"Where's father?"
Returning home from the Academy, Hinata grew nervous upon not seeing her father. She approached her younger sister, a few years her junior but with the trademark jet black hair and Byakugan denoting their Hyūga heritage.
The only difference was that behind those pale pupils, Hinata's sister gazed back steadily with a resolute look unbefitting of a young girl. Those eyes meeting Hinata's made her feel as if their roles were reversed - that she was the helpless younger sibling relying on her older sister for guidance and reassurance.
"Father has gone to convene the clan elders for a meeting. Hokage-sama sent someone over. It seems like there's something important to discuss."
Hinata's younger sister, Hanabi, gestured toward the main family's meeting room.
"I-I see, a meeting then..."
Hinata replied, visibly relieved by the news. Whenever she imagined her father's stern, harsh expression, nervousness overcame her.
"And.. tonight's sparring..."
The gntle fist training was something Hinata dreaded. The taijutsu was a practice every member had practiced since childhood. Even her younger sister, Hanabi, had started learning, earning their father's praise.
This disheartened Hinata. No matter what she did, it never elicited even a word of approval from her father. Yet her younger sister could easily gain his recognition despite her junior status... She knew it was due to her own lacking talent, completely overshadowed by Hanabi's clear gifts.
"No, Father has ordered you to proceed as planned, sister." Hanabi interjected suddenly.
"Eh?" Hinata stood stunned, at a loss.
"Brother Neji will be coming soon. Father has instructed me to oversee your practice session. As the clan head's firstborn, underperforming would make father angry for humiliating the main family before Uncle Hizashi," Hanabi said further. "You must show the strength expected of your position."
Hinata's heart sank under Hanabi's words. Failure...would make her father angry, even embarrassing him and the main family. These burdensome expectations made it a little difficult for her to breathe. As the clan's head eldest heir, she must strictly accept the clan's test.
But... Neji, who was a year older than her, was already renowned as a genius even among senior academy students. How could she possibly compete? If it had been Hanabi instead... Hinata smiled wryly.
It was unreasonable. Hanabi had only recently been introduced to the gentle fist, and even if she won, it would only increase their father's humiliation.
As the heiress, Hinata alone received the clan's utmost education to develop her skills. The full secrets of their gentle fist style were privy only to main house members, giving her an undeniable advantage. Yet facing Neji's genius, the outcome remained uncertain at best.
Sensing her inner turmoil, Hanabi narrowed her eyes. "I feel sister's having impolite thoughts again."
"N-No, not at all!" Hinata shook her head in panic.
"It's useless to worry now. You should think of how to beat Brother Neji, or...find your true courage to face him, then return victorious..." Hanabi trailed off as Hinata abruptly flushed crimson, letting off steam before collapsing limply to the floor.
Hanabi stared blankly. "...She really is silly sister."
Hanabi was left speechless. Her elder sister was indeed amusing.
....
"Hokage-sama hopes to select a Jonin from our Clan to cooperate with the Anbu in carrying out a confidential S-rank mission. What do you think?"
In the clan's meeting room, Hiashi knelt on the front cushion, surrounded by elders from both the main and branch clans.
"What is the content of the mission? Does Hokage-sama have an explanation?" A branch elder inquired.
"No."
Hiashi replied, shaking his head. The order came directly from the Anbu under the Hokage, but the details of the top-secret S-rank mission wasn't disclosed.
"I recall seeing people from Suna visiting secretly... Could it have something to do with this?" An elder speculated.
Indeed, everyone was well aware of the situation. The declaration of war by the Land of Demons against the Land of Wind had spread throughout the ninja world, capturing the attention of countries. The actions in those battlefields held significance for countless individuals.
Especially with the revelation that the Land of Demons was being controlled by Konoha traitors, public opinion spiraled out of control within the village. Despite its minimal impact on ordinary citizens, for Konoha's ninjas, the situation was far from ideal. The rebellion originating from their own village had inflicted considerable turmoil around the world, reflecting poorly on Konoha.
