In the cold winter of Konoha, it had snowed for several days straight, only clearing up recently.
Inside and outside the dojo, everything was covered in silver. Even Tenten had put on a thick coat.
She was still a rookie ninja, with low resistance to the cold. Unlike Makoto, who dressed lightly as if it were spring or autumn.
After taking Tenten out for breakfast and stopping by the ninja tools shop to greet Suzune, the two of them began strolling around the village.
Ninja efficiency was as high as ever. After just one morning of cleanup, all the accumulated snow in Konoha had been completely cleared away, making it look almost like spring again.
Before long, quite a few villagers began gathering toward the main gate.
It wasn't that they particularly welcod Kumogakure's peace delegation—they were simply indulging in the human instinct to watch the excitent and see what people from the Land of Lightning looked like.
After all, most of Konoha's residents weren't ninja. They spent their entire lives in the village and were naturally curious about foreigners.
To enhance the atmosphere, Konoha even handed out small flags and similar props, encouraging them to wave them along the roadsides to showcase the village's prosperity and its welcoming attitude toward peace.
Around 9 a.m., the Kumogakure delegation finally arrived in Konoha.
The mont they passed through the gate, the Konoha ninja stationed among the crowd imdiately set off celebratory poppers. Colorful strears filled the air, creating a festive scene.
The villagers watching thought, Huh? It's this lively?
Should we cheer too?
Since the atmosphere had already been built up this much, they might as well.
So everyone raised their flags in unison and burst into sustained cheers.
After all, peace was always worth celebrating.
The leader of the Kumogakure delegation was a middle-aged ninja wearing his forehead protector at an angle, with his right eye covered—his look rivaling Kakashi's in flair.
No one knew how strong he was, but his appearance was undeniably flashy, complete with a stylish little mustache.
Seeing how warmly his group was being received, he began waving enthusiastically, constantly responding to the crowd on both sides, prompting his companions behind him to do the sa.
It looked just like a celebrity entrance.
Anyone unaware of the situation might think Konoha and Kumogakure had an exceptionally close relationship.
Despite the fact that in recent years, they had been beating each other senseless at the border.
Tenten, mixed into the crowd, was very excited. Pointing at a few of them, she said, "Hey, sensei, they're really dark-skinned."
"Tenten, that's one of the characteristics of Kumogakure ninja from the Land of Lightning. Among their elites, their skin tends to be either very dark or very light. Rember that."
"Mm, I'll rember."
Makoto observed the delegation. He could understand why the Fourth Raikage wasn't leading it, but the fact that it wasn't even Dodai, the Raikage's right-hand man, was telling. Instead, it was soone rarely seen on the battlefield.
If you said he represented a moderate faction within Kumogakure, that didn't quite add up either—after all, he had still attempted a kidnapping.
At best, their sincerity was… questionable.
...
After three days of negotiations, Kumogakure and Konoha finally reached an agreent and signed a peace treaty.
Makoto didn't need to attend those arguntative etings.
However, one clause in the treaty involved him—Konoha agreed to treat those unfortunate individuals who had been afflicted with the "Hawking Power" he had bestowed.
Driven by despair, those people had already beco a destabilizing force within Kumogakure. But they were war heroes, so they couldn't just be executed outright.
Otherwise, what would beco of Kumogakure's prized unity?
That said, there was no way Konoha would go to them. If they wanted treatnt, they could send the patients over after the new year.
For injuries like that, only Tsunade and Makoto could treat them. And even then, he would only restore their ability to move normally—to live like ordinary people.
Did they want to return to being ninja?
Dream on.
Why would he restore their strength so they could kill Konoha ninja later?
On December 27, the night the treaty was signed, both sides decided to hold a peace celebration banquet. The heads of all major factions in Konoha were invited.
It had to be said—this was deliberate. They had chosen Hinata's birthday.
There was no way that hadn't been carefully planned.
The Hyūga Clan's strict adherence to tradition was no secret in the shinobi world.
And the birthday of the Hyūga heiress wasn't exactly classified information.
So an interesting situation arose. Every major faction in Konoha was invited to the banquet.
Guess who didn't show up?
The Hyūga Clan.
That day was the third birthday of Hinata, the heir of the main family—an event of utmost importance to the clan.
At age three, she would officially be recognized as the successor to the clan head and begin her training.
At the sa ti, a group of branch family children would be designated as her future protectors and branded with the Caged Bird Seal.
Neji was among them.
Human joys and sorrows were not shared. At least today, Hyūga Hizashi felt that deeply.
