The weather was gloomy that day. The sun had yet to rise above the horizon, but Hinata Haruki was already on his way.
He walked alone through a misty street, holding a modest bouquet of white chrysanthemums—flowers he had asked Inoichi to buy for him the day before.
Silently, he passed through the still streets. The further he went, the fewer houses there were. Trees stood in quiet clusters, and the ground was carpeted with fresh grass. At last, the road ended at a cemetery, tranquil and peaceful in the early dawn.
Haruki stepped into the graveyard, moving slowly among the rows of headstones, until he finally found the two names—both familiar and strange to him: Hinata Den and Senju Naiko.
"According to Father's last wish, his remains were not buried in Konoha's Hero Memorial, but instead laid to rest here with Mother. The headstone still bears the Leaf's insignia and he's honored as a hero—Konoha's gesture of respect," Haruki recalled, remembering what the Third Hokage had told him.
He placed the bouquet gently before the headstone and said quietly:
"Though my soul does not come from the child you once knew, and we never truly met, the life I live now is still a gift from you both. I stand here in the place of the original Hinata Haruki to pay my respects. From this day forward, you are my parents."
Bowing deeply, Haruki felt a quiet closeness he could not explain. The thought of Haruki's original parents being gone filled him with a sorrow as heavy as losing his own.
In his previous life, Haruki had also been an orphan. He thought he had grown numb to such loss, yet for some reason, this time the grief stung sharply.
"Father, Mother… Tomorrow, I head for the front lines. Please watch over me, help me grow stronger, uncover the truth behind Father's death… and avenge the one whose place I now carry."
He bowed again, deeply.
"I'll live well in Haruki's stead!"
One last bow, and Haruki turned away. As he left, the clouds slowly drifted apart, letting sunlight spill across the earth. The white chrysanthemums seemed to glow in the golden rays.
The next morning, supplies and medicines had been loaded onto the wagons, and the personnel were all assembled. Konoha's transport convoy was ready to depart—over 150 people in total, with a hundred shinobi assigned to guard them.
Dressed in a flak vest and carrying his pack, Haruki stood with the others before the great gates of Konoha.
The gates were even larger than Haruki had imagined. Anyone arriving at Konoha for the first time would be struck by their grandeur. They were like the village's proud face, declaring its strength and prosperity.
Haruki looked up at the gates, wondering how many of those leaving today would never set eyes on them again.
Katon Dan raised a hand and called out, "Alright—let's move!"
The wagons rolled forward, rumbling out of the village. Haruki sat in one of them, and before they had gone far, Dan called everyone to gather. Unfolding a map of the convoy's formation, he began assigning tasks:
"Our squad will handle security. Shibi—you're on perimeter watch. Send out your insects and patrol the area around the convoy. Mizuki, you'll handle visual reconnaissance. Haruki, you assist Mizuki.Shikaku, Choza, Inoichi—you'll hold the center and be ready to strike if needed, supporting the convoy guards. I'll be hidden as a lookout. We meet only twice a day—once before morning departure and once after evening rest—unless there's trouble. Understood?"
"Understood!" the group answered in unison.
"Then let's get to it!" Dan ordered, and everyone leapt to their positions.
Haruki stayed near Mizuki in the middle of the convoy. She activated her Byakugan, scanning the surroundings, while Haruki guarded her side. When she rested, he would take over with his own Byakugan.
At his current level, Haruki could only maintain the Byakugan for about twenty minutes—but he preferred to limit himself to fifteen to avoid draining all his chakra at once. That was enough time for Mizuki to recover her stamina.
The Ino–Shika–Cho trio remained on standby, ready to act the moment Mizuki detected something suspicious. Shikaku would assess the situation, then they'd decide on a plan, and the three would execute it swiftly.
Shibi roamed the outer perimeter, his insects feeding him constant information. Dan stayed hidden, monitoring everything as a shadow guard. The other shinobi marched alongside the wagons, defending their assigned sectors.
The convoy looked calm, but every member stayed alert, wary of unseen threats.
