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Chapter 214 Eyes That Will Not Look Down
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Before Team 7 returned to Konoha, Team 8 stood outside the Hokage's office.
While Hiruzen and Kurenai talked about the Wave mission, Team 8's attention was locked on Naruto's Bingo Book entry.
[ BINGO BOOK DOSSIER ]
[ TARGET #007: "UZUMAKI NARUTO" ]
[ STATUS: ACTIVE CONTRACT ]
[ ISSUED BY: MULTIPLE HIDDEN VILLAGES ]
[ DISTRIBUTION LEVEL: HIGH ]
[ IDENTITY FILE ]
[ NAME: Uzumaki Naruto ]
[ AFFILIATION: Konohagakure no Sato ]
[ SUMMONING AFFILIATION: Unknown. Data suggests a nonstandard summon ("Oscar") ]
[ CLASSIFICATION: Confirmed Jinchuriki of the Nine Tailed Fox ]
[ LINEAGE RECORD ]
[ FATHER: Minato Namikaze. The Yellow Flash of Konoha ]
[ MOTHER: Kushina Uzumaki. The Crimson Valkyrie of Chains ]
[ NOTES: Direct descendant of two high priority combat class assets. Subject possesses abnormal chakra reserves, unknown medical ninjutsu, and hidden jutsu. ]
[ KNOWN ALIASES ]
[ "Son of Calamity". Iwagakure designation ]
[ "Knight of Konoha". Otogakure designation ]
[ RANK AND THREAT ASSESSMENT ]
[ KONOHA RANK: Genin ]
[ IWAGAKURE CLASSIFICATION: B Rank threat ]
[ OTOGAKURE CLASSIFICATION: B Rank threat ]
[ THREAT SUMMARY: Despite low official rank, displays tactics and combat potential comparable to a jonin. Subject's use of Nine Tails chakra elevates potential to S Rank if controlled. ]
[ ENGAGEMENT ADVISORY ]
[ Avoid prolonged contact. Subject demonstrates high adaptability and unknown techniques. If cornered, terminate swiftly or disengage. ]
[ ACTIVE BOUNTIES ]
[ IWAGAKURE: 10,000,000 Ryo. Dead or alive ]
[ OTOGAKURE: 5,000,000 Ryo. Uzumaki Naruto ]
[ OTOGAKURE: 5,000,000 Ryo. "Oscar," Crystal Lizard summon. Specimen retrieval preferred alive ]
A silence formed as the genin just looked at each other, each of them stuck on the same line, the same name, the same implication, wondering if they had read it wrong.
"Team Eight. Office. Now."
That snapped them out of it.
They followed Kurenai into the Hokage's office, and the first thing the genin noticed was the Third Hokage at his desk, fingers pressed to his temples as if the day had already aged him ten years. His pipe lay untouched. His shoulders were straight, but there was a tiredness in his eyes that no posture could hide.
Hinata was still staring down at the entry in her hands until Kurenai stepped closer and snapped her fingers in front of her face.
"Hinata," she said, softer than her command voice. "What's on your mind?"
Hinata simply handed the book over.
Kurenai took it, skimmed the page, and her eyes widened in a way that did not happen often. She looked up slowly, almost unwilling to.
"Naruto… is the Fourth's son?"
Her gaze flicked to the Hokage.
Hiruzen gave a small nod.
Kurenai's mind raced immediately, professional instincts taking over. Was this a deliberate leak? Who would risk exposing something like this? What else did they leak alongside it? Was it meant to bait foreign villages into acting? Was it meant to force Konoha's hand politically? Was it targeting Naruto specifically, or was Naruto just the loudest piece on the board?
Before she could spiral further, Kiba leaned back with his hands behind his head, trying to act like he was not rattled.
"You're acting like that's more shocking than the stuff Naruto's already revealed to us. Honestly, at this point, I'm not even surprised."
Akamaru barked once, like he was backing Kiba up.
Kurenai opened her mouth, then paused, and let it close again. She did not like agreeing with Kiba.
But she could not argue either.