All countries were ready to condemn Konoha, and the Land of Wind, currently facing the Land of Demons, harbored the most resentment. Konoha's delay in pursuing and eliminating the traitors drew blame for the immense suffering inflicted upon the Land of Wind.
The Suna's secret visit to Konoha the previous day hinted at their purpose. Combined with Hokage-sama's current request to select a Jonin from the Hyuga clan for an S-rank mission with the Anbu, a certain conclusion loomed in all of their minds.
Konoha was more distressed about the Land of Demons situation than Sunagakure. The repercussions, whether direct or indirect, posed a severe threat to Konoha. Unexpectedly, the three defectors had become a major concern at this crucial juncture.
Regarding the anxiety and panic among the high-ranking officials, the Hyuga main and branch family elders found it comprehensible.
"No matter what, we are all part of the village. At this time, we must contribute our strength." The clan elders declared.
In reality, holding a meeting for such matters wouldn't alter the outcome. Because the council orders left no room for refusal and there was no justifiable reason to do so. After all, the Hyuga Clan shared a portion of the 'credit' among the traitors.
"It's settled then. Let's select personnel from the branch family and we entrust this matter to you, Hizashi." An elder said to Hizashi, seated with on the branch side.
"Yes."
Hizashi almost nodded, confirming their readiness. As members of the branch family, they stood prepared to fight for the clan at any moment. Moreover, the next step involved accompanying Anbu on a dangerous S-raml mission, a missi8 not suitable for main family. Even if the main family were willing, the village high-level would likely disapprove.
The hour-long meeting concluded with the decision to send a branch Jōnin to assist the Anbu operation, providing an explanation to the council.
"I can't shake the feeling that the atmosphere in the village is quite strange lately. The Uchiha incident..."
Walking into the corridor outside, Hizashi, who trailed Hiashi, spoke softly.
Evidently, the Uchiha clan extermination had profoundly affected the Hyuga clan for an extended period. As the current Konoha's affluent ninja clan, the Uchiha had always held sway over the Hyuga.
With the Uchiha eradicated, the once prestigious Uchiha police force crumbled overnight. The village council had chosen not to rebuild the police force but instead transferred its responsibilities to the Anbu. This move undeniably bolstered the Anbu's authority, directly expanding Hokage's influence.
The field that was once beyond the reach of top management was now firmly under their control. Hiashi glanced sideways at Hizashi. "That's not our concern. We only focus on fulfilling our missions effectively."
Hizashi stayed silent but wore a melancholic expression. The Uchiha's sudden disappearance left lingering questions about the Hyuga clan's standing in the village. Reflecting on the framing incident involving Kumo a few years ago, where he narrowly avoided becoming a victim, he couldn't help feeling uneasy.
Within the Hyuga Clan, suspicions arose about someone in contact with Danzo. The elders speculated that this connection might stem from a branch family, yet despite years of investigation, no substantial information surfaced from the inquiries.
Perhaps, Danzo's assistance during the crisis stemmed solely from maintaining unity among village ninjas. After all, he was a staunch hardliner in Konoha, unlikely to tolerate bullying of village ninjas by outsiders.
As they walked through the corridor, a thin figure suddenly appeared at the corner. Startled, the figure quickly bowed respectfully.
"Clan head. Father.."
The visitor was the nine year old Neji, with long black hair and the distinctive pupils. As Hizashi's son, he was a highly anticipated genius within the clan.
Observing Neji heading back instead of toward the training ground, Hiashi frowned.
"Are you returning so soon?"
Hiashi had instructed Neji to practice with his eldest daughter, Hinata, and it seemed unusual for the session to conclude so swiftly.
Neji replied calmly, "Yes, because Hinata-sama appears to be feeling unwell. When I arrived, Hanabi-sama was taking care of her."
"She's unwell?" Hiashi frowned upon hearing Neji's words, as he couldn't recall any previous health issues with Hinata. Was it a feigned illness, neglecting her training, or a genuine sudden ailment?
"Yes." Neji affirmed.
"In that case, we'll cancel today's duel." Hiashi nodded, turning to Hizashi. "Take Neji back, I'll go check on Hinata."
