**Chapter 451: First Kill**

As Yasuda Akiyuki entered the valley, he didn't hesitate and immediately divided the team into three parts. 

He then ordered two of the Mist's Jonin to each lead a squad through the forests on both sides of the valley.

He himself led the main force through the middle of the valley.

This way, even if there was an ambush from the Leaf in the valley, the squads on both sides could buy the main force enough time and space to react.

This showed that Yasuda Akiyuki was not a reckless man.

His arrangement proved effective.

Just as they reached the center of the valley, Sano Nobuhisa gave the order to attack.

Immediately, the Leaf ninjas hiding on both sides revealed themselves, rushing out of their hiding spots under the lead of their Jonin, attacking the Mist ninjas in the valley.

However, because of the obstruction from the Mist squads on both sides, they couldn't reach the main force, which reduced the element of surprise in the attack.

As a result, Yasuda Akiyuki could calmly give orders.

But his first order wasn't to have the Mist ninjas in the valley support their comrades on the wings. Instead, he instructed someone to report the situation to the team advancing from the sea, urging them to move quickly and attack the Black Stone stronghold at full speed.

After the message was sent, he finally split his forces to support the allies in the forest on both sides of the valley.

With their support, the Mist ninjas, who had been retreating, immediately stopped falling back, holding their position halfway up the hill.

The scene quickly became chaotic, with all kinds of sounds filling the air.

The clash of kunai rang out, explosive tags detonated with thunderous booms, and the painful cries of wounded ninjas echoed through the valley.

The entire place was anything but quiet!

When Seimei arrived, this was the scene he witnessed.

With a thought, Seimei dispelled his Shadow Clone Technique.

Ahead of him, the shadow clone flying towards him disappeared instantly.

A flood of memories poured into his mind.

In an instant, Seimei understood the sequence of events and the task that Sano Nobuhisa had assigned to him.

"To be the muscle, huh."

Seimei muttered softly, his expression unchanged.

He wasn't surprised. When he was pulled into this ambush mission, he had already guessed the other's intention: they wanted his combat power.

Now, being asked to deal with the enemy's high-level fighters was only natural.

He had accepted this from the start.

Otherwise, he wouldn't have come.

With that thought, Seimei lowered his altitude, scanned the battlefield, and locked onto two Mist Jonin who were attacking a Leaf Jonin.

Judging from their movements, one of them was truly a Jonin, while the other was likely just a Special Jonin.

Without hesitation, he dove toward the Special Jonin.

Though it takes time to describe, all this happened in an instant.

But even in that brief moment, the enemy reacted.

With a swish, the Mist ninja threw a kunai straight at Seimei's heart.

"A sensory-type ninja, huh."

Seimei muttered, tilting his body slightly to dodge the kunai.

Without hesitation, he threw several shuriken, either to block the enemy's escape routes or to aim at vital points.

He was forcing the opponent into a dead end.

But the Mist ninja didn't panic, quickly drawing a kunai from his waist to deflect one of the incoming shuriken.

Then, with a flicker of movement, he narrowly avoided the rest of the shuriken.

By now, Seimei was sure this guy was a Special Jonin with excellent sensory skills. Otherwise, there was no way he could have dodged so easily.

But thinking he could escape was wishful thinking.

The distance between them closed rapidly, and when they were less than five meters apart, Seimei drew his long sword and, using the momentum of his dive, slashed at the enemy.

*Clang!*

A sharp sound of metal echoed, lingering in the air.

Nagase Ichirō felt his arm go numb. Even though he had used a technique to absorb some of the impact, leaving spiderweb cracks on the ground, he still couldn't fully block Seimei's strike.

*Drip, drip...*

Blood trickled down Seimei's blade.

Nagase Ichirō glanced at the shallow cut on his shoulder, his face growing serious.

He pushed off the ground with all his might, launching himself backward like a bullet.

Seeing this, Seimei instantly dispelled his Wind Release: Wind Wings and, with a flash of blue light around him, used his Swift Sword Technique to chase after him.

*Clang!*

The sound of metal clashing rang out again.

Seimei's sword struck Nagase Ichirō's kunai, forcing him back several more stumbling steps.

As the saying goes, "Strike while the iron is hot."

Seimei wasted no time, immediately stepping forward and swinging his sword again, aiming for the man's neck.

A cold sensation crept over Nagase Ichirō's neck, and without hesitation, he raised his kunai to block.

*Clang!*

Another sharp metallic sound echoed.

But this time, the sound was brief. Almost as soon as the sword and kunai collided, Seimei withdrew his sword.

Then, with a diagonal upward slash, he made his real move.

Feeling the lethal intent coming from Seimei's blade and seeing the tip of the sword closing in, Nagase Ichirō felt his breath catch.

Fortunately, his exceptional sensory abilities saved him.

At the last moment, he leaned back just enough to avoid having his throat slit by Seimei's blade.

However, while he kept his life, avoiding injury was impossible.

With a sharp sound, Seimei's sword slashed across Nagase Ichirō's face, leaving a diagonal cut from his left chin to his right eye.

The burning pain hit him, but Nagase Ichirō couldn't afford to check his wound, as Seimei was already attacking again.

Unable to face him head-on, Nagase Ichirō could only wave his kunai in defense while retreating.

*Thud!*

At a certain point, Nagase Ichirō felt a sharp pain in his back.

Glancing over his shoulder, he saw a crooked tree blocking his retreat.

With Seimei's blade approaching fast, Nagase Ichirō ducked under a thick branch at the last second.

Though the branch was sliced cleanly in two by Seimei's sword, it bought Nagase Ichirō precious time.

He quickly formed seals at a speed he'd never achieved before, and just as Seimei's blade was about to land, he used the Substitution Technique.

*Splat!*

A splash of water fell to the ground.

Seimei expressionlessly withdrew his sword.

Then, with a flash of blue light, he used the Swift Sword Technique once again.

**The End of the Chapter.**