On the night he received the letter from Hyūga Hiashi, Hyūga Shinichi sought out his great-grandfather, Hyūga Shin, who had returned to the compound, to discuss the matter.
In front of Shin, Shinichi expressed his desire to go to the battlefield to gain combat experience. The target for this mission would be Ao, the Kirigakure ninja known as the "Hyūga Killer." Shin, as an elder, was acutely aware of the intelligence regarding Ao.
He had hoped that Hiashi, leading the clansmen at the peak of his strength, could successfully retrieve the Byakugan, but he was surprised that even Hiashi failed. Hiashi's letter requested that his brother, Hyūga Hizashi, replace him to continue the mission.
However, Shin knew that if Hiashi failed, Hizashi would likely fail as well. While Hizashi might have once been considered slightly more talented than his twin, that was in the past. Hiashi, having been taught many Main House secret techniques upon becoming the heir, had long surpassed Hizashi in actual combat strength. Hiashi was trapped in the past and failed to realize this.
From the perspective of mission success, Shin did not believe Hizashi replacing Hiashi would yield better results. However, Shinichi's voluntary request made Satoru pause to consider.
Although Shinichi was young, he had mastered the Flying Thunder God Technique. With a space-time Ninjutsu, his immediate combat ability could not be judged simply by his age.
Furthermore, Shin had witnessed Shinichi's training results over the years. Even without seeing Shinichi fully engage in combat, his track record of defeating Danzō suggested his combat ability was certainly not inferior to Hiashi's.
The existence of the Flying Thunder God filled Shinichi's battles with endless possibilities; even when facing a superior enemy, the technique offered a chance for a miraculous comeback — something Satoru had to take into account.
On the other hand, he had to consider Shinichi's personal growth. While Shinichi's strength might continue to grow if he stayed in the compound to train, he would ultimately remain a flower in a greenhouse.
Shin had lived through several Great Ninja Wars. In his lifetime, he had witnessed many powerful ninja, many of whom had been on the battlefield since childhood. A ninja's growth is inseparable from the true battlefield.
Given these various considerations, Shinichi's personal safety was not Shin's main concern. Across the entire Hyūga clan, or even all of Konoha, if Shinichi, who possessed the Flying Thunder God Technique, could not escape, then no one the Hyūga clan sent would be able to successfully retrieve the Byakugan.
The Flying Thunder God Technique alone fundamentally altered Satoru's assessment of Shinichi.
"Shinichi, you must think carefully. The battlefield is, after all, the battlefield. Even you face enormous risks."
"If you stay safely within the compound, you will one day successfully inherit the Hyūga name."
"But if you fall on the battlefield... everything will turn into smoke."
Shin felt Shinichi might be too young to be resolute, so after thinking, he decided to try persuading him first.
"Great-Grandfather, I have made my decision, and I hope you will support me."
"If I were to speak with Father, he would absolutely not agree."
"But you are different, Great-Grandfather. You understand my power, and you know that for the Byakugan to be retrieved, I must be the one to go."
"Moreover... it is not only to increase my combat experience; the task of retrieving the Byakugan is the responsibility of the Main House, isn't it?"
Shinichi revealed another underlying thought during his conversation with Shin. Shinichi desired more authority within the clan. In some situations, Shinichi even wished his authority would supersede Hiashi's, the current clan head.
Only then would he have the opportunity to completely lift the restriction of the Caged Bird on the clan. However, it was foreseeable that the Hyūga clan would not change its leader anytime soon. Not only was Shinichi still young, but Hiashi was in his prime. Even when Shinichi reached adulthood, Hiashi would only be in his forties, the peak age for a man.
To change the Hyūga clan, Shinichi had to seize authority. The mission to retrieve the Byakugan could also serve to establish his prestige. If he could succeed where the Clan Head, Hiashi, failed, wouldn't that be convincing?
Understanding Shinichi's intentions, Shin nodded solemnly.
"Shinichi, you know I have never treated you like an ordinary child."
"Since you have decided, I will support you."
"We won't wait for Hiashi to return. You have one day to prepare. You will lead the elites out the morning after tomorrow."
"If we wait for Hiashi to return, I fear you won't be able to leave."
"As for the Hokage, I will inform him. Retrieving the Byakugan is a Hyūga family matter; the Fourth Hokage won't object."
"The maximum number of guards I can arrange for you in the clan is twenty."
