Hinata Kidnapped, All for Kumogakure! (Seeking Monthly Votes)

Since the Kumogakure negotiation team arrived two days ago, Konoha seems to have become a bit more lively.

News of the impending end of the war began to spread, and with Hiruzen Sarutobi's deliberate push, civilians and low-ranking ninjas alike knew that peace was coming.

War and slaughter were the first to affect civilians and low-ranking ninjas.

Therefore, those at the bottom were inevitably the ones who longed for peace the most.

For two days, the negotiation team led by Raikage advisor Dodai held multiple meetings with Konoha, and they had basically finalized a treaty that satisfied both sides.

Taking this opportunity, Dodai also took the chance to request a tour of the major bloodline limit family compounds.

Hiruzen Sarutobi, who desperately wanted to achieve peace, naturally wouldn't refuse.

This was both a gesture of goodwill and an opportunity to showcase the village's powerful foundation.

As a Raikage advisor, Dodai was naturally not someone without discretion. After a focused tour of Konoha's strongest Uchiha and Hyuga clans, the group ceased their activities.

After a round of mutual flattery and pleasantries, the Kumogakure team returned to their lodgings and soon gathered together.

"Kasai, did you memorize the routes within the Hyuga compound?" Dodai asked the sensory ninja Kasai, his single eye gleaming.

"Lord Dodai, no problem. I can plan the best route for Lord Mōshibi right now."

Kasai nodded confidently and began sketching out the operational route.

He was a sensory ninja, one of the three core members of this operation, responsible for providing intelligence.

Dodai was the Raikage advisor, rich in combat experience, overseeing the overall situation, and the commander of the plan to seize the Byakugan.

The protagonist of the operation was Mōshibi, with his dark brown skin. He was a direct descendant of the Raikage, the younger brother of the former Eight-Tails jinchūriki Blue B, a powerful elite jonin who had successfully cultivated the Lightning Armor Mode and was responsible for seizing the Byakugan.

The remaining two were members of Mōshibi's squad, responsible for support, covering their retreat, and being ready to sacrifice themselves for the plan at any moment.

Soon, the group finalized the last operational plan.

"4 AM is the time when people are most drowsy. Mōshibi, you only have one chance. Follow Kasai's route, head straight for the target, snatch Hinata Hyuga, and leave immediately through the Forest of Death. The others will cover your retreat."

Dodai's voice was chilling. He patted their shoulders, "This operation must succeed, not fail. Capturing a living Hyuga bloodline descendant is the primary mission. If it's truly impossible, I hope you will try your best to die at the hands of Hiashi Hyuga. I will apply pressure afterward to force his death, seize the Byakugan from his corpse, and avenge you."

Dressed in black, his words were filled with cold ruthlessness. After speaking, he bowed deeply to them and sighed, "I know you are all good ninjas of Kumogakure, but the strategic importance of the Byakugan is too great. This is a necessary sacrifice, all for Kumogakure."

The group had known their mission before they set out and had long since cast aside thoughts of life and death. Loyalty burned fiercely in their eyes, and they said in unison, "All for Kumogakure!"

Meanwhile, in a distant lodging, Kazama Kaguya and a man wearing a black cloak, sunglasses, and a purple mark on his right cheek stood by the window, watching the Hyuga compound.

"Lord Ryoma, the negotiations are over. The dream of peace has lulled most people. The Kumogakure ninjas should make their move tonight."

Kazama Kaguya said, subtly moving a little further away from Aburame Ryoma.

This was an elite from the Root Organization, a capable subordinate of Danzo, skilled in using Kikaichū for attack and reconnaissance.

Kazama Kaguya currently feared ninjas who could leave behind hidden threats the most. If he were marked by Kikaichū, it would be extremely detrimental to his upcoming actions.

Aburame Ryoma appeared cold and seemed accustomed to silence, merely nodding without speaking.

He was a spy sent by Danzo and had arrived yesterday. If the Kumogakure ninjas didn't make a move, it would mean the intelligence provided by Orochimaru was false, and he would destroy Kazama Kaguya according to Danzo's will.

There was nothing for the two of them to discuss.

Silence was the main theme in the room.

Until 4 AM, Kazama Kaguya saw several dark figures dart into the Hyuga compound.

