A few days later, at the gates of Konoha.
A group of dark-skinned ninja wearing white flak jackets approached.
Without a doubt, these were all Kumogakure Ninja, a delegation sent by Kumogakure in the Land of Lightning.
When the Kumogakure Ninja stepped through Konoha's gates and saw the village's current state, every one of them was astonished.
"So this is Konoha!"
"They've actually recovered this quickly!"
A member of the Kumogakure Ninja delegation could not help remarking with a frown.
According to the intelligence Kumogakure had gathered, Konoha had only recently suffered the Nine-Tails' Rampage, and the Fourth Hokage had also been killed by the Nine-Tails.
By all rights, Konoha should have been filled with shattered walls and rubble, its villagers displaced, the entire village in a state of extreme weakness and chaos.
Yet what lay before them were clean, level streets, bustling with people, with vendors' calls rising one after another.
Not only had order been fully restored throughout Konoha, but the village even seemed to radiate a vitality more prosperous than before.
"Captain, something's wrong with Konoha! How does this look anything like a village that's just suffered an attack by the Nine-Tails?"
Another Kumogakure Ninja spoke in a low voice, also frowning.
The Kumogakure Ninja delegation's captain knitted his brows tightly, his gaze constantly sweeping their surroundings.
The recovery Konoha had demonstrated far exceeded their expectations, introducing a degree of uncertainty into the plan they had prepared.
Just then, steady footsteps approached.
Shikaku Nara, serving as the Hokage's aide, came up to the Kumogakure Ninja delegation at an unhurried pace with several Konoha ninja.
"I am Shikaku Nara, the Hokage's aide. On behalf of Konoha, I welcome the delegation from Kumogakure."
Shikaku Nara spoke in an even tone.
When the Kumogakure Ninja saw that only a Hokage's aide had come to welcome them, they froze for a moment before their expressions darkened.
"Shikaku Nara? Just you alone?! Who are you to welcome us?!"
"We represent Lord Raikage! We represent Kumogakure! Where's that so-called Fifth Hokage of yours? How dare he not come welcome us in person?!"
"Exactly! A mere Fifth Hokage, putting on such airs! He's showing utter disregard for Kumogakure!"
The members of the Kumogakure Ninja delegation spoke angrily, their voices full of mockery and provocation.
In their eyes, Konoha had just undergone turmoil and was undoubtedly at its weakest.
With Kumogakure's delegation arriving, Konoha's leadership should have been bowing and scraping to please them.
Yet faced with the Kumogakure Ninja delegation's arrogance, Shikaku Nara did not back down. Instead, he maintained his firm stance as he spoke.
"Our Fifth Hokage has no time to welcome you."
"If you're dissatisfied, you can turn around and leave right now. We won't see you out."
Every member of the Kumogakure Ninja delegation was dumbfounded by Shikaku Nara's words.
Clearly, they had never imagined that Konoha, long known for its mildness and willingness to compromise, would now take such a hard line.
"You... what did you say?!"
"Are you looking down on Kumogakure?!"
"..."
At Shikaku Nara's words, every Kumogakure Ninja grew furious, their right hands instinctively pressing against the ninja blades at their waists, looking ready to attack at the slightest disagreement.
"I am merely conveying the Fifth Hokage's will."
Shikaku Nara spoke without a trace of fear.
Faced with Shikaku Nara's unyielding attitude, the Kumogakure Ninja were all filled with confusion.
By rights, Konoha had just suffered a crisis and lost much of its strength. It should have been yielding to Kumogakure's delegation and greeting them with ingratiating smiles. How did it dare take such a hard line?
Could Konoha still be hiding some terrifying trump card?
Seeing that the situation was about to spiral out of control, the Kumogakure Ninja captain stepped forward and glared viciously at Shikaku Nara. "Fine! Very good! Kumogakure will remember Konoha's hospitality! Lead the way!"
In the end, the Kumogakure Ninja delegation obediently stayed in the quarters Konoha had prepared specifically for them, following Shikaku Nara's arrangements.
After arranging the Kumogakure Ninja delegation's accommodations, Shikaku Nara did not linger, heading straight to the Hokage Building to report on the delegation.
"Fifth Hokage, although the Kumogakure Ninja delegation has settled in..."
"Their attitude is extremely arrogant. I'm worried they'll cause trouble in the village."