But these were internal affairs of the Hyūga Clan, and Konoha would not interfere.
...
The banquet between Konoha and Kumogakure went on late into the night.
The Kumogakure delegation leader seed to have completely abandoned the vigilance expected of a ninja, imrsing himself in the festive atmosphere and drinking at every opportunity.
Eventually, he collapsed from intoxication and was carried to a guest room to rest.
Then, under the cover of his companions, he began his little stunt.
Konoha had been lulled by the temporary peace, and the banquet had drawn away their attention. As a result, he managed to infiltrate the Hyūga compound with surprising ease.
Coincidentally, the Hyūga Clan was holding its own grand ceremony that day. Exhausted from the rituals, Hinata had been taken away early to sleep.
The delegation leader, lurking in the shadows, was overjoyed.
He quickly seized the sleeping Hinata, knocked her unconscious, and prepared to escape.
There were accomplices waiting for him outside the Hyūga compound. Their plan was to leave imdiately.
As for the companions left behind in the banquet hall—they were as good as dead.
But that was a necessary price to obtain the Byakugan of the Hyūga main family.
And then—
He was killed by Hyūga Hiashi with a single strike.
But when Hiashi removed the thief's disguise, his entire body went stiff.
Wonderful.
The leader of Kumogakure's delegation had attempted to kidnap a child—and had been killed on the spot.
Now the freshly signed peace treaty looked like a complete joke.
If things went badly, the Hyūga Clan might even be blad for breaking the peace.
Makoto descended like a ghost from the air.
"Hiashi-senpai, surprised?"
"Who—?" Startled, Hiashi looked up. Upon recognizing him, he let out a breath of relief. "Makoto… you saw it too. He broke in and tried to abduct my daughter. This… this isn't my fault."
"Of course not. I followed him the whole ti. I saw everything. He's dead, and that's that. No need to worry."
After saying that, Makoto extended a finger and struck the fatal wound with a Wind Finger Shot, destroying that patch of skin along with the entire network of chakra pathways.
Hiashi looked at him with a hint of gratitude.
Now, he wasn't the one who had killed him.
At that mont, mbers of the Hyūga Clan rushed over, having sensed the disturbance. Hizashi arrived at the front, took one look at the corpse, then at his niece in his brother's arms, and imdiately understood what had happened.
"Brother, Makoto, what do we do now?"
Hiashi remained silent. Makoto replied, "We wait for Kumogakure to arrive. They'll be here soon."
The Kumogakure ninja waiting outside the compound heard the commotion and imdiately realized the mission had failed. They quickly inford the rest of the delegation.
Before long, Sarutobi Hiruzen arrived with a group of people.
Upon seeing their leader's corpse, the vice leader of the delegation imdiately flew into a rage.
But Makoto spoke first.
"So this is Kumogakure's idea of diplomacy? Using a banquet as cover to steal Konoha's Byakugan? You've got so nerve."
One of the Kumogakure ninja retorted, "More like Konoha used the banquet as an excuse to lure our leader out and kill him!"
The vice leader turned to the Third Hokage.
"Hokage-sama, it seems Konoha has no interest in peace."
Hiruzen frowned.
"There must be so misunderstanding here. Let's first get to the bottom of it."
"Misunderstanding? Our leader is dead. Konoha must provide an explanation—and hand over the killer."
Makoto shrugged.
"Sure. You don't want to play fair? Fine, I don't feel like playing fair either. I killed him. What are you going to do about it?"
"You? Who even are you?"
Makoto's recent growth had changed both his aura and appearance. Combined with his casual clothing, the vice leader—who had never been on the battlefield—failed to recognize him.
"Konoha ninja. Higashino Makoto."
The vice leader froze for a mont. Then, recalling what had happened to those who had crossed him, he backed down.
"Hokage-sama, I will report this to the Raikage. Konoha—prepare for war!"
Hiruzen rubbed his temples.
"Please, don't act rashly—"
Makoto chuckled.
"So, Kumogakure. Have you prepared enough wheelchairs? If not, feel free to place an order before you leave. ntion my na and you'll get a 20% discount."
The Kumogakure ninja: "…"
In the end, they didn't dare say anything more. They left in anger, taking their leader's body with them.
Hiruzen stepped forward to check on Hinata. After confirming she had only been drugged unconscious, he imdiately issued an order to the ANBU at his side: "Notify the jōnin squad leaders. Assemble imdiately."
He had already seen it clearly.
Kumogakure had no intention of being reasonable.
In the end, ninja always settled things with their fists.
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