Night fell.
Konohagakure was shrouded under a quiet, deep blue curtain, with the lights of ten thousand homes reflecting the starry sky.
The massive Hyuga Clan Compound lay like a giant beast dormant in a corner of the village—solemn, orderly, yet exuding a sense of ancient oppression in the night.
High walls, deep courtyards, and winding corridors followed an ancient and strict layout, showcasing the heritage and insularity of Konoha's number one noble clan.
A figure, like a ghost blending into the night, landed silently in the central area of the Hyuga Clan Compound.
It was the highest point of Hyuga Hiashi's residence, atop the eaves of the main house.
The newcomer wore a wide black robe that fluttered in the night wind, and his face was covered by an old-fashioned, sharp-lined fox mask. Even his eyes were obscured by a Sealing Technique.
His long black hair was unbound, fluttering behind him in the wind and merging with the black robe, adding a touch of mystery and murderous intent.
He stood quietly on the ridge of the roof like a night owl overlooking its territory, his gaze slowly sweeping over the brightly lit or dimly silent courtyards, training grounds, and ancestral hall below.
This was the core of the Hyuga Clan's power, a symbol of bondage and outdated rules.
The air seemed filled with the intangible and heavy aura of the "Caged Bird Seal" curse.
A deliberately altered, low, and slightly hoarse voice came from beneath the mask, carrying a hint of icy playfulness.
"Just right to test the technique I just learned."
The moment the words fell, the black-robed figure's perception expanded like an invisible net suddenly cast open, spreading silently and swiftly from him to the entire Hyuga Clan Compound and even further.
Kagura Minds Eye, activate!
In Naruto's perceptual world, everything was completely different.
The outlines of buildings, the swaying of grass and trees, the flow of Chakra... everything was presented in his "Minds Eye" as an incredibly clear three-dimensional image.
The location, Chakra intensity, and even the subtle fluctuations in the emotional state of every living thing within the clan compound were as clear as lines on the palm of a hand.
He "saw" the Hyuga branch family Shinobis patrolling important positions with their Byakugan activated; their Chakra carried vigilance, yet also contained the stagnation of being bound by the curse seal.
He "saw" the locations within the main family area where Chakra was relatively large but carried an aura of decay and arrogance—the residences of those Elders.
He also "saw" the daily lives of ordinary clansmen on the periphery, as well as the familiar energy veins of the clan compound's barrier...
Everything was under control.
The range, precision, and ability to analyze the nature of Chakra of the Kagura Minds Eye far exceeded any of his previous perceptual means; it was worthy of the name of the strongest sensory technique of the Uzumaki Clan.
After confirming the target's position and the surrounding environment, Naruto retracted most of his expanded perception, maintaining only fine monitoring of specific areas.
He slowly raised his right hand, covered by a black glove, his five fingers slightly curled as he made a motion of gripping a sword hilt.
The next moment, strange and biting cold air condensed suddenly in his palm.
Water molecules in the air were rapidly extracted, compressed, and shaped. Accompanied by a subtle "click" sound, as if ice crystals were freezing, a long sword, crystal clear and emitting a faint cold air, appeared in his hand.
The blade was slender, with smooth and cold lines. It was not solid metal, but condensed from pure and stable Ice Release Chakra.
Moonlight spilled onto the blade, refracting a cold and deadly luster; the air at the edge of the blade seemed to distort slightly due to the low temperature. This was one of the Ice Release form changes that he had only recently begun to master and stabilize, combining his immense Chakra control with the nature transformation of water and wind.
Holding the ice sword, the aura on Naruto's body changed abruptly.
The previous concealment and the calmness of an observer vanished instantly, replaced by a readiness for action, like a drawn blade, echoing the chill of the ice sword in his hand.
He lowered his head slightly, and behind the holes of the fox mask, his gaze locked onto the depths of the clan compound.
The night grew deeper.
The wind grew colder.
It was... a good time to kill.
The black robe moved slightly, and the figure on the roof vanished suddenly, as if swallowed by the night.
Only a few tiles that had been stepped on remained on the ridge, along with a trace of lingering, winter-like chill that had not yet fully dissipated from the air.
— — — — — — — — — —
Hiashi and his party, who had returned to Konoha Village early, parted ways at the village entrance.
Hiashi did not return directly to the clan compound.
After dismissing Tokuma and Homon, he took Neji and walked through the quiet alleys under the night of Konoha, his footsteps light and his goal clear.
Although Neji had doubts in his heart, due to his long-standing experience, he did not ask more questions and just followed silently.
Finally, the two stopped in front of a rather ordinary, even somewhat old apartment building.
This building was located in an older area of Konoha, not near the main road, and appeared exceptionally quiet.
Hiashi took out a key and opened an inconspicuous door on the ground floor.
"Clan Chief, this is...?"
Stepping into the room, borrowing the faint moonlight filtering through the window and the halo of streetlights in the distance, Neji looked around and finally couldn't help but ask softly.
The room was not large, the furnishings were simple, and it was covered with a thin layer of dust. The air had a faint, stuffy atmosphere of not having been lived in for a long time.
This was clearly not any of the known residences of the Hyuga Clan Chief.
Hiashi did not answer immediately.
He took off his casual outdoor coat as familiarly as if he had returned to another home, and walked straight to the bedroom.
Before long, when he came out again, he was already wearing a black cloak with a strange design.
The cloak was made of heavy material and felt excellent to the touch, almost merging with the night in the dim light.
Most eye-catching were the shoulder parts, each with a fierce, roughly-lined metal shoulder armor.
The shoulder armor was cast into the shape of a demon head with glaring eyes and exposed fangs, glowing with a cold, hard black light in the dim light, as if it were about to devour someone at any moment, adding plenty of Evil Qi and pressure to this already mysterious outfit.
Wearing this attire, Hiashi's aura changed abruptly.
The calm, dignified, and well-mannered Hyuga Clan Chief seemed to vanish instantly, replaced by a colder, more unpredictable, and even slightly wild figure.
Then, Hiashi walked to an old dressing mirror in the living room and sat down.
He opened the drawer of the small coffee table in front of the mirror, took out a small leather bag, and opened it to reveal neatly arranged makeup pens, paint boxes, and other tools.
His movements were methodical, obviously extremely familiar with this.
Neji stood quietly to the side, watching his uncle's movements, his doubts growing.
However, when Hiashi picked up a fine pen, dipped it in some kind of special green paint that faintly glowed in the dim light, and then faced the mirror, beginning to outline on his own clean forehead with extreme naturalness and precision...
Neji's breathing stagnated, and his pupils contracted sharply.
That familiar, complicated pattern, where every turn was engraved in his heart...
It was the curse seal that Hyuga branch family members were branded with after the age of three, accompanying them for life, symbolizing absolute obedience and bondage—the Caged Bird Seal!
And the person who was outlining this mark was none other than the head of the Hyuga main family, Hyuga Hiashi!