"After entering the Land of Water, we were pursued by a ninja squad led by Iwagakure Jonin, Bunga... How should I put it... As it stands, it seems that Kirigakure only has Konoha left as an option!"
"Well... this mission can be considered a complete success!"
In the Hokage's Office, Kakashi, as the team leader for this mission, gave a rambling report on the mission.
Tsunade remained expressionless throughout.
Although Tsunade could learn about the entire process of the mission through the mission report, Kakashi's attitude still made her somewhat unhappy.
That's so annoying!
"Everyone has worked hard, go back and get some rest!"
"Yes!"
Everyone left the Hokage's Office one by one, Hinata and Shizune stayed behind to help Tsunade with village affairs.
Tsunade picked up the mission report and started flipping through it.
Behind the Land of Water incident lies an extremely complex international relationship. It seems that Iwagakure and Kumogakure have reached an agreement, and their goal is to seize Hinata's Byakugan.
At least that's how it appears on the surface.
However, Kumogakure arrived a step too late, seemingly intending to observe the conflict between Konoha and Iwagakure before reaping the benefits.
However, the sudden intervention of Kirigakure caused the complete collapse of Kumogakure's plans. Iwagakure, having underestimated Hinata's strength, also paid a heavy price with the annihilation of its entire force.
Two points can be seen from this incident.
First, the conflict between Iwagakure and Kumogakure remains. After this incident, it is inevitable that the major Shinobi Village will suspect each other, and there is almost no possibility of them forming an alliance.
Secondly, in order to resolve the conflict between the Three Great Shinobi Villages, Mei Terumi dispatched Anbu to intercept Kumogakure, and eventually even took matters into her own hands to mediate the conflict between Konoha and Iwagakure.
If Mei Terumi's plan succeeds, she could even facilitate a four-way meeting, allowing Kirigakure to appear before the Shinobi World with a brand new look.
However, Hinata's annihilation of the Stone Ninja thieves thwarted all of Mei Terumi's plans.
That's why Mei Terumi finds Hinata so annoying.
The Kumogakure Stone Ninja died within the Land of Water, and the Kirigakure. In effect, the Kirigakure offended two ninja villages at once.
Perhaps in Ōnoki's view, one of the reasons for the annihilation of the Stone Ninja was that the Kirigakure intercepted the Hidden Cloud Village.
Therefore, in the short term, it seems that Kirigakure only has Konoha as an option.
Choosing Konoha is tantamount to choosing an alliance between Konoha and Sand Village, which is good news for Konoha.
Furthermore, in the mission report, Kakashi and the other Jonin collectively believed that Kirigakure under Mei Terumi's rule was more credible than Iwagakure and Kumogakure.
However, despite the joy of Konoha's resounding victory, the situation in the Shinobi World still harbors hidden dangers.
Hinata's Byakugan might have been the prerequisite for attracting Iwagakure and Kumogakure to join forces, but Stone Ninja's Fugai set his sights on Kakashi.
Kakashi, as Hinata's Hinata assigned Jonin, may have some value in his identity.
However, Kakashi's value is only truly realized when Hinata doesn't personally show up.
If the target of Iwagakure and Hidden Cloud Village is Hinata's Byakugan, then why are they attacking Kakashi now that Hinata has already appeared?
Tsunade wanted to ask Ōnoki and Raikage A some questions, because there were too many doubts about their orders.
However, this inquiry was tantamount to admitting that Konoha had annihilated the Stone Ninja.
The likely consequence would be that Iwagakure would directly turn against Konoha.
Therefore, Tsunade could not ask, even though she had many doubts in her heart. She could only investigate secretly through the power of Konoha.
As long as Konoha and Kirigakure don't acknowledge Iwagakure's involvement, Ōnoki won't be able to utter a single word.
Hinata stood behind Tsunade and saw the entire contents of the mission report.
This includes the things Kakashi and Asuma secretly discussed, deliberately away from Hinata.
Hmph! Do these two idiots not know that I, Otsutsuki Hinata, am the Hokage's secretary?
Still trying to hide it from me?
Kakashi believes that there is a hidden force in the Shinobi World that plans to use Hinata's Byakugan to incite hostility between the Five Great Shinobi Villages in order to achieve their own ulterior motives.
The purpose of this force seems to be to lure Hinata into darkness, or to make her hostile to Konoha and the established order of the Ninja World.
Kakashi used this as a basis for his judgment, guessing that Hinata might have even more special abilities hidden within her.
Hinata's Byakugan Dojutsu power is indeed very strong, far surpassing that of ordinary Hyuga Clan ninjas. Even Hyuga Hiashi cannot compare to Hinata.
The abilities of the ordinary Byakugan are manifested in three aspects: telescopic vision, X-ray vision, and insightful vision.
Hinata's Byakugan, however, can see through the seals inside the Jinchuriki's body and perceive the Jinchuriki Tailed Beasts within him.
Many people are misled by this appearance and simply believe that Hinata's Dojutsu power is very strong.
But if we analyze it further, what makes Hinata able to cooperate with Nine-Tails?
Hinata's Byakugan serves the same purpose as Jinchuriki can also communicate with the Tailed Beasts while sealed.
However, Nine-Tails's sense of identification with Hinata is different.
It's almost fair to say they obey without question.
Therefore, Kakashi believes that Hinata's uniqueness is actually greater than the uniqueness of Hinata Byakugan.
Tsunade placed the mission report on her desk, turned her chair to Hinata, and asked, "After reading Kakashi's analysis, do you have anything to say?"
Hinata asked, bewildered, "I didn't expect Teacher Kakashi to know me so well... What does he usually think about?"
Hinata shuddered, feeling that Kakashi's repressed and eccentric thoughts were rather unhealthy.
Tsunade heard Jiraiya's report that Hinata gained Nine-Tails's approval by exchanging fists with Nine-Tails and using the spiritual energy contained in Chakra to understand each other's thoughts.
This seems simple enough.
However, Naruto also went to the sewers where the Nine-Tails was sealed, wanting to punch the Nine-Tails, but the Nine-Tails didn't even look up and said one word: Get lost!
Therefore, Hinata must possess some unique qualities.
Hinata scratched her face, then a sudden thought struck her, and she exclaimed, "Could it be because I fought the Nine-Tails?"
Tsunade looked completely bewildered. "You've fought the Nine-Tails?"
Hinata nodded. "Yes! It was during the Third Match of the Chunin Ninja Exams, in the battle between Naruto and me."
"Naruto used the Nine-Tails 'Chakra during the battle. I used the Dojutsu power of my Byakugan to follow the Nine-Tails 'Chakra and found a loophole in the seal, which allowed me to see the Nine-Tails."
"However, we were still fighting at the time, so I used pressure point techniques to attack the Nine-Tails through a loophole in the seal..."
"It looks like the Nine-Tails got really badly beaten!"
Tsunade: "..."
Tsunade had also read the report of that battle, but because Hinata's Byakugan was too powerful, Tsunade overlooked some key information.
Hinata's Chakra can suppress the Nine-Tails!
Or rather... it's about suppressing the Tailed Beasts.
This is a level of power that is strong.
Just as Hashirama Senju could easily suppress Tailed Beasts with his Wood Release, Madara Uchiha could also control Tailed Beasts with the Dojutsu power of his Mangekyō Sharingan.
This is a level that completely overwhelms the Tailed Beasts in terms of power.