Kaze faintly remembered that the night Hinata was kidnapped, it was also the day the Cloud Village delegation was scheduled to sign the peace agreement with Konoha.
As one of the key figures facilitating this event, Sarutobi Hiruzen even ordered a welcome ceremony to be held.
The entire village will be lively, bustling with excitement.
With just a little attention to the village's movements, it was easy to pinpoint the exact time they arrive.
As for the route the Cloud envoy would take to retreat after the kidnapping...
Kaze already had it all figured out.
After all, he had been living in this world for ten years. Konoha wasn't that big, and there was hardly a place he hadn't been to.
The route to take Hinata from the Hyuga Clan's compound, then retreat quickly to the village outskirts to meet the waiting Cloud ninjas, was a straightforward path.
After considering everything carefully, Kaze decided to spend the remaining days focused entirely on developing his Thunder Fruit powers.
Two days later, just as he expected, the cheers of the villagers celebrating the Cloud delegation's arrival echoed through Konoha. That was his cue to take action.
His training over the past two days had yielded significant results. The benefits of his three-tomoe Sharingan had begun to show, and his chakra reserves were growing at a rapid pace—almost at the level of an elite Chunin. At this rate, in just a few more days, he might reach Jounin level.
Of course, his Thunder Fruit abilities were also improved considerably. At the very least, he could now shift his body into an elemental state with just a thought.
And with his newly awakened Sharingan, taking on the Cloud envoy wouldn't be a problem.
Besides, after the incident, Hyuga Hiashi had led his team on a pursuit.
Even if Kaze wasn't strong enough to take on the Cloud ninja alone, as long as he could hold on until Hiashi arrived, everything would work out.
Take a chance, and you might turn a bike into a motorcycle.
(T/N: Ah! The classic line.)
Once he was confident his plans were solid, Kaze left the Uchiha station and took up his position along the route where the Cloud envoy would retreat with Hinata.
Not knowing when exactly the Cloud ninja would make his move, Kaze had to position himself for an ambush before dusk.
As time passed, the sun set, and Konoha welcomed the night.
Kaze activated his Sharingan, scanning his surroundings carefully.
He had been lying in wait for three hours. The quiet of the night settled around him, and just when the stillness seemed to stretch forever, he heard the sound of footsteps approaching.
At least five people.
Kaze raised an eyebrow.
'Figures. No way they'd send just one guy for something this big.'
His Sharingan gleamed in the darkness, lazily scanning the approaching figures.
'Man, they're really going all in on this. Guess they were planning this for a while.'
He shifted slightly, getting comfortable. No rush. He had time.
(T/N: Am I right or wrong? I don't remember much of this part so I apologize if it was an inaccurate number.)
Leading the group was a shinobi with a white bandage wrapped around his head. His Kumo forehead protector sat at an angle, covering his right eye. A short black beard lined his jaw, giving him a rough, hardened appearance.
Tucked under his arm was a small, unconscious girl—Hyuga Hinata, no more than five years old.
To keep her from making any noise, he had already knocked her out.
"Finally, we got her," the man muttered, his voice laced with triumph.
"Once we get through this forest and meet up with our squad, even if those Konoha idiots catch up, there's nothing they can do."
Laughter rippled through the group as the others chimed in.
"Hah! Those fools really thought we wanted peace? They even threw us a welcome ceremony!"
"They have no idea this was all part of Lord Raikage's plan."
"Once we unlock the secret of the Byakugan, we'll gain unparalleled power! Konoha won't stand a chance!"
The Kumo shinobi chatted amongst themselves, completely unaware that someone was already lying in wait.
Hidden in the shadows, Kaze's lips curled into a smirk.
'You guys sure like running your mouths.'
His fingers twitched slightly, sparks of electricity crackling between them.
Tonight, the hunters would become the hunted.
Kaze watched from the shadows, arms crossed as he leaned casually against a tree, listening to the Cloud ninja celebrating their so-called brilliance. He had to admit, they were really getting into it.
'Man, you guys sure love to hear yourselves talk, huh?' he muttered to himself, shaking his head. 'Not a single brain cell between the lot of you.'
He eyed the head honcho, the one with the bandaged head and scruffy beard, who was smugly carrying an unconscious Hinata under his arm. The way he strutted, Kaze swore the guy thought he was the main character or something.
'Alright, time to ruin their night.'
Without a hint of hesitation, Kaze pulled out a few shuriken, casually tossing them toward the group. Not with the precision of a desperate assassin—more like a guy skipping rocks across a lake.
Whizz! The shurikens sliced through the air, aiming for vital spots.
The leader of the Cloud-nin felt it first—a sharp killing intent. His instincts screamed, and he instantly drew his blade.
The Cloud ninja leader barked, "Everyone, watch out!" as he swiped his blade, deflecting the incoming shuriken with a spray of sparks.
