For several days in a row, members of the Sarutobi clan had been quietly leaving the village.
Under Tsunade's silent signal, the ninja guarding Konoha turned a blind eye and acted as if they hadn't noticed anything, allowing this group to leave unimpeded.
This relieved many Sarutobi clan members — they had originally feared a bitter conflict with the villagers before leaving.
Most of those who left were younger, able-bodied adults.
Clan members without combat abilities or those considered irrelevant and peripheral were basically all left behind in the village.
They moved out in groups without needing instructions — each taking a different route before reuniting at a designated spot.
Konohamaru held hands with an adult male clan member and looked back wistfully toward Konoha as it became more distant. In a small voice, he asked, "Uncle, why are we leaving the village?"
"Tsunade left us no choice but to leave," replied the middle-aged man.
Konohamaru paused, confused, asking again, "Then can we come back?"
"Of course," he said, patting Konohamaru's small hand reassuringly.
When they return, that'll be when they reclaim control over Konoha.
"Phew! Then I don't have to worry about being separated from my friends anymore!" His sadness disappeared at once; now he saw this trip as an adventure.
After making sure everyone was accounted for, the group resumed their journey toward the Capital of the Land of Fire.
On the road, Konohamaru rode on someone else's back and started feeling drowsy, so he simply fell asleep.
When he woke up again, he found himself lying on a bed.
Sitting up, he curiously observed his surroundings until—creak—the door opened, and a young man with a beard entered.
"Uncle Asuma?" Konohamaru felt puzzled; he didn't know where he currently was.
"Konohamaru, you'll live here from now on." Asuma ruffled his hair and let out a soft sigh.
"What about the other uncles and grandpas?"
"They're living nearby too. Don't worry, we're all still together." Asuma answered, "Anyway, you must behave well from now on. You can't go outside without my permission, understand?"
"Oh, okay." Konohamaru nodded dumbly.
After Asuma left, he pulled open the curtain and saw that it had already gotten pitch black outside.
Looking out the window, he saw people with lanterns standing at the center of the courtyard.
Konohamaru couldn't see their faces clearly, but he noticed how quickly they gathered around Asuma as soon as he stepped outside.
This residence was the largest among several purchased by the Sarutobi clan.
Dozens of Sarutobi clan members naturally gravitated toward this place.
To hide their identities, after leaving Konoha, all the clan members had discarded their forehead protectors and avoided wearing clothing marked with the Sarutobi Clan emblem.
To ordinary people, there was no distinction between them and commoners.
Seeing Asuma, they looked like they'd found their pillar of strength, quickly approaching him.
"Asuma Young Master, when will we take action?"
"Indeed, in my opinion, Hidan's appearance is no coincidence. If we wait any longer, he might wipe out most of our clan members."
"The Third Hokage dedicated decades to nurturing Konoha into the prosperous village it is today. Why does Tsunade treat us like this?"
They all started talking at once.
No matter how heatedly they argued, Asuma remained silent.
Not long ago, Danzo Shimura, who had secretly gone into hiding somewhere, contacted him and proposed that he seize sovereignty over the Land of Fire and then reclaim Konoha to avenge the old man.
Asuma thought about how the Sarutobi Clan had been suppressed in Konoha recently. Considering the situation, he felt it was necessary to find a backup plan, so he began acquiring properties in other regions of the Land of Fire.
As for whether or not he should follow Danzo's suggestion, he felt uncertain.
Later, he shared this matter with his clansmen, originally hoping to hear their opinions. Unexpectedly, they completely supported this crazy idea.
This put Asuma right between a rock and a hard place.
Deep down, he totally distrusted Danzo.
He believed Danzo would never truly help him—there were definitely ulterior motives behind it.
Even the Third Hokage could barely keep that sly guy under control while he was still alive—how could Asuma possibly manage it?
Seeing that he still hadn't expressed an opinion, a man with a scar on his forehead stepped forward and loudly said seriously, "Asuma, we have no other choice."
Because the man was standing so close, his voice sounded like a roar, echoing in Asuma's head and making it buzz.
Asuma carefully looked at this person—he was a fellow clansman of the same generation as the Third Hokage.
The man continued, "Do you know what? When we left, Konoha didn't react at all—they've already abandoned the Sarutobi Clan."
"What do you mean?" Someone asked before Asuma could speak.
"The Hyuga Clan are now responsible for the village's safety. Don't you think they must have noticed something? Most likely, they've been waiting for this day—the day we leave..."
Asuma took a deep breath and solemnly replied, "I'll consider an appropriate time."
