Konoha, Kumogakure's Envoys' Rest Area.
The kerosene lamp wick spat out a spark, casting a distorted shadow on the wallpaper.
The 'true' leader representing Kumogakure in signing the ceasefire agreement with Konoha tapped her fingers on the table. The ticking of the copper pocket watch was like needles soaked in water, pricking the silence one by one.
She glanced out the window. Konoha's night sky was suffocated by thick clouds, and even the crescent moon hid behind the clouds, only peeking out with half its face.
'Failed.' The true Kumogakure's leader laughed inwardly, her fingertips picking up the Kumogakure's forehead protector, the serrated edges grating her fingertips red, 'As expected, trying to snatch someone from the Hyuga Clan's Main Family isn't that easy."
Thinking of this, she suddenly turned her face, exchanging silent glances with several Kumogakure's Shinobi behind her. Then, through a special channel, she sent this message back to Kumogakure.
She had long prepared multiple contingencies for this plan.
Once the snatching plan failed, the 'fake leader' would take the initiative to die at the hands of the Hyuga Clan's Main Family. Then they could use this as a reason to pressure Konoha to hand over the murderer who killed the Kumogakure's leader.
Otherwise, they'd flip the table… something their Kumogakure was extremely skilled at.
At that time, if Konoha handed over the murderer from Hyuga Clan's Main Family, it could stir up conflict between the Hyuga Clan and the Konoha's leadership, and also cause violent clashes between Konoha's doves and hawks, creating internal conflicts within Konoha, making them consume themselves internally.
Her slender fingertips casually drew circles on the desk, meant to mislead Konoha's surveillance.
This dedicated rest area, without even thinking about it, was definitely under strict surveillance by Konoha.
So even their eye contact was extremely discreet.
Even if Sandaime Hokage agreed to war, their Kumogakure wouldn't fear it at all. Based on the numerous intelligence reports from their spies in Konoha over the years: first, the Kyubi Rampage caused the loss of many of Konoha's elite Shinobi.
The Yondaime Hokage's grave already had green grass growing over it.
The previous Kyubi's Jinchuriki was also dead. In a short time, the new Kyubi's Jinchuriki simply couldn't grow up quickly enough.
Konoha's White Fang, renowned throughout the Shinobi World, 'committed suicide'.
The whereabouts of the famed Sannin, Tsunade and Jiraiya, were unknown.
Orochimaru had even defected from Konoha a while ago.
During the Third Shinobi World War, Konoha insanely targeted the Uchiha Clan, sending the vast majority of Uchiha Clan's Shinobi skilled in Fire Release to fight in the Land of Water.
The relationship between the two was now extremely tenuous.
If it were any other period, Kumogakure would be wary of Konoha, not daring to lightly go to war with them. But now?
Since the dawn of the Shinobi Village Era, Konoha, which had produced talents in great numbers, was currently at its most vulnerable.
The younger generation who could carry the banner were either dead, fled, or whereabouts unknown.
The Uchiha Clan, which had shaken the Shinobi World with its might since the Warring States Period, was also on bad terms with Konoha, with frequent conflicts between them.
Kumogakure wished they could devour the entire Konoha in one gulp.
Success meant snatching the Hyuga Clan's bloodline, creating a new Hyuga Clan in Kumogakure.
What their Kumogakure lacked most now wasn't Ninjutsu, but powerful Kekkei Genkai like the Byakugan and Sharingan.
Failure provided a legitimate reason to go to war with an unprecedentedly weak Konoha. Their Kumogakure also emphasized having a just cause for war now.
And whether they succeeded or failed, they could stir up internal conflict within Konoha.
As one side weakened and the other strengthened, their Kumogakure would eventually take over Konoha. This deal was a sure profit, no loss no matter what.
…
In Shisui's courtyard, the night wind swirled cherry blossom petals, sticking to the stone path like splattered crushed rouge.
Shisui suddenly appeared before Makoto and Itachi, a faint afterimage trailing behind him… a sign of using the Body Flicker Technique to its limit, with even the moonlight couldn't catch the hem of his clothes.
Shisui wiped the sweat from his temple, but his eyes shone as if stars had fallen into them, even the water droplets on his eyelashes glittering.
Makoto leaned against the porch pillar. Seeing him return, the corner of his mouth lifted slightly: "You worked hard."
"Not hard. I've already delivered those two inside," Shisui grinned, continuing.
"Sure enough, the Hyuga Clan is difficult to infiltrate, but fortunately, I managed to complete it by luck. So what do we do next?"
Since practically executing the 'redirect the trouble' plan with Makoto, the heavy shackles in his heart seemed to have been blown away by the wind… even breathing felt lighter.
He used to always ponder how to reconcile the conflicts between the village and the clan. Now he discovered they could actually directly transfer the conflict. It was so simple.
Hearing this, Makoto straightened up, brushing off the petals stuck to his clothes: "Wait!"
"Everyone go home. You don't need to worry about the rest."
"The Uchiha are about to enter a period of calm. You twos should seize the time to improve your strength. For the future of Konoha, work hard!"
As the words fell, Makoto turned and left, the hem of his clothes brushing past grass blades, carrying a fresh scent.
He needed to go back and pack, prepare to 'slip' out of Konoha.
Itachi nodded to Shisui, then quickly caught up with Makoto. The two walked side-by-side on the bluestone path, the moonlight stretching their shadows long.
