Himawari's footsteps quickened to match her mother's urgent pace. The usually tranquil streets of Konoha were now filled with panicked villagers rushing to find shelter.
"Mama, why are we going this way?" Himawari asked, her brow furrowed in confusion.
The shelter was in the opposite direction, and Himawari wondered why they were heading toward the village entrance.
Hinata's grip on her hand tightened. "We need to meet your Tou-san."
Himawari's curiosity grew. "But why? Shouldn't we be heading to the shelter like everyone else?"
Hinata's expression remained calm, but her eyes betrayed a hint of worry.
"There's something I need to discuss with your Tou-san," she said, her voice measured.
Himawari's gaze persisted, seeking answers. "What is it, Mama?"
Hinata's eyes drifted ahead, her voice gentle but evasive. "It's something I need to tell your Tou-san in person, sweetie. Let's just say it's important."
The cryptic response only deepened Himawari's curiosity.
Himawari's persistence didn't waver, her curiosity piqued. "But, Mama, what do you need to tell Papa?" she pressed, her eyes locked onto Hinata's, searching for any hint of information.
Hinata's gaze shifted, avoiding direct eye contact, her expression subtly tense. "Himawari, tell me, why were you and your Onii-chan outside the house when the attack started?" she asked, her voice gentle but firm.
The village's chaos swirled around them – screams, crumbling buildings, and the distant clash of ninja tools. Yet, in this moment, Himawari's focus remained fixed on her mother's evasive response.
Himawari's thoughts raced: What could her mother possibly hide? Is her father in danger? The uncertainty gnawed at her.
As they navigated through the panicked crowd, Hinata's grip on Himawari's hand tightened, her eyes scanning their surroundings with a mix of concern and caution.
The air was thick with tension and smoke. The once-familiar streets now seemed treacherous, every alleyway a potential hiding spot for enemies.
"Mama..." Himawari began, her voice laced with frustration and worry.
Hinata's gaze snapped back to hers, a fleeting glimpse of determination visible before she masked it with a calm demeanor.
"Himawari, answer me," Hinata repeated. "What were you and Boruto doing outside?"
Himawari took a deep breath before recounting the events, her voice steady but laced with lingering fear. "A person entered our house and destroyed it. But luckily, Shikamaru-san came to save me."
Hinata's eyes widened, alarm etched on her face as she grasped Himawari's shoulders. "Save you??" she exclaimed, her voice trembling, concern for her daughter's safety flooding her thoughts. "What happened? Were you in danger? What did that person need from you?"
Himawari quickly reassured her mother, noticing the worry lines deepening on her face. "I'm alright, Mama. Onii-chan took me to a safe place, out of danger," she said, trying to soothe her mother's fears.
Hinata's gaze lingered, ensuring her daughter's safety before nudging her to continue. Her eyes scanned their surroundings, ensuring they were still safe.
"About what he needed..." Himawari hesitated, choosing her words carefully, unsure how much to reveal. "He told me that Papa had asked for turtle."
Hinata's expression transformed from concern to shock. "What?!" she exclaimed, her voice barely above a whisper, her mind racing with questions.
Hinata's confusion deepened. "What turtle?!" she asked, her voice laced with bewilderment.
Himawari shrugged. "I don't know, but it was probably the turtle I play with."
Hinata's eyes widened in surprise. "You mean your stuffed turtle?" she asked, trying to understand.
Himawari nodded. "Yes, that one."
Hinata's expression turned thoughtful. She couldn't fathom why Naruto would request the stuffed turtle.
Hinata's expression reflected her confusion, mirroring Himawari's perplexed face. "Why would that man need your stuffed turtle, and then attack you?" she wondered aloud.
Himawari shook her head. "And why did Papa ask for it in the first place?"
The questions swirled in Hinata's mind, fueling her determination. "We need to find Tou-san," she said firmly. "He'll explain what's going on."
Hinata's thoughts raced: Naruto requesting the turtle, the attacker's sudden violence... Something wasn't right.
With newfound resolve, Hinata grasped Himawari's hand. "Let's go find Tou-san. Now."
As they walked, Hinata's curiosity resurfaced. "Where is the turtle right now?" Himawari patted her jacket pocket. "It's here, in my pocket." Hinata's eyes widened slightly. "It's with you? But... why didn't the person take it?"
Himawari shrugged. "I don't know. He had it, but then he just dropped it." Hinata's thoughts whirled. This stuffed turtle must hold more significance than she thought.
