Outside Konoha Village, at this moment.
Hiashi Hyuga was leading three Branch House jonin in a full-speed chase.
Not long later, they caught up with the Branch House chunin who had first discovered the assassin.
"Lord Hiashi!"
"Where's the enemy?"
"About one kilometer ahead—they're fleeing!"
Hiashi immediately activated his Byakugan and used its far-reaching sight to scan ahead.
Sure enough, about a kilometer ahead, he spotted the enemy.
The attacker was clutching an unconscious Hinata and running at top speed—tall in stature, wearing no Forehead Protector, making it impossible to identify.
"Pursue!"
Hiashi Hyuga barked furiously, wasting no words.
He continued charging forward with his team, accelerating wildly.
It's true that Hiashi knew how to use the long-range Gentle Fist technique—the Eight Trigrams Vacuum Palm (Hakke Kushō).
But because of his chakra limits and skill level, he could only hit targets within 200 meters—and even then, the attack would lose most of its strength.
As for the stronger [Eight Trigrams: Great Vacuum Palm], Hiashi could barely reach 300 meters.
If he didn't close the distance, he couldn't hit the enemy at all!
He needed to get closer first, then attack.
...
Fortunately, the enemy's speed barely reached jonin level.
Maybe it was the weight of carrying Hinata, or maybe the earlier fight had already drained him—he was definitely slowing down.
This allowed Hiashi and his team to slowly close the gap.
Five minutes passed like this.
Finally, Hiashi closed the distance to around 200 meters.
[Eight Trigrams: Great Vacuum Palm!]
Hiashi struck instantly. A powerful surge of highly concentrated chakra burst forth, spanning over a hundred meters to slam directly into the escaping ninja!
The advantage of the Eight Trigrams Vacuum Palm lay in its quick activation, overwhelming power, stealthiness, and ability to finish off enemies in one blow.
Even jonin—
if caught off guard while fleeing, would struggle to endure a direct hit.
However,
just as the [Eight Trigrams: Great Vacuum Palm] was about to strike the distant enemy,
a surging wave of brilliant blue chakra suddenly erupted from the figure's body. It quickly solidified into a form resembling armor.
"Boom—"
The [Eight Trigrams: Great Vacuum Palm] struck that blue chakra armor, staggering the opponent slightly, but causing no injury.
"That's... Lightning Release Armor? Lightning Release Chakra Mode?!!"
"They're from Kumogakure?!!!"
Hiashi instantly recognized the jutsu.
He roared in fury, his face twisted in rage by the memory of his brother's death four years ago.
After all, four years ago, his own younger brother Hizashi Hyuga had been forced to his death by Kumogakure!
How could he not recognize Kumo's signature taijutsu?
Let alone this Lightning Release Armor—a closely guarded technique only taught to Kumogakure's elite!
Without a doubt—it must be one of those Kumo bastards!
"So what if you've got Lightning Armor—I'll still smash you to pieces! You won't take Hinata!"
Roaring furiously, Hiashi launched another attack without hesitation.
One after another, [Eight Trigrams: Great Vacuum Palm] slammed into the distant 'Kumo ninja'.
With his Byakugan, he could clearly see it.
Although the opponent possessed the strength of a Jonin, her mastery over Lightning Release Chakra Mode seemed lacking, as if she had only just begun to master it. Even the Lightning Release Armor covering her body was unstable—not even close to the level of the Fourth Raikage.
At this level, if he kept up the pressure, there was still a chance to break through that layer of Lightning Release Armor!
["Eight Trigrams: Vacuum Palm!"]
["Eight Trigrams: Great Vacuum Palm!"]
Wave after wave of condensed chakra pounded into the distant Kumogakure ninja.
Even though the Lightning Release Chakra Mode significantly enhanced her speed and defense, dodging long-range attacks under the Byakugan's enhancement proved difficult.
Especially since the one attacking was none other than the current head of the Hyuga Clan himself—the strongest among them, with power nearing the Kage level (village leader tier).
Sure enough.
After six or seven more minutes of pursuit and dozens of direct hits later,
that hard layer of Lightning Release Armor was suddenly shattered.
The next attack from Hiashi Hyuga sent her crashing heavily onto the ground, badly injured.
Seeing this, the woman didn't hesitate at all.
She immediately slapped Hinata Hyuga away with one palm strike, then created several Shadow Clones that scattered in different directions to escape.
Focused on rescuing his daughter, Hiashi couldn't keep chasing anymore.
