Assassination by Kirigakure

So, was it the eye of Hyuga Nobuhiko that was stolen, or the eye of Hyuga Ginka?

Kiyohara observed for a moment, then stopped dwelling on it.

The original work didn't specify this part, but what was certain was that it was definitely a Byakugan from the main branch, and only one eye at that.

"Logically speaking, unless it was a direct frontal engagement, it would be impossible for a member of the Hyuga clan possessing the Byakugan to be left behind..."

Kiyohara stroked his chin.

With the addition of two members of the Hyuga main branch, the team's reconnaissance and anti-infiltration capabilities had undoubtedly been greatly enhanced.

The insight of the Byakugan could be called the strongest means of reconnaissance in jungles and complex terrain.

Unless... there was something that could counter the abilities of the Byakugan.

He thought of a Kekkei Genkai that had appeared in the original work... the Kurenai!

It was just that in the anime, this Kurenai was only seen in Ranmaru, making it an extremely rare Kekkei Genkai.

Looking at it now, perhaps others possessed it as well.

After all, there were actually quite a lot of Kekkei Genkai ninja in Kirigakure.

They were independent from the continent of the Five Great Nations, situated on overseas islands, and aside from the internal strife policies of the "Bloody Mist Village," the winds of war had never blown into their homeland.

One could count them off easily: the Yoton, Futton, Shikotsumyaku, Tai-ton, and Hyoton Kekkei Genkai, among others.

"How come you suddenly frowned?"

Kurenai Yuhi noticed the pensive Kiyohara and couldn't help but come over to ask.

"We have to go on a mission again; I imagine most people wouldn't have a pleasant look on their faces."

Kiyohara said casually.

Earning two thousand eight a month, wiping away tears in the night.

During wartime, ninja were essentially a type of soldier; many missions were military orders, and there was simply no right to refuse.

Even in prison, there was the possibility of a sentence reduction, but when it came to missions, there were only endless missions...

"What you say makes sense."

Kurenai Yuhi thought about it and felt that Kiyohara's words were not unfounded.

"Alright, it's time for us to set off."

The team leader was still Kakashi.

The group beside him quickly finished their preparations and headed toward the border in silence.

Somewhere in a hidden command camp on the front lines of Kirigakure.

A young woman with thick, long brown hair and a charming appearance was looking at an intelligence scroll in her hands with emerald-green eyes.

She was the genius of Kirigakure, Mei Terumi, who possessed both the Yoton and Futton Kekkei Genkai.

"Ao, are you saying that this mission is the perfect opportunity?"

Mei Terumi raised her head to look at a ninja who appeared to be a young man standing before her.

This ninja had a tough face, eyes as sharp as a hawk's, wore the standard Kirigakure ninja attire, and had a Kirigakure forehead protector on his head.

"According to the feedback from Ranmaru, this Konoha reconnaissance squad has already entered the designated area, and there are indeed two members of the Hyuga main branch in the team. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to obtain a Byakugan."

As he spoke, Ao looked at a child behind him.

There, a boy with a thin frame, a somewhat pale complexion, and short dark blue hair stood quietly.

His eyes were an unnatural dark red; he was the one who possessed the Kekkei Genkai capable of interfering with, or even shielding against, the reconnaissance ability of the Byakugan—the Kurenai.

With him there, the Hyuga clan's greatest reliance, the Byakugan, would be greatly diminished.

"Seizing a main branch Byakugan will not only greatly weaken Konoha's reconnaissance capabilities, but it will also be a great achievement."

A glimmer of determination flashed in Ao's eyes.

Furthermore, if he led this team to successfully seize the Byakugan, perhaps he himself would even be qualified to have a Byakugan transplanted!

Mei Terumi twirled a strand of her brown hair with her finger, interest flickering in her emerald eyes.

"Since that's the case, I also want to see the strength of the Konoha ninja with my own eyes."

On the other side.

The team moved quickly and quietly through the dense forest.

Hyuga Nobuhiko and Hyuga Ginka walked in the relatively forward positions of the team so they could activate their Byakugan for reconnaissance at any time.

Although Hyuga Ginka wore the traditional green flak jacket of Konoha, one could still see her curvaceous figure.

