Chapter 7: The Escalation of Conflict

The intentions of the Cloud Shinobi were unmistakable. They had abducted Hinata to obtain the Hyuga clan’s unique bloodline trait: the Byakugan.

The Byakugan could be considered the world’s most powerful tool for reconnaissance. Not only did it grant its user telescopic and penetrating vision, but it was also nearly devoid of blind spots. The Hyuga clan, well aware that such an ability would inevitably arouse envy and covetousness, had long since devised precautions. Their solution was to brand the foreheads of branch family members with the Caged Bird Seal. Should any of these members be captured or killed, the main family could activate the seal, destroying the Byakugan.

At present, only the main branch—direct descendants—were spared this mark. As the eldest daughter of the clan head, Hiashi Hyuga, Hinata naturally bore no such seal, making her the obvious target for the Cloud Shinobi.

As for the other abducted victim—

“Aki!” The Uchiha member of the Konoha Police Force, seeing his blindfolded and bound comrade, cried out and rushed forward.

This girl, named Aki Uchiha, belonged to the Uchiha clan. Clearly, the ambitions of the Cloud Shinobi extended beyond the Byakugan; they sought to obtain the Uchiha clan’s Sharingan as well.

Both the Hyuga and Uchiha clans searched desperately for the mysterious expert who had defeated the Cloud Shinobi. Yet that expert had already vanished without a trace. With no clues to pursue, the Konoha shinobi could only begin to clear the battlefield and gather the bodies.

Collecting the remains of enemy shinobi was a necessary task—often the information contained within a corpse was more valuable than anything the ninja had revealed in life.

During the process, Hiashi Hyuga failed to notice Hinata’s small, secretive movements. The little girl stole a glance in a certain direction, where Naruto stood atop a rooftop, watching her.

A flush crept across Hinata’s cheeks as she nodded shyly in his direction. In the moment Naruto had saved her, she had glimpsed the truth hidden beneath his illusion. Though she did not yet comprehend the deeper meaning of his power, a faint affection had already blossomed in her heart.

Naruto responded with a nod and a wave. He was surprised at how precocious children in this world could be—Hinata was only three and already experiencing these feelings.

He simply had a fondness for children; in his previous world, he had always gone to great lengths to protect the innocent on the battlefield.

Seeing Naruto return her greeting, Hinata bashfully hid herself in her father’s embrace.

…

Days later, the aftermath of the incident continued to spread.

The Fourth Raikage, A, was furious upon learning that the leader of his dispatched shinobi had perished in the Hidden Leaf Village. His stance was uncompromising, yet he made no mention of the attempted abduction of the Hyuga heiress or the Uchiha clan member. Instead, he fixated solely on the death of his shinobi leader.

A insisted that the team he had sent to the Land of Fire was a diplomatic mission, dispatched to celebrate the Hyuga heiress’s third birthday. Righteously, he argued that even in wartime, envoys should not be harmed, let alone during an era of peace. That a delegation bearing gifts should die mysteriously in Konoha was, he claimed, not only an insult to the Cloud Village, but also a contemptuous affront to the military might of the Land of Lightning—an offense that reached even to the daimyo himself.

In the prevailing atmosphere of “the vassal must die for the insult to his lord,” the Cloud Village united in outrage, swearing to restore their honor.

Under A’s personal command, the Cloud Shinobi quickly mustered a formidable force, assembling on the border of the Land of Fire. More than ten jonin, a hundred chunin, and over six hundred genin, all bristling with murderous intent, shouted their resolve to make the Land of Fire pay a heavy price.

This action immediately drew the wary attention of every nation. Some sent additional shinobi to reinforce their borders; those without shinobi deployed samurai and infantry, racing to the frontier to prevent the Cloud Village from escalating the conflict.

Even as they braced themselves, these nations expressed their scorn for the Fourth Raikage’s conduct in private:

“The news only broke a few days ago, and he’s already assembled such a vast army at the border? If this wasn’t premeditated, what was? The Raikage is simply looking for an excuse to launch an invasion.”

Though the Cloud army numbered fewer than eight hundred, even a genin could wreak havoc among ordinary soldiers. With the addition of chunin and jonin, this force could easily annihilate one or two smaller countries.

Within the grand audience chamber of the Tenshukaku, where the daimyo of the Land of Fire resided, the atmosphere was tense and solemn. Surrounded by his retainers, the daimyo lounged seemingly at ease against an armrest, but his face was grim, his eyes sharp as they bored into the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, who sat before him.

“Sarutobi,” the daimyo began.

“Yes, Your Excellency.” Hiruzen placed both hands on the floor and bowed with utmost respect.

“How many years have you led the shinobi of Konoha in service to our country?”

The daimyo’s folding fan tapped gently against his chin.

“It has been seventeen years,” Hiruzen replied, lowering his head, his expression hidden in shadow.

“Seventeen years…” The daimyo gazed up at the ceiling, his eyes drifting past Hiruzen’s shoulder toward the distant mountains and dense forests. After a long sigh, he lowered his head once more, his gaze settling on Hiruzen.

“Sarutobi, have I not treated the shinobi of Konoha well? I believe I have never failed you—would you agree?”

“Your Excellency, you have indeed been generous to the Hidden Leaf. Not only have you exempted us from the head tax and corvée labor, but you also provide regular funding and encourage the release of missions for our shinobi. Konoha is profoundly grateful for your kindness.”

Hiruzen’s words were steady and unruffled, his expression and tone betraying no trace of emotion.

The other retainers listened closely, their eyes respectfully lowered, not daring to make a sound. In their hearts, they knew the so-called head tax was a levy on each person, and corvée labor was forced service. They may have wished to impose such duties on Konoha’s shinobi, but lacked the power to do so.

The daimyo, seemingly oblivious to his vassals’ subtle expressions, continued:

“This diplomatic incident has gravely shaken the stability and reputation of the Land of Fire. The Fourth Raikage of the Cloud Village, A, has assembled his army at the border, demanding we surrender the so-called culprit. The daimyo of the Land of Lightning has also dispatched an ambassador to hold us accountable. If we cannot resolve this matter properly, it could lead to war—a catastrophe we must avoid at all costs.”

There was an unmistakable authority and resolve in the daimyo’s voice.

Hiruzen’s composure did not waver, but deep within his gaze an unspoken worry flickered. He understood that this event was anything but ordinary; mishandled, it would not only devastate the Hidden Leaf, but might well engulf the entire Land of Fire.

He could sense the daimyo’s unspoken meaning—hand over the perpetrator to quell the crisis.

Yet the dilemma remained: the so-called culprit responsible for this incident was someone he could not surrender.

For in truth, Hiruzen Sarutobi had absolutely no idea who had carried out the deed.