Talk no jutsu

Even if you kill me... I will never betray my comrades!

Hinata's Byakugan was closed, but her stubborn gaze, aura, and determination were even more intense than during the battle!

Those eyes seemed to say, even death... could not change her will!

As if he had heard a huge joke, Dou disregarded his feigned harmless image and burst into wild laughter.

"Hinata- nee, how utterly childish you are! It's both laughable and pathetic! Someone like you would be brainwashed by the so-called Will of Fire, and still keep saying you wouldn't betray your comrades..."

The laughter gradually subsided, and Dou said coldly.

"If I remember correctly, Hinata, the reason you went to the Ninja Academy to become an ordinary ninja is because you've already been abandoned by the Hyuga Clan, right? As the eldest sister of the Hyuga Clan's Main Family, you're forced to risk your life as an ordinary ninja. You've already been completely betrayed, yet you still clamor that you'll never betray your comrades. You've really been thoroughly brainwashed. You've been sold out, yet you're still willing to risk your life for someone else."

Kabuto mocked the girl mercilessly, attempting to sway her resolve. He stared intently into Hinata's white eyes, searching for any hint of confusion that might appear at any moment.

He had seen far too many people change their beliefs and cross their own bottom lines in the face of life and death, especially young ninjas whose worldviews and values were not yet stable. When faced with death, many people would reveal their true thoughts or change their principles.

Even ants try to survive!

Kabuto believed that someone like Hinata, who had been betrayed by her clan, was easily swayed.

He pressed closer and closer.

"What Will of Fire? What protecting comrades? Enough already. Most fools who took it seriously are dead. You don't want to be the next one, do you? Do you even know how White Fang of Konoha died back then?"

Dou sneered and suddenly raised his voice.

"Konoha, which prides itself on valuing the bonds of comrades above all else, drove its most arrogant member to suicide through rumors and gossip just because White Fang chose to save his teammates! I wonder what the Third Hokage, whom you revere and who constantly spoke of the Will of Fire, was doing when he died? The one who told you to value your comrades."

Hinata lowered her eyes subconsciously. She had heard a little about the White Fang incident, a painful dark history of Konoha, which Kabuto had ruthlessly exposed to the light of day. She was speechless.

Kabuto didn't embellish the story; his part was indeed true, at least that was the village's version of events, so Hinata couldn't refute it.

"Hinata- neechan, can you tell me why this is?"

A highly sarcastic smile appeared on his face.

Hinata bit her bloodless lower lip, remaining silent. Compared to combat, Hinata's verbal skills were extremely rudimentary. Clumsy and earnest, she couldn't make her enemies feel ashamed and repent with just a few passionate words like Naruto, nor could she arrogantly ignore what others said like Sakura.

Kabuto's unbridled contempt for Konoha, both extremely annoying and incredibly persistent, seeped into her ears.

And it sounds very reasonable.

Regardless of the truth behind it, the Konoha High Command undoubtedly played a disgraceful role in the White Fang's suicide, severely deviating from the principles Konoha had upheld since its founding. It's truly chilling that such a powerful figure who made so many contributions to Konoha met such an end. As a young girl who had only recently graduated and was just beginning to encounter the dark side of Konoha, it's difficult to know how she should evaluate such a cruel and dark history.

Dou continued talking.

"You might not know much about White Fang's situation, so let me tell you about something you experienced yourself! You probably remember the time you were kidnapped, right? Back then, ninjas from the Land of Lightning broke into your house and kidnapped you in order to obtain the Byakugan. Then your father discovered it and killed you. As a result, Konoha killed your father's younger brother as an apology to the Land of Lightning!"

"Hahaha! Konoha, who keeps saying we're all family, not only did they not protect their own families, but they Hyuga Hiashi Hyuga's brother's life to apologize to the enemy for protecting his family, thus securing a wretched peace! Heh heh heh, the Lord Hokage and the Konoha High Command are nothing but a bunch of cowardly parasites sucking blood from the Konoha Ninja!"

"Is such a hypocritical and dark village worthy of your loyalty?"

"Tell me where Sasuke is, then leave this land where evil flowers bloom and live freely, wouldn't that be better?"

"As long as you're willing to step down from Sasuke's position, I guarantee I won't harm you. You can leave safely, and you can even join Lord Orochimaru's ninja village with me! I'm only interested in Sasuke; you can completely trust my promise. I won't hurt you!"

Kabuto gazed at Hinata with a sincere and seductive look, as if he hadn't just been fighting Hinata death, as if he had suddenly transformed into a selfless young Lei Feng always thought of others.

If the target of both enticement and coercion is a fool like Mizuki, or someone else who is extremely attached to their life and would stop at nothing to survive, then Kabuto should have already succeeded.

However, Hinata felt nauseous seeing a spy who threatened Konoha suddenly pretending to be kind to her. She had already come to terms with Kabuto's words.

Perhaps! Konoha does indeed have many problems.

But this is her home. A child doesn't despise their mother for being ugly. Konoha has its dark side, but that's no reason to defect. It only shows that the Konoha Ninja who yearn for the light still have a lot to do. They must strive to change those unreasonable systems and eliminate the dark and corrupt things. As long as they have power in their hands and light in their hearts, it's not something out of reach.

Most importantly, this is where she has bonds, close friends she can entrust her life to, a boy she secretly likes, teachers, family, and companions. These are the people she acknowledges and who acknowledge her, the people she is willing to protect with her life!