At the same time, her pretty face carried a hint of the arrogance inherent to those of the main branch.

She would occasionally sweep her pure white eyes over the others in the team, lingering for a moment especially on Kiyohara.

She had heard through certain channels that Kiyohara had displayed impressive sensory abilities in previous missions, which left her feeling somewhat unconvinced.

A civilian ninja, no matter how strong their sensory skills were, could they really surpass the Byakugan, passed down through the Hyuga clan for a thousand years?

This thought caused her gaze toward Kiyohara to unconsciously carry a hint of competitiveness.

Kiyohara keenly sensed Hyuga Ginka's subtle glances and the underlying arrogance.

People from the main branch... always pampered by the branch families, they were accustomed to looking down on others, much like teachers in certain professions who become arrogant without even realizing it.

He understood this in his heart, but he didn't care. Now was not the time to dwell on such things; he had more important matters to attend to.

Before long, a spiritual body drifted back from the distance.

When it came to matters of life and death, Kiyohara dared not be careless.

Throughout the journey, he had relied on his younger self, the spirit of Kiyohara, to scout the surroundings for enemy intelligence.

After all, ninjas were glass cannons; even someone as strong as Madara Uchiha could be struck down by Black Zetsu's sneak attack.

After the spirit of the younger Kiyohara returned, the information it brought made Kiyohara's eyes narrow.

"There is abnormal Chakra lurking in the woods on both sides ahead, quite a few of them—at least ten."

Kiyohara immediately raised his hand and said in a deep voice:

"Kakashi, stop! There's a situation ahead; there might be an ambush!"

The team stopped instantly, and Kurenai Yuhi and the others, who trusted Kiyohara, immediately entered a state of alert.

"Kiyohara, where are they?"

Kakashi observed his surroundings. His sense of smell was much sharper than the average person's, though he still seemed a bit green compared to veteran jonin.

However, he did not perceive any clear danger.

Beside him, Hyuga Ginka frowned upon hearing this, a look of disapproval appearing on her face.

Without hesitation, she instantly activated her Byakugan. Veins bulged around her eye sockets as her pure white pupils scanned the direction Kiyohara had pointed, as well as the wider area.

"There's no one there at all!"

A moment later, she withdrew her gaze, her tone questioning Kiyohara's judgment.

"My Byakugan hasn't detected any abnormal Chakra reactions. Within eight hundred meters ahead, apart from us and a few animals, there are no other ninjas lurking."

As expected... the Byakugan has been interfered with.

Kiyohara thought to himself.

He hadn't been certain about the presence of the Kurenai, only making the worst-case assumption, but now it seemed that possibility had increased significantly.

One had to know that there were very few abilities capable of affecting the Byakugan.

Kakashi looked at the stopped Kiyohara, then at the confident Hyuga Ginka, feeling a moment of hesitation.

Kiyohara's previous combat performance and his warnings at critical moments had proven that his sensory abilities were extraordinary, but the authority of the Byakugan was deeply rooted in Konoha.

In the distance, within the Kirigakure unit hidden under a meticulously disguised barrier.

Ao observed the movements of the Konoha squad. When he saw Kiyohara suddenly raise his hand to stop the team, a flash of surprise crossed his single eye.

"Oh? They stopped?"

He muttered to himself.

"That black-haired brat... his sensory ability is actually this sharp?"

This was somewhat beyond his expectations.

His original plan was to use the Kurenai to shield the Byakugan and catch Konoha off guard.

"Ranmaru, continue to maintain the Kurenai's ability. Strengthen the interference; don't let them see any flaws."

"Everyone else, prepare for a surprise attack!"

Ao gave his orders calmly.

He believed that under the perfect shielding of the Kurenai, the Hyuga Byakugan would be blind. As long as the Konoha squad continued to advance, they would fall right into their encirclement.

Just as Kakashi was about to speak, attempting to reconcile their differing opinions.

A sudden change occurred!

Rumble!

Without any warning, the water in a small forest creek behind the group suddenly surged, transforming into several massive water dragons that lunged toward the stalled Konoha squad with a deafening roar!

The momentum was terrifying!