"Uh… the two of you are…?" Kageyama Kokugetsu asked, puzzled.
"Join Lord Fugaku's command. Fighting alongside the Uchiha gives you the best chance to live," Uchiha Tagan said, arms folded, face blank.
Kageyama fell silent.
No wonder the Uchiha's reputation in Konoha wasn't great, acting like fighting at their side was some kind of honor.
"I think Lord Hiashi's command suits you better. Kirigakure's mist techniques counter the Uchiha. Those who know, know."
"Hidden Mist has no effect on the Byakugan. No fear of ambush by Kirigakure shinobi, which means better survival odds," Hyuga Shiyu said with a mild smile.
"What did you say, fool?"
"There is no ninjutsu in this world that can counter the Uchiha, not even those water-style mist lovers," Tagan snapped, two-tomoe Sharingan flashing in his eyes.
Shiyu ignored him and kept smiling at Kageyama. "Boy, this is life and death. Think it through."
Tch. Hiashi and Fugaku were competing hard.
Even a little chunin like him was being tugged over. Squeezing every drop of strength they could, knocked silly by Hiruzen Sarutobi's promise of a shot at the Hokage's seat.
"Sorry. I think Lord Hiashi's side suits me better," Kageyama said with a smile and a slight bow.
"Hmph. No vision. You'll regret it."
Tagan snorted, face dark, and strode off.
"Smart choice, boy. What's your name?" Shiyu beamed and gave a thumbs-up.
"Senior, I'm Kageyama Kokugetsu," Kageyama answered with an innocent smile.
Joining you might not actually be good for you.
To cut trouble, he needed a plausible reason for his Byakugan. Popping up with it suddenly would draw too many eyes.
A sudden Byakugan would bring the Hyuga and every faction in Konoha looking. Spread further, the other villages would covet it too.
If he took back the Byakugan stolen by Kirigakure, there would be far less trouble.
The Hyuga would be unhappy, but Konoha's top brass would be pleased.
Hyuga shinobi listened to the clan first, then the village, which made them hard to direct.
A Byakugan outside Hyuga control would make Konoha's big four very hungry.
In pure strategic value, the Byakugan outclassed most Sharingan.
And having it in his hands was far better than Kirigakure's. At least it wouldn't be such a disgrace.
As for the chain reaction in Kirigakure after losing the eye, not his problem.
"Good. Let's get you registered."
"Yes, senior."
The paperwork done, Kageyama rested a day and reported to his new squad the next morning.
It was a three-man team led by a Hyuga jonin, under a larger unit commanded by Hyuga Hizashi. The captain, Hyuga Seiga, specialized in taijutsu and sensory. Kageyama specialized in taijutsu and ninjutsu. Kurama Yundon specialized in genjutsu.
After a brief familiarization, the trio began missions.
The loss of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen had shocked Kirigakure. Pain and rage aside, there was fear, but they were unwilling to quit. After debate, their leaders held the beachhead in the Land of Whirlpools and waited on other fronts to decide next steps.
Konoha had no desire to stalemate. The plan was to drive Kirigakure back into the sea, force a withdrawal, and win the war.
The border between the Land of Fire and the Land of Whirlpools erupted. Kageyama's squad joined in.
In a single battle, Kageyama won his teammates' recognition with crisp ninjutsu, fierce taijutsu, and a clear head.
They weren't unstoppable, but they ran into little real danger.
Five days later, just as they were heading out, they were stopped.
"What? A clan Byakugan was stolen by Kirigakure shinobi?" Seiga blurted, aghast.
"Yes, Captain Seiga."
"Your squad's mission is changed. Pursue at once and retrieve the Byakugan at all costs," the Hyuga messenger said, deadly serious.
Many under Hiashi's command received the same order, especially those nearby.
"I'll give it everything."
Seiga accepted the mission scroll with grave care, then moved out with Kageyama and Yundon.
They unrolled the scrolls in turn. It held the time of the incident, the Kirigakure ninja's approximate position, and possible escape routes.
"Captain, I'm the fastest. Let me go on ahead," Kageyama suggested.
He had already showcased speed beyond Seiga's in earlier fights.
"Fine, but be careful."
"If you find their trail, don't rush in. Shadow them and wait for support," Seiga said after a moment's thought.
"Don't worry, Captain."
"Unless luck explodes, I'll be the one providing support. We're a bit far," Kageyama said with a small smile.
"Go."
Kageyama nodded, accelerated, and in a single breath melted into the deep forest.
Once he was out of sight he veered off. His black eyes shifted into the black eye and the Byakugan.
Golden light flickered in the black eye and a black-red spiral vortex opened ahead. He plunged through.
With space-time ninjutsu he crossed more than thirty kilometers in an instant and stepped into a sparsely wooded valley.
Given the enemy's position and heading, short of a huge detour this valley was a chokepoint.
Konoha shinobi were closing from all sides. The longer they tarried, the greater the risk. Getting back to Kirigakure's lines fast was their best bet.
As he stepped from the vortex he popped a soldier pill and swept toward a tree with the best view over the valley.
First time using space-time. His proficiency was low and his chakra pool shallow; the cost had been heavy.
He settled into the thick canopy, smothered the chakra signature he'd been letting bleed, and with a thought the veins rose at his right eye. The Byakugan opened.
Most Hyuga needed hand signs to assist. He did not.
His view shifted. One hundred eighty degrees widened to three sixty. All obstacles turned transparent. His sight stretched out and out to five kilometers, an eagle's view through the fog of war.
"Tch. No matter how many times I've felt it, it's still marvelous."
"No wonder they covet it. This is a cheat."
He shut his eyes and quietly refined the soldier pill, drawing out chakra.
About ten minutes later, three figures entered his sight.
One with jonin-level chakra, two a bit below, elite chunin.
The two chunin were hurt. One worse outside, one worse inside.
Kageyama drew the short blade from his back. Chakra washed over him in a sheath. His body and blade turned transparent and blended with the trees.
"Heh. Finally. The hunt begins."