The Will of Fire was not a lie; within these bonds, Hinata truly felt that warmth.

Betraying one's comrades and becoming a traitor—how could one face the eyes of those she cared about? It was a feeling worse than death. Not to mention the constant fear and anxiety after defecting; it was anything but freedom.

She would rather die here than face such an end.

This is what the girl truly thinks.

With this in mind, Hinata had already made up her mind.

Indeed, Kabuto's words sounded reasonable, but Hinata believed that Kabuto, as a spy, was absolutely untrustworthy; he was simply trying to lure her into betraying her comrades. If Sakura were here, she would surely have quickly discovered Kabuto's flaws and then used harsh words to berate the enemy! Unfortunately, it was she who was facing Kabuto. Hinata helplessly closed her eyes; not only could she not beat him, but she was also no match for his verbal sparring.

Hinata had heard from Sakura that Orochimaru desperately wanted the Sharingan, so if Sasuke were captured by Kabuto, he would surely die! When she realized Kabuto was following her, she understood this and deliberately adjusted her pace, deviating from Sasuke's direction. Soon, Kabuto realized Hinata was intentionally circling around and that he had been discovered. He then revealed himself and fought her, intending to threaten Hinata with her life to reveal Sasuke's location.

At this point, Kabuto had already made his point clear; there was no other way out but to betray Sasuke.

Hinata, having silently made up her mind, already knew how to answer.

She raised her left hand, which felt as heavy as a thousand pounds.

"Alright... the direction you want Sasuke to go is over there."

The girl said calmly.

Dou's face suddenly turned ashen.

"Stop joking, that's the direction I came from... Hinata- neechan!"

"Heh heh, maybe Sasuke has already returned to Konoha, who knows?" Hinata serious face now showed a hint of sarcasm.

"My patience is finite, Hinata! This is my last chance. Where is Sasuke?"

The fake smile on his face finally vanished completely, replaced by a sinister murderous aura. That intense murderous intent made it clear that if Hinata refused to give the correct answer again, he would show her no mercy!

However, Hinata's answer ultimately disappointed Kabuto.

"I've crossed that line. My principle is to never betray my comrades. To live up to that principle—that's my Ninja Way!"

Dou finally realized that this stubborn girl, who could be described as having a blockhead, would not give him a satisfactory answer.

He may never understand Hinata's thoughts, or what sacrifice means, but that no longer matters.

"Hinata, since you're so determined... I'll grant your wish!"

He took a deep breath, his Chakra surging once more, unleashing the full power of his Doki Manipulation Technique. Countless ninja tools— Kunai, Shuriken, short blades, barbed wire, long swords, and so on—tens, hundreds, even thousands of them—floated in mid-air under his Chakra manipulation, densely packed, forming a semi-circle around Hinata, poised to strike the girl at the center!

Compared to his previous attack, which had deliberately depleted his stamina, Kabuto's all-out assault was completely incomparable in power! With just one glance, Hinata understood with dismay—

She absolutely cannot stop her.

The next attack will be her death sentence!

He gripped the Kunai, then helplessly released it. Faced with certain death, since resistance was futile, there was no point in resisting anymore.

The number of ninja tools floating in mid-air is still increasing.

Before the shot landed, Kabuto asked one last question.

"Hinata- neechan, before you die, I have a question... Why did you insist on your principles even though you had already accepted my laws? Were you really that blindly loyal?"

Hinata wore a complex smile.

"Blind loyalty... Kabuto, as a spy, you probably can't understand what bonds are, right? Infiltrating Konoha, you probably don't have teachers who care about you, comrades you can entrust your back to, or family members with whom you share blood ties, right?"

"People become strong and fearless when they want to protect those they care about. I used to be weak and insecure, but I've changed a lot now... This feeling is something someone like you, all alone, can probably never understand or comprehend!"

For a fleeting moment, Kabuto fell silent. Perhaps Hinata's words stirred up distant memories, or perhaps he was trying to understand what Hinata meant. He remained silent, the reflection from his glasses obscuring his eyes, making it impossible to discern his thoughts.

Perhaps, even someone like Dou still retains a sliver of softness deep within his heart?

However, being a skilled spy, Kabuto quickly recovered from that brief moment of distraction, regained his composure, and put his thick mask back on. He gave a cold laugh, then forcefully swung his hand!

The ninja tools flying in mid-air suddenly rained down like a storm!

Am I going to die?

The girl instinctively crossed her arms to protect her head, her face pale, and closed her eyes, awaiting the moment of death.

"Huh?"

Hinata noticed that the pain of being riddled with holes by ninja tools was slow to come. She quietly opened one eye and saw a thin, pale blue water shield protecting her. The barrage of ninja tools was blocked by it without any power!

She was saved. She immediately realized that only that person could use this strange and unusual Water Release!

She's here.

The next moment, a silver line shot out from somewhere in the forest, drawing a fan shape in mid-air, slicing everything it encountered— Doki, trees, rocks, iron ninja tools, and even Kabuto standing in front of Hinata —in two without any hindrance, as if cutting tofu!

Water Release: Wind Blade Torrent!

At that moment, Sakura Haruno's voice, as she used Ninjutsu, drifted leisurely from the forest.

(PS: The new Ninjutsu name is used because this is the third stage of the Water Gun Technique, and a new name was chosen to distinguish it.)