The Cloud Shinobi delegation had behaved themselves throughout the peace talks, seriously discussing terms and examining each clause with meticulous care. Despite the heavy tension hanging over the proceedings, there had been no outbursts, no provocations—only cold, clinical negotiation.
That evening, a grand welcome banquet was held. Laughter filled the air, dishes clinked against polished wooden tables, and sake flowed freely. The shinobi of both villages ate and drank under the same roof, exchanging guarded pleasantries.
The next day arrived with clearer skies and lighter hearts.
With the terms of the treaty finally settled, hope began to bloom in the hearts of the people of Konoha. The once-fearful eyes of civilians brightened at the thought of peace on the horizon. For the first time in a long while, the village dared to relax.
"Alright, it's settled," Sarutobi Hiruzen muttered as he leaned back in his chair in the Hokage office. He looked out the window toward the Hokage Monument, his tired features softening with a rare smile. "The official signing is tomorrow. If all goes well, peace will return to the Land of Fire. Konoha can finally catch its breath."
But not everyone shared his optimism.
"Hiruzen," came a voice sharp with disdain. "You've made too many concessions. It's disgraceful."
Shimura Danzō stood across from him, arms folded, his lone visible eye burning with contempt.
"You've lost your power and humiliated the village," he continued. "Those savages from the Cloud are probably laughing behind our backs."
Hiruzen sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Danzo, you must understand. We can't afford another prolonged conflict. The village is stretched thin. We need time—time to rebuild, to recover. Peace, even if temporary, buys us that."
"You're too naive," Danzo sneered. "Those Cloud bastards don't want peace. They're up to something."
Without waiting for a response, he turned on his heel and stalked out, his coat billowing behind him.
Hiruzen watched him go, lips drawn into a tight line. He knew Danzo had his own agenda. But still… the unease in his gut lingered.
Far from the political wrangling of the high offices, a small figure perched quietly on the thick branch of a tree near the Hyuga compound. Moonlight danced along the boy's bedrock armor, casting long shadows on the snowy ground below.
Naruto Uzumaki, or at least the version of him clad in the custom armor he had created through sheer will and chakra experimentation, was on watch.
"Tonight's Hinata's birthday," he murmured, eyes fixed on the brightly lit Hyuga estate. "There's probably a lot of people inside celebrating."
He'd slipped past the Anbu again—using a clone as a decoy—and sent his real body to quietly guard the compound. A voice inside him, instinctive and urgent, had whispered that something was going to happen tonight. He couldn't ignore it.
Even though he was only three years old, his mind was far sharper than it should've been. The strange dreams he experienced every night—dreams filled with lessons, simulations, and training—had molded him into someone far beyond his age.
"White Eyes can see chakra," he mused, "but they probably can't see through this armor. And I made it taller—no one would think a toddler's inside."
He grinned, nerves and excitement mixing in his chest. "Kira… yeah. That'll be the name for this look. Kira of the Bedrock Armor. Who's Lux? Doesn't matter."
The wind blew gently through the trees as he waited, his senses sharpened.
Then—movement.
A shadow crept over the compound wall. Silent. Intentional. It slithered like a serpent, moving with practiced precision.
Naruto's entire body went still. His gaze locked on the intruder. He shifted slightly, preparing to intervene—but hesitated.
Was it better to act immediately or to wait and see how the Hyuga clan would respond? Surely they had sentries. They wouldn't leave their heiress unguarded on her birthday, would they?
Then—more movement.
Two figures appeared nearby. Naruto crouched deeper into the shadows, barely breathing.
"Lord Danzo," came a low whisper. "Cloud Shinobi left their hotel and headed straight for the Hyuga estate. Should we inform them?"
"No," replied the cold voice of Danzo. "Let them act. Let them expose themselves."
"But if they cause a scene, it could destroy the peace talks—"
"It doesn't matter. Hiruzen needs to be forced. He hesitates too much. Let this play out."
"Should we prepare the border troops?"