Hizashi almost nodded, leading Neji away from the maim family's territory. Hiashi lingered in the corridor momentarily before heading toward the room where Hinata was. Contemplating about his seemingly frail and timid eldest daughter, Hiashi sighed softly.
....
"Boss, what's the bill?."
In a Yakiniku restaurant, a man approached the counter to settle his tab.
It was evident he wasn't a ninja, though no overt signs were present on his person; he appeared as a typical Konoha villager. However, his attire hinted at affluence.
"Thanks for coming. The total is 30,000 ryo." Haruno Kitzuchi reported, presenting the bill.
As an ordinary Chunin in Konoha, Kitzuchi, like many Chunin, worked part-time between missions to support his family. But his predicament arose from the fact that the barbecue restaurant where he worked wasn't his own; he was recommended to it.
Three years ago, he served as a waiter, climbed to the position of manager two years ago, and presently held the role of acting store manager. His promotion came with increased earnings, earning him the label of a "successful man" in the eyes of his colleagues.
Initially aspiring to become a ninja who would reach the rank of Hokage, Kitzuchi found himself managing a top-notch barbecue restaurant instead. This transition, to be honest, felt somewhat magical. However, he attributed all of this to a mysterious woman behind the scenes— Masumi Asami.
Asami, currently a senior administrator at Konoha Hospital, positioned for a promotion to hospital director. She's been orchestrating the operations of the barbecue restaurant. Everyone in the establishment, from the lowest-level waiters to himself, the acting store manager, served as 'spies' under Asami's command.
His rapid ascent in status and the perception of success was a result of his excellent intelligence work, securing him the position of acting manager. Although he was content with his salary, Kitzuchi had once contemplated abandoning his ninja career to pursue the catering industry, aspiring to become the king of barbecue.
Contemplating these thoughts, Kitzuchi accepted the 30,000 ryo from the customer in front of him.
During idle moments, he stood at the front desk, managing the cash register to observe people and please his boss. However, upon collecting the money, he sensed something amiss—the thickness of the three 10,000 ryo banknotes felt irregular. Unable to discern any visible difference, he realized the abnormality only through touch.
With a puzzled gaze, he looked at the paying customer, who left with an ordinary smile.
"...Is he one of our own?" Kitzuchi muttered, feeling perplexed.
However, as intelligence agents under Asami's command, they should all know each other, making a mistake improbable. Could it be intelligence agents from a different team not under her jurisdiction?
Glancing at the Konoha street outside the store, Kitzuchi felt a ghostly unease. What was happening in this village? Why did he seem to encounter "himself" everywhere? The infiltration seemed extensive, reaching even the lower levels.
Various occupations, from construction workers to street flyers distributors, public toilet cleaners, orchard guards, and farmers, appeared to be infiltrated by intelligence agents.
Even the customers in the barbecue restaurant seemed to be "one of their own."
Kitzuchi sensed that this infiltration in Konoha would have consequences sooner or later.
Assigning a waiter to the cash register, he hurriedly retreated to the restroom, retrieving a note covered in unreadable numbers and symbols—a list.
After decoding it, he recognized names, some familiar and some strange.
"Jiraiya, Sarutobi Takashi, Sarutobi Masaki, Might Dai, Hyuga..."
Over 30 names were on the list, half of them including several highly renowned Jonin from Konoha.
Jiraiya, one of the Sannin, and the eldest son and daughter-in-law of the third Hokage were among them. Although he wasn't a Jonk , but it's well known that Might Dai had a terrifying taijutsu.
In addition, there were also ninjas from the Hyuga clan, the Aburame clan, the Inuzuka clan, and the InoShikaCho clan. What do these names signify? Was this a list of people who will be assassinated next?
Soon, Kitzuchi dismissed this idea. He had an intuition that this wasn't an assassination list but rather conveyed some information.
"Forget it, the higher-ups will handle it. Even if I know, it doesn't concern me."
He was just an ordinary Chunin, an ordinary Yakiniku shop acting manager. Something as troublesome as ti
his couldn't be resolved by someone in his modest role.
Regardless of what this list meant, it would always be a power play among those above, it had nothing to do with him.
.....
