A genius indeed-so efficient!

The Harusame was continuous, and the raindrops, the size of grains of rice, hit my face, revealing a faint coolness.

The street, like a calm, still river, meanders through the dense Tree Shadow.

Only the leaves, rustling in the wind and rain, swaying in the misty drizzle, broke the deathly silence.

The largest estate in Konoha covers several hectares and belongs to the Hyuga Clan in Konoha.

Night had fallen, and all was peaceful and serene.

Sudden!

"Miss Hanabi is missing!" A high-pitched cry of alarm pierced the night sky, turning the tranquil night into an unusually noisy scene.

Hyuga Hiashi, who was reviewing documents in the living room, was suddenly startled. Upon hearing the servant's shout, he was the first to rush out of the room.

He Mirai even put on his shoes yet; his footsteps thumped on the wooden floor as he made his way around the corridor and headed straight for Hyuga Hanabi's room.

Whoosh!

With a muffled thud, Hyuga Hiashi abruptly pulled open the half-open door.

Sure enough, apart from the servant who had come to bring water and was sitting slumped at the door, the house was empty!

Hyuga Hiashi rushed into the room and reached out to check the temperature inside the blankets.

"Cold?!" Hyuga Hiashi's expression darkened, a look of seriousness appearing in his eyes.

If the blankets are still warm, it means Hanabi left not long ago; if the blankets are already ice-cold, doesn't that mean...?

Hanabi is Hyuga Hiashi's daughter, whom he has devoted all his efforts to teaching. She is not only highly talented but also very hardworking. Every day, apart from eating, drinking, and relieving herself, she spends all her time practicing Gentle Fist.

I can count the number of times I go out each month on one hand. How could I just disappear like that?

"When was the last time you saw Hanabi?" Hyuga Hiashi gaze, like that of an eagle, fell upon the servant.

"Yes, it was after dinner when Miss Hanabi went back to her room through the corridor." The servant was startled by Hyuga Hiashi's gaze, and his voice trembled considerably.

Dinner? That was three hours ago.

Hyuga Hiashi turned around without looking back; three hours was too long!

He needs to mobilize the entire clan; they absolutely must find the Hanabi!

In a dark, dense Woods on the edge of Konoha, a figure moved ghostly through the layers of Tree Shadow.

Upon closer inspection, it was discovered that the person was actually Hyuga Neji, and the person on his back was none other than the unconscious Hyuga Hanabi.

A Big Tree, several people could encircle it, its dense branches and leaves covering an area of several feet in radius like giant hands.

Dark shadows descended, enveloping the entire land.

"So that's why you called me out in the middle of the night. So you've already succeeded." A figure slowly walked out, revealing himself to be Tōka with a faint smile on his face.

"I've brought you the person you wanted. Now, untie my Caged Bird!" Neji gently placed Hanabi at his feet, his gaze fixed menacingly on Tōka.

Tōka strolled closer, her gaze lingering on Neji before settling on the little girl beside him.

He remembered what Hyuga Hanabi looked like; she was a very strong and cute little girl.

Tōka was somewhat curious. Ever since the incident where the Cloud Ninja kidnapped Hinata Hyuga, forcing Hizashi Hyuga to pay with his life, the Hyuga Clan's vigilance had noticeably increased.

Neji was considered top-tier among the Genin, so how did he manage to bring Hanabi out of the heavily guarded Hyuga Clan?

Hyuga Hanabi is no ordinary cat or dog, but the second young lady of the Hyuga Clan, who will later Hyuga Clan the Main Family clan.

"Can you tell me how you brought her out?" Tōka asked with great interest.

"Why are you asking this?" Neji's face darkened, and a vein bulged noticeably on his forehead.

Even now, he was still struggling internally.

Why? Because of those eyes—the same Byakugan!

Hyuga Hanabi trusted her clansmen, Neji lured Hanabi out of the clan's territory with almost no wasted words. After that, it was even simpler.

He knocked her unconscious with a karate chop and sped over from a secluded spot.

"Poor little thing, consider being tricked a lesson learned." Tōka shook his head helplessly. Even Hinata was a few years older, would be fooled by Neji!

"What about what you promised me?" Neji stared coldly at Tōka, slightly lowering his body in a defensive stance, his toes hooking around Hanabi's waist.

If Tōka doesn't keep his promise, Neji will immediately pick up Hanabi and run away!

Although this place is outside the territory of the Hyuga Clan, it is not far away.

Furthermore, three hours have passed since Hyuga Hanabi missing, and they have most likely already discovered her disappearance. They should have dispatched a large number of people to search for her by now.

The Byakugan of the Hyuga Clan can detect objects up to a kilometer away!

In the quiet of the night, even the slightest noise will be noticed by them!

However, Neji was overthinking things. Untying the Caged Bird was a piece of cake for Tōka, and he didn't want to ruin his plans for such a trivial matter.

"Try to bear the pain and don't scream!" Tōka's gaze turned serious, and he looked at Neji with a serious expression.

"Don't worry, I won't scream even if I die!" Neji curled his lip in disdain. What kind of ninja can't even endure a little pain!

Tōka smiled leisurely, but Neji felt a chill run down his spine.

It really is death!

The Hyuga Clan's Caged Bird is released when a member of the Branch Family dies, so... well, you might as well die once!

Swish!

Tōka's figure flashed by, like a ghost lurking in the darkness. Neji had already maximized the activation of his Byakugan the moment Tōka appeared.

Even so, he still couldn't see Tōka's movements clearly, and he couldn't even catch the trajectory of Tōka's movement.

Tōka's speed is just... too fast!

Bang!

With his five fingers together, his fingertips gathering a powerful amount of chakra, he transformed his palm into a blade, his finger force striking directly at Neji's chest.

A powerful and profound surge of chakra suddenly entered his heart.

"You..." Waves of sharp pain throbbed through his chest, Neji felt the figure before him blur and shift, overlapping as if countless clones were flickering.

With a muffled thud, Neji collapsed to the ground, motionless.

Tōka clapped his hands, looked down at Neji figure, and whispered, "You'll be alive again once the Yang Release Chakra in your body repairs your heart meridian."

"Get a good night's sleep, and wait for Hanabi to go back together. Maybe Hyuga Hiashi will still remember your kindness!"

Tōka smiled mysteriously, then stretched out his Ape Arm and tucked the Hanabi under his arm.

With a whoosh, a dark shadow flashed through the Tree Shadow, and Tōka, along with Hanabi, disappeared into the depths of the Woods in a few leaps.

Rustling...

As night fell in the misty drizzle, the swaying shadows of the Tree Shadow shut out all the noise and commotion.

Hyuga Clan Hyuga Hanabi clan, has gone missing. Hyuga Hiashi search outside the village.

It even alarmed the Third Hokage!