Around the new Uchiha compound, several Anbu were lurking.
They held observation equipment, keeping a constant watch on the Uchiha's every move, reporting back to the Third Hokage each day.
Just then, one sensor ninja suddenly stiffened—he had just felt a probing chakra sweep over him.
He quickly signaled emergency hand signs, and the other Anbu gathered at once.
"Move! We've been discovered!"
There was no time to ask how they'd been exposed. They immediately fled.
"Trying to run now? Too late."
Natsuki dropped from above, his whip-kick sending one Anbu flying.
"How is this possible?! Such speed!"
The remaining few felt a chill in their hearts. With the Uchiha's relations with the village so tense, if they were captured now, things would turn serious.
"Sharingan…"
They recalled: Uchiha Natsuki, the current deputy clan head of the Uchiha. Could they possibly stand a chance?
The three looked at him, only to feel as though struck by lightning—collapsing to the ground at once.
Natsuki shrugged. Pathetic. To dare meet his eyes directly, unaware of the Uchiha's terrifying genjutsu?
In truth, Natsuki misunderstood. The Anbu here were only at chūnin-level. Normally, even if one fell into genjutsu, the other two could quickly break the illusion.
But Natsuki's Mangekyō Sharingan was far too powerful. In just an instant, the trio had no time to react before losing consciousness.
Footsteps approached—the Uchiha patrol had arrived.
"Lock these ones up first. We'll deal with them tomorrow."
The patrol was meant to guard against intruders, but since the Anbu never entered the compound itself, only watching from afar, they were difficult to notice and hard to defend against.
Now, though, it was time to erect barriers around the clan. At the same time, this would serve as a warning to the Third Hokage.
"Lord Hokage, the Anbu monitoring the Uchiha compound—four of them have gone missing."
Hearing this early in the morning left the Third Hokage deeply unsettled.
At first, his test placements of Anbu had gone unnoticed by the Uchiha. Emboldened, he later stationed more all around the compound, keeping constant watch.
Never did he expect the Uchiha to suddenly strike back—and to do so right as negotiations with Kumogakure were underway.
What was the Uchiha planning?
And today happened to be the birthday banquet of the Hyūga clan's eldest daughter, Hinata.
Grateful for the concessions granted by the Uchiha, the Hyūga had especially invited Fugaku and Natsuki as honored guests.
They had assumed the estranged Uchiha would decline, yet both Fugaku and Natsuki arrived.
Because of the previous concession, Hizashi and Fugaku shared good relations. After the banquet, Fugaku stayed to chat with him.
Natsuki, however, excused himself, saying he felt stuffy and wanted a walk.
In a flash, he slipped toward the Hyūga back courtyard—where Hinata's room was.
From above, he spotted a shadowy figure sneaking inside. Moments later, the man emerged carrying an unconscious Hinata.
But while he had entered furtively, he exited boldly, immediately drawing attention.
And he ran straight into a furious Hiashi.
Hinata was the Hyūga main family's eldest daughter. To attempt kidnapping her within the Hyūga compound itself—such insolence was unthinkable.
Activating his Byakugan, Hiashi swiftly locked onto the intruder, body flickering to intercept.
The man quickly tossed Hinata aside and lunged at Hiashi.
Hiashi raised his palms, readying the Gentle Fist—
But a figure suddenly flashed into view.
Even Hiashi's Byakugan couldn't catch the speed.
In an instant, the intruder was struck in the throat and collapsed, lifeless, without a chance to resist.
Hiashi now clearly saw—it was Uchiha Natsuki.
Glancing at the corpse, Natsuki recognized him: Shinichi Nagasaki, the third-ranking member of the Kumogakure envoy.
"So it's you, Natsuki. I hadn't realized your skills were this formidable."
Hiashi's words carried no empty courtesy—just moments earlier, his Byakugan had failed to track Natsuki's movements.
"Lord Hiashi, now isn't the time to relax."
Natsuki could already hear faint commotion from outside.
He quickly whispered a few words into Hiashi's ear. Hiashi froze, then furrowed his brows deeply and nodded.
Natsuki immediately concealed himself.
All that remained at the scene was Shinichi's corpse and Hiashi holding Hinata.
Soon, heavy footsteps approached. It was the Kumogakure envoy: Yugito, Killer B, along with the Third Hokage, Koharu, and Homura.
Hiashi's heart sank. Just as Natsuki had said.
Yugito's face darkened upon seeing Shinichi's body. Rushing forward, she confirmed his death—her expression twisted with rage.
"Hiashi Hyūga! Why?! We came to celebrate your daughter's birthday, and yet Shinichi lies dead here!"
Hiashi's face was equally grim. "Ridiculous! This man crept into my daughter's room and tried to abduct her. I caught him red-handed and struck him down. What fault is there in that?"
Yugito retorted sharply, "Nonsense! We came in goodwill, and Shinichi only came ahead to present his gift. You killed him instead. Are you trying to provoke war?"
Hiashi fell silent, meeting Yugito's accusations without a word.
His silence made Yugito think he was wavering. She turned to the Third Hokage.
"Lord Hokage, you saw this unfold. We came with sincerity to celebrate, yet Shinichi was slain. Is this how Konoha treats Kumogakure?"
The Third's face was already grim—he could see clearly this was a Kumogakure scheme. But as he hesitated, Yugito pressed harder.
"Lord Hokage, what do you mean by this? If you despise us, say it outright. Or was Shinichi's death under your orders?"
The accusation fell squarely on the Hokage.
Hiashi's gaze turned icy, fixed on the Third Hokage.
The Hokage found himself trapped.
Yugito pressed again: "For the sake of peace, if you wish to resolve this matter, then the killer must pay with his life!
"If you think Kumogakure easy to bully, then we will fight without hesitation!"
Her words rang firm, filled with resolve.
Beside her, Killer B's chakra flared violently, the cloak of a tailed beast forming over him.
The Third Hokage sighed, casting a guilty look at Hiashi. "Hiashi… this trouble stems from your Hyūga. You must take responsibility."
Koharu quickly added, "That's right, Hiashi. Kumogakure came in peace. You must handle this matter properly."
Hiashi's eyes filled with bitter disappointment as he looked at the Hokage. Just as Natsuki had said—the Hokage faction had no backbone left.
By then, Fugaku and Hizashi had arrived, informed by the Hyūga clansmen of what happened.
Seeing his elder brother cornered, Hizashi couldn't hold back his urge to step forward.
But then came the sound of slow, deliberate clapping—"pa, pa, pa."
From the shadows, Natsuki emerged.
Smiling at the tense standoff, he said, "What a fine play this is."
---
There are 45 chapters on patreon today.
patreon.com/dzeref887