"How is this possible? Ah!"
Izumisaburo's eyes widened in disbelief. However, [Lightning Release: Ground Crawl] enhanced by the Power Stone had already reached an extreme speed. Before Izumisaburo could even finish thinking about dodging, the blue-purple lightning was already right before his eyes.
The reinforced Lightning Release struck Izumisaburo, causing him to let out a pained cry. Yet after the electricity faded, the severely injured Izumisaburo faced another new round of assault.
[Eight Trigrams: Two Palms], [Four Palms], [Eight Palms], [Sixteen Palms], [Thirty-Two Palms]... [Eight Trigrams: Sixty-Four Palms]!
Witnessing his daughter facing life-threatening danger for the second time, Hiashi Hyuga had completely entered a state of frenzy. A continuous series of Eight Trigrams Palm strikes sent Izumisaburo flying into the air, keeping him airborne while receiving the full set of palm blows.
When Hiashi finally withdrew his hands, Izumisaburo was already lying on the ground, dead beyond recovery. However, strangely enough, there was still a trace of a triumphant smile on his face.
"This is bad... I went too far."
Hiashi's face darkened as regret set in. Izumisaburo had come as Cloud Village's envoy for the peace treaty negotiation. Now that he had died under the Hyuga Clan's Eight Trigrams Palm technique, Hiashi could imagine with just his toes that Cloud Village would definitely use this as an excuse to cause trouble.
"F-Father..."
Hinata Hyuga was finally free from the drug's effects thanks to the Hyuga ninja. She slowly opened her eyes. Seeing herself mysteriously appear in the forest, her face instantly showed a puzzled expression.
"Hinata, are you hurt? Weren't you scared? Don't worry, your father is here."
The previously stern-faced Hiashi instantly transformed into a warm-hearted doting father. He immediately used the Shifting Body Technique to rush to Hinata's side, grabbed her hand, and started asking questions.
Sakura suddenly thought: "He's a total daddy's girl type." Right now, Hiashi looked exactly like a complete daddy's girl maniac—nothing like the disappointment toward Hinata described in the original story.
Thinking about it though, Hizashi hadn't sacrificed himself yet to protect him, Hinata was only four years old without any training, and hadn't yet lost to her younger sister Hanabi due to hesitating during combat. Naturally, Hiashi wouldn't feel disappointed with Hinata's talent as he did in the original plotline.
Still, seeing Hiashi in this daddy-oriented state really surprised Sakura more than she expected.
Late at night, a few people gathered in The Third's Hokage Office. The Third sat behind his desk smoking, facing three people standing before him: Hiashi Hyuga, Sakura, and Hinata Hyuga.
"It seems this time Cloud Village's envoys came not only to sign the peace treaty but also to obtain the Byakugan of the Hyuga Clan!" The Third took a puff of smoke, his expression growing heavier. "Now the biggest problem is, they were officially here to sign a peace agreement, yet ended up dying mysteriously under the Eight Trigrams Palm of the Hyuga Clan. Given Cloud Village's history of exploiting such incidents, they'll definitely use this as an excuse to stir up trouble."
"If war erupts, the Hyuga stand with the Hokage—no questions asked!"
Hiashi Hyuga's expression darkened as he thought about the psychological trauma Hinata might have suffered. He felt like dragging Izumisaburo and his men out for a good lashing, even if it was after the fact.
"The Third Great Ninja War has barely passed; if another war were to break out—"
The Third felt an intense headache coming on and could only wave his hand helplessly. "Let's leave things as they are for now! The follow-up will depend entirely on how Cloud Village reacts!"
"Then we'll be taking our leave, Grandpa Third!" Sakura sat on the demonic weapon, dozing off occasionally. Beside her sat Hinata Hyuga, equally fascinated by the experience of flying while seated on the same demonic weapon.
"Hmm, Sakura did very well this time. If it hadn't been for you discovering their plan in time and holding them off, they might really have succeeded in kidnapping her!" The Third smiled slightly. Kekkei Genkai were extremely important assets to every shinobi village, and those like Byakugan that could be transplanted were even more crucial. No one wanted to see such dōjutsu appearing in enemy villages.
"Hiashi, you may return first as well. I will discuss matters with the Elders later and inform you when decisions are made."
"Understood!" Hiashi gave a nod, then turned to Hinata with a warm smile. "Hinata, go home with Father now. Tomorrow morning, Father will take you to visit Sakura-neesan again, okay?"
"Mm, goodbye Sakura-neesan!" Hinata whispered a soft farewell to Sakura before being led away by Hiashi Hyuga.
Seeing this, Sakura said her farewells to the Third and controlled the demonic weapon through the window into the sky. Watching her fly away, the Third couldn't help but chuckle, thinking of his old student Jiraiya, who always loved jumping out of windows.
Chapter 9: Pay Off Your Debt, Kid! [Part I]
Around ten o'clock in the morning, Ichiraku Ramen Shop bustled with activity. Whether it was Ino and the few others or the newly hired waitresses, everyone was bustling about constantly. When Hiashi Hyuga took his daughter's small hand and arrived here, he himself felt slightly surprised. As the head of the Hyuga clan, he had countless duties daily, leaving no time to notice the changes at Ichiraku Ramen Shop.
"Sakura-neesan, I'm here!"
Just pulled from the kitchen by Ino, Sakura had barely stepped outside when she heard Hinata joyfully call out.
"Hello, Clan Head Hiashi!" Sakura first greeted Hiashi politely, before taking Hinata's hand and pulling her to sit beside herself.
"I still must express my gratitude for yesterday's incident," Hiashi maintained his serious expression. Seeing how affectionate Hinata was with Sakura, his eyes were practically seething with jealousy. His own daughter had never shown such intimacy with him—why did she seem so close already with Sakura, someone she had only just met?
"Ahem, Clan Head Hiashi, please don't be so formal. We're all part of Konoha; what I did was merely my duty!"
Sakura coughed lightly. She found it difficult to handle the pitiful look Hiashi gave—his expression seemed too incongruous.
"While your words hold truth, I still must thank Miss Haruno personally for your assistance. Should you ever need anything in the future, Miss Haruno, the Hyuga clan will surely offer full support!"
Hiashi vowed, his eyes betraying a trace of lingering dread. Had Sakura not intervened in time, it would have been very likely for Izumisaburo and his men to kidnap Hinata. Even if they had failed to abduct her, Hinata's life would still have been gravely endangered.
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~ Every 50 Powerstones = **4 Bonus Chapters** on the weekend!