Creak… creak…
The tall, wide main gates slowly swung open, their hinges and axles emitting faint groans under the weight.
The delegation, led by the three Kumogakure shinobi, stepped through Konoha's gates. The moment they entered, bright sunlight bathed their faces.
The rising sun pierced the clouds, shining directly on them. The three squinted slightly, gazing into the distance at the welcoming Konoha contingent and the scenery beyond.
Dense, multi-layered canopies of trees flowed like waves of jade, shimmering with gold and green ripples in the early autumn breeze.
The four carved faces on the Hokage Monument gazed down, casting their shadows over the village. Walls dozens of meters high embraced the entire settlement. Shop banners on either side of the streets fluttered in the wind.
The entire world seemed elevated, brilliant. The clamor of voices, carried by the wind and mingled with flower petals and clean air, reached them, warming them from head to toe.
The same thought occurred to all three Kumogakure shinobi simultaneously.
Konoha… was indeed as prosperous and wealthy as the rumors said.
So prosperous and wealthy it stirred greed and envy.
Their Kumogakure, located in the Land of Lightning, was built upon towering mountain peaks. The land was vast but sparsely populated. In terms of resources, besides commendable electrical energy, it—like the countries of the other three great villages—was resource-poor.
Only Konoha, in the Land of Fire, occupied the most resource-rich region in the entire shinobi world. Situated in hilly terrain, it enjoyed a mild climate, abundant sunlight, ample arable land, a developed economy, a large population, and a central location on the continent's main transportation routes.
Konoha was nominally a "village," but it functioned more like an administrative district. Its actual land area should be termed a "city-state." Villagers could live their entire lives within Konoha, never crossing its borders, living comfortably and self-sufficiently on its resources alone.
In Kumogakure, hundreds died each year from lightning strikes and the harsh environment. All resources, including ninjutsu, had to be seized with blood and lives…
Envy burned like fire in their chests, a searing ache.
'If Mabui and the Raikage's plan succeeds… could this prosperous Konoha also share a piece with Kumo?
The three Kumogakure shinobi exchanged glances, recognizing the shared greed in each other's eyes.
Members of the Hyūga main family rarely left the village casually. Even when they did, they were always accompanied and protected by branch family Jōnin.
This made it extremely difficult for other villages to capture live Hyūga main family members. Even if they captured branch members, those Byakugan would be remotely destroyed by the main family using the "Caged Bird" seal.
However, during the Third Great Shinobi War, the situation changed.
A Kirigakure Jōnin named "Ao" somehow obtained a Byakugan and completed the transplant surgery with surprising ease, greatly enhancing his reconnaissance and combat abilities.
From then on, the major villages understood the difference between the Byakugan and the Sharingan.
Like the contrasting styles of the Uchiha and Hyūga, the Sharingan was relatively domineering and aggressive to the host's body, while the Byakugan was milder, possessing better adaptability for transplants.
On the black market, the bounty for a single Byakugan had reached 35 million ryo.
What Kumogakure lacked most now wasn't ninjutsu, but powerful Kekkei Genkai like the Byakugan and Sharingan.
The Sharingan was out of reach. Those Uchiha mad dogs—even they, from Kumo, didn't want to provoke them.
But the Hyūga…
This plan had three possible outcomes.
The best outcome: the plan succeeded, they escaped safely, and Kumogakure obtained the Hyūga bloodline.
However, abducting someone directly from the Hyūga compound was almost impossible.
But it didn't matter. If the plan failed, they would willingly die at the hands of a Hyūga main family member. Then, using that as a pretext, they would pressure Konoha to hand over the "murderer," or else they would declare war.
If Konoha handed over the Hyūga murderer, it would not only create conflict between Konoha's conservative and radical factions but also sow discord between the Hyūga clan and the Hokage's faction, simultaneously depleting Konoha's manpower.
Even if the Third Hokage agreed to war, based on their intelligence, Konoha's Fourth Hokage and the Nine-Tails Jinchūriki had died in the Nine-Tails attack. One of the Sannin, Orochimaru, had defected. Jiraiya and Tsunade's whereabouts were unknown.