"Yes. Quietly. Send word immediately. As for you—stay and record everything. If war breaks out, your report will justify our actions."
With that, Danzo's form vanished into the night, leaving his subordinate behind.
Naruto's mind raced. War? A staged attack? This wasn't just a robbery—it was a provocation.
And Hinata was right in the middle of it.
He swallowed hard, fists clenched. His muscles tensed, ready to spring into action.
Then, a voice split the silence:
"Thief! Stop!"
The shout came from deep within the Hyuga compound. Lights flared. Alarms sounded.
From his perch, Naruto saw it—Hinata, limp in the arms of a masked shinobi in black, being carried over the rooftops.
His vision went red.
"Bastard!" he growled.
Before his thoughts could catch up, his body had already launched forward, a blur of chakra-infused movement crashing through the trees.
The commotion within the Hyuga estate erupted in an instant. Clan members rushed to their feet. Several Byakugan activated at once, sweeping the grounds. Dozens of jonin and chunin mobilized to defend their heiress.
But the attacker was fast—too fast.
He darted through the corridors like a ghost, dodging and weaving past the Hyuga defenders with terrifying agility. He had been trained for this—trained to steal bloodline secrets.
Then—a rumble.
A shadow emerged from the treetops like a falling meteor.
Naruto crashed into the thief mid-leap, sending both of them tumbling across the tiles. Hinata's small form flew into the air.
"Got you!"
Naruto caught her before she hit the ground, cradling her close as he landed.
"You okay? Hinata!"
She didn't answer—unconscious, but breathing.
Relief flooded him.
The thief snarled and rose to his feet. "You—who are you?!"
Naruto turned to face him. His voice, slightly altered by a chakra modulation device inside the armor, echoed coldly.
"Doesn't matter who I am. You're not taking her."
Chakra surged from Naruto's hands, activating the bedrock armor's energy channels. His gauntlets thickened, spikes forming along his forearms.
The enemy didn't wait. He lunged forward, kunai slashing.
Naruto ducked under the blade and drove a punch into the man's gut. The armor amplified his strength. The impact sent the Cloud ninja flying into a stone pillar, which cracked on contact.
The man groaned but stood again, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth. "You damn brat…"
"Brat?" Naruto narrowed his eyes. "Guess again."
The enemy rushed him again, this time releasing a blast of lightning chakra. Naruto gritted his teeth as the energy struck his armor, making his body tremble.
"Ugh—!"
It hurt. A lot.
But the armor held.
He raised his arm and shot forward, slamming a shoulder into the man's chest. They both crashed to the ground, Naruto pinning him down.
"Why her?!" he shouted. "Why Hinata?!"
The man laughed bitterly. "Orders… bloodline… valuable…"
That was all Naruto needed to hear.
He raised his gauntlet.
But before he could strike again—Hyuga clan members arrived. Dozens of them. They surrounded the scene, eyes wide.
"Who is that?!"
"He has Hinata-sama!"
"No—look! He saved her!"
Hiashi Hyuga himself landed seconds later. His Byakugan scanned everything. His expression was cold and fierce—but softened when he saw Hinata safely held in the armored figure's arms.
Naruto handed her over gently.
"She's safe," he said. "But that guy…"
The captured ninja coughed up more blood, completely defeated.
Hiashi turned to Naruto. "Who are you?"
Naruto turned away, already backing into the shadows. "Just a passerby."
Then he vanished in a flicker of chakra.
That night, Konoha didn't sleep.
Word of the attempted kidnapping spread like wildfire. The Cloud delegation was immediately confronted. Tensions exploded. Accusations flew. The entire peace treaty was on the verge of collapse.
Sarutobi Hiruzen stood in the war room, reading the report from the Hyuga clan, face grim.
"So it happened after all…"
"Prepare the guards," he ordered. "We may not be signing anything tomorrow."
In the corner of the room, Danzo watched silently, the faintest smile tugging at the corners of his mouth.
Peace was over.
And war was coming.