Not long after, an angry roar suddenly erupted from within the Hyuga compound: "Hinata! Kumogakure? How dare you? Eight Trigrams Sixty-Four Palms!"

Immediately after, various ninjutsu lights flickered, chaotic. They fought while moving towards the Forest of Death.

Kazama Kaguya already knew the outcome and couldn't participate in this situation, so he just watched silently.

Beside him, Aburame Ryoma's voice suddenly rang out: "The Kikaichū told me you carry the scent of a summoning snake, the same aura as Manda, from Ryūchi Cave."

Kazama Kaguya was startled. Before he could understand the meaning of Aburame Ryoma's words, he heard him say again: "According to the 'Swapping the Prince' strategy you provided, Lord Danzo has planned detailed implementation steps. He specifically designated you to participate as an 'audience' to witness a great change."

With that, his entire body instantly dispersed, turning into a swarm of dark Kikaichū that flew towards the Hyuga compound.

Only then did Kazama Kaguya realize that Aburame Ryoma's presence here had not been his true body.

"Insect Clone?"

Kazama Kaguya looked at the flying swarm of insects and whispered, "Audience? Danzo, villains usually die from arrogance. I don't care what you do, but the Byakugan must be mine."

On the other side, Mōshibi's heart sank.

The other two members of the three-person squad covering their retreat were being pushed back by the arriving brothers Hiashi Hyuga and Hizashi Hyuga. Each strike of their Eight Trigrams Palms represented a decrease in their hope of returning.

While the two fought desperately, he was fleeing towards the Forest of Death with the unconscious Hinata Hyuga.

According to the plan, with two people covering their retreat, he would definitely return to Kumogakure with the direct descendant of the Hyuga main family.

However, two masked elite jonin appeared from nowhere and cut off his path.

One was skilled in using Kikaichū, and the other was skilled in ninjutsu swordsmanship.

With their coordinated efforts, although they were not his match, they greatly delayed his escape speed.

"Damn it, these masked people were ambushed, how did the intel leak?"

Mōshibi couldn't understand it. It was supposed to be a flawless scheme, but now it felt like he'd walked right into a spiderweb someone had set up.

He was carrying the 3-year-old Hinata Hyuga, and to protect the Main Family's direct descendant from the battle's aftermath, he didn't even dare to activate Lightning Armor Mode, leaving him restricted and greatly reducing his combat power.

The two masked individuals seemed to have another plan. They weren't using high-powered offensive ninjutsu, just suppressing his speed.

"Lightning Release: Lacerating Torrent!"

After barely concentrating his Lightning Release chakra to his right hand and slicing through an opponent with a knife-hand strike, Mōshibi saw that the Hyuga Clan head, Hiashi Hyuga, had already caught up.

He glanced at the distant battlefield. One comrade had already been killed by Hiashi Hyuga, and another was in a precarious situation under the attack of the branch family head, Hizashi Hyuga.

Further away, more and more ninjas were gathering to surround them.

He didn't have the strength to attack an entire village. Escaping Konoha had become a pipe dream.

"It seems I can't snatch the Hyuga Main Family's direct descendant back."

Mōshibi knew the plan to kidnap the Hyuga direct descendant had failed. He sighed, and the disappointment in his eyes was immediately replaced by a fierce glare.

"Then, according to Dodai-sama's plan, let's execute Plan B."

He threw Hinata Hyuga aside, and his blue-silver chakra erupted, with terrifying currents shooting out in all directions.

"Lightning Armor Mode: Righteous Lightning's Wrathful Axe!"

Boom...

He leaped high into the air, his right foot, entwined with electricity, chopping two members of the Root Organization away like a lightning axe, then he charged towards Hiashi Hyuga.

The cool night breeze brushed against his face, reminding him of the time he sat on the mountaintop of Kumogakure, watching the sea of clouds surge with Mabui.

That was his homeland, and there was the girl he liked.

Unfortunately, he was a ninja.

"Mabui, I'm sorry. Everything for Kumogakure!"

In the inn, the sensory ninja Kasai watched Mōshibi charge to his death, his eyes red, and choked out, "Dodai-sama, they failed."

"What a pity for a fine man of Kumogakure."

A flicker of grief flashed in Dodai's remaining eye, and he said in a low voice, "Let's go, Kasai. To the Hokage's office. Our battle has begun."

"I know you haven't learned the Heavenly Transfer Technique yet, but prepare it."