Chapter 330: Hinata's Abduction
Konoha Village.
The Uzumaki household.
Hearing the doorbell ring, Hinata set down the housework she was doing.
"You are…"
Standing before Hinata was a short man cloaked in black. For a moment, she thought he was just a child from the neighborhood.
"Hyūga… no, Uzumaki Hinata…"
As he spoke, Clone No. 4 of Gray Wolf slowly lifted his head.
"You're Gray Wolf?!"
Hinata instantly assumed the Gentle Fist stance, but before she could act, wooden vines sprouted from Gray Wolf Clone No. 4's right hand, binding her tightly.
"Mom?"
Sensing something was wrong, Himawari appeared from behind, clutching the One-Tail hidden inside a chamber pot.
"Himawari! Run!"
"Compared to adults, children are indeed easier to control."
Gray Wolf Clone No. 4 threw Hinata to the ground. Vines erupted from the floorboards, wrapping tightly around her.
"Himawari! Run!!"
Pinned to the floor, Hinata turned her head and shouted urgently at the frozen Himawari.
Holding the chamber pot in her arms, Himawari slowly backed away.
"Brother… Dad…"
Eventually, Gray Wolf Clone No. 4 reached her.
"You won't hurt Himawari!"
The One-Tail's head poked out from the pot and growled, sand flowing out with it.
"The weakest—One-Tail."
"What?! I'm not the weakest! Anyone who judges strength by the number of tails is a complete idiot!"
The One-Tail in Himawari's arms instantly bristled.
"Thank you, Shukaku. But I'm a ninja too, so I'll fight alongside you!"
Himawari set the chamber pot at her feet and took the Gentle Fist stance. A serious expression crossed her young face as her eyes blinked—activating the Byakugan.
After identifying the chakra points inside Gray Wolf Clone No. 4, she struck forward, but he easily dodged with a sidestep and caught her arm with his left hand. His grip was so strong that Himawari clenched her teeth, letting out a small cry of pain.
"Himawari!"
Shukaku, watching anxiously, sent a wave of sand surging toward the enemy.
"Wood Style: Cutting Sprout Technique!"
From his free right hand, a wooden spike grew and pierced through Shukaku's body. The wood splintered inside him, branching out and dealing internal damage.
"Shukaku!"
Himawari cried out, staring at the beast impaled by multiple wooden spikes.
Hokage Office.
While working, Naruto suddenly looked up.
"Naruto! Something's happened to Shukaku!"
Kurama's voice echoed inside him.
"Shukaku?" Naruto froze, then suddenly realized, "Damn it!"
To protect Shukaku, he had sealed him inside a chamber pot and brought him from Sunagakure to Konoha. Himawari had been entrusted with his safekeeping. If something happened to Shukaku, that meant Himawari was in danger too.
Kurama, crouched inside Naruto, understood exactly what he was feeling and immediately poured massive amounts of chakra into him.
Throwing open the window, Naruto activated his Nine-Tails Chakra Mode and became a golden flash, leaping across the rooftops of the village.
"Was that Lord Hokage?"
Shikadai looked up at the rooftops. "He seems in a hurry… did something happen?"
"Shikadai, your order's ready."
Chōchō walked over, carrying a tray of meatballs.
"Ah, thanks, Chōchō."
Uzumaki Household.
Landing from the rooftop, Naruto was immediately joined by three Konoha Anbu who dropped down behind him.
Any unannounced action by the Hokage would naturally trigger the Anbu's attention.
Staring at the wrecked front door and the mess inside, Naruto clenched his fists. The three Anbu behind him exchanged concerned glances.
Who dared act so brazenly within the village?
"Hinata!"
Seeing her collapsed on the floor, Naruto rushed over and cradled her in his arms. "Are you alright, Hinata?"
"Naruto…"
She seemed to stir at his voice, slowly opening her eyes. Seeing his familiar and dependable face, she instinctively clutched his shirt. "Naruto… Himawari… Himawari was taken."
"What?! Hinata, do you know who did it?"
"It was… Gray Wolf…"
"Gray Wolf… Orochimaru!"
As Ashura's reincarnation, Naruto had rarely lost his temper—but this time, he could no longer suppress his fury.
"Call Captain Hydra here."
The seriousness in his tone radiated the unmistakable authority of a Hokage.
"Yes, sir!"
Naruto turned back to Hinata. "Don't worry, Hinata. Himawari will be fine. Sakura is on her way now too."
"Okay…"
Looking at Naruto's face, Hinata finally relaxed.
Naruto had never let anyone down—whether during the Pain invasion or the Fourth Great Ninja War, he had always found a way. She believed he would this time, too.
"Naruto!"
A voice called from behind. He turned to see Sakura approaching and stepped aside. "Sakura, you're here."
"Let me check on Hinata first."
She crouched beside Hinata, gently lifting her head with her left hand and placing her right on Hinata's forehead, using chakra to assess her condition.
"Phew… Naruto, it's okay. Her body's fine—it seems the shock just overwhelmed her emotionally. Do you know what happened?"
Sakura looked at Naruto questioningly.
"Yeah."
Naruto nodded and explained how Gray Wolf had kidnapped Himawari.
"What?! Why would Orochimaru kidnap Himawari?!"
"I don't know." Naruto shook his head, face tense. "But there's a high chance S.H.I.E.L.D. sent Orochimaru to do it. I've already sent for Captain Hydra."
After the merchant in the jar died, Captain Hydra took on the responsibility of serving as liaison between Konoha and Hydra.
"If you need help, just say the word. Don't forget—I may be a medical ninja, but anyone who underestimates me will regret it."
Sakura clenched her fist.
"I know that all too well," Naruto muttered. He had plenty of experience being on the receiving end of her punches. "Still, thanks, Sakura."
"From Team 7 until now, we've been through so much together. We're still comrades, aren't we?"
Sakura smiled.
"Naruto!"
Just then, led by Konoha Anbu, Captain Hydra appeared—shield in hand, his body containing Obito's soul.
"What happened, Naruto?"