Next Check-in Location

Next Check-in Location

Hinata slowly regained consciousness. She gradually opened her eyes, only to find herself sprawled on the ground in an awkward position.

Then, waves of pain surged through her head, and she recalled someone following behind her and knocking her unconscious.

An unprecedented terror swept over her, frightening Hinata into trying to stand up.

But only then did she realize that although she had regained consciousness, her arms and legs had no strength at all.

Soon, a shadow stretched long by the moonlight entered Hinata's view. She rolled her eyes upward with effort and saw a black-haired boy standing before her.

At the same time, Xu Fan noticed Hinata.

Their eyes met, but Xu Fan saw fear in Hinata's eyes. Her small body tried to inch backward, and her eyes began to well up.

The check-in was already complete, so Xu Fan could naturally leave Hinata here.

But seeing that expression on Hinata's face—

Weak, pitiful, helpless, and despairing.

Xu Fan sighed and slowly crouched down, noticing Hinata's attempt to move away from him.

"I'm here to save you."

"It's all right now."

After briefly identifying himself, Xu Fan ignored Hinata's reaction and scooped her into his arms in a princess carry.

I'll leave her at the entrance to Konoha Hospital.

Xu Fan was certain of it.

Still, if he happened to encounter someone from the Hyuga Clan on the way back, he could hand Hinata over to them instead.

But along the way, Xu Fan did not run into anyone from the Hyuga Clan, nor did he encounter any pursuers sent by Konoha.

He did not know whether they had yet to discover that Hinata had been kidnapped, or whether their routes simply had not crossed.

Whatever. I'll make some noise and head back.

Boom!

Drawing on his immense Chakra, Xu Fan clenched his five fingers into a fist and smashed it directly into the ground.

Yet just as Xu Fan was about to turn and leave, Hinata finally gathered enough strength to make a sound.

"Name..."

Even so, Hinata's voice was incredibly faint, about as loud as a mosquito's buzz.

If Xu Fan had not had such keen hearing, and if it had not been nighttime, he probably would not even have noticed it.

But thinking about it carefully, Hinata had always spoken softly because of her shy nature.

"Senju."

Leaving behind only a surname, Xu Fan vanished into the night.

Not long afterward, the Konoha Hospital staff on night duty rushed out after hearing the commotion, only to immediately discover Hinata lying on the ground.

"This is... the Hyuga Clan's eldest daughter?"

The staff member was startled and hurriedly called for help, carrying Hinata inside.

Xu Fan, who had disappeared earlier, was secretly standing atop a utility pole. Only after watching Hinata being carried inside for treatment did he turn and leave.

Ding, a new check-in mission has been issued!

Please proceed to the Ninja Academy to check in. You will receive a reward!

Xu Fan's eyes immediately lit up when he heard that.

A check-in at the Ninja Academy?

Although he had already obtained Hashirama Senju's Chakra, all he possessed was an enormous Chakra amount.

If he wanted to enter the Konoha leadership, or even become Hokage, he first had to become a ninja.

No matter how often Naruto was mocked, he was still a genin at the end of the day.

As for himself, he was merely a member of the fallen Senju Clan, living in the village as an ordinary person.

If he wanted to enter the Konoha leadership, or even become Hokage, he had to become a ninja first.

And entering the Ninja Academy was the first step toward becoming a genin.

"Besides, the reward for my very first check-in was already so generous. Maybe the next one will give me Wood Release."

Hashirama's Chakra, along with Hashirama's Wood Release.

That would be the true God of Shinobi.

Of course, that was for tomorrow. He had worked hard enough today and needed to reward himself properly.

Elsewhere...

Hiashi, the head of the Hyuga Clan, led a group of clan members in pursuit and quickly reached the border of the Land of Fire.

Yet the sight before him left him dumbfounded at a single glance.

A vast forest had been reduced to barren wasteland.

"Could it have been a Tailed Beast Bomb...?"

Hyuga Hiashi could not help drawing a sharp breath, then immediately ordered the others to search the area.

"Clan Head!"

In less than two or three minutes, they found something with the help of the Byakugan.

"This is..."

Hiashi strode over to the scene, only to see the corpses of Kumogakure shinobi.

Though calling them corpses would be inaccurate. They were more like chunks of flesh.

It took them considerable effort just to identify who they had been.

"What exactly happened here...?"

Hyuga Hiashi was deeply puzzled.

Could a Jinchuriki have gone berserk and killed even his own people?

Otherwise, how could the scene before them be explained?

"Could it have been... that legendary person?"

At that moment, a member of the Hyuga Clan approached Hiashi and offered a guess.

Everyone knew that the Land of Lightning had a perfect Jinchuriki, so the odds of one going berserk were not high.

"Lord Jiraiya?"

Hiashi frowned. If it had been the toads of Mount Myōboku, they could indeed cause this level of destruction.

But how could he explain the Chakra he had sensed earlier...?

"Expand the search area..."

After a stretch of silence, Hyuga Hiashi gave the order to the others.

No matter who had done it, he wanted to find his daughter.

However, after an unknown amount of time had passed, Hizashi Hyuga, who should have been guarding the Main House, arrived there instead.

"Clan Head."

"Hizashi? Why are you here?" Hiashi was surprised to see Hizashi.

"It's Lady Hinata."

"Hinata? What happened to Hinata?"

The instant he heard Hinata's name, Hiashi became agitated.

Whether as his daughter or as the Hyuga Clan's future, Hinata's status was of vital importance.

"She was brought to Konoha Hospital." Hizashi took a deep breath and explained.

"Hinata was brought to the hospital?"

Hiashi froze and looked back at the scene around him.

Could it really have been Lord Jiraiya?

"Hizashi, gather the Kumogakure corpses and bring them back to the village."

After saying that, Hiashi did not even wait for Hizashi's response before racing back to the village.

Just as Hizashi had said.

Hinata was lying in a hospital bed, receiving treatment.

Not only that, but the Third Hokage and Advisor Danzo had also just arrived.

"Lord Hokage." Hiashi greeted him first, then impatiently asked about Hinata's condition.

"She is all right now. She was simply frightened and needs proper rest," the nurse replied.

"Who brought her here?" Hiashi asked again.

In fact, not only Hyuga Hiashi, but also the Third Hokage and Shimura Danzō were deeply concerned about that question.

"We don't know either." The nurse thought for a moment before answering, "But while Miss Hinata was unconscious, she mentioned 'Senju' several times."

"What?!"

Hyuga Hiashi, the Third Hokage, and Shimura Danzō were all stunned for a moment.

This new book is just getting started, so I hope everyone will support it—add it to your favorites, cast a recommendation vote, and so on. Thanks!