Veigar Koshima and Kakashi Hatake stood close together, both breathing heavily as beads of sweat formed on their foreheads. The sheer intensity of the battle was evident in their tense expressions.
The campfire that had once illuminated the merchant caravan's resting grounds had long been extinguished by Fukiishi Kaneda's Wind Release: Pressure Damage technique. Now, the thick veil of night obscured their vision, limiting their ability to perceive the battlefield.
Under the faint glow of the moon, only one thing remained entirely unimpeded—everyone's sensory abilities.
Fortunately, Veigar excelled in this regard.
"Run! Run as fast as you can!"
"Only then will I truly savor the thrill of the hunt."
Yuma Goyama grinned maniacally, his laughter ringing through the darkness as he eyed Veigar and Kakashi, who were visibly on edge.
Without hesitation, Veigar activated his sensory technique, exchanging a wordless glance with Kakashi—an unspoken understanding passing between them.
"He's coming."
The moment Veigar sensed movement from Yuma Goyama, he issued a grave warning to Kakashi.
With a sinister smirk, Yuma Goyama dashed toward them, his hands forming seals with practiced speed.
"Ninjutsu: Shadow Clone Jutsu!"
A second Yuma Goyama materialized, identical to the original, each wielding a kunai as they charged at Veigar and Kakashi from opposite directions.
The two ninjas immediately sprang into action, surging forward to meet their opponent head-on.
Sparks scattered as blade clashed against kunai, lighting up the battlefield in brief flashes. Veigar engaged Yuma Goyama's real body, while Kakashi contended with his clone.
On the surface, it appeared as if they were evenly matched. However, both Veigar and Kakashi soon realized a troubling fact—their attacks weren't landing. No matter how precise or relentless their strikes were, Yuma Goyama effortlessly parried or deflected every single one.
Gradually, they found themselves being drawn into his rhythm, unknowingly forced deeper into his calculated assault.
And then, almost simultaneously, both Veigar and Kakashi arrived at the same unsettling conclusion.
"He's holding back."
To confirm their suspicions, they unleashed their ninjutsu.
"Wind Release: Great Breakthrough!"
"Lightning Release: Earth Walk!"
A powerful gust of wind surged toward Yuma Goyama's real body, while arcs of lightning crawled across the ground toward his clone.
But with nothing more than a subtle shift in movement, Yuma Goyama dodged both attacks with ease.
Taking advantage of this brief moment, Veigar and Kakashi regrouped, standing back-to-back, panting heavily. Their unease deepened.
"…Veigar."
"Yeah."
That single exchange was all they needed. They understood each other perfectly.
"Oh? So they finally caught on?"
"As expected of Lord Danzo's chosen candidates. Their talent is undeniable, regardless of the field."
"Still… playtime is over."
Yuma Goyama smirked inwardly as he watched Veigar and Kakashi silently communicate.
To the outside world, Yuma Goyama was a rogue ninja of Konoha. But beneath the surface, he was an agent of Root.
His defection had been nothing more than a carefully orchestrated ruse—an assignment handed down by Danzo Shimura himself. Yuma Goyama had been planted in the criminal underworld as a sleeper agent, serving as one of Danzo's eyes and ears within the black market.
Just days ago, he had received new orders.
His targets? Veigar Koshima, Kakashi Hatake… and their sensei, Minato Namikaze.
But that wasn't all. The true objective of this mission was someone else entirely—the merchant under their protection, Kazuo Yoshino.
On the surface, Kazuo Yoshino was an ordinary businessman who frequently traveled between the Land of Fire and the Land of Rain. However, very few knew the truth—he was, in fact, a spy for Amegakure, an operative who had spent years gathering intelligence for the Hidden Rain.
Coincidentally, an assassination contract for Kazuo Yoshino had been newly posted on the underground black market just days ago.
"AAARGH!!"
A sudden scream shattered the night.
Both Veigar and Kakashi's eyes widened in alarm—the voice belonged to Kazuo Yoshino.
Neither of them had been aware that Yuma Goyama and Fukiishi Kaneda had a third accomplice lurking in the shadows. But now, as that agonized cry rang out, an ominous realization struck them.
Minato might be in danger.
Veigar's face twisted in concern as he expanded his sensory range once more.
Then, he felt it—and his breath caught in his throat.
There was a third enemy.
Standing before Kazuo Yoshino—who had just lost an arm—was an unidentified assailant.
A rogue ninja from Kirigakure—Kaimon Asuka.
What's more, Kaimon Asuka had somehow concealed his chakra presence entirely, rendering him undetectable until now.
And just as Veigar registered this shocking revelation, another event unfolded that left him even more stunned.
Minato Namikaze moved.
Fukiishi Kaneda, the rogue Sand ninja, was abruptly slammed to the ground—his back crushed beneath Minato's Rasengan.
The battle between Minato and Fukiishi Kaneda was already decided.
But there was no time to celebrate.
"Fire Release: Phoenix Sage Fire Jutsu!"
Yuma Goyama unleashed a barrage of small fireballs, each resembling the seeds of a phoenix flower, forcing Veigar and Kakashi into evasive maneuvers.
As they leaped into the air to avoid the flames, they thought they had successfully dodged the attack.
They were wrong.
In the blink of an eye, Yuma Goyama and his clone appeared behind them.
There was no time to react.
Veigar and Kakashi barely managed to raise their defenses before a devastating roundhouse kick smashed into their stomachs, sending them hurtling toward the ground.
"Boom!"
"Boom!"
They crashed hard, rolling across the dirt before forcing themselves upright, battered but standing.
But Yuma Goyama was relentless.
"Fire Release: Dragon Fire Jutsu!"
A roaring stream of flames shaped like a dragon surged toward them, its searing heat engulfing the battlefield.
Death loomed before them.
Veigar knew there was no time to escape.
The only option left was to destroy the incoming flames head-on.
His expression contorted into a fierce snarl. With a roar, he pushed Kakashi behind him, chakra surging violently around his hand.
"RAAAAHHHH!!"
"Rasengan!"
A Phenomenal Evil Rasengan spiraled into existence in his palm.
Without hesitation, Veigar charged straight into the dragon's maw.
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