Outside the Hyuga Clan compound, a tall pair and a short pair of eyes stared at each other. The scene was awkward for a moment.
Oh, right! There were also three Ninja Dogs behind Gu Qi, all staring blankly at the unexpected newcomer.
Gu Qi's mouth twitched. The Cloud Ninja's Forehead Protector, his black nightwear... Why did this scene feel so familiar?
According to the original story, Gu Qi remembered that the Cloud Ninja who kidnapped Hinata should have been killed by Hyuga Hiashi before he even made it out the front gate of the Hyuga Clan compound.
In other words, the Cloud Ninja leader should have been dead by now.
But what Gu Qi couldn't understand was how this guy had managed to escape the Hyuga compound with the young heiress and make it all the way outside.
Director! Did you give us the wrong script?
There was no time to get lost in thought. Gu Qi tossed the snacks in his hand at the intruder and shouted, "Someone help! There's a thief!"
The Cloud Ninja leader knocked aside the snacks flying at him. At Gu Qi's cry, his eyes turned cold.
"You little brat, you're asking for it!"
He put Hyuga Hinata down and charged straight at Gu Qi, who was shouting for help.
"Lightning Release: Lightning Ball!"
The Cloud Ninja formed Hand Seals in a flash, then hurled an enormous ball of lightning at Gu Qi.
"What the hell!" Gu Qi hadn't expected the guy to skip the trash talk and go straight to the attack.
"Shield of Protection!" Just as the lightning ball was about to hit him, a faint, sky-blue shield appeared in front of Gu Qi.
Boom! Crackle!
The lightning ball struck the shield, changed direction, and slammed into the walls on either side of the street.
"I'm taking your head, brat." The Cloud Ninja was intrigued by Gu Qi's technique.
"Huh? Go to hell! Rasengan!" Gu Qi kept the shield up with his right hand while gathering chakra behind him with his left.
But the other man was a Jonin, and he dodged Gu Qi's Rasengan with ease.
"Tch, damn it."
"Rasengan? I can't believe someone as young as you knows the Fourth Hokage's technique. Now I definitely can't let you live." The Cloud Ninja's killing intent toward Gu Qi intensified.
Gu Qi had achieved so much at such a young age. If he were allowed to grow up, he would become a troublesome enemy.
Killing a talented young ninja from an enemy nation was something many shinobi relished.
"Lightning Release: Lightning Flash Pillar!"
"Ah! I can't see!"
Like a Flashbang, the attack had left Gu Qi completely blind.
"Die! Lightning Release: Heavy Lariat!" A massive amount of Lightning Release chakra gathered around the Cloud Ninja's elbow. It smashed through Gu Qi's shield and struck him in the stomach.
"Urgh!"
As powerful lightning coursed through Gu Qi's body, the heavy elbow blow sent his internal organs shifting out of place.
Gu Qi was now not only blind, but barely able to move.
"Die! Lightning Release: Hell Stab—Four-Fingered Spearhand!"
A huge amount of chakra gathered in the Cloud Ninja's four fingers. If the attack hit Gu Qi, there probably wouldn't be a body left to find.
As if sensing that Gu Qi was in danger, Hachi and Lass, who had been cowering in a corner, suddenly sprang out and each bit one of the Cloud Ninja's legs.
"Ah! You filthy dogs, get off me!"
The bites hurt, and the Cloud Ninja kicked them away, one after the other.
"Whimper!" Lass and Hachi's cries as they flew through the air cut Gu Qi to the quick.
"Damn you! Don't you dare hurt them! I'll fight you!"
Furious, Gu Qi charged toward the Cloud Ninja by following the sound of his voice, even as blood still trickled from the corner of his mouth.
But before Gu Qi could reach him, someone scooped him up around the waist.
Then a stern voice sounded beside his ear:
"Eight Trigrams: Rotation!"
Smack!
Although Gu Qi was gravely injured, he could still feel the powerful shock wave as the person holding him performed the technique.
"Eight Trigrams Sixty-Four Palms!"
After a flurry of strikes, Gu Qi heard a heavy thud as someone hit the ground.
Then he heard a voice beside him: "Patriarch, this child's internal organs have shifted. He needs treatment."