"You will take these people first. I will write to the Hyūga Branch House members on the front lines. Once you arrive, all Hyūga on the Kirigakure front will be under your command."
"I will have Hizashi accompany you. For anything you don't understand about the battlefield, or things you need to be careful of, listen to Hizashi's advice."
"Though you are of the Main House and Hizashi is of the Branch House, he has more war experience. You must sincerely listen to his counsel."
Shin agreed to Shinichi's request and, knowing his grandchild was heading to the battlefield, shared some of his own experience, hoping his advice would help Shinichi.
"Yes, I understand."
"I won't act recklessly."
"Should any sudden emergency arise, I will use the Flying Thunder God to evacuate the clan members immediately."
Facing Shin's heartfelt warnings, Shinichi adopted a serious attitude. He would not underestimate any opponent, and he would prioritize his own safety.
"Good. You rest early. I will handle the rest of the arrangements."
That night, Shinichi not only informed Shin of his plans but also preemptively spoke with his mother, Hanako. Hearing that Shinichi had received Shin's permission to leave the compound and retrieve the Byakugan, Hanako was greatly surprised.
After an intense internal struggle, she ultimately chose not to stop Shinichi, only asking him to be careful and return home as soon as he completed the mission. Shinichi was, after all, a ninja, and Hanako had known there would be a day she would send her son to the battlefield. It had simply arrived too quickly.
The next day, Shinichi informed his companions of his impending mission. All were surprised that Shinichi would be leaving so soon. Kakashi and Shisui, having many experiences, were accustomed to such farewells. Itachi, however, seemed somewhat reluctant, as he enjoyed the days spent with his friends. Nevertheless, the time for departure eventually arrived.
The day after.
Early in the morning, the Hyūga elites secretly gathered in the compound. Hyūga Shinichi changed out of his usual training clothes into a tight black combat uniform. In addition to carrying a ninja pouch, Shinichi retrieved a handy short sword from the armory to serve as his weapon. Shinichi was not skilled in swordsmanship; the sword was merely for emergencies.
Shin had assigned Shinichi a guard unit of twenty people. Though small in number, they were all elites. Individuals like Hyūga Hizashi, Hyūga Keisuke, and others were among the clan's top fighters. A Bloodline Limit team of this size could stir up significant trouble even on a frontal battlefield.
Before setting off, there was no rousing speech. Shin simply confirmed Shinichi's command authority and outlined the mission. Hearing that the objective was to assist Shinichi in retrieving the Byakugan, the clansmen's expressions shifted.
They had assumed they were escorting the Main House heir on a "field trip," but they were actually executing a high-stakes mission. They had heard that the Clan Head, Hiashi, had just failed to retrieve the Byakugan and was returning to Konoha injured, yet the Main House was immediately deploying a new force. And the leader was the young Shinichi.
However, the clansmen did not conclude that Shin was mad for making the young Shinichi the leader. The clansmen present had all witnessed Shinichi's fight with Danzō and knew this young Main House heir was no weakling. This mission was genuinely intended to result in killing!
Rations, travel maps, and other supplies were carried by Hizashi, Keisuke, and others. After assembling in the compound, the group quietly left Konoha under the first light of dawn. No friends or relatives saw them off. The deployment of the Hyūga this time was known only to the Hokage and the Hyūga clan itself. Once they left the village, no one else could track their movements.
The guard unit consisted of twenty people, making a total of twenty-one, including Shinichi. Due to the presence of the Flying Thunder God Technique, Shinichi's commands could be accurately delivered to everyone. To facilitate movement and expand the alert range, Shinichi divided the twenty-one people into five teams.
His team was the main unit, consisting of Shinichi himself, Hizashi, Keisuke, Kazutaka, and Mio—the four people Shinichi trusted the most, serving as his personal bodyguards. The remaining sixteen people were divided into four squads of four, each with a squad leader, positioned at the front, back, left, and right of Shinichi's main unit during the operation.
The conventional limit of the Byakugan's detection range is one kilometer. The squads maintained this spacing, rapidly advancing toward the Kirigakure.
The Hyūga clan deployed elites this time, and their speed was high. Due to the Flying Thunder God, Shinichi's orders could be accurately transmitted to each team, and their feedback could be conveyed using hand signals to Keisuke and Hizashi, who were monitoring their status. Although this was their first joint mission under Shinichi's command, their coordination was already flawless.
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