The Price of Crushing Roses, the Hunt Begins

Rainy night.

Forest.

Mud and water splashed everywhere.

Sasuke Uchiha crashed heavily onto the rough tree trunk.

A splinter pierced the skin.

He rolled into the mud.

Tayuya popped the bubble in her mouth.

She stepped forward, her military boots pressing down hard on Sasuke's cheek.

Sakon and Ukon stood on a tree branch, arms crossed. "Is that all? The vessel Lord Orochimaru wanted is just a piece of trash who can't even fight back."

Jirobo twisted his neck. "The comfort of Hidden Leaf has turned the Uchiha Clan into barking puppies."

Sasuke braced himself against the muddy ground with both hands.

The Two-Tomoe Sharingan spun wildly.

He was trying to pinpoint Tayuya's movements.

The Chakra had just condensed when the Cursed Seal on the back of his neck began to throb faintly.

Sasuke tried to remain calm, but blood trickled from the corner of his mouth.

Kidomaru spat out a large net, pinning Sasuke's hands to the ground.

Tayuya crouched down. "(✧≖͜ʖ≖) Uchiha orphan? Staying in this decaying village, you'll never catch up to Naruto Uzumaki. That monster has completely abandoned you. Only by following Lord Orochimaru will you have a future."

Sasuke's pupils contracted.

Naruto's calm and composed face kept replaying in his mind.

He himself was in a hurry, scrambling and stumbling.

Sasuke tore the spider web apart.

Blood was seeping from my wrist.

He slowly straightened up, swallowing the metallic taste in his throat.

"Take me away."

Sasuke's voice was hoarse.

The next morning.

The inner courtyard of the Hyuga Clan.

Sunlight streamed through the wooden paper door, cutting neat patches of light across the floor.

The wind chimes swayed, making a crisp, clinking sound.

Naruto wore black casual trousers and an open white loose robe, revealing his explosively muscular physique.

He crossed his arms behind his head and lay down on Hinata's lap without any hesitation.

Hinata knelt on the edge of the tatami mat.

A plain-colored kimono hugged her stunningly voluptuous figure.

Her clothes slipped down with her movement, revealing half of her fair calf.

She peeled open a green grape.

The glistening fruit flesh, still warm from his fingertips, was brought to Naruto's lips.

Naruto bit into the green grape.

He then swept his tongue across her fingertips.

(O♥_♥o) Hinata's breath hitched.

A burning sensation rose in my fingertips.

She quickly withdrew her hand, her gaze darting away, her eyelashes trembling uneasily.

The bright red of her ear tips spread all the way down to her fair neck.

Naruto swallowed the fruit.

He sat up, his tall frame erect.

A broad shadow instantly enveloped Hinata.

The air suddenly became quiet.

He raised his hand, his rough fingertips slowly tracing the line of her jaw.

"Feeding me this first thing in the morning."

Naruto leaned close to her ear, his voice laced with a lazy yet authoritative quality, "Brother, tell me the truth, you wouldn't be thinking of... me, would you?"

Hinata's mind went completely blank.

The fabric rustled softly as it rubbed against each other.

She instinctively held her breath, her voice trembling slightly, her tone trembling. "Naruto-kun... this is the courtyard... Father will..."

Naruto paused, his fingertips touching the ground.

He withdrew his hand and took a half-inch back. "Just kidding."

A pulling sensation is produced.

Hinata felt a tightness in her chest and a hint of absentmindedness crossed her mind.

This rhythm of advancing one step and retreating halfway completely robbed her of her reason.

The sound of hurried footsteps shattered the wooden corridor.

Shikamaru rushed into the courtyard, panting heavily.

Ya and Choji followed closely behind.

Neji walked at the back, his steps slowed, his head bowed.

Shikamaru stopped ten paces away, sweating profusely. "Naruto! Something terrible has happened! Sasuke defected last night. Lady Tsunade has ordered the formation of a pursuit team. The situation is extremely urgent! You must come with us!"

Naruto picked up a green grape from the fruit plate and popped it into his mouth.

His eyes were full of contempt; he didn't even glance at Shikamaru.

"He's grown legs and can run on his own, why should I chase after him?"