...
Meanwhile, Hiroki, staying in the Country of Hot Springs, had already launched his project.
The engineers and workers who came from the Snow Country had already settled into their roles, so Hiroki had little cause for concern.
Hidenaga White Zetsu also sent people to assist and protect them.
Any lack of manpower would be supplemented by local recruitment.
Engineers surveyed the terrain and planned routes, while laborers rolled up their sleeves and got to work.
Initially, everything seemed normal.
Gradually, however, people started realizing the purpose of these railway tracks.
In this era, transportation already included ox carts and horse-drawn carriages. Regardless of whether a country was rich or poor, most ordinary people relied on these vehicles for long journeys.
These vehicles already used wheels—typically two-wheeled carts.
It didn't take much imagination to picture wheeled vehicles rolling smoothly along those tracks. Since the path was fixed by rails, there seemingly would be no need for someone to constantly guide the oxen or horses.
As long as they kept it powered, switching from two wheels to four could make it move continuously.
Not everyone in the Ninja World is a fool; they all silently maintain the status quo.
Once something new emerges that could potentially change the future, some stubborn individuals and those unwilling to see any change immediately feel uncomfortable.
Trouble naturally follows.
The workers were troubled to discover that someone constantly sabotaged their efforts.
Their daily work seemed pointless. Every time they laid down a section of railway track, it was destroyed overnight.
They repaired it, only for it to be ruined again and again.
The only relief was that only the tracks were damaged—no one had been deliberately harmed.
Inside the palace of the Country of Hot Springs, Hiroki and others also began paying attention to this matter.
Upon hearing his inquiry, the White Zetsus responsible for monitoring various locations started reporting their findings all at once.
"The saboteurs are a bunch of reckless criminals..."
"But bandits and robbers within the Country of Hot Springs have already been eradicated. These people must've been hired."
"The rich think they can do whatever they want, hiring folks who're flat-out broke to stir up chaos..."
"Cut to the chase," someone interrupted. "The ones causing destruction are local residents of the Country of Hot Springs, while the financiers are foreign ninja. After all, the income gap between these two groups is like night and day."
Hiroki finally understood. "With just a small expense, they can keep bothering us endlessly. Even if we send people to kill them outright, the retaliation would only fall on the locals, and those behind it would happily watch the show..."
Standing nearby, Hidenaga White Zetsu nodded in agreement.
"The ninja involved aren't Kumogakure ninja or Konoha ninja, right?" Hiroki asked again.
After all, formally speaking, the Country of Hot Springs is allied with both the Land of Fire and the Land of Lightning. Even if ninja from those two villages disapprove, they wouldn't secretly sabotage things.
"Correct," Hidenaga White Zetsu said, fanning himself with an open folding fan before nodding again.
Hiroki suddenly smiled. "Another provocation—just like in Cloud Village. When one plan fails, they move on to the next. Are they really so desperate for war? So certain of victory?"
"How should we deal with it?"
"Just hire ninja from Konoha and Kumogakure to guard the area. After all, they already dislike each other's kind. Let them fight it out." Hiroki suggested.
...
Konoha.
"Hanabi, there's something important I must tell you."
Seeing Hiashi's serious expression, Hanabi immediately straightened her face and sat upright. "Father, please speak. I will listen carefully."
"Our Hyuga Clan has a strict rule concerning the Caged Bird Seal..." Hiashi briefly explained the relationship between the Main House and the Branch House, along with the function of the Caged Bird Seal. Finally, he said, "In short, only Ancestor Kaguya may be able to help with this matter."
Hanabi furrowed her brow and stayed silent for a moment. Though only four, she couldn't fully understand everything Hiashi had told her—but she got the main point.
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"Father, are you saying I should go seek help from that girl... Kaguya first ancestor?"
"That's right." Hiashi looked at her with satisfaction.
"But Father, you're the clan leader. Everyone has to obey you. Is there anything you can't do? Even those elders have to follow your orders too."
Hanabi's little head couldn't wrap around all these complicated grown-up things, looking innocent. Hiashi was rendered speechless by her question.
"You could go yourself," Hanabi naturally added. "Why must it be me?"
Hiashi silently stared at her. How old was she anyway? Starting to show some attitude already?
How could she not understand her aging father's good intentions?
The reason he didn't want to approach Kaguya himself was because he had his own considerations.
Based on Kaguya's usual behavior, she clearly didn't care about the Hyuga clan.
If he personally sought help and got rejected, then everything would be settled definitively.