He rushed to catch Hinata and checked her injuries in a hurry.
Fortunately, the final blow she received wasn't too strong—Hinata wasn't dead—just lightly injured with bruises on her back.
Moreover, Hinata's eyes remained intact; they hadn't been gouged out.
Seeing this, an exhausted Hiashi finally felt relieved.
"Huff——"
Holding Hinata tightly, Hiashi exhaled deeply before immediately giving orders:
"You continue the pursuit! That person is already injured. Be sure to capture them alive…"
Unfortunately, no acknowledgment came from behind.
Hiashi turned around hurriedly for a look.
That's when he noticed: the four Branch members who should have been right behind him were gone!
Seeing this, Hiashi's heart seized with alarm, and his scalp prickled as he speculated:
"Where did they go?"
"What's going on?"
"Were they all eliminated?"
"No way! How could someone silently take down three Hyuga Jonins and a Chunin without me noticing?!"
"No way… absolutely impossible!"
Hiashi quickly rejected that possibility.
"Or perhaps I got too engrossed in chasing the enemy, so I hadn't noticed them getting left behind?"
"That actually might be possible…"
"Hmph! To lose formation while pursuing enemies like this—they're truly useless, these Branch ninjas."
"I'll definitely have to discipline them severely later on…"
Muttering to himself angrily, Hiashi didn't dwell further.
He abandoned the idea of continuing the chase against the Kumogakure ninja.
Instead, he held his daughter Hinata closely, preparing to return to the village first.
However…
At this moment, unbeknownst to him,
the stronghold of the Hyuga Main House had already been infiltrated…
Meanwhile, ten minutes earlier.
Inside the Hyuga Main House.
Upon hearing the sounds of battle, the former clan leader Tokko Hyuga immediately rushed toward the ancestral shrine.
That's when he noticed the two family ninjas guarding the ancestral shrine—already lying in pools of blood, lifeless.
At the same time, on the right side of the shrine, the hidden passage known only to a few—the secret route leading underground to the clan's treasure vault—had been opened.
Seeing this, Tokko Hyuga's heart tightened with dread. He nearly had a heart attack.
He quickly leaned on his cane and rushed forward desperately.
Following the secret passage downward, he arrived at the entrance of the underground vault.
The stone door of the vault was extremely thick and solid, protected by a top-secret barrier that could only be unlocked by the secret incantation known to each generation of Main House leaders.
Right now, outwardly, the stone door hadn't been forcibly broken into.
But he still couldn't be certain whether the Hyūga Clan's treasures stored inside had already been stolen.
After all, everything that happened tonight was just too much of a coincidence...
This must have been deliberate sabotage.
Perhaps the culprit had somehow already learned the incantation to activate the barrier?
He wouldn't feel at ease until he saw it for himself!
Thinking so, Tokko Hyuga quickly chanted the incantation, dispelled the barrier, and pushed open the massive stone door.
The next moment—
Inside the vault, dazzling golden light sparkled; gemstones gleamed, and treasures dazzled the eyes.
Clearly, nothing had been stolen!
Seeing this, Tokko Hyuga finally exhaled in relief.
However, just as he was about to shut the stone door and reactivate the barrier,
a figure suddenly appeared behind him.
"Who's there!"
Tokko Hyuga roared loudly, turning around and preparing to strike.
"Honored Former Head, I offer my respects!"
The intruder, wearing an Anbu mask, revealed a pair of unmistakable Byakugan eyes and immediately bowed respectfully.
Seeing this, Tokko Hyuga instantly relaxed his guard.
He had mistaken him for an enemy and had been genuinely startled.
Since the visitor bore the Byakugan of a Branch member, there was no need to worry anymore.
After all, with a mere thought, he could activate the Caged Bird Cursed Seal and control this person completely.
"So you're an Anbu from the Hyūga Branch! Are you here for reinforcement?"
"But this place is forbidden territory of the Main House. Who gave you permission to come down here?"
Tokko Hyuga frowned, reprimanding the ninja harshly.
Then he turned back around, preparing to close the heavy stone door and reseal the barrier.
But the very next second,
a sharp burst of chakra lashed out viciously from behind him.
<><><><><><><><>
Thank you for reading! Your support will keep me updating!
~ Every 50 Powerstones = **4 Bonus Chapters** this weekend!
<><><><><><><><>
~ 100+ Advanced Chapters Available on Patreon!
~ More *Free* Chapters and Books Available on Patreon!
patreon.com/Tansnovel
<><><><><><><><>