Ever since the Cloud ninja negotiation team arrived two days ago, Konoha seemed to have come alive.
Word that the war was about to end began to spread. With Hiruzen Sarutobi deliberately encouraging it, civilians and low-ranking ninja alike soon knew that peace was close at hand.
War and bloodshed affected civilians and low-ranking ninja first.
So it was only natural that those at the bottom longed for peace the most.
Over the past two days, the negotiation team led by Dodai, the Raikage's advisor, had held several meetings with Konoha and had nearly finalized a treaty both sides found satisfactory.
Taking advantage of the opportunity, Dodai had also requested a tour of the compounds belonging to the major bloodline clans.
Hiruzen Sarutobi was eager to bring about peace, so of course he didn't refuse.
It was a gesture of goodwill, and an opportunity to show off the village's formidable foundations.
As the Raikage's advisor, Dodai wasn't an unreasonable man. After touring Konoha's strongest clans, the Uchiha and the Hyuga, his group called it a day.
After exchanging a few rounds of mutual compliments and pleasantries, the Cloud ninja team returned to their lodgings and quickly gathered together.
"Kasai, have you memorized the routes inside the Hyuga compound?" Dodai asked, a gleam in his one eye as he looked toward the sensory ninja.
"Lord Dodai, no problem. I can work out the best route for Lord Mōshibi right now."
Kasai nodded confidently and began sketching out the route.
He was a sensory ninja, one of the three core members of this operation, responsible for providing intelligence.
Dodai was the Raikage's advisor. With his extensive combat experience, he would oversee the operation as a whole and command the plan to seize the Byakugan.
The operation's main combatant was Mōshibi, whose skin was dark brown. He was a close ally of the Raikage, the younger brother of Blue B, the former Eight-Tails Jinchuriki, and a powerful Elite Jonin. He had mastered the Lightning Armor Mode and would be responsible for taking the Byakugan.
The remaining two were members of Mōshibi's team. They would provide support, cover the retreat, and be ready to sacrifice themselves for the plan at any moment.
Before long, the group had finalized their plan.
"Four in the morning is when people are at their sleepiest. Mōshibi, you'll have only one chance. Follow Kasai's route, head straight for the target, grab Hinata Hyuga, then leave through the Forest of Death at once. The rest of you will cover the retreat."
Dodai's voice was cold as he patted them on the shoulders. "This operation can only succeed; it must not fail. Our top priority is to capture a living member of the Hyuga bloodline. If things become impossible, I hope you'll do your best to die at Hiashi Hyuga's hands. I'll pressure him afterward and force him to take his own life. Then I'll claim the Byakugan from his corpse and avenge you."
Dressed in black, he spoke with merciless coldness. After he finished, he bowed deeply to them and sighed.
"I know you're all good ninja of the Hidden Cloud, but the Byakugan is too important strategically. This sacrifice is necessary. Everything for the Hidden Cloud."
The men had known their mission from the moment they set out and had long since put their lives on the line. Loyalty blazed in their eyes as they answered in unison, "Everything for the Hidden Cloud!"
In a lodging farther away, Kazama Kaguya stood by the window with a man wearing a black cloak and sunglasses, a purple mark on his right cheek. They watched the Hyuga Clan's movements.
"Lord Ryoma, the negotiations are over. The dream of peace has lulled most people into complacency. The Cloud ninja should make their move tonight," Kazama Kaguya said, subtly edging away from Aburame Ryoma.
He was an elite member of the Root Organization and one of Danzo's trusted subordinates. He specialized in controlling Kikaichū for attacks and reconnaissance.
Kazama Kaguya feared ninja like him most. They could leave hidden contingencies behind, and if the Kikaichū invaded him and marked him, it would seriously compromise his plans.
Aburame Ryoma wore a cold expression, as if he had long been accustomed to silence. He merely nodded without a word.
He was Danzo's observer, sent here the day before. If the Cloud ninja didn't act, that would mean the intelligence Orochimaru had provided was false, and he would destroy Kazama Kaguya in accordance with Danzo's orders.
The two had nothing to say to each other.
Silence filled the room.
At four in the morning, Kazama Kaguya saw several shadows dart into the Hyuga Clan Compound.
A moment later, an enraged shout rang out from within the compound. "Hinata! Cloud ninja? How dare you? Eight Trigrams Sixty-Four Palms!"
