The Real Black-on-Black Robbery

Time rewound to before Hyuga Kei's Sealing Room was attacked.

The three Shadow Clones outside watched several Konoha-dressed ninja deceive the outer patrols and sneakily hide nearby.

"Should we make a move? Are they trying to steal our job?"

"Idiot, they're the ones carrying out the real attack. Isn't this chaos bigger than anything we caused?"

"True."

The three Shadow Clones discussed it quietly.

Then, not long after, they leaped out and pulled out Sealing Scrolls, firing large numbers of Explosive Tag Kunai at Konoha's Sealing Room.

Boom! Boom! Boom! Explosions rang out continuously, yet they failed to even breach the outer sealing barrier.

"Tsk, tsk. Konoha's sealing strength really lives up to its name. They inherited all of the Uzumaki clan's Fuinjutsu."

"Yeah. Do you think Konoha had anything to do with the destruction of the Land of Whirlpools?"

"Don't you know exactly what I think?"

"Right. You are me."

The two Shadow Clones started chatting.

"Stop arguing. This should only be a feint. People should be coming out soon. Don't get spotted," one Shadow Clone interrupted.

Sure enough, two groups of ninja soon rushed out one after another. The first group was the pursuing Anbu, while the second was the Anbu traitor carrying a large number of Sealing Scrolls.

He ran swiftly toward the three Shadow Clones, who carefully remained concealed.

They watched the figure run straight across the branch above their heads.

The three Shadow Clones exchanged glances and immediately made their decision. Pursue!

The patrol ninja here had all been drawn away by the attackers.

The rogue Anbu's escape was completely unhindered. Moreover, he was still wearing Anbu clothing, so even when passing other ninja, no one grew suspicious.

Hyuga Kei's three Shadow Clones followed far behind him with their Byakugan until he entered a dense forest east of Konoha.

He clearly knew the Anbu patrol routes and knew no one would be here. The rogue Anbu knew it too, gradually lowering his guard as he waited for his contact to appear.

The three long-hidden Shadow Clones struck at once. Lightning Release Body Technique: Lightning Sealing Palm, Lightning Release Body Technique: Thunderclap Palm, Wind Release Body Technique: Wind Pressure Palm.

The three Shadow Clones instantly appeared around the rogue ninja. Their three palms struck simultaneously, landing on his chest, back, and crown. That single blow sent the rogue ninja on his way; he did not even have time to leave any last words.

Picking up the Sealing Scrolls and other items scattered across the ground, the Shadow Clones discussed it briefly, then used Wind Release to slice the corpse to pieces.

In the end, one Shadow Clone found a place to hide the scrolls, while the other two erased all traces.

Once Konoha had calmed down after some time, they could retrieve the items.

After returning home, Hyuga Kei lifted the water jug and guzzled down an entire pot of water, but even that could not suppress the excitement in his heart.

The haul was simply too abundant. Not only had he acquired the Chimera Technique and Hiruko's human experimentation records, he had also obtained so many sealed items. They were all rare treasures and fresh research materials.

Even selling them to the other four ninja villages would bring in a tremendous fortune.

Next, the Chimera Technique had to be placed on the research agenda.

From his memories, this technique could fuse bloodline limits, but it could also turn its user into something neither human nor ghost. He had no desire to become a bandage-wrapped monster like that.

He had to revise and perfect this ninjutsu. Besides, this was only an unfinished version. Hiruko had fled Konoha after being discovered before he could complete it.

This would be a process that consumed considerable time and money.

Inside a secret laboratory in the Land of Fire,

After hearing Kabuto's report, Orochimaru rarely showed an interested expression. "Someone actually dared to steal from me, Orochimaru?"

This assault on Konoha had used up all the roots he had planted there. It was time to leave this place.

"Kabuto, pack up. We're leaving the Land of Fire at once."

"Yes. May I ask where we are going, Lord Orochimaru?"

"To the Land of Rain."

December 13, Konoha Year 53

Konoha determined that the masterminds behind the Sealing Room attack were Orochimaru's remnants.

Hyuga Kei received orders to eliminate Orochimaru's spies hidden in Konoha and destroy the Orochimaru's Hideouts concealed within the Land of Fire.

Using the convenience of his position, Hyuga Kei acquired large amounts of Orochimaru's bloodline experimentation records, Wood Release experimentation records, and more, allowing his research into the Chimera Technique to make major progress.

January 9, Konoha Year 54: Intercepted a Kumogakure merchant caravan.

