"Oh no! I've been spotted!"
Hinata had no idea who had launched the attack, but in her judgment, the Kunai tied to an Explosive Tag was unquestionably aimed at her. The explosion could injure her directly, but its greater purpose was clearly to alert the surrounding area with the sound of the blast and draw nearby enemies in as reinforcements.
In that split second, the Ice Wings behind Hinata suddenly accelerated. Before the Explosive Tag could detonate, the Byakugan girl grabbed the weapon in one hand, then stopped atop a tree trunk ahead.
She had carelessly deactivated her Byakugan after completing the mirror-jump, but now she opened it again and instantly saw the enemies surrounding her. Judging by the animal masks on their faces and their uniforms, they were unquestionably Konoha patrol Anbu.
"Seriously... looks like today's special occasion has Konoha running extra security patrols."
Hinata calmly straightened. As she spoke, several Konoha Anbu carefully emerged from the surrounding trees in an encircling formation. They had probably happened to see her appear here and, in their haste, thrown a Kunai with an Explosive Tag attached. If they had known in advance that Hinata would appear, they would have prepared ground traps or something similar instead.
"That mask... why is someone from Kirigakure here?"
The Anbu in the lead clearly recognized the Mask on Hinata's face, and a trace of tension was obvious in his posture. Sometimes strength could be judged at a glance, and a shinobi with the ability to fly like Hinata was rarely easy to deal with.
There was also another strange detail. The Explosive Tag that should have detonated had gone completely silent the moment the white-haired girl caught it, as though it had simply died.
"Heh. What a boring question."
A vicious edge entered Hinata's voice. Her right hand tightened slightly, and with a sound like cracking ice, the Kunai in her grasp shattered into fragments coated in frost and scattered across the ground. The Explosive Tag had long since been completely frozen and broke apart into ice-coated scraps as it fell.
An Explosive Tag could certainly explode, but if it was frozen solid before detonation, it could not even reach the necessary temperature threshold. Naturally, it would not explode at all.
"Perfect. Let me see just how capable Konoha's Anbu really are!"
The Ice Wings behind Hinata abruptly expanded. Supported by the surging chakra of the Sage Body, the Ice Release Kekkei Genkai displayed a ferocity its previous owner could never have achieved. Before the Anbu leader could even shout a warning, a storm of white Ice Feathers swept toward every Anbu in the area!
Under Hinata's powerful chakra control and enormous reserves, the Ice Feathers fired from her wings were razor-thin and razor-sharp. Though shaped like feathers, they were essentially feather-shaped blades. Their bends and curves also made their flight paths wildly erratic. Almost as soon as Hinata released the barrage, at least three Anbu screamed, blood spraying from their bodies as they tumbled from the branches to the ground.
Heh! No wonder Suigintou likes firing feathers everywhere. This move really is convenient.
After confirming with the Byakugan that all three struck Anbu had lost the ability to move, Hinata gained a much clearer sense of this body's combat power. It was a special product formed from the perfect fusion of three Kekkei Genkai. Strength like this was hardly surprising.
"Stand nice and still, all right? Otherwise, I can't promise who dies next."
Hinata spread the Ice Wings behind her and raised her hands to form seals. Since she was wearing the Mask of a Kirigakure Hunter-nin, she might as well deepen that impression. "Hiding in Mist Technique!"
At Hinata's low shout, dense mist rapidly swallowed the previously clear surroundings. The fog seemed to appear out of nowhere and completely sealed off the surrounding field of vision within mere seconds.
"Damn it! Get over here, all of you!"
The Anbu captain was clearly anxious. Hiding in Mist Technique was only a C-rank ninjutsu, but its usefulness was undeniable. Aside from dispersing it with Wind Release (Fūton), there were almost no obvious weaknesses.
Of course, someone like Momochi Zabuza, who was accustomed to fighting inside mist, naturally would not fear it.
And for someone like Hinata, whose Byakugan could see through virtually any obstruction, the fog might as well not exist.
What a pity. If the Hyuga Clan could abandon its stubborn tradition of refusing to use ninjutsu, even something as simple as Hiding in Mist Technique could raise their battlefield value to another level.