Shikamaru stood there, stunned.

This statement shattered the unspoken bond and etiquette of camaraderie in Hidden Leaf.

"He's a member of Team 7!"

Shikamaru raised his voice.

Naruto brushed the juice residue off his hands. "He insisted on eating Orochimaru's disgusting saliva. I really don't have time to play along with him. I'm quitting my job to stay home and study how much water is in his brain."

Kiba stepped forward, pointing at Naruto: "Naruto! Sasuke is a comrade too! How could you say such a thing?"

Naruto slowly turned his head.

Pure Byakugan, not yet opened.

The life force of the Perfect Uzumaki Sage Body was directly unleashed.

A violent, invisible shockwave emanated from Naruto and crashed directly forward.

Ya's knees buckled, and he collapsed to his knees on the stone slab with a thud.

The bluestone slab has cracked in multiple lines.

My teeth were chattering and I was sweating profusely. I had difficulty breathing, and my bones were making a creaking sound.

Naruto walked up to Kiba and looked down at him.

"I don't know, I have a very beautiful figure."

Naruto spoke up, "Also, I set the rules. He's not my comrade; he's just a self-important hunk who thinks he's classy."

Naruto's gaze swept over Shikamaru: "If you like cybernetic accounting, go do it yourself. Don't drag me down with you if you're going to die."

Neji took a step.

He bowed deeply to Naruto, bending at a ninety-degree angle, his attitude extremely respectful. "Naruto, I apologize for disturbing your rest. We will handle this ourselves."

Neji turned around, grabbed Shikamaru's arm, and forcibly dragged him outside.

Shikamaru displayed his "beanbag" personality, recognized the situation, shut his mouth, and hurriedly led his team to retreat.

The courtyard fell silent once more.

Naruto turned around and reached out to take Hinata.

Hinata stood at the edge of the corridor.

She gripped the hem of her dress tightly with her fingertips, her gaze darting away.

Her eyes were completely red, and her lips were pressed down in a wronged manner.

Naruto followed her gaze.

In the northeast corner of the backyard, a field of blue roses was completely destroyed.

The flower branch broke off, and the petals were crushed into the black soil.

Several military boot footprints with messy patterns were trampled into the soil.

The outer wooden railings were smashed to pieces.

Those were blue roses that Naruto had booked out Yamanaka Flower Shop to give to her.

Yesterday afternoon, she carefully transplanted it into the soil.

Hinata's body trembled slightly, and she subconsciously took a half step back.

Tears welled up in her eyes.

Naruto's eyes instantly turned cold.

The languid air had completely vanished.

I'll conduct a thorough investigation and uncover all the taxes you've evaded!

There were no Hand Seals performed.

Pupil mutation.

Pure Byakugan activation.

Silvery-white pupils pierced the air.

My gaze was fixed on the ruins of the flower field.

Extremely faint Chakra fluctuations remained in the soil.

The four streams of cold, Chakra, unique to the Hidden Sound, mixed with Sasuke's stubborn aura, stretched along the broken fence towards the forest outside the village.

Sasuke and the Sound Four left the village last night, taking a shortcut and flattening the Hyuga Clan's backyard.

Naruto put his hands in his pockets.

Twisting the neck, the joints made a series of crisp cracking sounds.

Orochimaru's henchmen took that idiot away; let them do as they please.

But she trampled the blue roses he gave her, making his woman cry.

This constitutes territorial intrusion.

Naruto's fingers tightened, and pure golden Yang Release Chakra seeped from his skin.

The moisture in the air evaporates directly from the high temperature, making a hissing sound.

He walked up to Hinata and wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes with his fingers.

Are you sure I won't have to pay any additional price?

Naruto spoke in a low voice.

Hinata looked up in astonishment, her mind blank, the tears welling in her eyes frozen.

Naruto took the coat draped over the wooden chair and put it on his shoulders.

The outline of his back muscles was faintly visible beneath the fabric.

(͡°͜ʖ͡°)

"Just kidding, trying to lighten the mood."

Naruto turned and walked towards the courtyard gate, leaving Hinata with an arrogant and imposing back view.

"Stay home."

"I'll go twist those scum's heads off."