In the Land of Tea, in a certain inn.
"Oh, what a drag... at this time..."
Jiraiya set aside his writing pen and held the scroll handed over by Konoha's Anbu not long ago. It contained important information written by his sensei.
It was urging him to partake in a top-secret S-rank mission.
From Jiraiya's perspective, this so-called top-secret S-rank mission was likely related closely to the rampant Land of Demons. After all, the current situation was vital and had been widely publicized. Given his proficiency in intelligence, he naturally had no reason to miss such news.
Jiraiya who had received this scroll, felt an intense desire to discard it. But when he thought of his sensei's old figure passing by Konoha a year ago, his eyes betrayed a hint of reluctance. His sensei was now aged, devoid of the heroic aura of the "Professor" from the past.
Moreover, the Uchiha clan was exterminated, Uchiha Itachi defected, and the death of Uchiha Shisui, another Uchiha prodigy, remained a mystery. This made Jiraiya sigh even more. How was a thirteen-year-old child able to wipe out the Uchiha clan?
If the Uchiha clan could be easily exterminated in Konoha, they wouldn't have been feared by ninjas around the world in past ninja world wars.
Even the Sannin, in their prime, facing the entire Uchiha clan, could only evade confrontation, not daring to engage head-on.
Even if it was a sneak attack, it was impossible for the thirteen year old child to do so. Furthermore, the discovery of the genocide the next day by Anbu, directly under Hokage's jurisdiction, couldn't be so feeble without root intervention. He wouldn't believe there was no foul play.
Jiraiya couldn't fathom the role his sensei played in this, terminating the investigation into the Uchiha clan's genocide abruptly. He feared that the investigation's conclusion would unveil the darkest aspects of the village, forever tarnishing the memory of his compassionate and benevolent teacher.
This was the ruthlessness of time. What would he look like at that age? Would his initial ambitions change?
Or...
Jiraiya shook his head. It was too early to think about this. He wasn't yet fifty; there was no need for melancholy at this point.
Looking at the scroll in hand, he pondered whether to accept the invitation, join the top-secret S-rank mission. The council orchestrating this S-rank mission seemed disorganized; otherwise, they wouldn't have acted so hastily.
"Sigh... if only Minato was still here..."
Minato...
Thinking of this name, Jiraiya's brain jolted, as if he had recalled something.
If was a long time ago. At that time, Sakumo hadn't committed suicide, the third Ninja World War hadn't started yet, and the Chiba Shiraishi, Uchiha Ruri and Hyuga Ayame were still ninjas who believed in the will of fire...
There was tje prophecy about the 'destruction' foretold by the Great Toad Sage of Mount Myoboku.
The black hand subverting the ninja world was concealed within Konoha.
Since that time, he had never identified such a dangerous element inside Konoha.
Later, Chiba Shiraishi and the other two defected, and Jiraiya vaguely felt that one of these three was the 'Chd of Destruction' predicted by the Great Toad Sage.
Symbolizing absolute destruction, he would become a nightmare for the ninja world, engendering countless pain and blood, perpetuating the ninja world in unending flames of war.
In Jiraiya's opinion, Chiba Shiraishi was the most plausible candidate.
Mysterious, elusive, adept at concealing his true nature, he only revealed his ferocious side upon defection, causing significant harm to Konoha.
Compared to Uchiha Ruri and Hyuga Ayane, who had already made their marks in Konoha, Chiba Shiraishi remained inconspicuous. The only impression people had of him was as Uchiha's son-in-law and a medical ninja with outstanding medical ninjutsu.
Ninjas skilled at concealing their true selves were synonymous with danger, and Chiba Shiraishi exemplified this concept.
Subsequent actions further confirmed he was extremely dangerous.
Jiraiya casually rolled up the scroll and placed it aside.
"It seems I can't accept..."
Compared to the mission itself, he was more interested in unraveling a question that had puzzled him for a long time.
Whether the future of the ninja world could tread the right path.
If the scene predicted by the Great Toad Sage occured, he, entrusted with the crucial task of guiding the 'Child of Prophecy,' held the responsibility to prevent such a disaster from occurring.
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