He obtained the corpse of a Storm Release ninja, which Hyuga Kei secretly kept as material for his next research project.

February 13, Konoha Year 54: Assisted Konoha's main assault force in defeating Kumogakure's offensive.

The war also entered a stalemate.

March 26, Konoha Year 54: Took Uzumaki Naruto for a physical examination and obtained fresh blood from the Uzumaki Clan's Sage Body.

Research into the Chimera Technique encountered a bottleneck. It was impossible to extract a complete bloodline limit without easily carrying over the subject's genes, which would alter the caster's appearance.

May 17, Konoha Year 54: Monitored Uchiha movements.

Continued researching the Chimera Technique.

July 3, Konoha Year 54: Celebrated Neji's birthday.

He changed his research direction, sought out Seiichi Matsuo to learn medical ninjutsu, and achieved a certain breakthrough in his research.

Between missions and research, time continued onward until the most critical turning point.

December 9, Konoha Year 54: While heading to the Land of Lightning to deliver a letter to the Raikage, the four of them received an "enthusiastic" welcome from the Fourth Raikage, allowing Hyuga Kei to witness his Lightning Release Chakra Mode.

After returning to Konoha, Hyuga Kei improved the Raijin Body Technique: Lightning Armor, gaining even greater speed and power.

He continued researching the Chimera Technique.

December 19, Konoha Year 54: Peace talks were accepted. He went to the border to escort Kumogakure's peace delegation to Konoha. The leaders of Kumogakure's group were also Hyuga Kei's "old acquaintances," Lava Release Dodai and the Raikage's Secretary Mabui. The other accompanying members consisted of two jonin and five chunin.

Hyuga Kei set aside everything he was working on and prepared to face Uncle Hizashi's life-and-death ordeal.

Hyuga Kei and the other Anbu took full responsibility for Konoha's security during the peace talks.

On the night of December 27, Konoha Year 54, the two villages held talks.

All the major clans attended the meeting, while the Hyuga clan was absent because it was the young lady's birthday.

That night, after the treaty had been drafted, just as everyone in Konoha was immersed in the joy of welcoming peace,

Kakashi's Team saw a Kumogakure ninja sneakily leave the encampment and head straight for the Hyuga compound, which had fallen quiet after the celebrations.

After climbing over the wall of the Hyuga compound, he carefully infiltrated the clan head's courtyard. Taking advantage of the sounds of adults drinking and making merry outside, he picked up the already sleeping Hyuga Hinata. Hinata woke up, but her mouth was tightly covered, leaving her unable to make even a sound.

The Kumogakure ninja climbed back out of the Hyuga compound the way he had entered. The instant he landed,

just as he was about to make his next move, Kakashi, Hyuga Kei, Tenzo, and Ameyuri appeared before him simultaneously, each holding a flashlight.

Several beams of light shone down on the Kumogakure ninja at once.

Kakashi held an unsheathed straight blade across the man's neck. "Put down that child, then come with me and answer for your crimes."

The Kumogakure ninja reacted quickly, immediately placing a Kunai against Hinata's neck. "Don't move. If any of you move, I'll kill her."

When he saw so many ninja appear at once, he immediately realized that his actions had been exposed. He promptly raised his Kunai and stabbed it toward his own throat.

As long as he died, Lord Dodai's plan could still succeed!

Hyuga Kei had prepared for this. In an instant, he appeared behind the man and struck with the Sealing Lightning Palm, instantly sealing every acupoint in the Kumogakure ninja's body.

The Kumogakure ninja's body seemed to lose all strength at once as he collapsed to the ground. Three-year-old Hinata slipped from his arms, and Hyuga Kei easily caught her.

Ameyuri took out rope and bound the Kumogakure ninja tightly.

Hyuga Kei looked toward Tenzo's Wood Clone. "How was it, Tenzo? Did you record everything?"

Holding the camera, the Wood Clone gave an OK gesture to show that everything had been recorded.

"Good. The evidence is conclusive. Let's go find the Third Hokage."

Hyuga Kei had no intention of personally taking Hinata home. His plan had already succeeded. He set Hinata down and patted the dust from her clothes.

"Go back by yourself. When you get home, tell your father the Anbu saved you." Hyuga Kei still had a favorable impression of Hinata, and he would not direct his anger at a child.

"Mm. I... I understand."

Then Hinata walked toward the entrance of the Hyuga compound, looking back every few steps.