At the same time, in the palace where the Twelve Guardian Ninja resided.
The news of the attackers was relayed.
"What? A team of Ninjas is heading straight for the Daimyo Mansion? Who has such audacity?"
Hearing the messenger's words, Sarutobi Asuma was very angry.
As a practitioner of the Two Jewels philosophy, he believed the Land of Fire's Daimyo was supreme.
Now that someone actually dared to offend the Land of Fire's Daimyo he considered supreme… it made Asuma feel even more furious than if his own father were killed!
"Chiriku, let's go!" Asuma said, about to pull his monk friend beside him.
However, being pulled by Asuma, Chiriku showed hesitation in his eyes.
"Asuma, maybe we shouldn't go..."
"What's wrong, Chiriku? Why?" Asuma looked over in confusion.
As one of the Twelve Guardian Ninja, protecting the Daimyo was their duty. How could they not go?
Hearing Asuma's words, Chiriku also looked at him helplessly: "Asuma, do you really not know anything?"
"Know what?" Hearing Chiriku's words, Asuma was even more puzzled.
With their relationship, should there be hesitation?
"Chiriku, don't speak in riddles with me. If there's something, just say it!" Asuma asked.
"…"
Chiriku heaved a heavy sigh.
Originally, he thought Asuma knew something. After all, as a monk of the Fire Temple, he was once closely connected with Konoha's Senju, and had dealings with Konoha even now.
Many times, Konoha's civilian Jonin would choose to retire and settle at the Fire Temple.
Therefore, they knew about the dangerous ideological trends currently surging in the Ninja World.
However, as a temple that could stand for a thousand years without falling, the Fire Temple certainly had its own choices.
Regarding Konoha's possible actions, the Fire Temple kept it very secret, only telling the next abbot, Chiriku, some things.
Chiriku originally thought his friend, the foolish son of the Hokage, Asuma, knew. But it turned out the foolish son was just a foolish son… he didn't know at all.
Seeing this, Chiriku also had to explain.
"That is to say, the Five Kage plan to abolish the Daimyo System...!"
Chiriku stared closely at Asuma's eyes: "Asuma, do you really not know anything at all?"
"What!!?"
"Abolish the Daimyo System? How is that possible, Chiriku?"
Hearing Chiriku's words, Asuma's pupils constricted, looking very shocked.
He understood Chiriku's meaning. After all, his own father was the Hokage. But regarding this matter, he truly didn't know.
Otherwise, he would definitely have reported it to the Land of Fire's Daimyo.
Because he, Sarutobi Asuma, was precisely such a rebel!
Of course, there was no need to tell Chiriku this.
Looking at his close friend's eyes, Asuma also somewhat understood. Chiriku's unwillingness to act was because he guessed the current situation.
Regarding the strength comparison, Chiriku was very clear. Perhaps no one was clearer than his Fire Temple.
However, Asuma was different.
"Bastards! The Daimyo is the crucial Jewel of the Ninja World. Wanting to replace the Jewel, how can that be?"
"Chiriku, come! We are the Twelve Guardian Ninja. We receive salary from Daimyo-sama. If we don't fight for him at such a time, wouldn't we become disloyal, unjust, and unfilial people?"
Pulling the somewhat reluctant Chiriku, Asuma charged towards the front lines.
At this time, the faster-arriving members of the Twelve Guardian Ninja had already reached.
Unlike Chiriku, who knew inside information, they didn't know who was behind the current army, and Kakashi hadn't left any survivors.
As for the guard commander who came to request protection, he certainly wouldn't talk about the attackers' terrifying strength!
Thus, the arriving Twelve Guardian Ninja only thought this was a group of extremely audacious villains.
As for the guards who were beaten to a pulp?
That was too normal. With ordinary people's strength, even if they were soldiers, as long as they lacked Chakra, facing a Ninja Army was simply slaughter.
So, looking at the billowing smoke and dust ahead, a member of Twelve Guardian Ninja shouted loudly:
"Who are you, petty villains, daring to cause trouble in our Land of Fire's capital? Stop right there!"
"Wind Release: Great Breakthrough!"
Forming hand seals, the Twelve Guardian Ninja's member blew hard, sending a howling gale forward. Under the gale's effect, the smoke dispersed, revealing Kakashi and the others' figures.
"Hmm, such attire, I haven't seen it before. Are they some family's death squad?"
Looking at the 2nd Division's members wrapped entirely in black cloth, the Twelve Guardian Ninja's member was very puzzled.
He wasn't familiar with these Onmitsukido's attire.
However, this Twelve Guardian Ninja's member was very familiar with the silver-haired kid in the middle of the group, who is not wearing typical Ninja World's attire.
After all, Kakashi was a well-known genius in the Ninja World.
"Hatake Kakashi?"
Looking at Kakashi, the Twelve Guardian Ninja's member was very shocked: "Why are you here?"
"Oh, right, Konoha said you were missing. So, Kakashi, after leaving Konoha, you came to attack the Land of Fire's capital? How could you be so unwise?"