"Sir, I've uncovered some intelligence in Konoha that I think might interest you. Would you like to take a look?"
Hyuga Mirai was in the middle of designing an orbital weapons station, primarily for external threats. The system was programmed to instantly eliminate any extraterrestrial lifeforms that attempted to invade.
However, Mirai had one particular concern—he wanted to preserve the bodies of the Otsutsuki Clan.
At the moment, he was struggling to reduce the laser cannon's diameter to just one centimeter while maximizing its destructive power. Only then could he ensure that the Otsutsuki's bodies, Rinnegan, and Byakugan remained intact after elimination.
Hearing Unit 18's report, Mirai's curiosity was piqued. He set aside his work and pulled up a display screen.
"What intelligence?"
The screen flickered to life.
"Kumo shinobi?"
"Yes. These are Kumo's emissaries. They're currently in Konoha, preparing to sign the peace agreement."
"Oh, right… that incident."
Mirai immediately recalled it.
"So this is when Hiashi's brother was forced to die for the sake of 'peace'..."
Hiashi had done nothing wrong, yet he was burdened with the blame for potentially jeopardizing the fragile peace. And just like that, his brother, Hizashi Hyuga, had gone to sleep one night, only to wake up the next morning and be told he had to die in his place.
The same thing had happened with Sakumo Hatake.
The White Fang had no one to stand up for him—not even his son, Kakashi, could do anything to help.
Hizashi, despite being a Hyuga, suffered the same fate. As a member of the Branch Family, he wasn't worth defying the Hokage or jeopardizing the peace for.
Mirai's voice remained indifferent.
"I'm not particularly interested in this, Unit 18. But tell me—was this Kumo operation decided on the spot, or was it authorized by the Raikage?"
"There's an 80% chance this was planned directly in the Raikage's office, sir," Unit 18 replied. "However, since the Raikage's office doesn't use computers, some intelligence could not be recorded."
Mirai raised an eyebrow.
"The Raikage doesn't use computers?"
"It's not that he isn't interested, sir. The problem is his temper—he frequently destroys his own desk and everything on it when he gets angry. After smashing two computers, Kumo's administrative staff simply gave up on providing him with another one."
"Figures…"
Mirai nodded.
A computer wasn't cheap, and with A's temper, it was only a matter of time before he broke another one. His secretaries must have been at their wits' end.
As Mirai continued watching the screen, he quickly deduced Kumo's true objective—they planned to target both the Hyuga Clan and the Fourth Hokage's son.
Before arriving, Kumo had already gathered intelligence on Naruto's whereabouts.
Despite Konoha's efforts to keep his identity a secret, Kumo had still managed to pinpoint his general location.
As for their interest in the Hyuga Clan—Mirai understood that part all too well.
During the Third Shinobi War, he and Orochimaru had personally foiled Kumo's invasion of Konoha.
Ever since then, Kumo had become obsessed with acquiring the Byakugan.
Their insatiable greed drove them to this desperate, reckless plan—to kidnap Hyuga women and force the Byakugan bloodline to take root in Kumo.
"Pathetic."
Mirai shut off the screen.
"Just four people? And they think they can successfully kidnap three Hyuga clan members? What kind of morons are they?"
He had no interest in watching fools fail.
"Send me Sara's most recent travel schedule," Mirai ordered. "She hasn't encountered any trouble, has she, Unit 18?"
"She's completely safe, sir."
---
Konoha
Late at night, the Kumo shinobi moved into action.
There were four of them, each skilled in stealth tactics.
They had carefully studied Konoha's surveillance patterns and waited for an opening before slipping away from the inn where they were staying.
Their first target—the residence of Naruto Uzumaki.
Inside the house, Naruto slept soundly after a day of running around.
Meanwhile, Kushina Uzumaki sat cross-legged in meditation, training in Sage Mode.
Watching Naruto grow each day had strengthened her will to live.
She no longer just wanted to see him attend school—she wanted to see him get punished for mischief, graduate, complete his first mission, and even fall in love.
So, every night, she dedicated herself to Sage training.
Unlike Mount Myoboku or Ryuchi Cave, the Shikkotsu Forest's Sage training was exceptionally difficult and dangerous.
To practice it outside of the Sacred Land, Kushina needed to summon a Slug, allowing it to wrap around her body and assist in converting natural energy into a usable form.
So far, she had failed repeatedly.
However, thanks to the Senjutsu chakra that Mirai had left within her, every time she failed and her organs were corroded by natural energy, the chakra healed her before she could die.
"Lady Kushina, someone is approaching," the Slug whispered.
During Sage training, one's senses became sharper.
Kushina had already felt them too.
"What the hell are the ANBU doing?"
She scowled.
They were always watching Naruto like hawks—yet now, in the dead of night, they had somehow let an intruder slip through?
For a moment, she considered calling them.
Then she realized something.
The intruder was heading straight for Naruto's room.
Crack!
Kushina's fists clenched so tightly that her knuckles cracked.
Naruto was her only reason for living—and someone had dared to target him?
Her rage ignited instantly.
"Die, you bastard!"
In a flash, she was at Naruto's window.
Four Adamantine Sealing Chains erupted from her back, binding the Kumo shinobi before he could slip inside.
Then, with a furious snarl, she yanked him forward and drove her fist straight into his skull.
Even without enhanced strength, Kushina's raw physical power was terrifying.
With his limbs completely bound, the Kumo shinobi had no way to resist.
When she finally noticed Naruto's frightened face, she hurled the shinobi out of the house and rushed to comfort her son.
The commotion alerted the ANBU.
One agent entered the house, while the other checked on the unconscious Kumo shinobi.
"Lady Kushina, is Naruto safe?"
The ANBU almost blurted out "Nine-Tails Jinchuriki" but quickly corrected himself under Kushina's icy glare.
"If it were up to you fools, Naruto would be gone by now," she snapped. "Figure out what happened and report this to the Third Hokage immediately."
"Understood!"
After confirming Naruto's safety, the ANBU agents split up—one staying behind while the other rushed to inform Hiruzen.
The intruder's identity had already been confirmed—he was one of the Kumo envoys.
And if he was here for Naruto, then the others…
The Hyuga Compound had also been targeted.
Unlike Kushina, however, the Hyuga had no mercy to spare.
They killed three of the intruders on the spot.
One was personally slain by Hiashi Hyuga, while the others fell to Branch Family guards and Kiyo Hyuga's forces.
Had it not been for Kiyo Hyuga staying up late to plan her training, she might have missed the intruders entirely.
But she noticed, and the Hyuga retaliated swiftly and mercilessly.
(End of Chapter)