Gua left, taking Hinata toward the Hyuga Clan Compound.
Hizashi looked away from their retreating figures and glanced at the two men in black.
He stepped forward and removed their masks.
As expected, they were from Kumogakure.
Hizashi had even received them earlier that day, as members of Kumogakure's Envoy Delegation!
Guilt showed in their eyes as well.
Hizashi said in a low voice,
"Let's go!"
The two men exchanged a glance, then silently let Hizashi lead them toward the Hokage Building.
Tap, tap, tap!
Tap, tap, tap!
Their footsteps echoed through the deserted woods.
Hizashi's eyes were grave as he kept considering how he would explain this to the Third Generation.
Suddenly,
the rope he was pulling behind him grew heavy.
Hizashi paused, startled.
Two dull thuds sounded behind him.
He turned immediately, but it was already too late. The two Kumogakure ninja were lying on the ground.
They had no wounds, but black blood trickled from the corners of their mouths.
"They've been poisoned!"
Hizashi's expression changed, and he hurried to check their breathing.
They had stopped breathing, and their pulses were gone. Through his Byakugan, he could see that all their chakra pathways were blocked, as motionless as stagnant water.
Both men were dead.
A drop of cold sweat rolled down Hizashi's face.
He pried their mouths open. Both were missing a tooth where poison had been hidden.
A chill rose in Hizashi's heart.
Now we're in trouble.
Meanwhile.
Gua led little Hinata toward the Hyuga Clan Compound.
As he walked, he continued his idle training.
This time, though, he felt a little unsettled.
He kept thinking of Izumi, and of that empty house.
He felt no heart-wrenching pain. After all, it was someone else's experience, not his own.
Nor was he pondering some profound philosophical