With Konoha's strength weakened to this extent, Kumogakure naturally had no fear of the current Konoha.
Success: Obtain the Hyūga bloodline.
Failure: Gain a justifiable cause for war.
Either outcome was beneficial for Kumogakure.
And the cost to them wouldn't be excessive—just their three lives at most.
As the three observed Konoha, the Konoha contingent was also observing them.
"Three Jōnin?"
Sarutobi Hiruzen's slightly narrowed eyes opened. Knowing this was the standard delegation configuration, the last shred of caution faded away. He nodded slightly. "Proceed, Rena."
"Yes, Lord Third."
A young girl named Rena, holding a fresh bouquet of dewy flowers, ran towards the distant Kumogakure delegation. Her long, golden ponytail swayed in the sunlight with each step.
"Welcome to Konoha."
Handing the flowers to the lead Kumogakure shinobi, she shook his hand ceremoniously before smiling. "You may call me Rena. I will be accompanying you for the entirety of your stay over the next few days, handling your itinerary."
The girl bore no distinctive clan insignia. She appeared to be just a young kunoichi, not even looking much like a shinobi from her appearance.
"Thank you." The lead Kumo Jōnin, named "Yurui," returned the smile, his tone gentle. "We'll be in your care then, Miss Rena."
'High-heeled shoes, yet she ran here quickly, indicating excellent balance…
The calluses on her hands, notably around the thumb web, were meticulously trimmed, indicating proficiency with swords or blades.
And also…
An ANBU operative?' Yurui thought calmly, his expression unchanged. 'It seems shaking off surveillance won't be easy.'
As he contemplated, they had already reached Sarutobi Hiruzen at the front of the Konoha delegation. Hiruzen extended his hand first, gripping Yurui's firmly.
Yurui's first impression was of robust strength, completely unlike a frail, aging man leading a great village.
It was as if a fire burned within that decaying shell, still capable of unleashing a terrifying, awe-inspiring power.
'This is Konoha's Third Hokage?'
Yurui's mood grew slightly more somber, but his resolve for what was to come remained unwavering.
"May this alliance bring solace to all lives lost in the wars," Hiruzen said, his tone gentle as he smiled, unrolling a meter-long scroll on the table before them.
"The Raikage also hopes for enduring peace between our nations," Yurui replied, taking the Fourth Raikage's seal from his robe and stamping it simultaneously on the two parallel scrolls representing their countries.
Thud.
Seeing the seal firmly impressed, Hiruzen inwardly sighed with relief.
The crowd erupted into even more fervent cheers. More flower petals were suddenly tossed from both sides of the street, cascading onto the shoulders of those below.
Hiruzen and Yurui made eye contact, both extending their hands to shake, wearing the same formulaic smiles.
"This way, please." Hiruzen put away the scroll, turning slightly to guide them with a smile. "I hope you enjoy your time in Konoha."
Next would come the private discussions.
Watching as both the Konoha and Kumo delegations departed, Hyūga Kumokawa's eyes gleamed faintly from within the crowd.
Glancing at Might Guy, who had long been swept away by the throng and was enthusiastically chatting with others, Hyūga Kumokawa's figure silently vanished from the crowd.
Having watched this farcical play of a weasel paying New Year's respects to a chicken—harboring nothing but ill intent—it was time to prepare for tonight's operation.
Meanwhile, Hiruzen and several clan heads escorted the three Kumogakure shinobi towards the Hokage Building. Along the way, he introduced them to the clan heads present.
However, not hearing the Hyūga name mentioned, Yurui's face appropriately showed a hint of confusion. "I've long heard of the Hyūga clan's reputation. Why isn't their clan head present?"
Hiruzen was somewhat surprised he would ask directly. His gaze paused briefly before he smiled. "My apologies. The Hyūga clan head intended to come. However, today is his daughter's—the Hyūga main family's eldest daughter's—third birthday. It is a very important occasion for the Hyūga clan, so…"
"I understand," Yurui smiled, seemingly unconcerned. "It seems today is indeed a good day."
But the two Kumo shinobi behind him clearly lacked his composure. Upon hearing this, they instinctively exchanged a glance, their eyes burning.
'It really is today!'