The child looked no more than five or six, dressed in the standard Uchiha clan attire.
Standing in the night, he gave off an air of cold loneliness.
He was like a sculpture devoid of emotion, standing there impassively until some mechanism triggered him into motion.
He shifted his feet slightly and looked up at the two black-clad men in the treetops.
The moment their eyes met.
By the faint starlight, the two men made out the child's face.
"Uchiha Gua?!"
They had been with Kumogakure's peace delegation that day, so naturally, they had seen this child who had clashed with Karui.
Six years old, one-tomoe, and skilled enough in taijutsu to send Karui flying with a kick.
Terrifying, by any measure.
But that was only terrifying among children his age.
They, on the other hand, were Chunin!
Two Chunin against a six-year-old child-what did it matter if he was a genius?
A genius who had yet to grow was still nothing more than an ant.
"We might as well grab an Uchiha on the way back. The Raikage will definitely reward us."
Greed gleamed in the eyes of the black-clad man holding Hinata.
His teammate up ahead, however, was a little uneasy.
"I don't think he's that simple."
"He's just a kid. What are you afraid of? If you won't go, I will!"
His companion scoffed and tried to shove Hinata into his arms.
But his teammate refused.
"I'll go. You take the Hyuga princess and leave first."
His teammate was clearly more cautious.
The man holding Hinata sneered. "Coward!"
Still, he followed the suggestion and prepared to leave with Hinata.
Just then.
A cold glint flashed.
The man holding Hinata sensed something wrong and twisted aside.
The dark edge of a kunai skimmed past his face, leaving a