As the night of the second day arrived, Dōkaku glanced at the dark sky. Behind him, three Kumogakure shinobi had already put on their night-operation gear.
"Be careful when you move."
"I have a feeling Konoha will definitely be on guard."
As the operation was about to begin, Dōkaku expressionlessly glanced at the three subordinates, yet for some reason, he himself had not put on any night gear.
"Yes, Dōkaku-sama."
The three showed no objections, calmly accepting the mission.
After the three departed, Dōkaku let out a slight sigh.
"Kumogakure will remember your sacrifices...."
That heavy sentence already silently sealed their fate, yet Dōkaku showed no reaction to such an outcome.
He simply continued gazing at the moon in the sky.
...
The moment the three Kumogakure shinobi moved out, ANBU had already noticed them.
The eyes of the lead member were crimson red.
"The captain was right. Kumogakure really does have a scheme."
"What do we do? Should we intercept them directly?"
This ANBU squad was led by Kakashi, with Shisui and another ANBU as members.
Kakashi looked at the three rapidly moving Kumogakure shinobi under the night sky with disdain, then shook his head.
"Sensei is prepared for this. Tora, report the situation to the higher-ups."
The ANBU named Tora nodded and immediately ran off in one direction.
ANBU's message transmission speed was extremely fast. In just a short while, almost the entire village's ANBU knew about Kumogakure's movement.
Aside from the stationed personnel, the rest followed the footsteps of the three Kumogakure shinobi.
...
At the Hyuga compound, Hizashi looked at the intelligence in his hand. It clearly stated that the direction the three Kumogakure shinobi were heading toward was the Hyuga clan.
"Hmph, Chizan really called it."
"Brother, what should we do?"
Seated at the head position, Hyuga Hiashi's face was icy cold.
The Hyuga clan of Konoha was a major clan, yet these reckless Kumogakure fools actually dared to extend their claws toward them.
Did they really think the Hyuga clan was easy to bully?
"Hmph, what else can we do?"
"If one comes, kill one. If two come, kill both!"
"Have all stationed personnel raise their alertness to the highest level. As long as they dare come, kill on sight!"
At this moment, Hiashi displayed the decisiveness a clan head should possess—swift and ruthless!
"Yes!"
Very soon, the Hyuga compound was fully prepared.
...
On the platform above the Hokage Building, Konoha's top three stood there, looking down below.
"Chizan, your guess was right. Those guys really did move."
"Hehehe, but once they go, I'm afraid they won't be coming back alive."
Although Namikaze Minato had become Hokage, at his core he was still a combative man. The fearsome reputation created by the blond-haired man proved he was not someone who would tolerate enemies running wild on his territory.
"Tch, if you ask me, I should've just gone myself."
"Why make them go to the Hyuga clan at all?"
"If Kumogakure wants to fight, we'll fight them!"
Fugaku snorted coldly, arms crossed, killing intent evident in his tone.
If anyone dared to covet the Sharingan of the Uchiha, he would blast them into ashes like thunder.
"Calm down, calm down. The net has already been cast—are you afraid the fish won't bite?"
"You two, honestly… you're already fathers."
"And yet you're still this impatient."
Gekko Chizan laughed heartily, his whole demeanor brimming with confidence.
After all, he had arranged everything that could be arranged, and at the same time, his shadow clone had already headed to Takigakure.
The operation targeting the Land of Rain had also begun.
As the mastermind behind the scenes, Gekko Chizan felt extremely satisfied, filled with a sense of accomplishment.
Just thinking about it made him want to laugh—indeed, the thrill of being the one pulling strings from the shadows was the most exhilarating.
As for why the other side dispatched three people, Gekko Chizan found it perfectly normal: one on lookout, three acting—completely normal.
...
At the Hyuga compound.
Hyuga Hizashi and Hyuga Hiashi appeared simultaneously before the three Kumogakure shinobi who had already entered the compound.
"Hmph, Kumogakure rats. Taking a stroll through my Hyuga compound?"
"Why so much nonsense! Take them down directly! Eight Trigrams Palm! Vacuum Palm!"
Ever since having a daughter, Hiashi's temper had become much fiercer—though it might also be because Gekko Chizan kept irritating him.
In any case, the moment he learned their target was the Hyuga clan, anger surged uncontrollably.
He struck immediately with killing intent.
The Eight Trigrams Vacuum Palm, infused with full power, sent all three flying with a single blow.
"Damn it! Konoha really was prepared...."
The three barely endured the Vacuum Palm and had just started to complain when they saw two figures already standing before them.
Facing the top two experts of the Hyuga clan, the three had absolutely no room to resist.
...
"Neji, what's happening outside?"
Inside the compound, Hyuga Hinata—protected layer upon layer—still didn't understand what was happening outside.
Beside her was a child not much older than her, Hyuga Neji.
Although Neji was only four years old, he was a precocious genius. From tonight's actions, he had already guessed quite a bit.
"Hinata, it's fine."
"Father and Uncle have already gone to handle it. With them there, nothing will happen."
There was one more sentence he didn't say—that his teacher was also there.
...
While the Hyuga compound was dealing with the three Kumogakure shinobi, the only one left, Dōkaku, also began to move.
However, his actions were extremely casual. He removed all his shinobi attire, changed into plain clothes, used a clone technique to obscure himself, and activated a transformation technique.
He silently left his residence, but his direction was not toward the Hyuga clan.
"It's already begun..."
"Then I should move as well...."
Dōkaku's counter-surveillance awareness was excellent. He knew someone was watching this area, so he didn't rush, instead walking step by step under the night sky toward his destination.
Soon, he stopped in front of a large mansion.
"This is the place...."
This night was destined to be anything but peaceful.
...
Gekko Chizan and the other two chatted against the evening breeze.
Soon, an ANBU appeared behind them.
"Hokage-sama, the three Kumogakure shinobi have been killed. The ones who acted were Hyuga Hiashi and Hyuga Hizashi."
"One other person did not appear."
Hearing the report, Namikaze Minato nodded.
"Did Dōkaku make a move?"
"No. Dōkaku was not among the three."
"What?"
Gekko Chizan spoke first—Dōkaku didn't move?
That didn't make sense. As the leading jōnin, he didn't move himself but sent three subordinates instead?
Just as he was feeling surprised, several streaks of firelight suddenly flared up in the distance. Seeing those flames, Gekko Chizan's expression abruptly changed.
A chilling killing intent surged straight into the sky.
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Pls Drop some Power Stones
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