Gu Qi immediately understood: a Hyuga guard had heard his cries for help and rescued him.
"Save... my... Ninja Dogs..." Gu Qi said, then passed out.
Looking at the unconscious Gu Qi, Hyuga Hiashi held the equally unconscious Hinata and ordered, "Get the clan's Medical Ninja here at once. We must save this child's life."
"Yes, Patriarch!"
"Also, call someone from the Inuzuka Clan. Whatever it takes, make sure those two Ninja Dogs survive." Hiashi glanced at Lass and Hachi, who were lying on the ground.
When Gu Qi woke up, three days had passed.
"Cough, cough!"
As Gu Qi struggled to sit up, a voice stopped him.
"Don't move around. Your internal organs have shifted, and you'll make the injuries worse."
"Kakashi? Kakashi, why can't I see?" Gu Qi struggled and called out, sounding helpless.
Kakashi pressed him back onto the bed and gently reassured him. "It's okay, it's okay. You're only temporarily blind from the bright light. You'll be able to see again soon."
Hearing that, Gu Qi stopped struggling. "Really?"
Kakashi patted Gu Qi's head. "Of course. When have I ever lied to you?"
Without his sight, Gu Qi felt terribly disoriented.
"What about my Ninja Dogs? Are they all right?" Gu Qi asked weakly from the bed.
Before Kakashi could answer, Gu Qi heard several dogs barking beside him.
"Thank goodness. As long as you're okay." Gu Qi finally breathed a sigh of relief.
"By the way..." Gu Qi suddenly thought of the Cloud Ninja. "What happened to him?"
Kakashi sighed. "Don't worry about it. It's complicated."
"By the way, do you know who you saved this time? The Hyuga Clan's young heiress, Hyuga Hinata!"
Gu Qi already knew, but played along. "Really? Then the Hyuga Clan should thank me properly."
"Of course, Gu Qi! The Hyuga Clan will certainly show you its gratitude."
"Patriarch Hyuga."
Just then, Hyuga Hiashi arrived at Gu Qi's hospital room with Hyuga Hinata.
"Lord Hyuga, I was just joking with Kakashi. Even if it hadn't been Lady Hinata, I would have saved whoever was in trouble." Gu Qi spoke softly.
Hyuga Hiashi praised him. "Gu Qi, you'll surely become a great shinobi someday. Hinata, come thank the person who saved your life."
"G-Gu Qi, thank you," Hyuga Hinata said softly.
"Sorry, my daughter's a little shy," Hyuga Hiashi said apologetically.
"Not at all. It's just that my Gu Qi looks so scary, he frightened the young lady," Kakashi said.
"Hey, hey, Kakashi, I'm right here!" Gu Qi protested indignantly.
Gu Qi felt terribly disappointed that, because he was blind, he hadn't been able to see what Hyuga Hinata looked like.
"Gu Qi, if there's anything you want, just tell me. If I can do it, I will," Hyuga Hiashi said solemnly.
Gu Qi shook his head. "No, thank you. I really don't need anything."
Hyuga Hiashi didn't press him. "All right, then. If you ever need anything, just ask, Gu Qi."
"Thank you, Lord Hiashi."
"Don't be so formal, Gu Qi. Just call me Uncle."
"Huh?" Gu Qi and Kakashi both looked bewildered. What was going on?
"Never mind. Focus on getting better, Gu Qi. We'll have a proper chat sometime."
"Goodbye, Lord Hiashi!"*2
After Hyuga Hiashi and the others left, Kakashi stared at Gu Qi. "Tell me, what are you hiding from me?"
"What are you talking about?" Gu Qi asked, confused.
"Patriarch Hiashi told you to call him Uncle. Come clean—did you do something?"
Gu Qi was baffled. "No!"
"Then that's strange." Kakashi couldn't make heads or tails of it either.
"Who knows?"
"By the way, are you sure that little girl you know is from the Hyuga Branch Family, not Lady Hinata?" Kakashi suddenly asked.
"Of course! If it were her, why would she never have any guards with her? Besides, she's so tiny." Gu Qi sounded certain.
"Fair point. You're so ugly, and the young lady's so cute. Why would she ever take a liking to you?" Kakashi said confidently.
"Get lost."
Before you continue