The Missing Hinata

"The young lady is standing there all alone, she looks so pitiful." On the eaves, the guards assigned to the young lady by Hyuga Hiashi whispered to their companions.

"Idiot! She's the young lady, what are you, to say she's pitiful?" Another companion clearly disagreed with such a statement.

"Hey, Chio, don't get angry. I'll rephrase. You say the young lady standing there by herself, doesn't she look like a dog? Hahaha!" Hyuga Toshio chuckled.

They were members of the Hyuga Branch Family, the young lady's personal guards. Hyuga Hinata's guards had already been replaced once. This was because she had been kidnapped before, and in that kidnapping, the price paid was by the head of the Branch Family, Hizashi Hyuga.

Of course, the Branch Family members who had been the young lady's guards at the time also met a terrible end, receiving extremely severe and shameful punishments.

As a result, Hyuga Chio and Hyuga Toshio, who took over the duty of guarding the young lady, naturally felt immense pressure. They paid extra attention to every move the young lady made, fearing that if anything else happened to her, they would be implicated.

But even ninja couldn't stay tense all the time. Since she started attending the Ninja Academy, Hyuga Hinata's life had become more regular than before. Every day, she went nowhere except to the Ninja Academy.

Coupled with the recent events within the clan, they had become even more lax.

"Do you think after the young lady was branded with the Curse Mark, she'll become the head of our Branch Family like Lord Hizashi?" Hyuga Toshio continued.

"It's not certain yet. The second young lady is still young. Perhaps when she grows up, she might become a good-for-nothing like the young lady," Hyuga Chio replied.

"It's best if neither of the Clan Head's daughters comes. I think Sister Tsuki is still quite caring towards us, aside from being cold. But if it were Young Master Neji, that would be even better..."

Not long after, Ino Yamanaka and Sakura Haruno spotted Hyuga Hinata. Sakura wanted to apologize and rushed to the front, but Ino pulled her back.

She placed a finger on her lips, "Shh, Sakura, let's do this, and then this, to give Hinata a surprise!"

Sakura nodded, and the two began to tiptoe. The two Hyuga Clan guards on the eaves almost burst out laughing.

The guard's job was very boring, but seeing such a heartwarming scene between young girls was also great.

Quietly hiding behind the adults, Ino and Sakura moved towards Hinata. Before long, they leaped out from the crowd and landed in front of Hinata.

"Tada!"

Ino made a loud sound effect, while Sakura knelt on one knee, holding the purchased ninja sword model with both hands and presenting it to Hinata, just like a knight offering loyalty to a princess.

But after two seconds, she heard no response. She initially thought Hinata had fainted from shyness. However, when she looked up, she saw that Hinata was still standing there motionlessly, showing not the slightest reaction to their appearance.

"Mmm, Hinata, are you angry?" Sakura instinctively reached out, intending to place her hand on Hinata's shoulder.

The next moment, her hand passed through empty air, her arm going straight through Hinata's body. She lost her balance and fell to the ground.

"Huh? Hinata?"

Ignoring her fall, the young girl quickly got up. In front of her, Hinata was still standing there blankly.

Ino wanted to step forward to check on Hinata and Sakura. However, as soon as she took a step, a tall figure blocked her path.

Hyuga Chio squatted beside Sakura, activated his Byakugan, and reached out to touch Hinata's foot. Hyuga Toshio, meanwhile, stood in front of Ino.

He frowned and said in a low voice, "Young lady of the Yamanaka clan, please go and notify the newly established Security Force immediately. Young lady Hinata may be missing."

"Missing?"

Ino exclaimed in shock. Then, looking at Hyuga Toshio's serious expression, she also became serious and nodded, then started running towards home.

"Don't let her go alone! Escort her directly to Lord Hokage!" Hyuga Chio shouted.

This motionless Young Lady Hinata was an illusion. On the ground were only a pile of opened scrolls, which contained some lenses with a small amount of chakra. The light and shadow reflected by the lenses formed a Hyuga Hinata that was identical to the real one in every way except for the lack of substance.

This was a Genjutsu performed using scrolls. Throughout Konohagakure, only a few individuals from the Uchiha Clan knew how to use such a technique.

Countless thoughts flashed through his mind. The Uchiha Clan was wiped out, and the culprit had already left the village, becoming a notorious S-rank Rogue Ninja. Anyone who could use this Ninjutsu should have been long gone.

Hyuga Chio gathered the scrolls on the ground, then grabbed Sakura Haruno by the collar and took to the air.

"You're coming with me to meet Hinata's father. Don't worry, okay?" He comforted the young girl to prevent her from struggling.

When he met Hyuga Hiashi, Hyuga Toshio had also met Lord Hokage.

"Ino, don't be nervous. Tell Grandpa Hokage what happened," Yamanaka Inoichi, who was in the office not far away, received the news and rushed to his child's side. Facing the stern Hiruzen Sarutobi, he quietly reassured Yamanaka Ino.

"Um... I originally wanted to buy a gift and then visit Sasuke-kun..."

At the same moment, Sakura was also facing Hyuga Hiashi, softly recounting what had just happened.

"And so I dragged Hinata along..."

"So, during the time you and Yamanaka Ino were arguing, Hinata disappeared?" he asked seriously.

"Y-yes..." Sakura lowered her head, tears already starting to fall.

Her friend's sudden disappearance and the immense pressure from Hyuga Hiashi in front of her were too much for even the most resilient nerves.

"Don't blame yourself, little girl. Lord Hiashi won't blame you,"

A cold voice sounded in her ear. Sakura turned her tear-filled eyes to see a beautiful, cold woman in a white robe, holding a sleeping little girl. Barefoot, she walked past Sakura and quickly approached Hyuga Hiashi.

"Clan Head, the Third Hokage has already begun organizing the Anbu to search," she said.

"What about the Barrier Team? Did the person who abducted Hinata leave Konoha?" Hyuga Hiashi asked.

"The Barrier Team is monitoring closely. No one has broken through the barrier to leave Konoha yet," the cold beauty replied to Hyuga Hiashi's question, then added, "Toshio is receiving his punishment, and Chio is assisting Lord Hokage with his work. He will also receive his punishment after the young lady is found."

"Don't give him punishment. Let Toshio go search for Hinata too. Tsuki, you take Hanabi and stay by my side. We'll go find Lord Hokage together," Hyuga Hiashi frowned, issuing orders one by one.

The first priority was to find Hinata. Every Hyuga clansman capable of using the Byakugan had to participate.

However, if everyone was scattered throughout Konoha, the Hyuga Clan would become vulnerable.

If the person who kidnapped Hinata came to the Hyuga compound again at this time, Hanabi would be in great danger. Now, he would personally escort Hanabi to the safest place in all of Konoha: the Hokage Building.