But logic took over. "It's just a stuffed toy," she reassured herself. "We'll be fine. We're on our way to meet Naruto-kun, and he'll clarify everything."
With renewed confidence, Hinata quickened their pace.
Unbeknownst to Hinata, watchful eyes had been tracking the turtle. The Rinnegan-wielding man, hidden in the shadows, had been waiting for another chance.
As Himawari briefly showed the turtle to Hinata, his eyes locked onto the stuffed toy. His gaze narrowed.
Seemingly harmless, Hinata tucked the turtle back into Himawari's jacket pocket.
The Rinnegan man's eyes flashed with determination. Perched atop the Fourth Hokage's stone face, he gazed down at the mother-daughter duo.
"Oh..." he whispered to himself, malice dripping from his voice. "So it's still in her hands."
"This time," he vowed, "I'll surely kill you, little girl."
With a fluid motion, the Rinnegan man propelled himself off the stone face of the Yondaime Hokage, his body arcing through the air. He cleared the empty streets, his gaze fixed on the market district.
The once-bustling village was now deserted, the evacuation order having cleared the streets. But the market, being one of the farthest points from the shelter, still had a scattering of people struggling to flee.
As he descended, his cloak billowed behind him like a dark cloud. The wind whipped through his hair, but his eyes remained fixed on his target.
He landed gracefully on the ground, his feet thudding softly on the earth. From there, he sprang into a sprint, devouring the distance between himself and the market.
The empty streets echoed with his footsteps – the only sound in the abandoned village. The moon cast long shadows behind him, as if darkness itself was closing in.
He sprinted past the silent ramen shops, tea houses, and weapon stores. His chakra fueled his speed, propelling him toward his quarry.
In a few heartbeats, he had crossed the expanse between the Hokage's office and the market. The vibrant stalls and colorful awnings came into view, though most were now abandoned.
A small crowd, panicked and desperate, milled about the market. Hinata and Himawari stood among them, their eyes scanning the horizon.
"Maybe Papa is around here somewhere," Himawari said, worry etched on her face.
"I also think, let's keep looking," Hinata replied, her voice steady.
The Rinnegan man closed in, his eyes locking onto Hinata and Himawari. They remained oblivious to the danger lurking mere meters away, their focus solely on finding Naruto.
The Rinnegan man navigated through the frantic crowd, his eyes fixed on Hinata and Himawari. They moved swiftly, searching for Naruto. Villagers rushed past him, their faces twisted in fear, their sole concern escaping the village. A woman elbowed him, clutching her child tightly, shouting, "Get out of my way!" A man shoved past, knocking over a stall, sending wooden debris flying.
The air reeked of panic and sweat. People screamed, cried, and pushed. Self-preservation drove them. Hinata and Himawari dodged through the crowd, their eyes scanning the horizon. "Papa has to be around here somewhere," Himawari said, worry etched on her face. "I know." Hinata replied, her voice steady.
The Rinnegan man kept pace, his movements fluid and calculated, weaving through the crowd with ease. No one suspected him; he blended in, just another desperate villager. His gaze never wavered from Hinata and Himawari. Their obliviousness to the danger nearing them made his task easier. He edged closer, his footsteps lost in the chaos.
The distance between them dwindled. Hinata's eyes scanned the crowd, her brow furrowed. Himawari clutched her mother's hand, her eyes wide. The Rinnegan man's eyes locked onto them, his presence still unnoticed.
The Rinnegan man's eyes locked onto Hinata and Himawari, his presence still unnoticed. He edged closer, his movements fluid and calculated. His hand instinctively reached for the sword at his side.
Just as he was about to approach them, a frantic group of villagers stampeded through the market, separating him from his targets. The crowd's desperation was palpable, their screams and cries filling the air.
A woman collided with the Rinnegan man, apologizing profusely as she clutched her children. A man shoved past, nearly knocking him off balance.
The sudden chaos disrupted the Rinnegan man's focus. His gaze broke from Hinata and Himawari, momentarily lost in the sea of panicked villagers.
When he refocused, Hinata and Himawari had moved farther away, their faces still scanning the horizon for Naruto.
The Rinnegan man's eyes narrowed, frustration flickering across his face. His plan had been foiled by the very chaos he had sought to exploit.
The Rinnegan eyes blazed with frustration. These insignificant villagers kept interfering, shielding his targets from his reach.
"How infuriating," he thought. "These people are nothing but obstacles, blind to the true danger lurking among them."