But children were different. Even if rejected, they could throw a tantrum or act stubbornly, persistently trying to change Kaguya's mind.
He believed that as long as Kaguya spoke up, those elders wouldn't dare defy her and force Hanabi into receiving the Caged Bird seal.
"Alright then." The two stared at each other in silence for a while, like a pair of stubborn kids locked in a standoff. With a sigh like a little adult, Hanabi stood up, brushed dust off herself, and walked outside.
Ugh, making her beg that annoying woman... how totally embarrassing...
First, she went to where Kaguya lived but couldn't find her there.
Then, she visited Hiroki Hyuga's house and only saw Kimimaro and Karin preparing dinner.
"Um... where are they?" Hanabi asked awkwardly in front of them.
"Who?" Karin questioned, pausing mid-way through washing vegetables.
Hanabi: "I mean Aniki Hiroki and that woman."
Kimimaro: "You mean Brother Hiroki and Kaguya-sama."
"Yeah yeah," Hanabi nodded repeatedly.
"Aniki Hiroki isn't in Konoha right now. Kaguya-sama probably went looking for him," Karin explained.
"Where are Hiroki-niisan and Kaguya-sama?" Hanabi asked again.
Kimimaro and Karin exchanged glances. Was this little kid misunderstanding what they said?
"They're not in Konoha," both answered simultaneously.
Hanabi had no choice but to leave disappointed.
Considering Hinata always got along well with Kaguya, Hanabi approached her to inquire about Kaguya's whereabouts, repeating what Hiashi had told her earlier.
Hearing Hanabi mention the Caged Bird seal, Hinata got a rough idea of Hiashi's intentions. She called out mentally to Kaguya to communicate.
"Sister, where are you now?"
Kaguya ignored her.
Could they get upset without letting her be angry?
Just like what Kimimaro guessed, she had gone to the Country of Hot Springs too.
After all, Tsunade was throwing a tantrum, Hinata treated her like she didn't exist. Why should she stay in Konoha alone sulking?
Sighing inwardly, Hinata knew Kaguya was responding to her previous attitude.
She wanted to talk with Kaguya and shouted toward a certain direction, "White Zetsu."
"Here." A White Zetsu appeared immediately.
Hanabi exclaimed in amazement, not even minding the Zetsu's ugly appearance.
Hinata spoke casually, "Take us to see my sister."
"Miss Hinata, aren't you worried about falling behind in your studies?" White Zetsu asked.
"Is it far?" Hinata questioned. She had never used White Zetsu for long-distance travel before, but had heard others give such orders, hence her curiosity.
"No, I just wanted to ask how long you plan to stay. It would be better to inform your family first."
After hearing White Zetsu's suggestion, Hinata thought for a moment and then told Hiashi that she needed to leave with Hanabi for some time, asking him to arrange an absence from the Academy.
Hiashi wanted to send someone along to protect them, but she refused outright.
"Father, I'll be fine. My sister will protect me. Please rest assured," Hinata said.
Hinata took Hanabi to a secluded place. Following White Zetsu's direction, she held onto Hanabi and stood still. Soon, she felt her vision gradually darkening.
Before Hanabi could cry out in panic, their sight cleared again and they were already in a bright new location.
Everything around them looked unfamiliar.
At the same time, Hiashi was still slightly concerned about these two young girls and intended to secretly assign someone to follow them, but before he even chose someone, he discovered the two were already gone.
"Just like Hiroki—always vanishing without a trace," Hiashi shook his head in amusement.
Inside the Palace of the Country of Hot Springs, Hiroki stared in surprise at their sudden appearance, "What are you two doing here?"
"We wanted to ask my sister for help, but she seemed unwilling to talk to me," Hinata replied hesitantly.
She quickly explained Hanabi's situation with the [Caged Bird seal], hoping Kaguya could prevent the elders from pushing forward with their plans.
"Hinata, in the end, it still depends on you," Hiroki said.
"Me?" Hinata pointed at herself.
"Sometimes Kaguya's emotional maturity isn't much greater than Hanabi's. You're the one who needs to calm her down," Hiroki smiled.
"Hiroki, what nonsense are you talking now!" Kaguya's angry voice rang in his mind.
"Do you have any suggestions, Big Brother Hiroki?" Hinata asked.
"If I tell you, it won't work anymore," Hiroki pointed toward both of their heads.
What's the point in being sneaky when Kaguya sees everything anyway? In the end, sincerity matters most.
Helpless, Hinata decided to stay here temporarily with Hanabi.
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