They traveled along forest roads, through towns, drawing ever closer to the war front.
In towns, Haruki's wealthy background began to show—he would indulge in a hot spring soak, buy supplies, and enjoy good food during rest stops. It almost felt like he was on a trip rather than a mission. Years of well-paid assignments had left him flush with ryo, and he didn't mind spending it.
On the road, Mizuki kept scanning their surroundings while Haruki rested with his eyes closed, recovering chakra. Thanks to the heavy Byakugan usage, his chakra recovery rate had become quick—an hour's rest restored half his reserves.
Sometimes he played shogi with Shikaku, other times he practiced full-body chakra release through all his tenketsu—a demanding, long-term training.
Choza, of course, constantly munched on snacks. He carried scrolls sealing literal mountains of food—enough that he never seemed to run out. Shikaku occasionally reviewed the convoy's route or lay on a wagon roof watching clouds. Inoichi patrolled at regular intervals.
Dan and Shibi were rarely seen except at the twice-daily check-ins.
When possible, they stayed overnight in towns; only when necessary did they camp in the wild. Bandits, rogues, and stray shinobi gave Konoha's transport squads a wide berth.
Ten uneventful days passed like this.
The quiet pace made the group begin to relax. Their vigilance loosened.
While playing shogi one afternoon, Haruki and Shikaku exchanged a glance. Both knew this was when the real danger would come—experienced enemies always struck when their prey's guard was down.
So they pretended to relax even further, while silently sharpening their awareness.
Would the enemy arrive, as expected?
A few days later, the convoy camped in a clearing within the forest. The shinobi set up temporary fences, positioned the wagons and tents, and stored the supplies in the center under heavy guard. Watch posts were manned, and patrols circled the perimeter without pause.
Night fell completely. On a distant hillside, a dark figure stood motionless, gazing down at the tiny points of firelight in the camp. Behind him, the forest loomed.
Inside the camp, most who had marched all day were already asleep. Mizuki prepared to rest, and Haruki activated his Byakugan—scanning everything within 800 meters.
"Looks clear… no unusual signs," he murmured, letting the dojutsu fade before closing his eyes to meditate.
Choza munched noisily. Shikaku was already dozing. Inoichi went out on his patrol, and Mizuki lay down to rest.
Time crept past. At exactly 4 a.m., the torches and campfires had burned low. The patrolling shinobi yawned, struggling to keep their eyes open. Even some guards at the gates were nodding off.
The motionless shadow on the hillside finally moved.
He raised his hand and gave a small wave. From the forest behind him, over three hundred more shadows slipped forward in silence, creeping toward the camp.
Underground, within 600 meters of the camp, other figures were tunneling their way closer. Still more advanced directly beneath the gates, using Earth Release to move unseen.
The drowsy guards at the gate were the first to die, their throats silently cut. The leading wave of attackers fanned out, swiftly cutting down sentries and making for the central tents and supply stores.
Then the rest of the three hundred-strong force surged into the camp.
"Hurry—destroy the supplies and medicine!" one hissed.
Trained with ruthless precision, they hurled kunai laced with explosive tags toward tent after tent.
"Go! Kill every Konoha shinobi here!"
"BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!"
Explosions shattered the stillness. Firelight blazed high as tent after tent was consumed by flames. The night sky glowed red with the reflection of the inferno.
The camp erupted into chaos.
"We're under attack!" someone shouted."Put out the fires! Quickly!""It's too late—the supplies!""Run! The enemy is here!"
Screams and battle cries mingled as steel clashed in the darkness.
From the trees, the first shadow still stood watching, unmoving. Seven more figures were with him, their eyes fixed on the blaze.
"Hmph… Lord Kazekage's plan has succeeded. Destroying Konoha's supplies is just the beginning. The Leaf will fall, and Sunagakure will claim victory."
With a sweep of his arm, he gave the final order:
"Inform the troops—leave no one alive!"
"Yes!" one of the figures replied before vanishing into the night.