On the way, Makoto gave Itachi his daily Will of Fire baptism, it had already become his habit.
…
In the Hyuga Clan's Main Family's bedroom, the candle flame flickered bright and dim, casting shifting spots of light on the tatami, like a restless moth.
Hinata suddenly opened her eyes, her small brows knitted into a knot, like a frightened young animal.
Her head felt like it was stuffed with water-soaked cotton, heavy and aching.
She raised her hand to her forehead, her fingertips bumping into a swollen, hard lump.
The pain made her suck in a sharp breath, her eyes instantly reddening, but she didn't let the tears fall.
The moonlight outside squeezed through the paper window, laying a silver strip on the floor.
She suddenly remembered something, her little mouth trembling slightly as she murmured: "Was it a dream?"
But the pain on her forehead was too real. She shook her small head vigorously, then began carefully recalling what had happened before.
Shisui, proficient in Genjutsu, under Makoto's request, had hypnotized Hinata with Genjutsu, implanting a segment of memory.
Those memories woven in by Genjutsu began to surge as her small head shook.
Hinata slowly remembered being kidnapped by the Kumogakure's leader before, and that the Great Elder had saved her.
Thinking of this, Hinata's small brows furrowed even tighter. After a moment, she bit her lip, her small feet pattering on the tatami as she ran to the door, grabbed her shoes, and slipped them on, the straps tied crookedly.
She tried her best to act composed as she walked into Hiashi's room and told her father about the matter.
Hiashi had just opened his eyes from sleep.
Hearing these words, he instantly sat up straight, his brows knitting into a knot. He stared at the bump on Hinata's forehead, his fingertips lightly tapping on his knee, suspicion arising in his heart.
'The Great Elder? That old man who finds it strenuous to even bend over and pick up a fan, would he save Hinata?'
'And he would be glad to see something happen to Hinata, so how could he possibly save her? This matter is very suspicious.'
Thinking of this, Hiashi's voice deepened. He pressed his daughter's shoulder: "Hinata, what happened tonight, you must not tell anyone else, understand?"
Hearing this, Hinata blinked, nodding half-understanding. After being sent back to her room, she hugged her pillow and curled up in the corner, drifting in and out of sleep for a long time before falling asleep again.
Hiashi, however, sat up and began pondering the matter.
Morning dew trickled down the window lattice, accumulating into a string of small water droplets on the wooden frame, like hanging transparent beads.
The Hyuga Clan's Main Family's Great Elder sat up with a yawn. A -sweet smell suddenly drilled into his nose.
He frowned, his gaze sweeping towards the corner.
In that instant, all sleepiness vanished from his aged face. His pupils sharply contracted to pinpoints. The yawn in his throat caught, turning into a hoarse gasp.
A corpse lay in the corner, its death extremely gruesome, a kunai still embedded in its neck.
"Urgh…" The Main Family's Great Elder covered his mouth, his stomach churning. He couldn't remember how many years it had been since he'd seen such a scene. Years of living in comfort had made him lose his Shinobi Instincts.
But when he clearly saw the corpse's face, he even forgot his nausea, 'Wasn't that the Kumogakure's leader who drank with me yesterday?'
He suddenly looked at the kunai. It was marked with the Hyuga Clan's emblem, clearly framing him.
Cold sweat instantly formed on his forehead, soaking the collar of his pajamas. His back felt sticky, as if plastered with ice.
"It's over..." The Great Elder collapsed back onto the bed. This matter could pierce through Konoha. In an instant, a shrewd light flashed in his eyes.
"Self-preservation! I must preserve myself! For the Hyuga Clan, I can still contribute. Find a scapegoat for this matter. Must find a scapegoat quickly."
As for destroying the body and evidence, he didn't even consider it. Shinobi had too many methods, and doing it risked discovery. Better to directly find someone to take the fall.
And he would continue to shine for the Hyuga Clan. Everything he did was for the Hyuga Clan!
After self-hypnosis, the Hyuga Clan's Main Family's Great Elder said with a firm tone:
"No matter what, I cannot die!"
Dawn had just broken when the open area in front of the Hokage Tower exploded into chaos.
The Kumogakure's envoys blocked the entrance to the Hokage Tower. The leading Kunoichi said loudly: "The person in charge of our mission this time is missing. We request the Hokage's assistance in investigating!"
Inside the Hokage Tower, Hiruzen puffed on his pipe, his brows wrinkled like crumpled paper amidst the swirling smoke.
He glanced at the Anbu beside him, subconsciously suspecting his dear friend Danzo.
The Anbu shook his head slightly: "The Hokage Advisor, Danzo-sama's Root, did not mobilize last night."
Hearing this, Hiruzen felt much more at ease.
In all of Konoha, aside from his dear friend Danzo who would dare do such a thing, no other clan possibly could.
He figured it was probably Kumogakure deliberately picking a fight, so he said: "Have the Anbu assist the Kumogakure's envoys in their investigation. Don't let them make an issue out of this."
The Kumogakure's envoys, using Sensory Ninjutsu, quickly located the fake Kumogakure's leader's position.
Hiruzen monitored the Kumogakure's actions through his Crystal Ball.
Watching the Kumogakure's people head towards the Hyuga Clan's compound, Hiruzen mused inwardly: 'The Hyuga clan has always kept to themselves, playing their own games. They probably wouldn't do such a thing, right?'