Hiruzen watched the exchange, something strange stirring behind his tired expression. He had not expected this casual acceptance, like Naruto being the Fourth's son was just another item on a growing list of absurdities.
What had Naruto shown them that made this feel… secondary?
"Hokage sama," Shino said, stepping forward. "May I ask a question?"
"Go ahead."
"How did Naruto receive a Bingo Book entry?"
"A very good question, Shino kun. The truth is, we suspect someone deliberately leaked information about Naruto. Some of it true. Some of it false."
Kiba frowned. "Why would someone even do that?"
Hiruzen's eyes narrowed slightly, but his voice stayed measured.
Normally, this kind of information would be far above a genin's clearance. However, Kurenai had already made it clear that Team Eight was privy to many of Naruto's secrets, and Hiruzen understood that fact could not be undone. More importantly, with the Chunin Exams approaching, these three were likely to be among the first affected when Naruto became a target. Given that reality, Hiruzen decided it was better they understood the situation than be left vulnerable by ignorance.
"A leak like this does not happen by accident," he continued. "It takes access. It takes knowledge. It takes the confidence that the village will be forced to respond. Whoever did this wanted to put a target on Naruto's back, because that forces us to react to outside threats. It forces us to spend resources, move ANBU, tighten patrols, and shift political posture. All of it creates noise."
His fingers tapped once against the desk. "And while we're busy reacting, the person who started it can act in the shadows."
His thoughts twisted toward a familiar name, bitter and inevitable.
Danzo.
Not because Hiruzen wanted it to be him, but because the pattern fit too well. A man who collected secrets like weapons. A man who believed any sacrifice was acceptable if it served his idea of protecting Konoha. A man who would gladly endanger a child if it meant tightening his grip on the village.
Hiruzen kept his expression neutral. These children did not need to hear that name yet.
"Hokage sama. I believe I know who leaked Naruto kun's information."
The room fell into a pin drop silence.
Hiruzen held his gaze on her. Once, Hinata Hyuga had been a soft spoken girl who struggled to speak above a whisper. Now she stood with quiet confidence, like someone who had seen what fear looked like up close and decided she would not bow to it anymore.
"What do you know, Hinata?" he asked. His tone carried authority, the kind that made people understand the seriousness of what they were about to say.
Hinata nodded once. She understood the gravity. She understood that one accusation could shift the delicate balance.
"First… has Kurenai sensei informed you about my involvement in Gato's downfall, and Naruto and I forming an alliance with Zabuza?"
"Of course she has," Hiruzen replied. "She also requested disciplinary action for herself, citing a failure to properly control her squad."
Hinata immediately looked ready to speak in her sensei's defense, but the old man raised a hand, stopping her before she could say a word.
"I have heard every argument she made. This was her first time leading a genin team, and she was thrown into a situation most jonin never face in their entire careers. Under normal circumstances, I would not overlook that."
He paused, eyes sharpening slightly.
"But," Hiruzen continued, "if your information about the leaker proves correct, I can excuse this one mistake."
Team Eight collectively sucked in a breath.
Even as inexperienced genin, they understood what that meant. Konoha was not in a position to freely discipline jonin. Not with tensions rising between villages, not with the Chunin Exams approaching, and not with the other villages beginning to stir. Every capable shinobi mattered. Weakening their own forces over internal mistakes, especially ones born from unprecedented circumstances, would only invite outside aggression.
"But," Hiruzen said again, deliberately stretching the word, "this leniency will not be repeated. If you ever go behind your superior's back on a mission again, there will be consequences."
Hinata bowed her head. "Yes, sir."
With the floor given to her, Hinata spoke at length about the battle against Guren and her subordinates, carefully recounting each stage of the fight. She described the tactics used, the pressure they faced, and most importantly, the moment Guren underwent her strange transformation.
When Hinata finally finished, the room fell quiet.
Hiruzen remained motionless behind his desk, eyes unfocused as his mind worked through the implications. Piece by piece, the information settled into place.
Orochimaru.
