"What is that?"
Chinatsu, Hinata, Kakashi, Kiba, Shino, Karin, Naruto, and Yamato—the Konoha ninjas who were scattered around to hunt down Uchiha Itachi and locate Uchiha Sasuke—all stopped at the same time and looked toward the direction of the giant lightning mushroom cloud.
The dazzling lightning made them squint slightly, and their vision was temporarily blurred.
Just now, they had only seen a flash of light pass by. Before they could react, a violent explosion swept over a radius of more than ten kilometers, thundering in the distance.
"Kakashi, what is that?" Pakkun, the ninja dog in Kakashi's group, tilted his head and asked.
"This feeling... Is it Akatsuki?" Looking at the giant explosion that had yet to dissipate, Kakashi replied. Apart from the powers possessed by Akatsuki members, he truly couldn't think of anyone else capable of such destruction.
"Then should we go check it out?" Pakkun asked again.
"The attack came from another direction. We can't confirm the source, but I believe others will head there as well. For safety, let's go and take a look," Kakashi said, then flickered away toward the explosion.
Aside from Chinatsu, the other Konoha ninjas also began heading toward the explosion.
Especially Karin, who seemed particularly excited, as he could sense Chinatsu's chakra in the blast. He wished he had more legs. His speed even surpassed that of Yamato and Naruto, who were traveling with him.
As for Chinatsu, she was intercepted by Pakura before the explosion began.
The two had been facing off for some time when the explosion occurred. One of the ninja dogs next to Chinatsu suddenly spoke, "That outfit... Akatsuki?"
Looking at Pakura, who wore the red cloud black robe and a wind chime hat, the ninja dog grew wary.
The other ninja dog nodded seriously. "It looks like it. According to Kakashi's intel, only Fujiwara Kirito's partner is a woman. That means Fujiwara Kirito is likely nearby. Maybe he caused that massive explosion."
"What should we do, Chinatsu? That person doesn't seem friendly." The two ninja dogs turned to Chinatsu.
From Pakura's inner thoughts, Chinatsu had already read that the woman was sent by Kirito to stop her.
The purpose was clear: prevent her from getting close to the battle zone before things concluded.
But with Kakashi's ninja dogs still present, and to keep Kirito's identity hidden, she had to send them away first.
With that in mind, Chinatsu shook her head. "You two aren't suited for this kind of battle. Keep heading toward the explosion. Kakashi and the others will be there. I'll hold this person off."
"Then be careful." The ninja dogs knew how strong Chinatsu was, and also how dangerous Akatsuki could be. Even if they stayed, they would be no help.
Better to seek backup than become liabilities.
As the two ninja dogs took off, Chinatsu casually threw two kunai to "act" the part. But they were intercepted by Chinatsu's thrown kunai instead.
"I won't let you get away that easily," she said coldly.
Then, watching the retreating ninja dogs, her expression softened. A gentle smile bloomed on her face.
To Chinatsu's surprise, she stepped forward and took her hand gently, smiling sweetly. "So… should I call you sister or stepmother?"
Meanwhile, Hinata was also intercepted—by Fujiwara Kirito himself—on her way toward the explosion.
What startled Hinata was that the two ninja dogs accompanying her didn't seem to notice Kirito at all and just kept running forward.
She was left standing alone.
"Little Hinata," Kirito, dressed in the red cloud robe and wind chime hat, waved gently at her.
Hinata was stunned. "Brother Kirito?"
Kirito nodded slightly and slowly took off his bamboo hat, revealing his youthful, handsome face.
Confirming it was the man she had been thinking about constantly, Hinata threw away her shyness, ran forward, and threw herself into Kirito's arms, hugging his waist tightly. As tears poured down, she cried, "I'm so glad... you're okay..."
Since the fall of Akatsuki members like Sasori, Kakuzu, and Hidan, every night in her dreams, Hinata would think of the big brother who appeared like a hero in her childhood, saving her twice.
The same brother who, ever since the Chunin Exams, always checked her body for "reasons."
The thought terrified her.
She feared that one day, he too would vanish like the rest of Akatsuki.
"What's wrong? Crying all of a sudden... Is it because Brother Kirito hasn't checked your body's development for months?" Feeling the warmth of her embrace and the soft fragrance from her, Kirito smiled gently and stroked Hinata's cheek.
Hinata blushed furiously. She wiped her tears but had no time to feel embarrassed. With red eyes, she pleaded, "Brother Kirito, can you promise me something?"
"What is it?" Kirito was surprised. This was the first time Hinata had asked something of him.
"Quit Akatsuki." Hinata said seriously. "Don't stay with them. I'm afraid…"
Before she could finish, Kirito seemed to understand and interrupted, "You're afraid I'll end up like Kakuzu or Hidan?"
Hinata closed her eyes and nodded softly.
"It's not time yet," Kirito replied.
Not until the Fourth Great Ninja War ends.
He still wanted to stand atop the Ten-Tails and look down upon the world.
It would be too boring not to play it to the end.
After all, invincibility was a lonely thing.
"But..." Hinata tried to continue persuading him. Then, as if recalling something, she mustered her courage and asked shyly, "Brother Kirito, do you remember what you told me?"
"What?" Kirito paused. He had said many things—mostly when checking Hinata's physical development.
Hinata's face turned bright red. She looked as if she might start bleeding from embarrassment.
"You said... as long as I let you rub me... you'd be fine. So... Brother Kirito, you can quit Akatsuki, right?"
She looked around. Seeing no one, she took Kirito's hand and pressed it against her own chest.
To make him leave Akatsuki, Hinata gave it her all.
"You really are a silly girl... But you've definitely grown a lot." Feeling the surprise in his hand, Kirito paused, a warmth spreading in his heart. His words carried double meaning.
"So, Brother Kirito, you'll quit, right?" Hinata's eyes sparkled. She didn't even mind that his hand was still there as she asked again.
Kirito nodded.
He didn't want to disappoint the little girl he had watched grow up.
But quitting now was impossible.
So he said gently, "Within half a year, I'll find a way to leave Akatsuki."
By then, the Fourth Great Ninja War would be over.
Whether he stayed or left would no longer matter.
(End of this chapter)