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The seven of them spent half the night gathered in the room, discussing their plans. The Kirigakure trio and the Konoha trio divided their tasks accordingly, while the initially unmotivated Sōsetsu found renewed determination after Midorima mentioned Koyuki.
By the time they finalized their strategy, it was already morning.
Sōsetsu arranged rooms for the six of them, allowing them to rest before taking action.
Having traveled a long distance to the Land of Snow, none of them had gotten a proper night's sleep before being interrupted by Dotō and the Snow Ninja. Now that they finally had time to rest, they collapsed onto their beds and fell asleep immediately.
Midorima wasn't sure how long he had slept when he was abruptly awakened by the sound of commotion outside.
Their current situation was precarious—Dotō could launch an attack at any moment.
Midorima quickly opened the door and saw people rushing about in the courtyard, with the household guards assembling in formation.
"What's going on?"
He hurried to the room where they had held their meeting the previous night. Sōsetsu sat there with a deeply furrowed brow, looking utterly exhausted. Kakashi was absent, and the other four wore grave expressions.
"Koyuki is missing," Mei Terumī said in a low voice.
"What?" Midorima froze.
They had planned to take action that very night, only to be told that Koyuki had vanished. The timing couldn't have been worse.
Asking why she had disappeared was pointless now—what mattered was responding swiftly.
"Kakashi, he—"
"He can summon ninja hounds to track her down," Mei explained.
Midorima's heart sank.
The reason Sōsetsu had finally resolved to resist was Koyuki. Now that she was gone, his resolve could easily waver.
All eyes were on Kakashi.
None of the others knew summoning techniques, so there was little they could do to help.
"So… the plan we made last night has to be completely scrapped," Midorima said helplessly.
No plan could keep up with sudden changes like this.
"What do we do now?" Asuma scratched his head.
Kakashi was the leader of their three-man team. With him absent, Asuma and Kurenai were at a loss.
"For now, we wait for Kakashi's results. If he finds her, we proceed as planned. But if someone is interfering, we'll have to split into two teams. No matter what, everyone should prepare all the weapons and tools they might need—tonight is bound to be eventful!"
After saying this, Midorima turned and left the room.
If Koyuki had truly been kidnapped, the challenges they would face tonight would be far greater than anticipated. They needed to be fully prepared.
Ninjato, kunai, shuriken, explosive tags…
He checked each of his tools meticulously, ensuring everything was in order before stepping out again.
By then, night had fallen. None of the others had an appetite, all anxiously awaiting Kakashi's return.
Just then, a shadow flickered outside—Kakashi appeared in the corridor.
Asuma rushed out and grabbed Kakashi's shoulders. "Well?"
The others followed closely behind.
Kakashi nodded. "I followed the hounds to Dotō's estate. But the security was tight, with too many soldiers and ninjas, so I didn't risk going further in."
"Damn it! Dotō… that bastard! She's just a child! How dare he target her?! Unforgivable!" Sōsetsu cursed furiously.
"How do we rescue her?" Kakashi asked.
They couldn't ignore Koyuki's abduction—especially given how much Sōsetsu cherished her. If she appeared on the battlefield, the entire situation could shift.
"We'll split into two teams—one to rescue Princess Koyuki, the other to protect Lord Sōsetsu. Dotō will likely seize this opportunity. Now that both sides have shed all pretense, there's no reason for him to hold back," Midorima said.
The six of them exchanged glances and nodded in agreement.
After a brief discussion, Kurenai, Mei, and Asuma chose to stay behind to protect Sōsetsu.
Zabuza excelled in reconnaissance and assassination but wasn't as effective in large-scale combat. Kakashi could use summoning techniques to locate Koyuki. As for Midorima, if Koyuki was injured, his medical skills would be crucial.
The infiltration team—Midorima, Kakashi, and Zabuza—faced far greater danger. Sneaking into enemy headquarters meant that if they were discovered, they could easily be overwhelmed.
Joking around was one thing, but being surrounded by enemies was another—they'd be lucky to escape alive.
Mei tugged at Midorima's sleeve. "We don't have to go this far. Even if we fail this S-rank mission, there'll be others."
"I did a divination earlier—I'm not fated to die today," Midorima said with a grin.
Zabuza still had at least seven or eight years left in him, and Kakashi's lifespan was even longer. With them around, how could he possibly die so easily?
"I'm being serious, and you're still joking?!" Mei stamped her foot in frustration.
"So am I," Midorima replied solemnly.
Zabuza chimed in, "I'm in danger too, you know."
Mei shot him a glare. "Shut up."
The others chuckled slightly, easing the tension. In this atmosphere, Midorima and his two companions bid farewell and set off.
Dotō's estate was located at the edge of the city, nestled against a mountain.
Though remote, it was vast, and its mountainous terrain made infiltration difficult.
Guards patrolled vigilantly outside the gates.
Kakashi led the way, circling halfway around the estate before finding a less fortified section.
Zabuza resumed his old trade, silently eliminating several guards, allowing the three of them to slip inside.
Unlike Sōsetsu's residence, the estate showed no signs of heightened alertness. The guards were lax, their complacency almost palpable.
Logically, before launching an attack, one should either fortify defenses or strike with overwhelming force.
But here, there was neither preparation nor urgency.
"Midorima, what do you think?" Zabuza whispered.
"From the outside, it doesn't seem like they're ready for anything. But whether they're lying in wait inside, ready to ambush us, is another question," Midorima replied, taking a deep breath before glancing at Kakashi.
He was the one who had found the path—he would know best what to do next.
Yet everything was proceeding too smoothly, so smoothly that Midorima couldn't shake a sense of unease.
Kakashi summoned a ninja hound, which immediately vanished into the darkness. Without a word, the three of them followed, disappearing into the night.