The chakra pattern Hinata described during Guren's transformation mirrored the properties of Orochimaru's Curse Mark techniques too closely to be coincidence. That alone tied his former student's hand to the incident, and more importantly, to the leak itself. It was the most solid lead they had so far.
And yet, it raised a far darker concern.
Was Orochimaru actively making a move against Konoha?
"Why do you believe Guren is the one who leaked Naruto's information?"
Hinata nodded, pointing to a specific section of the Bingo Book.
"The entry confirms that Naruto uses the Kyubi's chakra," she said. "That detail could only be known to a very small group. Guren. Zabuza. Haku. Naruto himself. And me."
She hesitated only briefly before continuing. "Zabuza and Haku owe Naruto their lives. I do not believe they would ever betray him. Guren, however, had motive and opportunity."
Hiruzen nodded slowly.
Hinata's reasoning was sound. Combined with the evidence of Guren's transformation and its similarities to the Curse Mark, the conclusion was difficult to ignore. That Orochimaru had not only survived, but successfully refined his experiments, was deeply troubling.
If this was merely the opening move, then darker days lay ahead for Konoha.
Kiba raised his hand halfway, frowning. "Wait, wait. Naruto lost the Kyubi, right? So how the hell was he using Nine Tails chakra?"
That question shifted every gaze in the room to Hinata.
"Yes," she said calmly. "Naruto no longer has the Nine Tails sealed inside him. I believe Guren mistook something else for the Kyubi's chakra."
"Something else?" Kiba echoed. "Like what?"
"A red aura," Hinata replied. "I do not know what it is exactly, but it amplified Naruto's power. It felt different from the foreign chakra. Similar in color, but not in nature."
She hesitated. "You would have to ask Naruto for details."
Hiruzen slowly licked his dry lips. That single statement brought a dozen troubling implications to the surface, but he pushed them aside for now. This was not the time.
"Thank you, Hinata," he said quietly. "That information helps Konoha more than you realize."
Hinata bowed slightly and stepped back.
Hiruzen then looked at all three of them, his presence shifting.
"Team Eight. Naruto no longer possessing the Nine Tails is now an S rank classified secret."
The words hit like a physical weight.
"If even a whisper of this reaches the wrong ears," Hiruzen continued, "other villages will know that Konoha has been weakened. They will test that assumption. Politically. Militarily. Subtly at first, and then not so subtly."
His gaze hardened. "Even casual conversation in the wrong place could spark a conflict. Do you understand the responsibility you are carrying?"
Team Eight straightened immediately.
"Yes, Hokage sama," they said in unison.
Hiruzen studied them for a moment, watching how seriously they took it, how none of them flinched or complained.
There was quiet strength in his eyes.
He glanced at Kurenai. "They are good," he said softly. "You should be proud."
Kurenai gave a faint nod.
"Now then," Hiruzen continued, shifting the tone, "regarding your evaluation as Team 7's backup… Kakashi and Kurenai have spoken very highly of all three of you."
His gaze turned to the side. "Hinata Hyuga. Despite a few… questionable actions, your performance during this mission was excellent. Your reconnaissance work was invaluable, and your archer's approach during the battle with the Hōzuki clan members helped avoid major casualties. You did your clan proud."
Hinata tried to maintain her dignity as a Hyuga, but was failing to stop her excitement.
"Shino Aburame. You maintained a flawless operational record. Both jonin reports mark your actions as exemplary. You represent the gold standard of a shinobi."
Shino nodded slightly, but the subtle buzz from the insects under his coat betrayed the pride he felt.
"Kiba Inuzuka," the Hokage said, turning to the last of the trio. Kiba squared his shoulders, with Akamaru sitting tall beside him.
"Let us start with the good. You are a team player. You showed initiative when it mattered. You placed your team and the civilians first during every confrontation. You patrolled nightly, stayed vigilant, and showed the grit expected from a true Konoha shinobi."
Kiba tried not to grin, but it was a losing battle.
"Now onto the cons," Hiruzen said, steepling his fingers. "Hot headed, quick to provoke fights, especially with Naruto Uzumaki, and a temper that had you yelling at clients."