At that moment, however, the Anbu captain who had spoken earlier did something astonishing. He raised one hand slightly. Chakra surged, and a massive wooden shell burst from the ground, protecting both him and several nearby Anbu inside it.
"That's... Wood Release. Wood Locking Wall?"
Hinata studied the wooden shell in surprise and quickly confirmed the captain's identity. He was none other than Yamato, the only inheritor of Wood Release in Konoha after the First Hokage, and the man who helped restrain Naruto when the Nine-Tails (Kurama) ran out of control in the original story.
She had not expected to run into him here, but that was fine. During the early period when Naruto could not coexist properly with the Nine-Tails, he genuinely did need a Wood Release shinobi to help suppress it. Looked at that way, Yamato's value was quite high.
Besides, Hinata did not have much reason to kill this group of Konoha Anbu. That was enough.
After confirming that no one else nearby had noticed the commotion, Hinata spread her Ice Wings and silently flew away from the area. This was hardly the time for a real fight. She had already confirmed that this body was strong enough to instantly defeat ordinary Anbu, and for now, that was sufficient.
Before long, following the guidance of a clay bird, Hinata found the Land of Waves procession moving slowly along the road. Because it was a small country, the ceremonial entourage was not especially large, but it did include a sizable Ox Cart. It was clearly a tool Konan had prepared to help conceal Hinata's movements.
"Sorry. I'm a little late."
Hinata descended from the air, but her arrival caused no panic among the surrounding guards. Konan had evidently briefed them in advance, so they knew their Princess Suikyo had not actually been inside the Ox Cart up to this point.
"It's fine. We're just about to enter the area under Konoha's jurisdiction."
Inside the Ox Cart, Konan naturally was not wearing Akatsuki's conspicuous black cloak with red clouds. Instead, she wore a standard maid's kimono. She showed little surprise at Hinata's arrival and merely lowered her head slightly. "All right. We need to dress the Princess now and finish before entering Konoha."
"I'll leave it to you. But let me ask something. Compared with a domineering princess, a gentle princess is easier for people to like, right?"
Hinata sat beside Konan and let her unzip the Gothic dress she was wearing before helping her into a heavy Junihitoe. Calmly changing Hinata's clothes, Konan answered in a soft, even voice. "Yes. Humans are fragile creatures, so they probably prefer others to treat them gently rather than coldly."
"Heh. What a considerate way to think about it. Then I more or less know what kind of face I should put on."
Hinata gave a disdainful chuckle. She had considered taking a somewhat forceful stance in diplomacy. After all, as a Figure supplier, the Land of Waves factory was currently the only one of its kind. But the earlier conversation among those idiots, together with Konan's opinion, convinced her that a more modest approach might be wiser.
Besides, the strong and domineering personality of her original identity had already been deeply impressed on everyone around her. If Princess Suikyo was meant to serve as a disguise, then her personality really did need to be different, or people might become suspicious.
The roads and blocks of Akihabara were still brand-new, but Danzo was an old schemer, not an idiot. He knew something about making a district prosper and naturally understood what had to be done.
And if one wanted a district to look prosperous, the best ingredients were simple: food, entertainment, and crowds.
Snack stalls and barbecue stands crowded almost every street in Akihabara. Goldfish-scooping and balloon-shooting booths could be seen everywhere as well. In the past, a scene like this would only appear during a festival, but Akihabara now attracted so many tourists that vendors gathered here in high spirits, busily tending their stalls and earning money from visitors coming from every direction.
"Char siu ramen! Takoyaki! Taiyaki! Fried rice cakes! Oden! Hand rolls! I want all of it!"
Choji, arms piled high with food, had clearly entered a state of complete excitement. Shikamaru and the others beside him were not much better. Being lazy did not mean Shikamaru disliked snacks. Most of the foods in front of them normally appeared on Konoha's streets only during holidays and festivals, so even the pineapple-haired boy had made the rare decision to eat without restraint.
More importantly, none of them were short on money now. Their monthly compensation from the Hinata Group was easily enough to let them eat here until they burst.
