The next night neared midnight. Konoha's streets were silent and empty. Most homes were dark. Ryōsuke had already taken position far from the Hyuga compound to await the Cloud envoys.
By the timing, the peace agreement would be signed tomorrow. That meant the enemy would act tonight, and at deep night. A dark, windy night was the best time. Once they abducted Hinata, he would tail them and rescue her, earning goodwill from the Hyuga. Hinata Hyuga was the clan's public heir. Her importance was obvious. If he helped them this much, the Hyuga would hardly oppose the Uchiha later. They were a proud clan second only to the Uchiha.
About two hours later, true midnight fell. Only insects chirped. Ryōsuke, a little bored, glanced toward the Uchiha district. 'Did I guess wrong? Are the Cloud shinobi not going to move?' As impatience rose, a black figure sped to the Hyuga's outer wall and vaulted over. Ryōsuke brightened. The target had appeared. The intruder's speed and light steps impressed him. If he had not been watching closely, he might have missed the movement. Solid infiltration technique. He waited for the abduction, then he would pursue and retrieve Hinata.
Dodai, dressed in black, slipped over the wall and suppressed his presence, blending into the shadows. After confirming no one was near, he rushed toward Hinata's room. The operation had to be steady and fast. A Hyuga guard might activate the Byakugan on a patrol sweep at any time.
At Hinata's door he found a lock, so he chose the window. Fortunately, it was already cracked open. He widened it just enough and slipped inside. Hinata slept on her bed. Quietly, Dodai took a handkerchief from his pocket. It was laced with a sedative. For a child like Hinata, a whiff would be enough.
He clamped the cloth over her mouth. She jolted awake, eyes wide with fear, but within five seconds her gaze glazed over and she fainted. Dodai lifted her, checked the window, and, seeing no one, eased out and moved along the wall. A light jump, a one-handed grip on the eaves, and he cleared the top in a smooth arc. He landed softly with Hinata in his arms. No one noticed. Half the plan was done. Suppressing the surge of excitement, he sprinted toward the rendezvous with Samui.
Before long, Dodai's face changed. He sprang aside, barely evading a raking hand. An ambush. He widened the gap and finally saw the attacker: spiky hair, a strong, muscular frame, three-tomoe Sharingan spinning. It was the Uchiha he had seen earlier. Why was he here?
Ryōsuke was mildly surprised. 'Not bad. He dodged my strike.' He had not held back much, though he had not used full strength. The man was a Jōnin and a speed type, but that was all.
"Will you surrender quietly, or do I drop you and haul you in?" Ryōsuke asked.
Dodai's expression darkened. He had slipped past the Hyuga only to be caught by an Uchiha. Annoying. Surrender was not an option. He flicked two shuriken at Ryōsuke's face. Ryōsuke slapped both from the air. Dodai had already moved, legs churning to escape. Ryōsuke kicked off and gave chase at full speed, closing almost at once. A dragon-claw hand reached for Dodai's back—only for the Cloud ninja to vanish and reappear ahead.
Shunshin. Without it, he would have been caught. He specialized in speed, but this foe was at least as fast. In a straight fight he would lose.
Ryōsuke felt irritation. Twice the small fry had slipped away. He refined chakra and opened the Fourth Gate. Veins rose on his forehead. His skin darkened. Pressure roared skyward. Dodai sensed the surge and glanced back. Bad sign. That ferocity he had seen only on the Fourth Raikage.
Ryōsuke's steps blurred. In seconds he was on Dodai again. Dodai shunshined once more, only to feel danger immediately. He reached to flicker again when a massive hand clamped his right wrist. Pain flared as muscle bunched under a crushing grip. Uchiha Ryōsuke had him. Ryōsuke seized the left wrist too and squeezed until Dodai had to release Hinata. Ryōsuke caught her, then whipped a heavy roundhouse that sent Dodai flying, gouging a long track in the earth. Only then did Ryōsuke check Hinata. She seemed fine, merely unconscious.