Shikaku Nara looked at Gengetsu with some concern as he spoke.
"Cause trouble? If they dare cause trouble, they won't be leaving!"
With that, Gengetsu turned to Uchiha Inabi and immediately issued an order.
"Inabi, from now on, personally lead the Police Force's elite and keep the Kumogakure delegation under close surveillance!"
"If you notice anything suspicious about them, or if they dare do anything that violates the rules within Konoha, don't ask for my permission. Take them down immediately!"
"Yes, Fifth Hokage!"
Having received Gengetsu's orders, Uchiha Inabi immediately went into action, beginning to arrange comprehensive surveillance of the Kumogakure Ninja delegation.
Meanwhile, inside the Kumogakure delegation's quarters.
In a room with its doors and windows tightly shut, the Kumogakure Ninja gathered, their faces full of anger.
"I'm furious! Those Konoha bastards actually dared treat us like this!"
A Kumogakure Ninja slammed his fist hard against the table and spoke through gritted teeth.
"We represent Lord Raikage and Kumogakure! How dare they look down on us!"
"Exactly! Konoha just suffered the Nine-Tails' Rampage. They're only bluffing now! That so-called Fifth Hokage doesn't even dare show his face. What a coward!"
Another Kumogakure Ninja joined in the angry complaints.
Seeing all his subordinates seething with anger, the Kumogakure Ninja captain raised a hand, signaling for everyone to quiet down.
"Enough! Now isn't the time to complain!"
"Don't forget our mission here in Konoha!"
At their captain's reminder, the Kumogakure Ninja in the room instantly fell silent.
"We move tonight! Our target is a member of the Hyuga Clan's Main Family!"
The Kumogakure Ninja captain spoke with a cold sneer.
Kumogakure had long coveted the Hyuga Clan's Byakugan.
However, the Hyuga Clan guarded the Byakugan so closely that Kumogakure had never had an opportunity.
Thus, Kumogakure's leadership had carefully planned this operation, intending to use the delegation's exchange visit to Konoha as the perfect opportunity to secretly infiltrate the Hyuga Clan and seize the Byakugan.
At the same time, this operation would also let them take the opportunity to test Konoha's strength.
Time passed, and soon darkness had fully fallen.
All of Konoha sank into stillness, with only the occasional barking of dogs breaking the silence of the night.
The Cloud delegation began to move.
They had all changed into black nighttime outfits, concealing their faces completely.
Every member of this Cloud delegation was an elite ninja from Kumogakure who specialized in infiltration and covert operations.
Their movements were therefore exceptionally light, making almost no sound, and they acted with great stealth.
In just a few bounds, the Kumogakure Ninja vanished into the night like ghosts, swiftly making their way toward the Hyuga Clan's compound.
But their supposedly flawless stealth did not escape the pairs of Sharingan hidden in the shadows.
"Captain Inabi! The Kumogakure delegation is making a suspicious move!"
In a large tree not far from the Kumogakure Ninja's quarters, a member of the Konoha Military Police Force with his Three-Tomoe Sharingan activated immediately reported.
"That direction... seems to be the Hyuga Clan's compound!"
Another Uchiha ninja also used his Sharingan's abilities to accurately determine where the Kumogakure Ninja were heading.
At his subordinates' reports, a cold smile curled the corners of Uchiha Inabi's mouth.
"Right! Follow them!"
Without the slightest hesitation, Uchiha Inabi immediately ordered his subordinates to follow.
Their Uchiha Clan were likewise experts in concealment and assassination, so following behind these Kumogakure Ninja took practically no effort.
The ninja from Kumogakure moved very quickly. Relying on their superb infiltration skills, they soon bypassed the guards around the Hyuga Clan's perimeter and successfully slipped deep into the compound.
Before long, several Kumogakure Ninja rushed out of a Hyuga Clan residence. Tucked beneath one Kumogakure Ninja's arm was an unconscious child of the Hyuga Clan.
Hidden in the shadows, Uchiha Inabi saw the scene clearly through his Sharingan.
"Damn it, the Fifth Hokage was right! This Kumogakure delegation really is up to no good. They actually dared openly kidnap a member of the Hyuga Clan inside Konoha!"
"Attack! Take them down!"
At Uchiha Inabi's command, the Uchiha Clan ninja hidden in the shadows charged swiftly toward the Kumogakure delegation.
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