"I am sorry, Hokage sama. You are right about all of that. I did not know how to react when I saw Naruto again. We had a huge fight during the graduation exam. But we have resolved our differences since then. I consider him a friend. A rival. And an ally."
Hiruzen gave a light clap. "It takes real strength to recognize and admit your flaws. I hope to see you work on them. I see potential in you, Inuzuka Kiba. A great shinobi in the making."
"Thank you." Kiba bowed again, Akamaru mimicking him with a small bow.
"Well then, Team 8, your mission pay and the bounty for the Hōzuki clan bodies will be assessed and handled later. Your commanding officer will inform you when it has been processed. Kiba. Shino. You are dismissed."
Both boys nodded and left the room, the chakra barrier sealing up behind them.
"Now then, Hinata… can you explain how exactly your Byakugan was upgraded?"
Hinata activated her new eyes. "While I do not understand the full mechanics, I believe Naruto's Hawkeyes potion acted as a trigger. It released a unique chakra that interacted with the optic nerves of my Byakugan. The result… awakened what appears to be the Eye of Insight, a trait of the Sharingan. I believe this points to an unknown link between the Hyuga and Uchiha clans."
Hiruzen leaned back slightly, humming in thought. "And the Eye of Hypnotism?"
"We do not know if I have it," Hinata replied after a quick glance at Kurenai.
"Kurenai is your teacher. I trust you two will test and verify that soon."
"Of course," Kurenai said, her voice calm and professional. Internally, however, her thoughts raced. If Hinata truly possessed access to the Eye of Hypnotism, her potential in genjutsu would increase dramatically, and Kurenai was more than willing, even eager, to guide her through mastering it.
"Is your new Byakugan detectable?"
"When inactive, it appears normal. But once I activate it, the pattern is visible. I do not think I can hide it from the Hyuga for long."
Hiruzen's eyes sharpened. "Then you understand the risk this poses. Not just to you, but to Naruto. Anything capable of enhancing the Byakugan would be of extreme interest to the Hyuga main branch. Interest rarely stays harmless for long."
"Hokage sama," Hinata said carefully, "I do not believe the Hyuga would act openly against Naruto. But pressure, investigation, and quiet coercion are realistic possibilities. That said, I will not give them a reason to move against him. If necessary, I will take responsibility for what happened and keep Naruto out of it."
That answer made Hiruzen pause. "Then what is your plan?"
"While watching Guren's transformation, my Byakugan picked up how her chakra was altering her physiology. I plan to lie to the family. I will say I was hit by that special chakra and it mutated my eyes."
Hiruzen considered it.
The lie was built on half truths, carefully arranged to withstand scrutiny. If the Hokage himself affirmed it, the Hyuga elders would have little choice but to accept it. They had no reliable way to verify the details, and challenging the Hokage openly is not something a clan could do. More importantly, the explanation placed Hinata in a role unlike any other within the clan, one that set her apart not as a problem to be contained, but as an asset they could not easily touch.
It was the kind of clever, political move that surprised him coming from the usually reserved girl.
He studied her closely, recalling Kurenai's proud comments about Hinata's dream to reform the Hyuga.
Maybe the new dawn of the Hyuga clan lies with you, Hinata.
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Hiashi Hyūga understood that people changed in the shinobi world. In a profession built on violence, loss, and proximity to death, transformation was expected. Shinobi hardened, broke, or adapted. Sometimes all three.
What he did not expect was to see that change reflected so clearly in his own daughter after a single mission.
Hinata sat across from him with her back straight and her hands folded neatly in her lap. Her posture was composed, her expression calm. There was no hesitation in her eyes, no instinctive shrinking away from his gaze. The quiet confidence she carried was subtle, but unmistakable.
The contrast was so stark that for a fleeting, unsettling moment, Hiashi wondered if this was his daughter.
That realization alone told him the mission had not been a simple one.
"Hinata?" he asked, the name leaving his mouth with unfamiliar weight.
"Yes, Father."
"You have… changed."
"A new set of clothes and a bit of confidence can do wonders."