The remaining Cloud ninjas quickly reacted, scanning their surroundings. But one wasn't quick enough.
A shuriken tore through the air, piercing the throat of a Cloud ninja before he even had time to react.
Shlick!
Blood sprayed into the night like a burst balloon, and the ninja dropped to the ground in a twitching heap.
Kaze, watching from the shadows, let out a small sigh, stretching leisurely.
"Well, there's one," he muttered, his voice laced with mock disappointment. "I was hoping I could at least take out two or three of you right off the bat. Guess that's asking a little too much."
He stepped out of the shadows, hands tucked behind his head as if casually strolling through the night. His Sharingan gleamed in the moonlight, analyzing the movements of the remaining ninjas with cold precision.
"Anyway, you've kidnapped a kid, trashed Konoha's hospitality, and spent the last five minutes playing villain. I think it's time someone did something about that."
He cracked his knuckles with a grin. "Who's first?"
The remaining Cloud ninjas, now fully alert, threw kunai in the direction of the sound, hoping to pin down their elusive attacker.
With the surge of lightning coursing through him, Kaze's speed increased dramatically. The kunai in the air appeared slow, almost suspended in time as his Sharingan tracked their every movement.
He let the thunder in his veins push him faster, his reflexes amplified as he closed the distance. In the blink of an eye, he snatched the first kunai mid-flight, using a burst of lightning to knock the others aside effortlessly, as if they were mere toys.
The moon broke through the clouds, casting pale light across the battlefield.
It illuminated half of Kaze's face…
And the unmistakable, spinning three-tomoe Sharingan in his eyes, glowing with the crackling energy of the storm surrounding him.
The remaining four Cloud ninjas froze in place.
One of them glanced at his fallen comrade, his eyes widening.
They had the illusion that they were no longer facing a mere ninja, but a god of lightning himself.
Kaze's smile deepened as he watched the leader of the Cloud ninjas try to shield Hinata's unconscious form.
"Those eyes…" one of the Cloud ninja muttered, eyes wide with sudden realization. "You're from the Uchiha, aren't you?"
The leader shot a sharp look at his comrade, quickly stepping in. "What he means is you just killed one of our own. If you're unaware, Konoha and the Cloud Village just signed a peace treaty. Killing one of our men on Konoha's land won't go unnoticed, Uchiha."
Kaze chuckled dryly, his gaze flicking over the group. "A peace treaty, huh? I wasn't aware Konoha had become so soft. And your threat... How cute."
The Cloud ninja leader did his best to sound imposing, but Kaze wasn't buying it.
"You think you can just kill our men and walk away scot-free? The Hokage won't let you off so easily," the leader snarled, trying to buy time as he shielded Hinata further.
Kaze tilted his head, unfazed, his voice still dripping with amusement. "Oh, really? You think I'm scared of the Hokage?" His eyes shifted, lazily noting the leader's protective stance around the unconscious child. "You're awfully confident for someone who's about to get their teeth kicked in."
One of the other Cloud ninja joined in, trying to add more weight to their threats. "I heard your Uchiha clan was practically exiled to the edge of the village after the Great Uchiha Uprising. It's a good thing we're not killing you outright... but it might be better for you to leave now, while you still can."
Kaze's lips curled into a grin. "Is that so?"
His gaze flickered over the body of the fallen Cloud ninja, the blood pooling beneath him like a dark reminder of what had already occurred. The atmosphere was thick with tension, but Kaze wasn't concerned. His Sharingan still spun, his senses sharp, and his body crackled with lightning from the Thunder Fruit, ready to act at a moment's notice.
"I don't care about your peace treaty," Kaze muttered, almost absently, his eyes narrowing slightly. "And I sure as hell don't care about that monkey called Hokage." He tilted his head, eyes flicking briefly to the dead ninja. "And for your information, you already tore up that peace treaty the moment you kidnapped the Hyuga Clan's princess."
The Cloud ninja leader stiffened, but Kaze's casual demeanor didn't change. He took a slow step forward, moonlight glinting off his eyes, the three-tomoe Sharingan glowing with intent.
"Besides, you're not dealing with an ordinary ninja," Kaze added, his voice low but carrying weight. "And you're certainly not dealing with an Uchiha that used to cower at the edge of the village."
The last Cloud ninja froze, the shift in Kaze's attitude enough to make them second-guess their position. The air around Kaze seemed to pulse, an invisible storm brewing as the current of his Thunder Fruit crackled through his body.
The air grew still, thick with tension. As a single leaf fluttered down from a nearby tree, it touched the ground with a soft rustle—and that was when Kaze moved.
(T/N: What do you think of this chapter? I completely reworked this part because the original version didn't do it justice. Does this version look better? Let me know your thoughts.)