Obito's Madness! Kidnapping Hinata Sets Konoha Ablaze

Konoha, Hyuga Clan Grounds.

Hyuga Hiashi stood in the wrecked room, his face livid.

His right hand was still trembling slightly from his clash with the intruder.

"Clan Head, we've sealed off every exit," a Hyuga Branch Family ninja reported, kneeling on one knee. "But... the other party used Space Ninjutsu. Our Byakugan couldn't track them at all."

Hiashi's fists clenched with a sharp crack.

Space Ninjutsu.

There were only a handful of people in the entire Ninja World capable of using a technique of that level.

And just half an hour ago, someone had used it to snatch Hinata right in front of him.

"Father!"

Hizashi Hyuga rushed into the room, his face anxious. "Anbu just reported that something happened to the Cloud Village Envoy Group, too. One of their entourage has gone missing, and they're searching the entire village."

Hiashi's head snapped up. "Cloud Village?"

"Yes. And... they suspect our Hyuga Clan is responsible." Hizashi lowered his voice. "It's already spreading outside. They're saying we kidnapped one of their people to retaliate for Cloud Village coveting the Byakugan."

"Bullshit!" Hiashi roared, slamming his palm down and smashing the table beside him.

Someone had stolen his daughter, and now these bastards were trying to turn the blame back on them?

"Lord Hiashi, please calm down."

Nara Shikaku's voice came from outside the door.

He entered the room, his expression grave. "The Fourth Hokage asked me to find out whether you got a good look at the other party."

Hiashi took a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down.

"The other party wore a mask. I couldn't see their face. But..." He paused. "They used the Sharingan."

Shikaku's pupils contracted sharply.

The Sharingan?

"Are you sure?"

"My Byakugan doesn't make mistakes." Hiashi gritted his teeth. "I saw the Tomoe in those eyes clearly. And the other party used Space Ninjutsu to take Hinata away."

Shikaku's expression darkened further.

The Sharingan and Space Ninjutsu.

That combination brought a terrifying possibility to mind.

"Lord Hiashi, I'll report this to the Fourth Hokage immediately." Shikaku turned to leave. "Until then, please keep your clan members under control. Don't let them act rashly."

"Wait!" Hiashi called after him. "Shikaku, do you know something?"

Shikaku stopped but didn't turn around.

"I have a suspicion. But if it's true..." His voice dropped low. "Then this matter may be far more complicated than we imagine."

With that, he disappeared.

Hiashi stood where he was, his fists clenching even tighter.

Hinata... You have to be safe.

The Hokage's office.

Minato was stunned after hearing Shikaku's report.

"The Sharingan? Space Ninjutsu?"

"Yes." Shikaku nodded. "And according to Hiashi, the other party was extremely skilled in Space Ninjutsu. They disappeared almost instantly."

Danzo spoke up suddenly. "Could it have been someone from the Uchiha Clan?"

Fugaku's face turned livid.

"Danzo, watch what you say!" He sprang to his feet. "The Uchiha Clan may possess the Sharingan, but we would never commit such a despicable act!"

"Then how do you explain the other party using the Sharingan?" Danzo sneered. "Did someone steal your clan's eyes?"

"Enough!" Minato struck the table.

The office fell silent at once.

"This is no time for infighting." Minato's voice was cold. "Shikaku, you said you had a suspicion?"

Shikaku was silent for a few seconds before speaking. "I suspect... the other party may be the one who released the Nine-Tails during the Nine-Tails Incident."

The air in the office seemed to freeze.

Minato's expression turned grim.

That man...

He would never forget the masked man who used the Sharingan to control the Nine-Tails.

If it really was him...

"Notify all Anbu immediately!" Minato's voice brimmed with killing intent. "Search everywhere for suspicious people! Also, send someone to the Cloud Village Envoy Group's lodging and keep a close eye on them!"

"Yes!"

Just then, another Anbu Ninja appeared in a flash.

"Lord Minato, urgent intelligence!"

"Speak!"

"We found the body of a Cloud Village ninja on the outskirts of the village! Judging by the wound... a Kunai pierced his heart."

Minato shot to his feet.

A Cloud Village ninja's body?

"Where is it?"

"It's been brought back. It's in the morgue."

Without another word, Minato used Flying Thunder God and vanished.

Danzo and Fugaku exchanged a glance and followed.

Inside the morgue.

Minato stared at the body lying on the table, his brows furrowed.

This was indeed a Kumogakure ninja. He was still wearing a Cloud Village uniform.

The fatal wound was the Kunai hole through his chest.

"This man..." Fugaku suddenly said. "I know him."

Everyone looked at him.

"His name is Raizo. He's an elite Jonin from Kumogakure." Fugaku's voice was cold. "During the Third Shinobi World War, he tried to infiltrate Konoha and steal intelligence. Our Uchiha Military Police caught him once."

"What happened after that?" Minato asked.

