome Kekkei Genkai."
"Are you referring to Shikotsumyaku?"
"Yes," Hyūga Masato nodded slightly. "The Dead Bone Pulse is said to be the nemesis of taijutsu. No matter how skilled a taijutsu user is, they can't withstand the power of Shikotsumyaku, not even our Hyūga clan."
"Is Shikotsumyaku truly that formidable, Masato-sama?" the Hyūga clan member asked skeptically.
"You haven't witnessed it, but I have," Hyūga Masato replied grimly. "My father once fought a Kaguya clan member who had awakened Shikotsumyaku. You know the kind of person my father was."
"Yes, the previous Patriarch was the most gifted genius in the Hyūga clan at the time. His Gentle Fist technique had reached its peak, attaining a level described only in our clan's ancient texts, even surpassing the power of his Byakugan."
"But despite all that, my father couldn't gain the upper hand against the Dead Bone Pulse. Although the Kaguya clan member eventually died, it wasn't my father who killed him. He died from overusing his own Kekkei Genkai, exhausting himself to death," Hyūga Masato explained. "Shikotsumyaku is incredibly powerful, but perhaps for that reason, it drastically shortens the user's life. The more potent the Kekkei Genkai, the more it drains its user—just like the Uchiha clan's Sharingan."
There had been rumors that Uchiha Madara had gone blind. However, when Madara later reappeared, not only had his vision seemingly been restored, but his power had also surpassed what it had been before. Hyūga Masato believed that Uchiha Madara had discovered some method to restore his lost sight.
Before the Hyūga clan member could respond, Hyūga Masato raised a hand to silence him. "Enough talk. It's time to move. We mustn't miss this opportunity."
As the Mist ninja forces completed their assembly, the Fourth Unit, having already anticipated their direction of attack, launched an ambush. The initial assault consisted of a barrage of kunai and explosive tags, followed by a powerful combination of ninjutsu that disoriented the Mist ninja forces.
The Kumo Ninja Village had suffered significant losses to combination ninjutsu, and the Mist ninjas, unfamiliar with this tactic, were caught off guard. At that moment, the Inuzuka and Aburame clans attacked, further scattering the Mist ninja forces, paving the way for the Hyūga clan to join the fray.
Hyūga Masato moved like a dragon, weaving through the battlefield. His Gentle Fist was lethal, and any opponent struck by it would immediately fall, lifeless. The Hyūga clan's taijutsu prowess placed them at the pinnacle of close combat among ninjas.
As he fought, Hyūga Masato scanned the battlefield with his Byakugan. The majority of the Mist ninjas had been incapacitated by the combination ninjutsu, leaving them vulnerable and retreating. However, the Kaguya clan members, driven by their natural ferocity, were undeterred and eager for battle.
Though the Hyūga clan were ninja, their adherence to tradition and noble customs set them apart. They detested the barbaric ways of the Kaguya clan, preferring the more refined conduct of the Taketori clan. After the Taketori clan abandoned their savage traditions, they became known for their elegance, earning the Hyūga clan's admiration. Though they shared common ancestry, the Hyūga and Kaguya clans seemed like two extremes.
At that moment, Hyūga Masato's attention was drawn to an unusual chakra emanating from a Kaguya clan member. He recognized it immediately.
With a slight push of his toes, Hyūga Masato launched himself forward, swiftly appearing in front of the Hyūga clan member engaged in battle with a member of the Kaguya clan. With a precise strike of his Gentle Fist, he forced the Kaguya ninja to retreat.
"M-Masato-sama..." the Hyūga clan member began, recognizing Masato, but was cut off by Masato's authoritative voice.
"Go assist the others. I'll handle this one," Masato ordered, his gaze fixed on the Kaguya ninja.
The Hyūga clan member quickly obeyed, sensing the seriousness in Masato's tone. Masato watched the Kaguya ninja approach and prepared his stance, his movements cautious. Despite landing a direct hit with his Gentle Fist, the enemy showed no signs of injury, which put Masato on high alert.
"Finally, a worthy opponent," the Kaguya ninja said with a twisted grin, clearly excited. "If you're the head of the Hyūga clan, that must mean you're strong. That last hit was good—maybe you'll give me a real challenge."
As he spoke, something pale and bone-like began to protrude from his shoulder. It was a bone, sharp like a blade, emerging without a trace of blood from his skin. The wound sealed itself almost instantly, leaving no sign of injury.
"My name is Kaguya Nobunaga. What's yours?" the Kaguya ninja asked, still grinning.
"You don't need to know my name," Masato replied coldly.
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If you want to see what Masaki looks like, please go to Vol 0
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