Boom!
Eight Trigrams: Air Palm collided head-on with Gentle Step: Twin Lion Fists!
The violent impact forced Hyūga Hinata back several steps. She nearly lost her footing as shock flashed across her face.
In her understanding, Eight Trigrams: Air Palm was a long-range technique—compressed chakra released like an invisible cannon.
But the woman in front of her—this ANBU who looked almost exactly like her mother—had done something completely insane.
She'd condensed that air-cannon-like force without releasing it, locking it into her palm and using it as a melee technique!
What kind of cursed optimization was this?!
Why had no one in the clan ever mentioned something like this?!
Before Hinata could even process it, Hyūga Shiori had already closed the distance.
Two slender fingers struck her chakra points with surgical precision.
Hinata's chakra flow froze instantly.
"You—!"
Hinata glared furiously at the ANBU in front of her.
Did Konoha really have people now who didn't even recognize her identity?!
She was the dignified eldest daughter of the Hyūga clan—when had she ever suffered this kind of humiliation?!
"I said ten moves,"
Hyūga Shiori replied coldly.
She hadn't been chosen by Sarutobi Hiruzen as one of the Nine-Tails jinchūriki's guards just because she was the Hyūga clan's so-called White-Eyed Princess.
She had nearly perfected every Hyūga secret technique.
Her personal strength was just as much the reason Hiruzen trusted her.
"You bastard—do you even know who I am?!"
Hinata shouted angrily.
"I don't care who you are,"
Nao said flatly.
"All I know is—you're under arrest."
As her words fell, Kyūsei cautiously crept over and hid half his body behind Nao, peeking at this Hinata who was nothing like the one in his memories.
Nao noticed the brat instinctively ducking behind her and almost told him to get lost—
But swallowed the words.
As the primary victim, Kyūsei would inevitably be questioned by the Hokage. There was no point stopping him now.
Besides, with his identity, even the Hokage had to tolerate him.
"Eh?"
"Big sister Nightingale, she kind of looks like you, doesn't she?"
Kyūsei spoke with an innocent, clueless expression, like he knew absolutely nothing.
Nao remained silent.
She didn't understand it either.
Why did this girl look so much like her?
This wasn't a Transformation Technique.
In front of the Byakugan, all disguises were meaningless.
But one thing was certain—
The Hyūga clan was in serious trouble.
"I'm telling you—I won't let this go!"
"When the Hokage gets here, I'll make you pay!"
"You just wait!"
"I'll make your life worse than death!"
Even now, Hinata continued angrily running her mouth.
Nao's gaze grew colder by the second.
Almost on cue—
A group of figures appeared in a flash.
Sarutobi Hiruzen arrived, accompanied by a squad of ANBU.
He first checked Kyūsei carefully. Seeing the brat still lively and unharmed, the stone in his chest finally dropped.
Only then did he turn his attention to the restrained Hyūga girl.
What Hinata said next plunged the scene into deathly silence.
"Third… Hokage-sama?"
"…Didn't you die?"
—Confirmed.
This was Hyūga Hinata.
From the future.
Kyūsei looked at the dumbfounded Hinata and silently confirmed the truth.
"Nao,"
Hiruzen said calmly, though his tone had already cooled,
"what is going on here?"
Anyone who got told they were dead wouldn't be in a good mood.
And among the Hyūga present, Nao was the highest-ranking member.
Notably, Hiruzen addressed her as Nao, not Nightingale—meaning this was now a Hyūga clan matter, not an ANBU one.
"Hokage-sama,"
Nao knelt on one knee, her voice steady but heavy,
"I have no knowledge of this Hyūga clan member's appearance. Please grant me time. I will investigate this matter thoroughly."
"Three days,"
Hiruzen said flatly.
"You have three days. I want the truth."
"Yes, Hokage-sama."
"And this person,"
Hiruzen continued,
"will be detained in the Konoha prison. Any objections?"
"None,"
Nao replied without hesitation.
"I submit to the Hokage's decision."
Under normal circumstances, she might joke with Hiruzen.
But this involved the Nine-Tails jinchūriki.
She didn't dare make a single misstep.
"Huh?!"
"Huh?!"
"What's wrong with you people?!"
"I object! I object!"
"I want to see Lady Tsunade!"
"I want to see Hyūga Hiashi, that old fossil!"
"HYŪGA HIASHI, YOU OLD FOSSIL—WHERE ARE YOU?!"
Hinata was swiftly hauled away by efficient ANBU, still yelling at the top of her lungs.
The information buried in her shouting did not escape Hiruzen or Nao.
Hiruzen turned calmly.
"Summon Hyūga Hiashi."
"Yes."
Nao vanished instantly.
After that, Hiruzen rubbed his temples and spoke to another ANBU.
"Go get Tsunade."
The difference in treatment was… obvious.
Calling Hiashi was all business.
Calling Tsunade?
Pure helplessness.
Kyūsei couldn't help but complain internally.
But it made sense.
How could a Hyūga compare to Hiruzen's only direct disciple?
First Hokage: Tsunade's grandfather.
Second Hokage: her great-uncle.
Third Hokage: her teacher.
That pedigree was absurd.
Even if Tsunade raised a banner yelling 'Konoha is dead—long live the Senju!',
Hiruzen would probably still sigh and ask:
Have you had enough fun yet?
No? Want to play a little longer?
Looking at Kyūsei's half-destroyed house, Hiruzen sighed.
"Kyūsei… that must've been frightening."
"Eh?"
"It was fine," Kyūsei shrugged.
"Just some random lunatic breaking into my house."
Hiruzen had no energy left to scold him.
"For tonight, stay at my place," he said.
"I'll have people repair your home."
"Grandpa Hokage," Kyūsei asked casually,
"what's going to happen to that person?"
"Does it bother you that much?" Hiruzen asked.
"How could it not?"
Kyūsei looked at him blankly.
"Official procedures,"
Hiruzen replied calmly.
"If she harbors hostile intent—"
"Then she'll be dealt with accordingly."
Kyūsei's heart tightened.
That means… death.