"He was returned to Cloud Village in a prisoner exchange." Fugaku stared at the body. "I didn't expect him to come back."

Danzo sneered suddenly. "It seems the Cloud Village Envoy Group really did come with bad intentions. They claimed they were here to negotiate peace, but in truth, they sent someone to infiltrate Konoha and cause trouble."

"But the question is..." Shikaku frowned. "If he was here to kidnap Hinata, why was he killed here?"

Everyone fell silent.

Minato crouched down and carefully examined the body.

Suddenly, he noticed something in the corpse's hand.

It was a small piece of fabric.

Dark blue, with the Hyuga Clan crest embroidered on it.

Minato's pupils contracted sharply.

This was from Hinata's clothes!

"It seems Raizo really was trying to kidnap Hinata." Minato stood up, his voice turning colder. "But he failed and was killed."

"Could someone from the Hyuga Clan have done it?" Danzo tried to sow discord again.

"Impossible," Fugaku said, shaking his head. "The Hyuga wouldn't use a Kunai. They specialize in Gentle Fist and the Byakugan."

"Then who was it?"

No one could answer.

Just then, an Anbu Ninja rushed in.

"Lord Minato! The Cloud Village Envoy Group's leader, Toroi, is making a scene at the entrance to the Hokage Building! He says that if we don't hand over whoever killed his comrade, he'll report this to Lord Raikage and have Cloud Village declare war on Konoha!"

Minato's expression darkened completely.

Declare war?

Those bastards really had some nerve!

"Come on. Let's see them."

Minato turned and strode away, Chakra beginning to surge around him.

If Cloud Village really wanted to fight, he wouldn't mind showing them the power of the Yellow Flash.

At the entrance to the Hokage Building.

Toroi stood there with several Cloud Village ninjas, looking ready for a fight.

A large crowd of Konoha Ninja had gathered around them, but no one dared approach.

After all, they were an envoy group. If anyone made a move, it would become a diplomatic incident.

"The Fourth Hokage finally decided to come out?" Toroi sneered when he saw Minato. "I thought you were going to keep hiding."

Minato didn't speak. He simply looked at him in silence.

There was no emotion in his bright blue eyes.

But everyone who knew Minato understood that this was a sign he was truly angry.

"Toroi, we found your comrade." Minato's voice was calm. "He died on the outskirts of the village, with a Kunai through his heart."

Toroi's expression changed.

"What? Raizo is dead?"

"Yes. And..." Minato pulled the piece of fabric from his pocket. "We found this in his hand."

Toroi's pupils contracted sharply when he saw the fabric.

It bore the Hyuga Clan crest!

"It seems Cloud Village really is interested in Konoha's Kekkei Genkai," Minato said, his voice growing colder. "You claim to have come to negotiate peace, but you sent someone to kidnap the young lady of the Hyuga Clan. Toroi, what do you think I should do about this?"

Cold sweat began to bead on Toroi's forehead.

He hadn't expected Raizo to fail, let alone leave behind evidence.

"Fourth Hokage, there must be some misunderstanding!" Toroi hurried to explain. "Raizo... he may have only wanted to visit the Hyuga Clan Grounds. After all, the Byakugan is famous..."

"Visit?" Minato cut him off. "Then why did he sneak in in the middle of the night? Why did he fight Hyuga Hiashi? Why was he holding a piece of Hinata's clothing?"

Each question was like a knife plunging into Toroi's heart.

He opened his mouth, but no words came out.

The Konoha Ninja around them were already looking at the Cloud Village Envoy Group with open hostility.

"Toroi." Minato took a step forward. "I'll give you two choices."

"First, Cloud Village formally apologizes to Konoha and compensates the Hyuga Clan for its losses."

"Second..." Terrifying Chakra suddenly burst from Minato. "I detain all of you right now, then send someone to Cloud Village to demand an explanation from Lord Raikage."

Toroi's face turned deathly pale.

He knew that if they were detained, they might never make it back to Cloud Village.

"I... I need time to consider..."

"I'll give you one minute," Minato said coldly.

Just then.

A vortex of space fluctuation suddenly appeared atop the Hokage Building.

Everyone looked up.

A masked man stood there, holding an unconscious little girl.

The girl had short, dark blue hair.

It was Hinata Hyuga!

"Hinata!" Hiashi's voice rang out from the crowd, full of fury and worry.

Minato's pupils contracted sharply.

That mask...

It was him!

The man who had released the Nine-Tails during the Nine-Tails Incident!

"Long time no see, Fourth Hokage." Obito's voice came from behind the mask, carrying a deranged laugh. "Looks like you've been doing pretty well."

"Put Hinata down!" Minato's voice was filled with killing intent.

"Put her down?" Obito looked at Hinata in his arms. "Sure. But..."

He suddenly lifted his head. Through the holes in his mask, his crimson Sharingan stared fixedly at Minato.

"You have to answer one question first."

"Fourth Hokage, do you think... this world can still be saved?"