Moonlight poured over the courtyard, turning the grass to silver as Hinata brushed the dirt from her kimono. Raven's violet eyes shimmering faintly, calm and focused, watching the little heiress with quiet affection. "Don't worry," she said softly. "I'll properly prepare some training clothes for you next time if you don't have any."
Hinata's hands flew up in panic. "No, no, no, I can get some training clothes! My father will prepare them for me!" she said quickly, her voice flustered. "But he doesn't know I have any friends. You can't tell him that you know me, because nobody's supposed to be able to sneak in here. I'm supposed to be training by myself to be the next heiress of the Hyūga Clan."
Raven nodded once, her eyes glowing faintly in the soft night air. "Don't worry," she said. "With my help, you will be the next heiress of the Hyūga Clan—and I'll make sure of it."
Hinata blinked up at her, her small face brightening with hope. "Really? I can be the next leader of the Hyūga Clan?"
Raven smiled, her tone gentle but certain. "Of course you will be."
Hinata's cheeks turned a faint shade of pink as she looked away, shy and proud all at once. The moment hung softly between them, filled with quiet promise—until the air shifted.
The faintest crackle of chakra broke the stillness. Four shadows appeared at once, surrounding the courtyard in perfect formation. The faint shimmer of a barrier rippled along the edges of the garden, and the night turned tense and sharp. The leader stepped forward—a tall man with a scar cutting across his cheek, his Kumogakure headband glinting in the dim light.
"With the seal we've placed around here," he said, his voice hard and low, "your family will never respond in time before we abduct you, Hinata Hyūga." His eyes moved to Raven, scanning her small frame. "And who the hell are you?"
Raven shifted her weight, stepping smoothly between him and Hinata. Her eyes burned with quiet fury as she said, "I'm here to protect Hinata Hyūga from your abduction."
The man gave a coarse laugh. "Our leader is keeping the Hyūga head occupied. All the elders are there with him. What can you possibly do, little girl?"
Raven's tone dropped to ice. "Who said anything about me being one of them?"
He squinted, his voice uncertain. "Aren't you one of those enslaved branch family members?"
Raven's lips barely moved as she answered, "Please. I don't have the Caged Bird Seal on my forehead." She tilted her head slightly, in a faint movement of challenge. "I'm going to kill each and every one of you. And then I'm going to deal with your boss."
The man stiffened, then sneered to mask it. "You'll fail. The seal matrix around you and the heiress ensures nobody will interrupt us. You're trapped here. Once we finish, we'll take her—and kill you personally."
Raven's gaze sharpened. "Then I'll deal with your leader myself. Renga Sazanami."
Hinata, trembling behind her, clutched the edge of Raven's cloak. "Raven… you're going to protect me from these people trying to kidnap me?"
Raven looked back at her, voice steady. "Don't worry, Hinata. I'll protect you."
Hinata's eyes widened, her small fingers tightening their grip. "If only I were stronger… I could help you."
Raven chuckled softly, never taking her eyes off the enemies closing in. "Don't worry about it, Hinata. It's every girl's job to protect her friends."
Hinata hesitated, voice barely a whisper. "We're… friends?"
Raven's tone softened. "Of course we are. I already said that."
The Kumogakure leader's expression hardened, his patience gone. "Enough! You won't stop us." He drew a kunai, the blade catching the moonlight as he motioned for his men to spread out. "Hold your positions. I'll handle her personally."
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