His gaze swept across the chaotic crowd. "They're so consumed by their own fear, they don't even notice me. But they're still in my way."
A scowl twisted his face. "Perhaps it's time to eliminate these distractions. Clear a path to my true targets."
His hand tightened around his sword hilt. "Yes, eliminate them all. Let their blood pave the way for my ultimate goal."
The Rinnegan man's eyes flashed with malevolent intent. His presence seemed to darken, as if the shadows themselves were responding to his malevolence.
The Rinnegan man's malevolent energy began to spread, infecting the air around him. His eyes gleamed with an unholy light, ready to unleash destruction.
Suddenly, Hinata's instincts screamed warning. She sensed danger, but couldn't pinpoint its source.
"Something's wrong," she whispered to herself, her eyes scanning the chaotic crowd.
Himawari, sensing her mother's tension, clutched her hand tighter.
Without hesitation, Hinata grasped Himawari's hand and began to push through the crowd, away from the market's center.
"Come on, Himawari, let's get out of here!" she urged, her voice low and urgent.
The Rinnegan man's gaze snapped toward Hinata, his eyes narrowing. "Ah, she senses something... but doesn't know it's me."
As Hinata and Himawari fled, the Rinnegan man's frustration boiled over. His targets were escaping, and the crowd remained an obstacle.
With a snarl, he raised his sword, ready to cut down anyone in his path.
The villagers, oblivious to the danger, continued their frantic rush. Hinata and Himawari darted through the crowd, dodging panicked villagers.
"What's wrong, Mama?" Himawari asked, breathless.
"I don't know, just keep running!" Hinata replied, her eyes scanning for any sign of safety.
The Rinnegan man's roar echoed through the market, sending chills down Hinata's spine.
"Keep going, Himawari, don't look back!"
The Rinnegan man's sword sliced through the crowd, leaving a trail of destruction. Villagers screamed, their bodies crumpling to the ground. Hinata's grip on Himawari's hand tightened. "Faster, we have to get out of here!" she exclaimed. They weaved through the panicked crowd, dodging fleeing villagers.
A woman stumbled into Hinata, her eyes wide with terror. "Run... they're killing everyone!" she shrieked. A child's cry pierced the air, followed by the sound of crashing stalls. The Rinnegan man's rampage continued, his sword cutting down anyone in his path. Bodies fell around Hinata and Himawari, the sounds of screams and clashing steel filling the air.
A villager grabbed Hinata's arm, pleading for help. She shook him off. "Come on, Himawari!" she shouted. Together, they sprinted through the chaos. The Rinnegan man's gaze locked onto them. "No... you won't escape!" he roared. His sword flashed in the moonlight.
Hinata pulled Himawari into a narrow alleyway. The sounds of slaughter grew fainter. But Hinata knew the Rinnegan man would find them. "We can't stop," she whispered. Himawari's breath came in ragged gasps. "Where are we going?" she asked. "Anywhere but here," Hinata replied.
Their footsteps echoed through the alleyway. The silence was oppressive, punctuated only by their heavy breathing. Hinata's eyes darted around the alleyway, searching for any sign of safety. The walls seemed to close in around them, casting long, ominous shadows.
The alleyway was shrouded in darkness, the only sound the distant chaos of the village. Hinata's breath came in ragged gasps as she clutched Himawari's hand, her eyes scanning the shadows for any sign of danger.
Suddenly, the Rinnegan man emerged from the darkness, his sword poised to strike. Its razor-sharp edge glinted menacingly in the faint moonlight.
But before he could attack, a figure leapt from the rooftops, landing gracefully between the Rinnegan man and his targets. A young shinobi, clad in standard Konoha attire, stood tall.
His eyes flashed with determination, and his jaw was set in a firm line. "Get out of here, now!" he shouted, his voice echoing through the alleyway.
Hinata hesitated, concern etched on her face. But the shinobi's determined gaze reassured her. She grasped Himawari's hand tighter.
Without another glance, Hinata turned and sprinted down the alleyway, Himawari by her side. Their footsteps echoed off the walls.
As they disappeared into the night, the shinobi's eyes locked onto the Rinnegan man. His grip on his kunai tightened.
"I'll protect my villagers." he whispered.
The Rinnegan man sneered, his sword flashing in the moonlight. The darkness closed in.
---
Quiz Question:
Who intervenes just in time to save Hinata and Himawari from the Rinnegan man?
A) Naruto
B) Shikamaru
C) A young Konoha shinobi
D) Sasuke
Share your answer in the comments below!