"You're really strong! You actually managed to block my strike!"
Turui was breathing heavily, her face flushed but filled with admiration. She hadn't even realized Naruto had slipped away mid-fight — her excitement blinded her to everything else. Her spirit burned high, proud like a fiery little red hen.
"You're amazing too," Hinata said politely, though her thoughts were elsewhere. Her pale eyes drifted toward the Hokage's residence.
Naruto-kun went off on another mission... there goes our date again.
"You better be careful," Turui warned, grinning. "I'm about to use my special move — it's powerful! If you can't handle it, just say stop and I'll stop."
Hinata blinked. "Oh… okay."
Turui tightened her grip on her sword, chakra sparking around her like static.
"Lightning Style — Thunder Slash!"
Crackle!
A bolt of lightning burst forward, cutting through the air like a thunder arrow. Turui followed close behind, her blade gleaming like snow, her movement fierce and sharp.
Hinata was still half-distracted, thinking about Naruto.
Her body moved before her mind caught up — instincts taking over.
She raised her hand. Chakra flared around her fist in a brilliant blue glow.
BOOM!
The lightning shattered on impact.
In the next instant, Hinata appeared in front of Turui. She smoothly deflected Turui's sword hand and struck once — a clean, precise Gentle Fist to the chest.
It was over before Turui could even blink.
Realizing what she'd done, Hinata gasped and pulled back at the last second, withdrawing most of her strength.
THUD!
Turui went flying several meters and landed hard, groaning.
Omoi covered his face with one hand. "...Ouch. Yeah, she's not getting up fast."
Hinata's expression turned guilty. "Ah! I'm so sorry — are you hurt? I didn't mean to take it seriously!"
Turui clutched her chest, eyes wide, still reeling from the shock. And when Hinata's soft-spoken apology sounded almost like humble bragging, she could feel her blood boiling.
"Wh–who the hell are you!?" Turui demanded, voice cracking.
"Me?" Hinata smiled shyly. "I'm Hyūga Hinata, Chūnin of Konoha. Sorry — I have other things to do today. Let's stop here, okay?"
And with that, she turned and walked off gracefully.
"Ch–Chūnin?" Turui stammered. "Wait — she's not a Genin!?"
Omoi flipped open his notebook and began reading aloud. "Hyūga Hinata. Eldest daughter of the Hyūga clan, member of Kakashi Hatake's team. Her teammates — Uchiha Sasuke, last heir of the Uchiha clan, and Uzumaki Naruto, Elite Chūnin promoted early to Jōnin-level. Known throughout the shinobi world as one of Konoha's youngest prodigies."
He looked up. "So yeah. That blonde guy earlier? Definitely Uzumaki Naruto."
Turui's face flushed crimson ,she was mortified.
Just great. I challenged his girlfriend and got smacked around like a training dummy. Kill me now.
Omoi sighed, glancing around nervously. "This day's cursed. We should go back before we run into anyone else terrifying. Going out again will just bring trouble."
Reluctantly, Turui nodded, and the trio headed back to their lodgings.
Meanwhile, in the Hokage's office—
"Uzumaki Naruto," Sarutobi Hiruzen said gravely, rubbing his temple. "There's been a massacre in a southern border village — over three hundred dead. Entire village wiped out."
His tone was heavy. "Most Jōnin are already on assignment. You're the only one available. You'll lead a team to investigate. If necessary, handle it as you see fit."
Naruto's expression darkened instantly. "A massacre?" His voice dropped low, carrying a dangerous edge. "So this is what they're doing — trying to draw me out of Konoha."
He took the mission scroll anyway. "Fine. If they want to lure the tiger from the mountain, I'll play along."
He called in Sasuke and Hinata, briefing them quickly. As a newly promoted Jōnin, Naruto had full authority to lead missions without Kakashi's supervision.
The three left the village at once, heading toward the southern border.
In the forest outside Konoha, a group of shadowy figures gathered under the trees. Their chakra signatures were faint, but sinister.
"Alright," one whispered. "Now that the biggest obstacle's gone, move to the next phase. Infiltrate the key sectors of Konoha. Wait for the signal — when it comes, we strike and bring the village down."
"Yes!" the others hissed in unison before scattering silently into the darkness.
From underground, a strange half-black, half-white face emerged — Zetsu — his grin eerie.
"Hehehe… things are getting interesting," he muttered gleefully. "Konoha's in for a show. But still… that monster Naruto is too dangerous. I'll only send a clone to watch. It's not time to provoke him yet."
He chuckled again, then sank back into the earth.
Southern Border of the Land of Fire — Lemongrass Village.
The village was deathly silent. Blood still stained the dirt streets.
A lone Konoha Chūnin stood guard at the gate, visibly relieved when three figures approached.
"Lord Uzumaki, you're here!" he said quickly, bowing.
"What's the situation?" Naruto asked.
"We've counted over fifty assailants," the Chūnin replied. "They scattered after the attack — some fled across borders, others vanished back into Fire Country. Tracking them has been… difficult."
Naruto's eyes narrowed. "So they're using small fry to waste my time…" His tone dripped with contempt. "Typical."
Sasuke and Hinata finished inspecting the remains of the village and returned. Their reports confirmed the Chūnin's findings — the killers had splintered off in multiple directions.
"Alright," Naruto said coldly. "I'll handle this. Murata, return to base. None of these murderers are getting away."
He surveyed the village — burned homes, lifeless streets, children among the dead — and his expression hardened.
"This isn't just murder," he muttered. "This is a message."
Sasuke clenched his fists. The sight dragged him back to that night — his clan's massacre, his family's lifeless faces.
Naruto glanced at him. "Sasuke. This isn't random. Someone's using this to pull me away from the village. Most likely Danzō — old snake that he is."
Sasuke's head snapped up, eyes burning.
"Transform and sneak back into Konoha," Naruto ordered. "Investigate from the shadows. Whatever's going on, it'll tie back to the Chūnin Exams. Follow the trail — find proof. And when the time comes, we strike together."
Sasuke nodded fiercely. "Understood. I'll complete the mission. I'll find Danzō — and finish what he started."
With a burst of wind, he disappeared into the night.
Hinata looked up at Naruto. "Naruto-kun… what will you do?"
Naruto's gaze stayed fixed on the horizon. "I'll hunt them down. Every last one." His voice was ice. "They think scattering will save them? Naive."
He raised his hand, and dozens of tiny insect-sized drones — his chakra-constructed scout bugs — lifted into the air, spreading out over the forest.
Behind him, shadow clones appeared one after another, forming a circle around the village.
"Track them down. Herd them toward Short Book Street."
The clones nodded and dispersed in every direction.
Naruto turned to Hinata, his tone softening slightly. "Come on. We're heading to Tantan Street. There's someone I want you to meet — one of the Legendary Sannin."
He smiled faintly.
"The Princess of Konoha herself — Tsunade."
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