"Huh? You fought Naruto? Did you win?"
Hanabi's eyes lit up, surprised and skeptical. She couldn't understand why her sister admired such a loud, clumsy boy.
"They weren't my match," Kimimaro replied calmly. He wasn't boasting—just stating a fact. "They're from Konoha like you. You wouldn't report me, would you?"
"Of course not!" Hanabi shook her head quickly. "I'd actually be kind of glad if Naruto got beaten up. But if you really are from the Kaguya clan, can you prove it? I'm not that easy to fool."
Kimimaro gave a rare chuckle. Without a word, he rolled up his sleeve. With a quiet crack, a white spike of bone emerged from his forearm.
"Whoa… That's really the Shikotsumyaku!" Hanabi's eyes widened. "I've only seen it in the clan archives. Can I… touch it?"
"Go ahead."
She did. Cold, hard bone. Her curiosity satisfied, she pulled back.
"You believe me now?" Kimimaro asked.
"Yes! That's incredible."
Kimimaro smiled faintly. "Since our clans once had ties long ago, maybe you should call me big brother."
"Okay! Big Brother Kaguya!" Hanabi said playfully.
"Then that makes you my little sister." His expression turned somber. "You're lucky… the Hyuga still have many people. My clan… is gone. I'm the last of the Kaguya."
Hanabi frowned. "That's awful. But it's okay. I can introduce you to my father—he's the Hyuga clan head. If you really beat Naruto and even Rock Lee, then that's impressive. The Hokage respects my father."
She said this with the proud confidence of someone born to a noble clan.
Kimimaro glanced at her forehead and noted something important.
"You don't have the Caged Bird Seal… Are you the Hyuga clan's heiress?"
Hanabi stiffened. "I… I'm not the heir. My sister Hinata is older."
Her mood dropped visibly. Her voice trembled. "I… I don't want the Caged Bird Seal. When I saw Neji-nii suffering because of it… I got scared. I thought if I became the heiress, I could stop that tradition. But now, everyone says Hinata's going to remain the heir after all… and I'll be branded instead…"
Tears welled in her eyes as she spoke, her shoulders trembling.
Kimimaro was silent for a moment before gently pulling her into a hug. "So that's why you tried to run away?"
Hanabi nodded, crying softly. "I'm scared. What if one day, Father just… does it without telling me?"
"I don't think he will. If he really intended to, he'd have done it already," Kimimaro said gently.
"You think so?"
"It's just a guess," he admitted.
Hanabi sniffled, wiping her eyes. "Then… it's still possible."
"There's a way to find out," Kimimaro said quietly.
"How?"
"Disappear for a while. See what your father does."
"You mean… actually run away from home?" Hanabi whispered. "But Father said the world outside is dangerous. I'm still a kid… I can't survive out there alone."
"Who said anything about being alone?" Kimimaro offered a reassuring smile. "You can come with me. Don't you trust your big brother to protect you? The world outside is dangerous, but it's also beautiful and wide. You'll never see it if you're locked away."
Hanabi hesitated. "Big Brother… what do you do now? Are you with a village?"
"I'm a wanderer. I was once like you… branded, trapped. Someone tried to use me as a vessel for their own twisted plans."
Seeing her unease, Kimimaro softened his voice, slowly telling her the story of his tragic past: how he was used by Orochimaru, how he broke free, and how he now roamed freely. He even told her about Jugo, Karin, and Fū—each with their own pain, their own redemption.
Hanabi listened with teary eyes, moved by every word.
"Big Brother, you're so strong…" she said. "I never imagined people from the Taketori clan could be that cruel. Sister Karin… I'm glad you met him."
Fū, listening nearby, blinked. "Wait… That's how I ended up miserable in your story?"
Kimimaro gave a rare smirk. "A little dramatic license. For effect."
Karin felt both touched and amused by the scene before her.
"Hmph, Father still wants to take me to visit the Taketori clan in Kusagakure. I'm not going." Hanabi crossed her arms defiantly.
(Author's note: In the manga, there is no mention of such a trip. However, filler episodes in the anime occasionally explore character whereabouts during major events like Pain's invasion. This scenario takes creative liberty while respecting canon timelines.)
Hanabi leapt from Kimimaro's arms with newfound determination. "I've decided—I'm going to travel with Big Brother Kimimaro! When are we leaving Konoha?"
Kimimaro's lips curled slightly. "Not yet. If we move now, the Hyuga will catch on immediately. You need to blend into your routine. Go out, play, shop… make them believe everything is normal. In a few days, we'll slip away unnoticed. Before we leave, you'll write a letter to your father. That way, it won't seem like you just vanished."
Watching Kimimaro manipulate a child so easily, Karin averted her eyes, suppressing a sigh.
Still, she knew Kimimaro. He wasn't cruel—just coldly logical.
Thus, Hanabi Hyuga set her plan in motion. Though young, she was decisive. Following Kimimaro's guidance, she began going out daily—browsing markets, visiting sweet shops, walking in the village square. She always returned at the same time, never raising suspicion.
She stored her purchases in sealing scrolls, concealing her preparations from everyone—even her escort, Hyuga Kobayashi.
Kobayashi initially noticed the extra spending, but brushed it off as childish curiosity. "As long as she's not causing trouble," he thought. "And the Hyuga clan isn't exactly short on ryo."
Within days, he had dropped his guard.
But on this particular evening…
"It's already past eight. Why isn't Miss Hanabi back yet?" Kobayashi frowned, his instincts sharpening. He dispatched a Chūnin guard to question the patrols.
"Captain," the subordinate reported, "several villagers say they saw her earlier today—at the usual places—but not recently. Since it's been routine for days, no one paid close attention. Maybe she slipped back inside without us noticing?"
"I'll check her room myself."
Kobayashi approached Hanabi's room and knocked. Once. Twice. No response.
He pushed the door open.
The room was spotless—too spotless. Folded clothes, untouched futon, no signs of recent use. And on the table lay a single envelope.
"To Father."
"Sound the alarm," he barked. "Search the village, now!"
As others scrambled, Kobayashi picked up the clan's internal line.
The voice on the other end was unmistakable. "Clan Head Hyuga."
"Lord Hiashi, it's urgent. Hanabi-sama is missing. We believe she's run away."
"…What?"
"I take full responsibility. She established a daily routine for the last few days. I didn't suspect anything. But she left a letter."
There was a heavy pause. Then Hiashi sighed.
"I see. No time for blame. Bring me the letter. Mobilize the clan. I'll go to the Hokage immediately—we need the Anbu."
Fifteen minutes later – Hokage's Office
Lady Tsunade, leaning over her desk, listened calmly as Hiashi delivered the situation.
"She's young, but she's a Hyuga. If she had help, she may be far already," Tsunade muttered.
Then, raising her voice: "Dispatch a search squad immediately. Include tracking-nin. That region… Tenzo is stationed nearby. Notify him and have him begin pursuit."