Late at night, under a sky as clear as the night of the Nine-Tails Rebellion, Kirito stood silently in an alley, looking in the direction of the Hyuga Clan's compound. Two unconscious Hyuga ninjas lay hidden nearby, their pursuit of him having ended abruptly.
I wonder if Hiashi took the warning seriously, Kirito thought.
He knew the Cloud envoys' scheme was imminent—if not tonight, then soon. Their plan to kidnap Hinata could unfold at any moment during their short stay in Konoha.
Kirito's approach was twofold: warn the Hyuga Clan so they could preempt the plot, or intervene if they failed to stop it. His goal was clear—prevent any evidence of Hyuga involvement from remaining if he had to take action. Either way, the result would ensure Cloud's plan failed, leaving no leverage against Konoha.
After securing the unconscious Hyuga ninjas out of sight, Kirito made his way toward the Hyuga Clan's compound. Through his Byakugan, he observed several Hyuga ninjas patrolling the perimeter of Hinata's room.
Good. Better to err on the side of caution.
Though the clan's vigilance reassured him, Kirito decided to keep a distant watch just in case. With his enhanced stamina and chakra control, going without sleep for days wouldn't faze him.
As the hours passed, the night deepened. The patrolling ninjas began to show signs of fatigue when an uninvited guest appeared.
A man in black slipped into the compound, moving with precision to avoid the patrols. Unfortunately for him, the Hyuga's Byakugan rendered such stealth futile. The patrolling ninjas quickly detected the intruder and began to surround him.
Realizing he'd been spotted, the man in black abandoned stealth and engaged the Hyuga guards. The commotion drew reinforcements, escalating into a chaotic battle. From the lightning-based jutsu employed, Kirito immediately identified the intruders as Cloud ninjas.
As expected, Kirito thought. They wouldn't come without a backup plan.
He soon noticed a second Cloud ninja burrowing underground, bypassing the battle entirely. This ambusher emerged directly beneath Hinata's room and swiftly abducted the sleeping girl, escaping as the Hyuga clan's attention remained on the frontal skirmish.
Typical. No wonder Cloud succeeded in the original timeline.
The Hyuga clan soon realized Hinata was missing, but their efforts to track her were hindered by the Cloud ninjas who stayed behind to delay them. By the time they began their pursuit, Hinata and her captor were already outside the compound.
Time to act, Kirito decided.
Placing Little Leopard atop his head, Kirito activated his Byakugan to locate the fleeing Cloud ninja. Once locked onto his position, Kirito opened a dark spatial rift beside him using Yomotsu Hirasaka and stepped through, vanishing into the void.
The Cloud ninja emerged from the ground just outside Konoha, holding the unconscious Hinata under his arm.
Once I'm beyond the village's perimeter, I'll be home free, he thought. Success meant securing the Byakugan for Cloud, and if Konoha retaliated by killing his comrades, it would only strengthen Cloud's bargaining position in the ongoing peace talks.
His lips curled into a smirk beneath his mask. The Hyuga's vigilance had been unusual, but in the end, it hadn't mattered. He focused on evading pursuit when suddenly a silver-white figure appeared in his path.
Startled, the ninja raised his arm to block, but the figure struck with such force that it sent him skidding several meters backward.
"Leave the girl," Kirito said, his voice cold. "Or leave your body."
Wearing a makeshift mask to conceal his identity, Kirito's silver hair and pale skin glowed under the moonlight. His Byakugan gleamed, further confirming his identity to the Cloud ninja.
"So, the Hyuga clan sends a child without a Caged Bird Seal? Pathetic," the ninja sneered. "No matter. You'll make an excellent addition alongside her."
With one hand, he began weaving signs. "Lightning Style: Lightning Fang!"
Electric arcs surged toward Kirito, but he remained motionless, extending his left hand. The lightning dissipated harmlessly upon contact with his palm, leaving the Cloud ninja stunned.
Realizing the boy wasn't an ordinary opponent, the ninja tried again. "Wind Style: Great Breakthrough!" He unleashed a powerful gust, hoping to knock Kirito back and gain distance.
Kirito simply waved his hand, dispersing the gale instantly. Before the ninja could react, Kirito raised his right hand. A gravitational pull yanked the ninja toward him, leaving him helplessly airborne.
"What is this?!" the ninja shouted in alarm.
As he hurtled toward Kirito, a black rod extended from Kirito's palm, piercing the ninja's abdomen. The sharp pain and disruption to his chakra system rendered him powerless, causing him to drop Hinata.
Kirito caught the girl gently before turning back to his adversary. "Little Leopard," he said calmly, "send him to the heavens."
The small creature leapt from Kirito's head, wrapping its claws around the ninja and hurling him high into the air. Gathering a concentrated orb of chakra in its mouth, Little Leopard unleashed a miniature Tailed Beast Bomb. The glowing sphere struck the airborne ninja, carrying him higher before detonating in a blinding explosion.
The explosion illuminated Konoha like daylight, shaking the village with its intensity. Windows shattered, and the sleeping villagers awoke in panic, memories of the Nine-Tails Rebellion resurfacing.
At the Hokage's office, Hiruzen Sarutobi was already receiving reports.
"An explosion of unknown origin occurred at high altitude over the village," an Anbu agent reported. "No casualties have been confirmed yet."
"Check on Naruto immediately," Hiruzen ordered. "Ensure his safety at all costs."
"Yes, Lord Hokage."
Another Anbu agent entered the room. "Lord Hokage, the Hyuga clan has reported that a Cloud ninja attempted to abduct the clan leader's daughter. She is currently being pursued."
"What?!" Hiruzen exclaimed, standing abruptly. "Assemble a team. I will head to the Hyuga compound personally. Send reinforcements to join the pursuit."
Meanwhile, Hiashi arrived at the scene of Kirito's battle. The charred ground and scattered debris told the story of a fierce confrontation. At the center, he found Hinata, still under the effects of a sleeping genjutsu but unharmed.
Cradling his daughter, Hiashi scanned the area with his Byakugan. Though the surroundings were eerily quiet, the evidence of the battle left him with one question:
"Who could have done this?"
(End of Chapter 7)