Hinata Hiashi was frantic with worry. His daughter, Hyuga Hinata, had truly been kidnapped.
But after that initial moment, everyone suddenly came around to the idea that it was all a performance he had arranged himself. Some even thought he had simply hidden his eldest daughter.
At first, many ordinary ninja knew nothing about the Hyuga clan's system. But after the tragedy that befell the clan last year, more and more people had gradually learned about them.
The Uchiha Clan had been arrogant toward outsiders, but things within the clan weren't actually all that bad. If you awakened the Sharingan, you were a good child of the Uchiha Clan. If you awakened the Three Tomoe, you were even better.
At the very least, the more talented you were, the more resources and status you received.
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The Hyuga Clan, however, was the complete opposite. To protect their eyes, they had devised that disgusting system to divide people into castes. To protect the Main Family, the Branch Family had to willingly give up their lives.
Hizashi Hyuga hadn't been without friends. But when he vanished without a trace in front of everyone, while Hinata Hiashi remained alive, many people had realized what that meant.
After the Third Hokage and Shimura Danzō discussed the matter for a while, they'd initially suspected some remnant of the Uchiha Clan. But after exchanging information, they concluded there was no way any Uchiha could still be hiding beneath Konoha's clear skies.
A few doubts remained, but they still agreed that this was most likely something Hinata Hiashi had done. Hizashi Hyuga's child had already been marked with the Caged Bird, and Hyuga Hinata didn't have much time left, either.
"The Uchiha Clan was just wiped out. We have to show that we're doing something about this," Shimura Danzō said gravely, watching the Third Hokage hesitate.
"You ruled out the Uchiha Clan as the culprit. I'm even less likely to have done this."
"Then I think the Ninjutsu used to imitate Hyuga Hinata's was probably performed by the Hyuga Clan themselves. More specifically, by that Hyuga Yue, who learned it from the Uchiha."
"Even if Hinata Hiashi most likely staged this himself, he wouldn't want us to investigate. But we must show that we're taking it seriously."
"The Uchiha Clan was just wiped out, and the village is already unsettled. If we turn a blind eye to Hyuga Hinata's disappearance, how can we unite the other ninja clans when an emergency arises?"
"This might also be a test by Hinata Hiashi and the other clans, Hiruzen!"
"I understand."
The Third Hokage furrowed his brow. He wanted nothing less than to invite further complications, but it had already happened. As Danzo had said, he had to respond.
The challenge was to get the response right.
The carriage continued to jostle along at a leisurely pace.
The Land of Fire was the wealthiest nation, but once they got far from the villages, the roads became riddled with potholes. That hadn't been the original plan of the people who built them, but the rogue ninja and bandits occupying the mountaintops were more than happy with things as they were.
Using a Ninjutsu cost far less than repairing a road.
"Do you think your father will come after you himself?" Uchiha Jie asked with a smile.
"Father will definitely come." Hyuga Hinata lowered her head, but her voice held little conviction.
She was still a child, and children were especially sensitive to the kindness and cruelty of others. It was an instinct as fundamental as life itself.
When she was younger, her father had naturally loved her. But ever since she'd been kidnapped for the first time last year, everything had changed...
"Grrr..."
A strange noise suddenly sounded inside the carriage.
"Uh, you haven't eaten yet?"
As he spoke, Uchiha Jie took a small scroll from his clothes. It held the provisions he'd prepared in advance.
These weren't the awful rations ninja carried on missions. They were delicious foods he'd bought from various restaurants in Konoha. When he took them out of the scroll, they were still warm.
There were all kinds of sweet dumplings and snacks for a light meal, as well as a huge bowl of ramen. Two large slices of pork sat on top. The broth was a creamy, yellowish white, and the noodles were even yellower. Before long, the carriage was filled with the aroma of ramen.
He took out a pair of disposable chopsticks and handed them to Hinata.
"Th-thank you."
Starving, Hinata pressed her hands together and gave a slight bow before picking up the bowl and wolfing down the noodles.
She'd eaten her lunch at school, but hadn't had anything since. And she was never full at home to begin with. Now that she saw such a huge bowl of noodles, she'd completely forgotten all her father's old lessons.
Never accept food from strangers? The stranger already kidnapped me.
After finishing the noodles, she ate the dumplings meant as snacks, then looked up. Her cheeks were flushed, and a little broth clung to her lips.
"Um, I'm still really hungry. Could I have some more?"
Uchiha Jie's expression turned strange. The seven-year-old had already eaten as much as an adult man, and still wasn't full.
He'd brought plenty of provisions, but there wasn't much more of this delicious hot food.
"You can have more."
Uchiha Jie took out another scroll and tore open the seal.
He pointed to the window at the back of the carriage. "I remember you can use the Byakugan. Help me check whether anyone's following us."
"Mm..."
Hyuga Hinata was torn. If she helped the kidnapper, the Konoha Ninja coming to save her—or even her own father—might be ambushed. But the food in front of her smelled so good, and she'd never been full in Konoha before.
But she couldn't even use the Byakugan.
"S-sorry." She shook her head and refused the beef rice in front of her.
But Uchiha Jie still put the chopsticks in her hand.
"Go ahead and eat. I'll get out and take a look."
It was completely dark outside the carriage. Dense woods lined both sides of the road, and there were no lights along it. The carriage would have to travel for several more hours before reaching a village of any size. Layers of leaves blocked the moonlight; only the carriage windows cast a warm yellow glow.
The Sharingan slowly opened. Two ordinary Shadow Clones leaped out from behind Uchiha Jie and slipped into the woods, one to the left and one to the right.
In an instant, the sound of something cutting through the air came from the treetops. Kunai and shuriken caught the moonlight like stars.
Yet each star had another to match it, one for one. No one could get the better of the Uchiha Clan in a contest of ninja-tool throwing.
After a clatter of metal, the forest fell quiet again. Only the carriage carrying Hyuga Hinata remained, stopped silently in the middle of the road.