Then flashes of all kinds of jutsu lit up the night. The fighting grew chaotic as the combatants raced toward the Forest of Death.
Kazama Kaguya already knew how things would turn out. There was nothing he could do in this situation, so he simply watched in silence.
Beside him, Aburame Ryoma suddenly spoke. "The Kikaichū tell me you carry the scent of a summoned serpent—the same aura as Manda, from Ryūchi Cave."
Kazama Kaguya froze. Before he could understand what Aburame Ryoma meant, the man continued, "Based on the 'Tanuki for the Prince' plan you provided, Lord Danzo has already mapped out the details. He specifically authorized you to participate as a 'spectator' and witness a great transformation."
With that, his body scattered in an instant, becoming a swarm of black Kikaichū that flew toward the Hyuga Clan Compound.
Only then did Kazama Kaguya realize that the Aburame Ryoma who had come here had never been the real one.
"An Insect Clone?"
Watching the insects fly away, Kazama Kaguya murmured, "A spectator? Danzo, villains usually die of arrogance. Do what you want—I can't stop you. But the Byakugan has to be mine."
Elsewhere, Mōshibi's heart sank.
The other two members of his three-man team, who had stayed behind to cover the retreat, were being driven back by the brothers Hiashi Hyuga and Hizashi Hyuga. Every time they struck with Eight Trigrams Palm, their chances of making it home dwindled.
The two fought desperately while he fled toward the Forest of Death, carrying the unconscious Hinata Hyuga.
According to the plan, with two men covering the retreat, he would surely return to the Hidden Cloud with the young daughter of the Hyuga Main Family.
But two Elite Jonin wearing masks had appeared from nowhere and blocked his path.
One specialized in using Kikaichū, the other in Ninja Blade techniques.
Working together, they weren't his match, but they slowed his escape considerably.
"Damn it! These masked men were lying in wait. How did the intelligence get leaked?"
Mōshibi couldn't understand it. The plan had been flawless, yet now it felt as if he had charged headfirst into someone else's web.
He carried three-year-old Hinata Hyuga with him. To keep the Main Family's young daughter from being killed by the shockwaves of battle, he didn't dare activate Lightning Armor Mode. Hemmed in on all sides, his fighting strength had dropped considerably.
The two masked men seemed to have another plan in mind. They didn't use any powerful offensive jutsu, merely suppressing his speed.
"Lightning Style: Violent Thunder Level!"
He barely managed to concentrate Lightning Release chakra in his right hand and chop one of his attackers aside. Then he saw Hiashi Hyuga, head of the Main Family, closing in.
He glanced toward the battlefield in the distance. One of his companions had already been killed by Hiashi Hyuga, while the other was on the brink of defeat under the attacks of Hizashi Hyuga, the Branch Family Head.
Even farther away, more and more ninja were gathering to surround them.
He wasn't strong enough to take on an entire village. Escaping Konoha had become a vain hope.
"Looks like we can't bring the Main Family's daughter back."
Mōshibi knew the plan to kidnap the Hyuga heiress had failed. He sighed, but the disappointment in his eyes had barely surfaced before a fierce glint replaced it.
"Then I'll follow Lord Dodai's plan and carry out Plan B."
He flung Hinata Hyuga aside. Blue-silver chakra burst forth, sending terrifying bolts of electricity lashing in every direction.
"Lightning Armor Mode: Righteous Thunderous Wrath Axe!"
Boom...
He leaped high into the air. His right foot, wrapped in lightning, struck like a thunder axe and sent the two Root Organization ninja flying. Then he charged toward Hiashi Hyuga.
The cool night breeze brushed his face, bringing back memories of sitting atop a mountain in the Hidden Cloud Village with Mabui, watching the sea of clouds surge below.
That was his home. The girl he loved was there.
But he was a ninja.
"Mabui, I'm sorry. Everything for the Hidden Cloud!"
Back at the lodging, the sensory ninja Kasai watched Mōshibi charge willingly to his death. His eyes reddened, and he choked out, "Lord Dodai, they've failed."
"A shame to lose such fine sons of the Hidden Cloud."
Pain flashed in Dodai's one remaining eye. His voice low, he said, "Come, Kasai. We're going to the Hokage's office. Our battle begins now."
"I know you haven't learned the Heavenly Transfer Technique yet, but get it ready."
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