As the second night fell, Tōkaku cast a glance at the darkness. Behind him, three Kumo shinobi had already changed into night gear.
"Be careful during the mission. I have a feeling Konoha will be on guard."
Expressionless, he looked over his three subordinates. For some reason, however, he himself hadn't put on night gear.
"Yes, Lord Tōkaku."
The three voiced no objection, calmly accepting their orders.
Once they had left, Tōkaku let out a quiet sigh.
"Kumo will remember your sacrifice..."
The heavy words revealed the fate awaiting them, but Tōkaku showed no reaction. He simply continued staring up at the moon.
The moment the three Kumo shinobi moved, ANBU were already aware of it.
One of them, with scarlet eyes, spoke first.
"Senior Kakashi, the captain was right. Kumo really does have a scheme."
"What should we do? Intercept them now?"
This ANBU squad was led by Kakashi, with Shisui and another member accompanying him. Kakashi gave a disdainful glance at the three Kumo ninja darting through the night, then shook his head.
"Sensei anticipated this. Tora, report the situation to command."
The ANBU named Tora nodded and sprinted off.
ANBU's information relay was swift. Within minutes, nearly every ANBU in the village knew of Kumo's movements. Aside from the garrison, the rest shadowed the three Kumo shinobi.
At the Hyūga compound, Hyūga Hizashi read the report in his hand. It stated clearly that the Kumo ninja were headed straight for the Hyūga.
"Hmph, Kazuyama was right."
"Brother, what do we do?"
Hyūga Hiashi, seated at the head, wore a face of icy resolve. The Hyūga were one of Konoha's great clans, yet these reckless Kumo fools dared extend their claws toward them. Did they truly think the Hyūga could be bullied?
"Hmph, what else?"
"One comes, we kill one. Two come, we kill both!"
"Tell every guard to stay sharp. If they dare set foot here, show no mercy—kill them all!"
In that moment, Hiashi displayed the decisive ruthlessness expected of a clan head.
"Yes!"
The Hyūga compound was soon braced for battle.
...
On the platform above the Hokage Building, Konoha's three leaders stood watching.
"Kazuyama, your guess was right. Those bastards are on the move."
"Heh... but once they go, they won't be coming back alive."
Though Minato Namikaze was Hokage now, he was still a warrior at heart. The great reputation of the Blond Flash was proof enough—he would never allow enemies to run wild on his turf.
"Tch. If you ask me, why not just let me handle it?"
"Why send them to Hyūga first?"
"If Kumo wants a fight, we'll give them one!"
Fugaku snorted, arms folded, his voice heavy with killing intent. If anyone dared covet the Uchiha's Sharingan, he would strike like lightning and reduce them to ash.
"Calm down. The net's already cast. What's there to worry about—the fish will bite."
"You two, honestly... fathers now, and still so impatient."
Kazuyama Gekkō laughed, brimming with confidence. He had already arranged everything. At the same time, one of his shadow clones was in Takigakure, where the operation against the Land of Rain was beginning.
As the mastermind behind it all, Kazuyama felt perfectly at ease, filled with accomplishment. Just thinking of it made him grin. This thrill—being the hand behind the curtain—was the most satisfying of all.
As for why only three Kumo shinobi had moved out, Kazuyama found it normal—one lookout, three attackers. Standard practice.
...
At the Hyūga compound, Hizashi and Hiashi confronted the three Kumo intruders.
"Hmph. Kumo rats—taking a stroll through Hyūga grounds?"
"Enough talk! Take them down! Eight Trigrams Palm! Vacuum Palm!"
Since his daughter's birth, Hiashi's temper had grown sharper—or perhaps it was Kazuyama constantly provoking him. Either way, learning the enemy's target was his clan made his rage boil.
His first strike was a killing blow.
With full force, his Eight Trigrams Vacuum Palm blasted all three enemies off their feet at once.
"Damn it! Konoha really was prepared..."
The three, barely surviving the strike, had just started to curse when two figures closed in. Against the combined might of the Hyūga clan's strongest, they had no room to resist.
"Neji-nii, what's happening outside?"
Inside the compound, guarded on all sides, Hinata Hyūga still didn't understand what was happening. At her side was a boy only slightly older than her—Hyūga Neji.
Though only four, Neji was a gifted prodigy. He had already guessed much of the truth.
"Hinata, it's alright. Father and Uncle are dealing with it. With them there, nothing will happen."
What he didn't say was that his sensei was also watching.
...
While the Hyūga handled the three intruders, Tōkaku finally began to move.
But his actions were casual. He stripped off his shinobi gear and changed into plain clothes. A Clone jutsu provided cover, and a Transformation jutsu disguised him further.
Quietly, he slipped away from his quarters—but not toward the Hyūga.
"It's begun..."
"Then I'll move too..."
Tōkaku's sense for counter-surveillance was sharp. Aware he was being watched, he didn't rush, instead pacing calmly toward his destination.
Before long, he stopped in front of a large mansion.
"This is it..."
The night was destined to be restless.
Kazuyama Gekkō and his companions chatted lightly in the evening breeze. Soon, an ANBU agent approached.
"Lord Hokage, the three Kumo ninja have been killed. The ones who struck were Hyūga Hiashi and Hyūga Hizashi."
"One other individual did not appear."
At this, Minato Namikaze nodded.
"Tōkaku hasn't moved?"
"No, he was not among the three."
"What?"
Kazuyama Gekkō spoke first. Tōkaku hadn't moved? That shouldn't be. As the leader, why would he stay back while sending his men ahead?
Even as he puzzled over it, a sudden blaze lit the distant sky. Seeing the flames, Kazuyama's expression darkened instantly.
A surge of killing intent erupted from him like a storm.