Chapter 14: The Cloud's Scheme
The weather in Konoha during December was already very cold.
But the Hyūga clan's main family compound was still bustling with activity; the cold didn't affect the guests' enthusiasm.
People seemed to have shed the barriers between ninja clans and nations; everyone wore smiles.
The leader of the Cloud Village delegation also chatted smilingly with the Third Hokage. The atmosphere of the entire birthday banquet seemed quite pleasant.
However, as he scanned the lively Hyūga grounds and recalled the Konoha streets he had just passed, a strange glint flashed in his eyes.
Such a prosperous scene – why should it be monopolized by the decadent Konoha? It ought to belong to the mighty Cloud!
Just then, an ANBU wearing a mask appeared beside the Third using Body Flicker.
The Third frowned slightly, then turned back to the delegation leader: "Apologies, please excuse me for a moment."
"Not at all, please go ahead."
The delegation leader shook his head, watching the three Konoha elders leave.
Then, his gaze flickered, quietly shifting towards the star of this banquet – Hyūga Hinata.
"So that's the main family daughter? Her talent must be quite high as well, I presume."
He had been dispatched to Konoha this time under orders. Concluding a peace treaty was merely the surface objective; naturally, there was a deeper underlying purpose.
Besides probing Konoha's current strength in preparation for a potential future Shinobi World War...
He had specifically chosen the date of the Hyūga main family daughter's third birthday.
"Possessing so many powerful Kekkei Genkai, yet reduced to such a state of homeless dogs. Third Hokage, the Strongest Hokage?"
The leader sneered inwardly, full of disdain for Sarutobi Hiruzen.
Hyūga main family members generally don't leave the village casually, and even when they do, they are accompanied and protected by branch family Jōnin.
This made it very difficult for other villages to capture a living Hyūga main family member.
Even if they captured a branch family member, their Byakugan would be remotely destroyed by the main family using the [Caged Bird] Cursed Seal.
This gradually lowered the interest of the major ninja villages in the Byakugan.
However, the situation changed recently.
A Mist Jōnin named Ao actually obtained a complete Byakugan and easily performed the eye transplant surgery.
Not only did his reconnaissance and support capabilities improve, but his overall strength also increased significantly.
Since then, the major ninja villages learned the difference between the Byakugan and the Sharingan.
Much like the styles of the Uchiha and Hyūga, the Sharingan is relatively domineering, while the Byakugan is gentler and more adaptable to the body.
In the underground black market, the bounty for a single Byakugan had reached 35 million ryō.
And what the Cloud Village lacked most right now wasn't ninjutsu, but precisely powerful Kekkei Genkai like the Byakugan and Sharingan.
The Sharingan was unobtainable; even the Cloud didn't want to provoke those mad dogs of the Uchiha clan.
But if it was the Hyūga...
"Just old dogs domesticated by the old dog Sarutobi!"
If they could obtain the Hyūga main family bloodline, even breaking the alliance with Konoha wouldn't matter.
This plan had only three possible outcomes.
Best case scenario: the plan succeeds, the Cloud obtains the Byakugan.
However, kidnapping a hostage from within the Hyūga clan grounds was almost impossible.
But it didn't matter.
"The men of the Cloud Village! Never fearing death!"
Once the plan failed, he would die directly at the hands of the Hyūga clansmen. This would then be used as a pretext to pressure Konoha into handing over the 'culprit', threatening war otherwise.
If Konoha handed over the Hyūga culprit, it would create conflict between Konoha's conservative and radical factions, sow discord between the Hyūga clan and the Hokage faction, and simultaneously deplete Konoha's effective strength.
Even if the Third Hokage acted tough for once and decided to go to war!
But Konoha's Fourth Hokage and Nine-Tails Jinchūriki died in the Nine-Tails Rampage, one of the Sannin, Orochimaru, defected, and Jiraiya and Tsunade were nowhere to be found.
At this moment, Konoha's top-level power had weakened to its historical low point. The Cloud would absolutely not fear the current Konoha.
Whichever outcome, it was advantageous for the Cloud!
"Able to advance or retreat! Truly worthy of Lady Mabui, to think of such an insidious... no, such a perfect scheme!"
As the birthday banquet progressed, Hyūga Hinata was no longer the main focus.
Watching the main family daughter leave the scene, the delegation leader also began wandering around Konoha under the pretext of sightseeing.
The ANBU hidden in the shadows didn't stop him, merely following nearby under the guise of protection, monitoring him.
Until turning down a street, the delegation leader took advantage of an ANBU blind spot, formed hand seals, and instantly vanished in a burst of lightning, leaving a clone behind.
Subsequently, three masked ANBU arrived.
"Damn it! Where did he go?"
"Split up and search! One person inform Lord Hokage!"
Meanwhile, the delegation leader had already infiltrated the Hyūga clan head's courtyard without a hitch, having received the memories transmitted from the Lightning Clone.
He couldn't help but sneer inwardly: "Can't even recognize a Lightning Clone. Konoha's ANBU are truly useless!"
Soon, he discovered little Hinata sleeping in her room.
Silently opening a gap in the roof, he jumped into the room and decisively knocked her unconscious with one strike.
"Surprisingly smooth. Has the Hyūga clan become complacent after too long, losing even basic vigilance?"
Although doubts lingered in the delegation leader's mind, he didn't linger after succeeding, immediately using Body Flicker to flee towards the outside of the Hyūga grounds.
He didn't leap onto high places, simply using Body Flicker through the empty streets, completely disregarding whether his chakra reserves were sufficient.
There were bound to be guards near the Hyūga grounds, but once he reached the periphery, someone would help him block any pursuers.
Just as he was about to escape the Hyūga grounds, feeling delighted...
A familiar figure suddenly appeared, blocking his path forward.
The Hyūga clan head, Hyūga Hiashi!
Seeing the unconscious Hinata in the suspicious person's arms, Hyūga Hiashi's eyes hardened, veins bulging around his eyes.
"You cur! How dare you!"
Driven by fear and fury, this palm strike was a full-power blow with absolutely no mercy.
Seeing Hyūga Hiashi rushing towards him, the delegation leader stopped, annoyed.
"Damn it! Just a little bit more!"
But only for an instant. He immediately abandoned resistance, straightening his body to meet the palm strike head-on.
"Ah!!"
In the silent night, the scream was exceptionally jarring.
It instantly attracted the Hyūga clansmen responsible for guarding, as well as the ANBU members searching nearby for the delegation leader.
"Lord Hiashi!"
"What happened!?"
When the branch family members arrived first and saw the unconscious Lady Hinata in the clan head's arms, along with the black-clothed person on the ground whose life status was unknown, they were instantly shocked and terrified.
Someone had actually infiltrated the clan head's residence right under their noses and even kidnapped Lady Hinata!
But Hyūga Hiashi paid no attention to their reactions. His brow furrowed tightly, he knelt and removed the black-clothed person's mask.
"This?!"
Seeing the familiar face of the delegation leader, Hyūga Hiashi froze for a moment, then instantly broke out in a cold sweat.
"Damn it! We fell into their trap!"