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Creak... Creak... Creak...
The tall and wide main gates slowly opened, the hinges letting out a subtle grinding sound.
Led by three Kumogakure shinobi, the delegation stepped through Konoha's gates. The moment they entered the village, bright sunlight poured over their faces.
The morning sun pierced through the clouds, casting light onto their features. The three narrowed their eyes, gazing across at the Konoha welcome party and the picturesque scenery.
Canopies of thick trees overlapped in waves like flowing emerald tides, dancing with golden-green ripples under the early autumn breeze.
The faces of the four Hokage carved into the mountain loomed in the distance, casting shadows. Towering walls embraced Konoha like protective arms. Fabric shop banners lining the streets swayed gently in the wind.
The whole world felt elevated and vibrant. The voices of the excited crowd blended with flower petals and the clean morning air carried by the wind—it warmed them from head to toe.
A single thought crossed the minds of the three Kumogakure shinobi in unison:
Konoha… is truly as prosperous and wealthy as the rumors say.
So prosperous and wealthy, it stirs greed and envy.
The Land of Lightning, home to Kumogakure, was built atop towering mountain ranges. Vast but sparsely populated, it had few resources aside from some notable electrical energy. Like the other great villages, their homeland was largely barren.
Only the Land of Fire, where Konoha was located, held the richest resources in the entire shinobi world. Rolling hills, mild climate, plenty of sunshine, fertile land, a booming economy, a dense population—situated right at the heart of the continent's central trade routes.
Despite being called a "village," Konoha was more akin to an autonomous city-state. Many villagers lived their entire lives without ever stepping beyond its borders, comfortably self-sustained on its abundant resources.
'If Lady Mabui and the Raikage's plan succeeds… maybe Kumogakure can get a piece of Konoha's wealth too…'
The three exchanged glances—and each saw the same glint of meaning in the others' eyes.
The Hyuga main family rarely left the village. And even when they did, they were always protected by branch family jonin.
This made it nearly impossible for other villages to capture a Hyuga main family member alive. Even if a branch member was caught, the Caged Bird Seal allowed the main house to destroy their Byakugan remotely.
But during the Third Great Ninja War, that changed.
A Kirigakure jonin named Ao successfully acquired a Byakugan. Not only that—he easily underwent transplant surgery and drastically boosted his reconnaissance capabilities and overall power.
From then on, the major villages realized: the Byakugan was fundamentally different from the Sharingan.
Much like their clans, the Sharingan was domineering and intense; the Byakugan, gentler and more adaptable to foreign bodies.
On the black market, the bounty for a single Byakugan had soared to 35 million ryo.
And what Kumogakure lacked most wasn't jutsu—it was powerful kekkei genkai like the Sharingan and Byakugan.
They had no hope of seizing Sharingan—the Uchiha were mad dogs, even Kumogakure didn't want to provoke them.
But the Hyuga clan?
This plan had three possible outcomes:
1. Best-case scenario: The mission succeeds. They kidnap the target and escape safely. Kumogakure obtains the Byakugan bloodline.
Realistically, abducting someone from the Hyuga main family compound was nearly impossible.
2. But even if the plan fails, the operatives would voluntarily die at the hands of a Hyuga, and use that as a pretext to pressure Konoha to hand over the "killer."
If Konoha handed over the culprit, it would stirinternalstrife between conservatives and radicals, sowdistrust between the Hyuga and the Hokage faction, and drain Konoha's manpower.
3. And if Hiruzen refused and chose war—Konoha was already in a weakened state:
The Fourth Hokage and the Nine-Tails jinchuriki were dead.
One of the Legendary Sannin, Orochimaru, had defected.
Jiraiya and Tsunade were missing.
Konoha's strength had declined to the point where Kumogakure no longer feared them.
No matter which outcome occurred—it would benefit Kumogakure.
Their cost? Merely three lives.
---
While the three observed Konoha…
Konoha's people were also observing them.
"Three jonin, huh?" Hiruzen Sarutobi opened his squinted eyes slightly. Recognizing this as the standard setup for a diplomatic team, he relaxed a little and nodded.
"Go ahead, Rena."
"Yes, Lord Third."
A young woman named Rena stepped forward, carrying a bouquet still beaded with morning dew. She jogged toward the Kumogakure delegation, her long blonde ponytail bouncing under the sunlight.
"Welcome to Konoha."
She handed the flowers to the leading Kumogakure shinobi and smiled as they shook hands.
"You may call me Rena. I will accompany you throughout your stay and assist with your schedule."
There was no clan crest on her, and she didn't seem particularly like a ninja—more like a regular girl.
"Thank you," replied the lead shinobi, Yurui, with a warm smile. "Then we'll be in your care, Miss Rena."
But inwardly, Yurui was analyzing: 'She ran in high heels—good balance. Her palm calluses were neatly trimmed—clearly skilled in bladed weapons. And most importantly…'
"An Anbu operative?" Yurui thought calmly. 'Seems we won't be ditching surveillance that easily.'
While he was still calculating, they reached the front of the line—facing Hiruzen Sarutobi himself.
Hiruzen extended his hand first, and Yurui shook it firmly.
The first thing Yurui noticed was: 'his grip was strong—not at all like a frail old man at the end of his reign.'
It felt like a fire still burned inside that aging body—an awe-inspiring power that hadn't dimmed with time.
So this was the Third Hokage of Konoha?
Yurui's heart sank slightly, but his resolve for what was to come didn't waver.
'May this alliance bring peace to those lost in the wars.'
Hiruzen smiled warmly as he unrolled a meter-long scroll across a table. "The Raikage is also hopeful that peace will last between our nations."
Yurui retrieved the Fourth Raikage's seal from within his cloak and stamped it alongside Hiruzen's on both nations' copies of the treaty.
Click.
As the seal sank into the paper, Hiruzen secretly let out a breath of relief.
The crowd erupted into deafening cheers. More flower petals poured down from above, landing on the shoulders of the participants.
Hiruzen and Yurui locked eyes again, shaking hands with the same formulaic smiles.
"Please, follow me," Hiruzen said, putting away the scroll and gesturing with a slight smile. "I hope you enjoy your stay in Konoha."
The public ceremony was over—private talks would begin soon.
In the crowd, Hyuga Unkawa's eyes flickered.
He glanced toward Might Guy in the distance, who had long been swept away by the crowd and was now happily chatting with strangers.
Unkawa quietly disappeared into the crowd.
'Now that this comedy—like a weasel paying New Year visits to the chicken—was over…'
'It was time to prepare for tonight's operation.'
---
Meanwhile, Hiruzen and several clan leaders escorted the Kumogakure party toward the Hokage Tower. On the way, Hiruzen introduced each of the clan leaders.
But when no mention of the Hyuga clan was made, Yurui's face showed a trace of doubt.
"I've long heard of the Hyuga clan's renown," he said politely. "Why isn't their clan leader present?"
Hiruzen didn't expect such a direct question. His eyes paused momentarily, then he smiled.
"My apologies. The Hyuga clan leader truly intended to attend, but today happens to be his daughter's third birthday. She's the heiress of the main house—and it's an important day for the clan."
"I see," Yurui smiled lightly, seemingly unconcerned. "Then it must indeed be a good day."
But the two Kumogakure shinobi behind him clearly lacked his composure. Upon hearing this, they exchanged a fiery glance.
'So it really is today.'
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