"Mm... what a great place! If there's this much good food here every day, I've decided this is where I'll come for walks after training from now on!"
Kiba happily shared a richly flavored Grilled Beef Skewer with Akamaru and was clearly very satisfied with Akihabara. Naruto, meanwhile, had several dumplings stuffed into his mouth at once, puffing out his cheeks. He rarely had the chance to go shopping with his friends like this, which made the experience even more precious to him.
"Judging from the size of the crowd gathered here, this prosperity should continue. As long as there are enough tourists, these shops have no reason to leave."
Shino, also carrying an armful of snacks, spoke while eating. Even his usual air of mystery could not keep him from enjoying the food today.
"Exactly. Then let's come here together more often! Too bad that stuck-up Sasuke didn't come. And Sakura and Ino disappeared somewhere again."
Naruto tilted his head back and swallowed the dumplings in his mouth, then promptly pushed thoughts of his beloved rival out of his mind. Instead, he looked eagerly toward the decorated street ahead. "I heard Princess Suikyo will pass through here soon. I wonder what kind of person she is."
"Heh. I think you'd better not get your hopes too high. You've all seen the wife of the Land of Fire Daimyo before. If a princess is like that, is she really worth seeing?"
Shikamaru chewed Takoyaki and maliciously tried to ruin everyone's imagination. Naruto and Kiba shuddered instinctively, then glared at him. "Shut up! We're eating right now, so stop bringing up something that kills the appetite! Besides, what's wrong with wanting a gentle, cute princess big sister?"
"Come on. If you want beautiful, isn't Hinata already a rare beauty? Haven't you seen enough?"
It turned out Shikamaru had a real knack for being a troublemaker. With a wicked grin, the pineapple-haired boy watched Naruto and Kiba turn pale and felt a dark little thrill. Good. Hinata was always threatening to tell his mother about the cross-dressing. It was only fair that everyone else learn to be a little wary too.
"That's exactly the point! Hinata's personality is... uh..."
Naruto was halfway through an indignant reply when he abruptly stopped and blinked. Apparently, he had remembered something. That Byakugan teammate had acted strangely by the pond last time. Hinata back then had shown none of her usual ferocity or harshness. Instead, she had seemed oddly familiar in her vulnerability and dependence...
"Huh? What's wrong?"
Shikamaru stared at the suddenly silent Naruto in confusion and was just about to ask another question when a gong rang from the front of the street. A long, carrying voice followed. "Her Highness Princess Suikyo of the Land of Waves has arrived. Citizens, please clear the road."
The visit of a foreign princess had not been kept secret, so both sides of the street were already lined with Konoha residents who, like Naruto and the others, hoped to glimpse her face. As the herald called out, a small ceremonial procession came into view, followed by an Ox Cart that clearly represented the passenger's status.
"What a shame. She's riding inside the carriage? Then we can't see her at all."
Kiba sounded disappointed. Shikamaru beside him shook his head in amusement. "Of course. She's a princess. How could she let random people stare at her... huh?"
Before Shikamaru could finish his gloating mockery, the pineapple-haired boy choked on his own words. The reason was simple.
A slender, snow-white hand gently lifted the curtain of the Ox Cart, and a delicate figure appeared before the crowd. A black Junihitoe patterned with snowflakes perfectly emphasized her noble bearing. Her long hair, white without a trace of impurity, gave her a composure and dignity ordinary girls simply did not possess.
She seemed a little shy under the surrounding gazes. Her right hand rose instinctively, and her broad sleeve covered the lower half of her face. Only those pinkish-purple eyes remained visible, shifting like gemstones and pulling the thoughts of everyone around her along with them.
"So that's... Princess Suikyo..."
Naruto murmured unconsciously. The white-haired beauty had indeed captured his attention. There was no lust in his gaze, but humans naturally loved beautiful things, and that instinct made it impossible for him to look away.
At that moment, the blond boy's body trembled slightly. Those pinkish-purple eyes seemed to notice him. They suddenly turned in his direction and met his gaze directly.