Hiashi's gaze drifted to the armor she wore. It was not elaborate. Compared to the lacquered plates of samurai or ceremonial clan armor, it was almost plain. Shinobi armor culture had never emphasized heavy protection. Mobility, stealth, and chakra mattered more than layered steel. Most shinobi were not expected to survive long enough for stronger armor to matter.
Yet this was different.
Leather reinforced with metal rivets, flexible but durable. The structure was designed not to interfere with precise footwork. It favored quick engagement, controlled strikes, and rapid disengagement. Terrain based movement rather than brute force.
Hiashi recognized the intent immediately.
This armor was made for a practitioner of the Gentle Fist.
It did not restrict the shoulders or wrists. It protected vital points without sacrificing speed. Whoever had chosen it understood how a Hyūga fought, not just how they looked on the battlefield.
"The mission with your team," Hiashi said carefully. "How did it go?"
"I am afraid the Hokage has forbidden us from discussing its details. But it was a success."
He nodded once, accepting the answer. Still, his mind worked through the implications. For the Hokage himself to restrict information from genin meant the mission's rank exceeded what was normal. At minimum, it bordered on A rank territory. Possibly higher.
That was a concern for later.
For now, Hiashi studied his daughter in silence.
"And what of the task I gave you?"
Hinata's expression tensed. "I became Naruto's friend," she said. "But not for the reason you intended."
"Continue."
"I will not use my friendship with Naruto as a political shield to secure my place as heiress," Hinata said. Her voice was firm. "If I am to be the future head of this clan, then I will earn it through strength. Through merit. Not by clinging to the shadow of another."
Silence.
For a moment, Hiashi said nothing. He simply looked at her.
When he finally spoke, his voice was low. "So you disobeyed my order."
"I fulfilled it, but not in the way you wanted," Hinata replied. "Naruto is my friend. Truly. But I will not use him."
"Now that the entire village knows Naruto is the son of the Fourth Hokage, rumors have begun to circulate."
Hiashi fixed his gaze on Hinata, studying her reaction.
"One of those rumors is that you are close to him. Whether you intended it or not, that association carries weight. With his lineage revealed, your position as the next clan head is no longer in question."
Hinata's fingers curled slowly at her side. "And Hanabi?"
Hiashi did not hesitate.
"She will receive the Caged Bird Seal the day you are formally announced as heir."
The words struck with the force of a physical blow.
Hinata's breath hitched before she forced herself to speak. "When is that announcement supposed to happen?"
Hiashi's eyes narrowed slightly at her tone. Once, that look alone would have made her lower her head and retreat inward. Now she held his gaze, unflinching.
"When you attain the rank of chunin or when you are formally recognized as an adult by clan law. Whichever comes first."
Hinata felt a cold knot settle in her chest.
Within the Hyūga, adulthood was not defined by age alone. It was an old custom, one that predated the founding of the village itself. A kunoichi was considered an adult when her body was deemed capable of bearing heirs. The menarche marked the transition.
The tradition had its roots in the Warring States era, when clans lived and died by bloodlines, when succession needed to be settled early to prevent internal conflict. Certainty was valued above compassion. Once an heiress was declared, the hierarchy became absolute. Any siblings born after were safeguards, nothing more.
Hinata understood that now with painful clarity.
"That means I still have time to tear down this barbaric system."
The silence that followed pressed in on the room.
"Excuse me."
"You are excused, Father, but know this… I intend to abolish the Hyūga branding system," Hinata replied without hesitation. "I will unify the main and branch families."
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[ Personal Note: First off, thanks a ton to all of you for sticking with this story. Seriously, you guys are awesome. Now, if you're interested in supporting me on P@treon, let me just say that over there, I post these massive 15k-word chapters. But heads up, if you're jumping to P@treon, you'll need to start from Chapter 97, since that's where this chapter lines up with the content there.
To everyone here just reading along, please don't forget to leave a comment! Honestly, your comments make my day, and they let me know you're as invested in this story as I am. So yeah, thanks again, and I hope you have an amazing rest of your day!