Arisu did not give chase. He simply clasped his hands behind his back and looked around, then let out a light sigh.
"Ah..."
He casually picked up the unconscious Kakashi.
The next second, his brows suddenly furrowed.
In the distance, another chakra signature was fluctuating violently.
———
Deep within the forest, the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist had already surrounded Might Guy, Hayate Gekko, and Ebisu's squad.
Might Duy had rushed over desperately to provide support. His fists were clenched so tightly that his knuckles had turned white, ready to forcefully open the Eight Gates.
"Stop!"
A cold shout suddenly rang out.
Arisu appeared in the middle of the battlefield out of thin air, carrying Kakashi.
"Lord Arisu!"
The faces of Guy and the other two immediately lit up with joy, and their tightly wound nerves finally relaxed.
The Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist, on the other hand, lost all traces of arrogance. Only undisguised panic remained on their faces.
"It's actually him..."
"What are you afraid of? The seven of us together might be able to kill him!"
"That's right! Don't disgrace the Bloody Mist Village!"
The seven exchanged glances.
Killing intent erupted.
They actually intended to join forces and leave Arisu here forever.
Arisu couldn't be bothered wasting words on them. He turned to the people behind him and said in a deep voice, "Take Duy and leave immediately. Leave this place to me and Kakashi."
A wave of gratitude surged through Might Duy's heart.
He had already prepared to trade his life for theirs.
Yet now he had been spared.
Guy and the other two quickly nodded and helped Might Duy retreat.
"Kakashi?!"
Only then did Guy notice Kakashi over Arisu's shoulder. Though full of questions, he didn't dare ask any of them.
The Seven Ninja Swordsmen had no interest in chasing those insignificant kids.
In their eyes, Arisu was the real prey.
If they could kill one of Konoha's "Twin Lights," they would become famous throughout the ninja world.
"One person wants to fight all seven of us? Hehehe..."
Raiga Kurosuki grinned viciously as lightning crackled at his fingertips.
"My Kiba blades have been thirsty for a long time."
'Zabuza Momochi? Wait no. The text: Biwa Juzo. Let's continue accurately.'
Biwa Juzo stood with his Executioner's Blade held horizontally, killing intent radiating from him.
"My Executioner's Blade can hardly wait."
Fuguki Suikazan patted his huge belly, greed filling his eyes.
"And Samehada would like a taste of top-grade chakra too."
"Three Arts Sage Mode: Massive Rasengan."
Before Arisu even finished speaking, a gigantic Rasengan wrapped in enormous amounts of sage chakra had already formed in his palm.
He casually threw it at the seven men.
The moment the Rasengan left his hand, a portal appeared behind him.
Carrying Kakashi, he instantly vanished.
Only the Seven Ninja Swordsmen remained, staring at the incoming Massive Rasengan.
BOOM!!!
A deafening explosion swept across the land.
The terrifying shockwave instantly flattened the entire forest.
Before the white light swallowed everything, only extreme terror remained on the seven men's faces.
When the smoke cleared, the fate of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen was unknown.
———
Inside Arisu's private residence at the Daimyo's estate.
A faint calming scent of sandalwood lingered in the air.
Kakashi's eyelashes trembled violently as he slowly opened his heavy eyelids.
"Where is this..."
An unfamiliar carved ceiling entered his view.
His mind was still trapped in the chaos following the battle.
The next second, a piercing pain exploded from his left eye.
Rin's appearance before her death flashed repeatedly before his eyes.
Like a female ghost pressed right up against his face.
Along with it came all those blood-soaked memories.
Kakashi wished with all his heart that everything he had just experienced was nothing more than a nightmare.
But the burning pain in his eye cruelly told him that it had all been real.
Kakashi suddenly clenched his fists, his nails digging deeply into his palms.
It was him.
He had personally pierced Rin's heart with Raikiri.
The door was gently pushed open.
Arisu walked in slowly, his gaze falling on the curled-up boy on the bed.
"You're awake."
Arisu pulled over a wooden chair and sat beside the bed.
Kakashi raised his bloodshot eyes and looked at the elder who had watched him grow up.
A trace of hope remained in his voice, "Uncle Arisu... where's Rin?"
He hoped Rin had been saved.
Arisu remained silent for a moment before shaking his head.
A trace of regret flashed through his eyes.
"The Mist ninja made their move. By the time I arrived, being able to save you was already a blessing."
"I killed her."
"I killed Rin..."
Kakashi suddenly covered his face.
His shoulders shook violently.
Arisu watched him break down but didn't try to comfort him much.
Perhaps only Sakumo Hatake could stabilize this child now.
"Focus on recovering first. Stay here in the capital for now. I've already sent word to your father."
After leaving those words behind, Arisu quietly closed the door behind him.
———
[Three Days Later]
Sakumo Hatake arrived at the Daimyo's estate, covered in dust from travel.
The years had left him looking much older.
The moment he saw Arisu, he quickly stepped forward and tightly grabbed his hand.
"Arisu, thank you. He's my only son. If anything had happened to Kakashi, his mother and I... we truly wouldn't know how to go on."
Sakumo spoke with deep gratitude.
Arisu gently patted the back of his hand and shook his head.
"Go see Kakashi first. Obito and Rin are both gone. Losing two friends one after another has hit him too hard."
"Ah..."
Hearing this, Sakumo let out a heavy sigh.
"At such a young age, he has to bear all this... ah."
As soon as he finished speaking, his expression changed.
The way he looked at Arisu carried a plea.
"Arisu, there's something I have to ask of you."
Arisu raised his eyes.
"Go ahead."
"The Third Great Ninja War has gone on for too long. Too many people have died."
"Iwagakure, Sunagakure, Kumogakure, and Kirigakure have all formally submitted peace agreements to Konoha, but the Sixth Hokage, Danzo..."
Sakumo gritted his teeth.
"He still insists on continuing the war. He wants to use the war to satisfy his own ambitions!"
He didn't say it outright, but the meaning behind his words was already clear.
Arisu tapped the table lightly with his finger and spoke calmly, "You want me to step in and force him from office?"
"Yes!"
Since Arisu had stated it directly, Sakumo no longer hid his intentions.
He leaned forward slightly, staring at Arisu with burning eyes.
"In all of Konoha, only you have the prestige and ability to do this! The Fifth Hokage, Lord Hiruzen Sarutobi, is old and under house arrest."
"Only you hold the Daimyo's trust, and more than half the ninja in the military respect you. If you call for action, most of Konoha will stand with you!"
"We're not trying to rebel. We only want to force Danzo to hand over power and end this meaningless war!"
"Just like how the Second Hokage forced the Third Hokage, Uchiha Madara, to step down for the sake of the village's peace!"
Arisu lowered his eyes.
His tapping finger stopped.
A trace of hesitation appeared on his face as he pretended to seriously weigh the matter.
"Arisu!"
Sakumo suddenly shouted, "People are still dying on the front lines! There are more and more orphans in the village every day! The future of countless people is in your hands!"